Find a Top Orthopedic Surgeon Near Me in Mission Viejo, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

Matthew J. Gargulinski, DO, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has been practicing in California since 2007. Today, he's proud to join the OasisMD team in Encinitas, San Diego, and Temecula, California, where Dr. Gargulinski works tirelessly to help his patients recover from injuries and achieve optimal health.

Dr. Gargulinski is a graduate of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After completing his undergraduate education, he attended medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri.

While in college, he suffered a severe injury while playing football. This incident inspired him to specialize in orthopedic medicine, and he completed his residency at Michigan State University/Mt. Clemens Regional Center in Mount Clemens, Michigan (now known as McLaren Macomb). Later, he also completed his fellowship in sports medicine at OASIS MSO Inc in San Diego, California. During this time, he was mentored directly by David Chao, MD, a leading surgeon at OasisMD.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gargulinski has served as team physician for various sports, including football and rugby. He is experienced in treating cases in professional athletes, as well as on collegiate or high school teams. 

An active member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, Dr. Gargulinski is also dedicated to helping his patients recover from the effects of injury or arthritis. He strives to help patients achieve and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Dr. Gargulinski provides his patients with the compassionate, expert care they need to improve their quality of life. 

As a dedicated athlete, Dr. Gargulinski enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and beach activities. When not assisting patients, he can often be found spending time with his wife and son in the great outdoors.

Brandon A. Ortega, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who provides comprehensive and personalized spinal care to adults in Torrance and Long Beach, California. His dedication to helping each patient regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life has earned the respect of everyone in the community struggling with neck and back pain.

Dr. Ortega received his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. He stayed at USC to complete his orthopedic surgery residency, where he served as chief resident.

He pursued specialized training in spine surgery, completing a fellowship at the prestigious University of California, Davis. During his fellowship training, he learned traditional, minimally invasive, and image-guided techniques for treating complex adult and pediatric spinal deformities.

Dr. Ortega specializes in diagnosing and treating all cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) conditions. His areas of interest include motion-preserving and minimally invasive surgery and using advanced technologies like navigation, robotics, and endoscopy to improve patient safety and outcomes.

He has published many peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters and presented his research at national and international medical conferences. 

Taking a compassionate and patient-centered approach, Dr. Ortega believes in treating each patient as a person and tailoring treatment to meet their specific needs and goals. 

He creates treatment plans that integrate nonoperative interventions, including lifestyle and activity changes, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and pain management. His whole-person approach addresses each patient’s spine condition, optimizing conservative treatments and helping them avoid surgery whenever possible.

Dr. Ortega welcomes new patients and looks forward to providing ongoing care to his current patients, working with them to restore an active, healthy life.

STEPAN KASIMIAN, M.D.

Stepan Kasimian, M.D., is an orthopaedic surgeon with specialty training in complex spinal reconstruction and minimally invasive spine surgery. His primary interests include degenerative spine disease and spinal deformity. He has extensive experience in treating multiple spine disorders including disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, kyphosis, scoliosis, tumors, and spinal trauma in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

EDUCATION

Dr. Kasimian received his undergraduate degrees in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and History from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. After residency, Dr. Kasimian obtained further training in complex spinal reconstruction surgery at Cedars-Spinal Medical Center, Institute for Spinal Disorders.

RESEARCH

Dr. Kasimian has presented his research at the International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques and has written a chapter on endoscopic thoracic disc herniations in a prominent spine textbook.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

He is a member of the American Medical Association, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, North American Spine Society, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In order to better serve his patients, his practice is located in Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Rancho Cucamonga and he maintains privileges in numerous hospitals including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Glendale Adventist Medical Center.

About Dr. Unal

Berkay Unal, MD, is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery with an emphasis on shoulder and knee disorders, sports injuries, and arthritis. He treats patients at Samimi Orthopedic Group at its Los Angeles area offices in Brentwood, West Covina, and Sherman Oaks, California. 

Dr. Unal completed his undergraduate studies at The University of California, Berkeley, earning his bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology. Following his undergraduate studies, he held a research position at The University of California, Irvine, where he was involved in multiple

publications in molecular biology and infectious disease. 

