Our Nursing Staff

Mary has been associated with the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Program, the first adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) program in the United States, since its beginning, and currently coordinates their high risk pregnancy program, In 2010, in an effort to ensure successful transfer of care from the pediatric to adult setting, the UCLA Adolescent Transitional Cardiac Care program in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology was established. Since its inception, Mary has served as the program coordinator Mary is also on the faculty of the UCLA School of Nursing teaching in the advanced practice graduate nursing program.

Education: Bachelor’s in Nursing from California State University, Los Angeles, Master’s in Nursing and Master’s in Public Health from University of California, Los Angeles; She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and the American Heart Association Her clinical and research interests have focused on reproductive outcomes in females born with congenital heart disease (CHD) focusing specifically on pregnancy outcomes in women with complex CHD. In 2017, she Chaired the American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Management of Pregnancy in Patients with Complex Congenital Heart Disease, published in Circulation. Previously, in 2011 she also served on the writing committee of the American Heart Association’s Scientific Statement, on Best Practices in Managing Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease: The Transition Process and Medical and Psychosocial Issues in Circulation.

Kristen began her nursing career at LAC/USC Medical Center and then moved to UCLA CTICU. She enjoyed the diversity of the adult and pediatric population in the CTICU and went to Children's Hospital Los Angeles as a Nurse Practitioner to work full time in pediatrics in 2001. She recently re-joined our Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Program as a NP in February 2012.

Education: Master Science in Nursing, UCLA, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program 1997; Bachelor Science in Nursing, CSUDH 1995; Associate Degree Nursing, Pasadena City College 1982.
Professional Experience: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital Medical Center: 2012-present; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles: 2001-2012; CTICU RN UCLA Medical Center 1986-2005, CTICU/Vascular and General Surgery Service LAC/USC Medical Center 1982-1986.
Certification: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Robynn Goldstein has worked with UCLA Children’s Heart Center as a Nurse Practitioner for 2 years. She comes to UCLA after caring for Cardiology and Electrophysiology patients in private practice for 12 years as a Nurse Practitioner. As a staff nurse, Robynn worked at the USC University Hospital for 8 years where she held multiple positions including Staff Nurse, Lead Preceptor, Charge Nurse, and ultimately as the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. She was responsible for staff development and setting clinical practice standards through active research, writing policies, formal presentations and mentorship. Her active involvement in staff development at USC University Hospital earned her the Nurse of the Year award in 1999.

Robynn attended school at UCLA, were she graduated as both an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and a Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is board certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. In 2005 she obtained the NASPExAM/IBHRE testamur for pacing from Heart Rhythm Society.

Her responsibilities at UCLA included managing both Pediatric and Adult Congenital Electrophysiology patients. She oversees a busy state of the art device clinic with the latest in remote monitoring for our patients both domestically and internationally. Robynn is excited to continue her career here at UCLA caring for both Pediatric and Adult Congenital patients.

Erin Mendoza, RN, BSN joined the UCLA Pediatric Cardiology team in 2018. Her previous fifteen years of implanted cardiac device experience includes the management and care of adult patients with implanted cardiac devices in a large private cardiology group where she also managed multiple long and short-term research studies.
Reciving her Associate’s Degree in Nursing at Los Angeles City College in 2015 followed by her Bachelor’s Degree from Grand Canyon University in 2018, Erin is excited to be a part of UCLA Children’s Heart Center team where she will continue to manage and provide care for patients with implanted cardiac devices as well as assist with cardiac stress testing.
Erin's objective is to take advantage of opportunities to educate patient’s about their implanted cardiac devices to ensure the patient and family members have an understanding of what is happening with their medical care.

