Gina Rai

Gina Rai serves as Director of Children's Services at Northridge Hospital, part of the Dignity Health System in Northridge, California. In this role, she oversees the NICU, PICU, and pediatric departments as a pediatric trauma center and the only CCS-approved PICU in the Valley. She began her nursing career in 1992 at Henry Mayo Hospital as a registered nurse before transferring to Valley Presbyterian Hospital, where she spent 26 years progressing from bedside nurse in the NICU, pediatrics, and PICU to starting the hospital's lactation program as an IBCLC and advancing to manager of Children's Services. Three years ago, she joined Northridge Hospital to take on new challenges in a union environment, where she has implemented a transport program, built an internal nursing workforce, and organized a NICU reunion. Rai earned her RN from College of the Canyons, her BSN from National University in 2016, and a master's degree in nurse leadership from Grand Canyon University. She received a leadership award at Valley Presbyterian and attributes her success to hard work, energy, volunteering for opportunities, and guidance from mentors including Katherine Klein and Lori Brunell. She values respect, empathy, transparency, and servant leadership, and advises others to practice humility, emotional intelligence, and surround themselves with strong teams.