Dr. Unal realized his true passion was medicine and direct patient care. He attended medical school at The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, receiving his medical degree in 2011. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Dr. Unal did an additional year of subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopy at The University of Kentucky's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship in Lexington. 

Dr. Unal started his practice in Bakersfield, California, treating high-complexity injuries. He brings his experience and expertise to the Samimi Orthopaedic Group team. 

Dr. Unal believes in a non-surgical approach as the initial step in treating most orthopedic conditions. He believes in a personalized approach and takes pride in providing knowledge and guidance to ensure his patients feel comfortable and informed.

He is a member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Unal enjoys spending time with his wife and his two daughters, weight lifting, hiking, exploring nature, snowboarding, and a variety of recreational sports in his free time. He likes to maintain an active lifestyle and aims to help his patients do the same.

Allan M. Delman, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon who has been providing expert orthopedic care at his private practice in San Pedro, California, since 1983. His areas of specialty include orthopedic joint replacement surgery (hip, knee, and shoulder replacement), arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder and ankle, sports medicine, spinal conditions, and general orthopedics including trauma.

Dr. Delman received a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine from Albany Medical College of Union University in Albany, New York where he was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.

He then completed his internship at New York University/Bellevue Hospital in New York City before moving to Southern California for his residency training at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Following his residency, Dr. Delman returned to New York University to complete a one-year fellowship in spine surgery and spinal deformities and then moved back to California to open his practice in San Pedro.

Dr. Delman’s interest in orthopedic surgery began when he played Division I basketball and baseball while at SUNY Buffalo. When he’s not caring for his patients, Dr. Delman enjoys playing golf, exercising, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Visit Dr. Kusnezov's personal website

Dr. Nicholas Kusnezov, or "Dr. K" as he is known to his patients, is a premier, nationally recognized, board-certified, and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon currently practicing in Southern California. At Ortho 1 Medical Group in La Jolla, San Diego and Coronado he specializes in total joint replacement with extensive experience in managing complex sports and traumatic injuries. His interests currently lie in muscle-sparing anterior total hip replacement, state-of-the-art robotic joint replacement, and rapid recovery protocols. 

Born on the East Coast, Dr. K spent his formative years in Southern California, graduating summa cum laude from UCLA with a degree in bioengineering and AOA from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He was the only dual recipient of the Edward K Rice Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award and the university-wide Outstanding Bachelor of Science Award. He was also solely bestowed the Longmire Surgical Society Award for his distinctive achievement and surgical aptitude. 

After medical school, Dr. K was commissioned into the U.S. Military as an officer. He completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery through the U.S. Army at the combined program of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. During his tenure at the exceedingly busy Level 1 trauma center, Dr. K served as chief resident, coordinating residency-wide academics and research. He not only graduated with distinguished honors but received the highest score on the Orthopaedic Boards Exam nationwide. He currently holds the record as the only three-time consecutive Texas Orthopaedic Association Quiz Bowl champion in history. 

Following graduation, Dr. K served out his military commitment in Nashville, TN, where he built and headed an advanced adult reconstruction program, establishing the infrastructure for a cutting-edge, high-volume joint replacement center of excellence. He dually served as the "team physician" to the revered 5th Special Forces group, 160th and 101st airborne division for four years. Upon deployment with the 349th combat support hospital and 379th air expeditionary wing, he served as the brigade orthopaedic surgeon and group physician to the SOCCENT special operations group. 

Dr. K served his country with distinction, earning multiple Meritorious Service and Army Commendation Medals. For his unsurpassed service to the community, he was consecutively bestowed the distinct honor of the Kentucky Colonel and Tennessee Aide de Camp by the respective governors. During his time in Midwest, he went on to complete an Orthopaedic Trauma Apprenticeship at Vanderbilt University and served as Director of Orthopaedic Trauma at Pikeville Medical Center, frequently providing needed coverage to underserved trauma centers throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Upon honorable completion of his military service, he returned to his home in sunny Southern California to complete the nationally renowned Adult Reconstruction Fellowship at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, relocating thereafter to San Diego to begin his ultimate practice as the premier Joint Replacement Specialist with Ortho 1 Medical Group in San Diego, in affiliation with the Sharp and Scripps Healthcare systems.

