Nicknamed “Dr. Fix-It” by The Red Bulletin, Robert S. Bray, Jr., M.D. makes an art of helping the world’s most elite athletes return to push the boundaries of performance. The neurological spine surgeon, recognized globally for his thorough diagnoses and pioneering minimally invasive approach, is quickly redefining sports medicine, one champion at a time.

Dr. Bray’s commitment to forward-thinking medicine has resulted in the full, safer and faster recoveries of such top athletes as hurdling’s Lolo Jones, MotoX’s Robbie Maddison and Big Wave Surfing’s Ian Walsh. To date, he has performed more than 10,000 successful surgeries, with a 95% focus on outpatient procedures, in stark contrast to the nation’s 20% average.

Dr. Bray founded DISC Sports & Spine Center (DISC) in 2006, and has since then expanded the state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary facility with locations in Los Angeles and Orange County. Through DISC, 21 treated athletes were able to compete in London, nine of them returning with a collective 12 medals.

Dr. Bray launched DISC after a successful tenure at Cedar Sinai, where he had founded The Institute for Spinal Disorders and built it into one of the country’s largest spine programs. A Baylor College of Medicine graduate, he has also served as the Director of Neurosurgery and headed the spinal programs at St. John’s Medical Center, Century City Hospital and Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital. During 20 years of combined active and reserve duty with the United States Air Force, he received multiple medals and commendations for his work developing medical protocols and teaching wartime trauma techniques. Dr. Bray served as a Major while stationed as Chief of Neurosurgery at the David Grant Medical Center.

As the first California neurosurgeon to devote his practice to minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Bray began his career at the forefront of this field and remains one of its pioneers. He has multiple patents on a wide variety of spinal implants and surgical instruments and regularly consults the world’s leading medical manufacturers on the design and use of their products, including the development of the Zeiss Microscope.

In 2009, he discovered T.E.A.M. (thoracic epidural arteriovenous malformation) Disease, a debilitating condition primarily affecting young women. Dr. Bray developed a new imaging protocol with Mink Radiology to properly identify this previously misdiagnosed disease and now performs outpatient procedures that have been instrumental in reversing the severe upper back pain and loss of lower limb function that once led to paralysis.

Frequently quoted by the national media, Dr. Bray’s pioneering work has been featured on “The Doctors” and honored by Los Angeles Magazine’s Top Doctors and OC Metro. His commitment to education and research is exhibited by his roster of more than 25 trained Fellows, his lectures around the globe, and his many published, peer-viewed articles.

For more information visit rsbray.com.

Specialty:
Neurological Spine Surgery
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Education:
University of California, San Diego, 1975-1977
La Jolla, California

Colgate University, 1973-1975
Hamilton, New York

Medicine Doctor of Medicine, 1977-1980
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

Accreditation:
Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery
California Medical Licensure
Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate
California Board of Medical Quality Assurance
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners

Notable Accomplishments:
Founding Director and CEO, DISC Sports and Spine Center

TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING:

Advisory Board, RSB SPINE – Implant design, Medical Director
Advisory Board, Cortek – Bone Graft Products
Advisory Board, Integra Life Sciences – Spinal Products/Bone Substitute
Advisory Board, Sulzer Spine-Tech – Implant design
Consultant, Zeiss – Microscope design
Consultant, Blackstone Medical – Servical Plate Design
Consultant, Codman, Johnson & Johnson Instrument Design

SPORTS CONSULTING:

DISC Official Sports & Spine Center of the Los Angeles Kings
Spine Consultant for the USA Men’s Volleyball Team (previously)
DISC Official Medical Center of the USA Men’s Volleyball Team (previously)
Spine Consultant, the Los Angeles Clippers, NBA (previously)
Spine Consultant, Professional Volleyball/AVP (previously)
Spine Consultant, NFL Oakland Raiders (previously)

MEDICAL CONSULTING:

Television Series “Grey’s Anatomy”
Television Series “A Gifted Man”