Roslyn joined UCLA as the Fetal and Pediatric Outpatient Cardiology Nurse Coordinator in July 2018. Her previous nursing experience began at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in 2005 as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurse. She continued her career as a travel nurse specializing in PICU, Pediatric Cardiac ICU and Neonatal ICU care at several hospitals across the US. Roslyn has also worked with the William Novick Global Cardiac Alliance as a PICU Nurse Educator, traveling to developing countries to provide ICU care after pediatric cardiac surgery and educating medical staff.
Professional Role and Interests: Providing family-centered, compassionate care for infants, children, adolescents and prenatal patients followed in the Children’s Heart Center including:
Nurse Coordinator for the UCLA Pediatric Cardiac High Acuity Surveillance (CHAS) Program, managing care for infants with single ventricle physiology and other high-risk cardiac conditions. Coordinating care for our prenatal patients with fetal CHD diagnosis in collaboration with OBGYN, MFM, NICU and CT Surgery. Coordinating our California Children's Services (CCS) Cardiology Special Care Center Program.

Roslyn has a personal dedication to pediatric cardiology in the community. She has volunteered with Camp del Corazon since 2013; holding a role as Nurse Coordinator for Camp, and as an Advisor for their adult CHD program called PACE. Roslyn is also an active member of the Adult Congenital Heart Association, serving as a Peer Mentor, assisting with ACHA projects and initiatives and involvement in ACHA’s Congenital Heart Legislative Conferences, advocating for CHD research and funding from legislators in Washington DC. Roslyn also serves as member of the Medical Advisory Board for “Hearts Unite the Globe” (HUG), a nonprofit organization providing education and support for the CHD community worldwide.

Education: Bachelor of Science Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, 2005.

Education: Master of Science in Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills 2007; Family Nurse Practitioner Program, 2007; Bachelor of Science Physical Education, CSU Northridge, 1982.
Certifications: Board Certified American Academy of Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner
Professional Experience: Pediatric & Adult Cardiothoracic Nurse Practitioner, Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, UCLA Medical Center: 2008-present; Clinical Cardiothoracic Nurse Coordinator, California Center for Cardiothoracic Surgery 1989-2008; CTICU RN Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center 1985-1990.
Professional Organizations: California Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Academy of Nurse practitioners

Adrienne Elaine Bawa has worked with the UCLA Children’s Heart Center since April 2020 as a CN3 Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Nurse Coordinator. Adrienne has been at UCLA since 2009, starting her career as an RN in the Emergency department at UCLA Santa Monica; then UCLA Ronald Reagan as a trauma RN in 2011. Within Emergency medicine, Adrienne worked in conjunction with pre-hospital care agencies as a flight nurse MICN (Mobile Intensive Care Nurse). As an MICN and trauma nurse, she assisted with stabilization, care and transport of critical neonates, pediatrics and adult patients. She also holds over 800 hours of flight nursing with independent agencies throughout LA County. Adrienne transitioned from Emergency medicine to the UCLA Interventional Cardiology Lab in 2018, and also served as a Magnet champion for the department. She has managed care of critically ill adults and children needing stabilization for acute cardiac events, cardiac valve etiologies, electrophysiology and peripheral interventions, including management of cardiac catheterization diagnostics and interventions in pediatric and adult CHD patients.
Education: Bachelors of Science of Nursing(BSN)West Coast University of Los Angeles -2012; Associates Degree of Nursing (RN) West Coast University of Los Angeles -2009; Vocational Nursing Certification- Maric College (LVN)- 2006; Glendale Career College- Medical Assistant/Phlebotomy-2005; National Board of Medical Technicians (EMT)-2004 Professional Role and interests:Providing family -centered compassionate care for infants, children and adolescents followed in our outpatient cardiology clinic encompassing: Coordination and support within our Cardiology specialty care center program - California Children Services (CCS). Coordination of care of Pulmonary Hypertension program and Cardiomyopathy patients with the heart transplant team. Coordination of the POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in collaboration of a multi-disciplinary team. Adrienne has a valued dedication to understanding and providing health care centered around the “whole patient” model in which healing is pertinent upon addressing the patient functionally, emotionally and socially within consideration of family-centered care that is believed to maximize outcomes and healing. Adrienne continues her education and advanced practice degree with emphasis on pediatric and adolescent psychology and wellness via Eastern and Western medicine and healing practices.