In addition to a decorated career in the U.S. Military, Dr. K is actively engaged in graduate medical education and clinical research, having co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and top-read research manuscripts in top-tier orthopaedic journals. He is a lifelong lover of education and an author and Managing Editor at Orthobullets, the foremost source of orthopaedic education worldwide. Dr. K continues to teach through case-based didactic as a chief contributor to AAOS Orthopaedic Knowledge Update and Figure1. 

Dr. Kusnezov has been recognized numerous times not only for his scholarly activity -- receiving first-place podium and research awards both regionally and nationally -- but for his clinical excellence and surgical skill by Top Doctors of America, Continental Who's Who, and Best in California Magazine. 

However, beyond the impressive achievements, and perhaps most important of all, there is a man who deeply cares for the well-being of his patients. Dr. K believes that each patient is special and each situation unique and that it is paramount to build a strong doctor-patient relationship in order to understand each patient's goals and to thereby foster the best possible outcomes. Whether this is improved pain and function, returning to an active lifestyle, or going on to gold-medal in a world championship, Dr. Kusnezov has your back and will get you there. He is currently licensed to practice in Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and California.

In his leisure time, Dr. K enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and two daughters, playing occasional pick-up racquetball, and of course, weight training, as a reigning proud member of the 1000lb club.

Braden McKnight, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained spine surgeon at Ortho 1 Medical Group in La Jolla, San Diego, and Coronado, California. 

A native of San Diego County, Dr. McKnight completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles, before receiving his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He remained at USC’s prestigious Keck School of Medicine for his orthopedic surgery residency.

With enthusiasm for continued education, Dr. McKnight relocated to Ohio to complete a combined neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at one of the top hospitals in the country, the Cleveland Clinic. Here, he trained in the most cutting-edge, complex, and minimally invasive techniques in the field.

Dr. McKnight specializes in the surgical treatment of all back and neck disorders. He is particularly interested in minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, complex revision surgery, and adult spinal deformity. He authors numerous peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters and consistently presents his research at top meetings throughout the country. 

While highly experienced in surgery, Dr. McKnight believes surgery should be a last resort for patients with back and neck problems. He prioritizes optimizing non-operative care for his patients and encourages this treatment path should always come before considering surgery. If surgery is necessary, Dr. McKnight ascribes to the “less is more” mentality, where the least invasive operation is considered first, avoiding fusion whenever possible. He aims to get patients back to being active and feeling better while minimizing recovery time. This multi-specialty approach is the safest and best way to treat back and neck problems, working with physical therapists, primary care physicians, and physiatrists for a holistic approach to spine care.

When not in the office, Dr. McKnight is an avid tennis and pickleball player and enjoys spending time with his family. He is thankful to call the city of San Diego home.

Chris S. Pallia, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon on the team at Ortho 1 Medical Group specializing in knee and shoulder disorders. Practicing in La Jolla and Coronado, California, Dr. Pallia is committed to helping his patients find pain relief and maximizing function through non-operative techniques and surgical correction for injured or diseased joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. 

Dr. Pallia approaches every patient as an individual and looks at every problem as important. He earned a degree in Bioengineering from UC San Diego, which has given him a unique appreciation of the structure and function of the human body. He was exposed to the top minds and thought leaders in medicine while studying Medicine at UCLA. 

After becoming board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Pallia‘s sub-specialty training and board certification in arthroscopy and sports medicine have provided him with the tools to optimally care for injured and degenerative joints (knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow).

Dr. Pallia has taken a keen interest in knee joint preservation, using the latest techniques to avoid joint replacement, such as biologic resurfacing with cartilage cells, joint realignment, and even bone fortification for stress reaction due to arthritis. He holds himself to the highest standards and treats everyone with the utmost courtesy and professionalism. Continually acquiring new knowledge and skills, Dr. Pallia uses all the latest techniques and equipment. He finds joy in helping all of his patients achieve their goals in life.