Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD
Behrooz Akbarnia graduated from Tehran University Medical School in 1966 and continued training in Orthopaedic Surgery in the United States. Following his residency at Albany Medical Center, he completed a Scoliosis and Spine Fellowship under Dr. John Moe and colleagues at the Twin Cities Scoliosis Center. Dr. Akbarnia was Professor and Vice Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at St. Louis University for 10 years before relocating to San Diego in 1990. There, he established his academic practice under San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, created the San Diego Spine Fellowship Program, and founded both the San Diego Spine (SDSF) and the Growing Spine Foundations to support academic activities.
In addition to SDSF’s Fellowship program, Dr. Akbarnia spearheaded a City Wide Spine Meeting in San Diego beginning in 1997 to bring the San Diego Spine Community together through an educational effort that would help to improve the care of patients with spinal conditions. Since then, dozens of internationally known spine surgeons have been guest speakers at this event, which evolved into SDSF’s Annual Visiting Professorship. This event continues annually in July on the last Friday of the month.
Dr. Akbarnia’s most recent contributions have focused both on adult spine deformity and Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) and growing spine. Through Growing Spine Study Group (GSSG), establishing the International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis (ICEOS), which is now in its 11th year, and publishing 2 editions of The Growing Spine textbook, he has significantly affected the lives of children with EOS worldwide. His most recent contribution is the development and popularization of a new magnetic device, MCGR, for young children with EOS, eliminating the need for multiple surgeries for lengthenings.
His research comprises over 200 published papers; many book chapters, and many international presentations. In addition of being president and founder of SDSF, he is currently a Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at University of California, San Diego, and, he is a past president of the Scoliosis Research Society, having received many awards and honors from that society. He enjoys his three children and five grand children and resides with his wife, Nasrin Owsia, M.D. in La Jolla, California.