Dr. John Bradley and Dr. Erin Bradley share a mission—and a meaningful bond
At Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego, some connections go beyond medicine. For John Bradley, MD, medical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and his daughter, Erin Bradley, MD, a critical care physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), working side by side is a full-circle moment rooted in mentorship, purpose, and family.
Dr. John Bradley has dedicated more than 35 years to Rady Children’s, helping shape many of the programs that define care today including the very department where his daughter now tends to some of the hospital’s most critical patients. His legacy is one of leadership, innovation, and compassion.
That impact didn’t stop at the hospital doors. Inspired by her father, Erin knew early on that she wanted to become a doctor.
“He was always such a happy doctor—it made the job look really enjoyable,” she recalls.
At 14, she joined him on a tour of the PICU. “There were some really sick kids,” John says. “I told her, ‘If this makes you uncomfortable, just let me know.’ But she was genuinely interested.”
That moment sparked a lifelong passion. Erin pursued her medical training with one goal in mind: to one day return to Rady Children’s and contribute to the place that had shaped so much of her life. When a position opened in the PICU in 2023, she didn’t hesitate.
Though their roles rarely intersect, the Bradleys make time to connect—often over dinner in the hospital cafeteria. It’s a chance to talk about life, medicine, and family.
“We talk about the kids—her kids and my patients,” John says. “It’s rewarding to be able to offer support not just as her father, but as a colleague who understands this work.”
For Erin, those conversations are grounding.
“It’s not every day you get to learn from one of the most respected doctors in the field—and also call him Dad,” she says.
Their story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of mentorship—and how a passion for healing can span generations.