Dr. Behrooz Akbarnia is a board certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
who specializes in the treatment of spinal disorders. Dr. Akbarnia has had
a highly distinguished career in the spine field and is respected worldwide
for his contributions to improving the treatment of patients with spinal
disorders.
Currently, Dr. Akbarnia is the Medical Director at the San
Diego Center for Spinal Disorders in La Jolla, CA. He is also a Clinical
Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of California
San Diego, and Director of the San Diego Spine Fellowship Program.
Following completion of his medical degree at Tehran University
Medical School in Iran, Dr. Akbarnia moved to the United States in 1968
to continue his training. He completed his internship in Massachusetts,
orthopaedic surgery residency at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY and in
pediatric orthopaedic surgery (Shriners and St. Christopher Hospitals in
Philadelphia, PA).
However, the most formative part of Dr. Akbarnia’s training
was his completion of the John H. Moe Scoliosis Fellowship Program. Dr.
Moe is considered the forefather of modern orthopaedic spine surgery in
the US, and many of his fellows, including Dr. Akbarnia, have gone on to
become leaders in the field of spinal deformity. Dr. Akbarnia notes that
the treatment principles he employs today are rooted in the knowledge and
expertise he gained from Dr. Moe and his associates.
Upon completion of his training, Dr. Akbarnia rose to become
Professor and vice Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at St. Louis University.
Then in 1990, he made the decision to move to the west coast and established
his current practice in La Jolla, CA.
Dr. Akbarnia’s years in the San Diego area have been
marked by the development of his internationally recognized spine practice
(the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders), further accomplishments in
medical research and academics, and also extensive involvement with community
service in southern California.
Dr. Akbarnia is the Director of the San Diego Spine Fellowship,
of which the graduates are featured in the Fellowship section of this website. He
has also chaired the San Diego City Wide Spine meetings since 1997, a meeting
which brings interested physicians in the San Diego Spine community together
for educational forums and discussion.
Throughout his career, Dr. Akbarnia has received many awards
and honors including the Physician’s Recognition Award (American Medical
Association), the Orthopaedic Educational Achievement Award (American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons), and the Goldstein Award for the Best Clinical
Exhibit (Scoliosis Research Society). Most recently he was listed as one
of "America’s Top Surgeons" by the Consumers’ Research Council
of America as well as being named as a “Top Doctor” both in
2004 and 2005 by San Diego Magazine.
Dr. Akbarnia is an active member of many professional societies
and organizations. Currently, he is President of the Scoliosis Research
Society (the leading society for spinal deformity surgeons). He also is an
active member of the Orthopaedic Research Society, the American Academy
of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American
Orthopaedic Association, the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America,
the American Spinal Injury Association, and the North American Spine Society.
A prolific researcher and author, Dr. Akbarnia has published
over 200 peer-reviewed and invited articles and book chapters and has edited
two books. Further, Dr. Akbarnia has traveled and presented his research
at more than 400 medical meetings around the world.
While Dr. Akbarnia’s medical accomplishments are outstanding,
it is his integrity and compassion that is often most commented on by his
patients. He is currently spear-heading the development of the Growing
Spine Study Group, an international study group working to study and improve
the care of young children with Early Onset Scoliosis. He has been
involved in numerous community service projects, including leadership roles
with Easter Seals, Neurofibromatosis Foundation and in various child abuse
prevention programs.
Dr. Akbarnia and his wife live in La Jolla. They have
three adult children and two grandchildren.
