About

Rachel Hargrove, MD, chose a career in medicine, believing that it’s a unique privilege to be able to heal the body, relieve illness, and ease suffering. As a cardiac surgeon, she focuses her skills on one of the body’s most fascinating and important organs – the strong, resilient and spontaneous heart that leads the body through life. To be able to help patients with heart disease regain health and quality of life brings Dr. Hargrove great joy.

Seeing the smile on the patient’s face when they are heading home from the hospital…I feel the most satisfied when they tell me how much better they feel. Often in the postoperative visit, the pain, fatigue or shortness of breath is gone and I hear tales of new plans for the future without the prior limitations. These visits sustain and give me strength of purpose.

Dr. Hargrove practices patient-centered medicine. She treats each person as an individual and creates a treatment plan that is tailored to provide the best outcome for that individual. Her training and experience allows her to utilize up to date guidelines, innovative techniques and cutting-edge technology to treat her patients. She performs all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery including coronary bypass, valve repair and replacement, maze procedure and re-operation heart surgery with specialized training in AtriClip ligation of the left atrial appendage and aortic root surgery. Although heart surgery is a major event, she believes that with new advances, many surgeries can be safely done with minimally invasive approaches, making it her goal to provide minimally invasive and robotic options when feasible. 

Dr. Hargrove received her medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2010, after which she returned to her home state of California to attend Loma Linda University Medical Center for a residency in general surgery. Upon completion in 2015, she returned to Illinois for a Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship at Loyola University Medical Center. She is a member of multiple professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Women in Thoracic Surgery.

When not meeting with patients or in surgery, she enjoys time with her family as well as hiking and art. Dr. Hargrove is fluent in Spanish.

Languages

English, Spanish

Provider Specialty

Cardiothoracic - Thoracic Surgery, Surgery - Cardiothoracic

Education

Medical School

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

2010

Internship/Residency - Surgery

Loma Linda University Medical Center

2015

Fellowship Program - Cardiothoracic Surgery

Loyola University Medical Center

2017

Locations & Affiliations

Locations

Insurance

Please consult your health care provider or health plan for the most accurate information about your health plan’s coverage of a particular health care service offered at a MemorialCare facility. Learn more about our Accepted Health Plans.

Patient Reviews

4.9 out of 5
(134 Ratings)
May 28, 2026
Bradly D.
She was very knowledgeable and professional while I felt she also had a good comforting way about her. I will feel even better if she and God help me get through my surgery
May 21, 2026
Cathy L.
She’s the best surgeon in OC
May 21, 2026
Theresa B.
Dr. Hargrove was very kind and very informative about my procedure.
May 15, 2026
Robert S.
very caring excellent bedside manners
May 14, 2026
Roy H.
She knows her craft and communicates well. She instills confidence in the doctor patient relationship.
May 12, 2026
June N.
She explains thoroughlyprocedures you may be expecting.Her kind, warm manner puts a patient at eased
May 8, 2026
Eugene W.
Thorough, excellent explanations, friendly & easy to be with.
May 6, 2026
Roger S.
Very caring, competent and putting ones heart at ease... Thankful and grateful ...
Apr 30, 2026
Janey C.
She gave an excellent explanation of my heart situation. It was very helpful in my decision on what type of surgery to ask for. And I have the utmost confidence in her abilities since she was the surgeon who completed my husband‘s heart surgery five years ago.
Apr 30, 2026
Al G.
She took the time to explain everything very thoroughly, she did not make me feel rushed.

Source: Reviews are aggregated from third-party review sites such as Facebook, Google, HealthGrades, RepuGen, Vitals, WebMD, and Yelp.