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Kushagra Verma, MD, MS, FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at Advanced Spine Care in Los Alamitos and Marina Del Rey, California. He is fellowship-trained in complex spine surgery and has many years of experience. He offers surgery when it’s the best option to ensure the highest quality of life for his patients.

Dr. Verma earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Cornell University School of Engineering in Ithaca, New York, and a master’s degree in molecular biology from the NYU Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in New York City. He completed medical school at NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

Dr. Verma also completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University’s Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and an adult and pediatric spine fellowship (with a focus on spinal deformities) at the University of California at San Francisco. 

Dr. Verma has been recognized many times for his expertise. He was selected by The Leading Physicians as a Top Orthopedic Surgeon of the Spine. He also received the Top Doctor Award in Los Alamitos and numerous other professional recognitions for his excellence. 

Dr. Verma is an experienced college educator with experience at the University of Washington in Seattle, Long Beach Memorial in Long Beach, California, and the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. 

He specializes in treating spinal anomalies, including spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, disc herniation, and flatback syndrome. Dr. Verma is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS). He has contributed to nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications. 

Dr. Verma spends as much time as patients need to ensure they feel heard with all of their questions addressed. He fully explains their diagnoses, thoroughly reviews all imaging results, and discusses detailed treatment options — always giving patients a voice in their treatments. He uses the latest technological advances and procedures to ensure long-lasting outcomes.

Dr. Verma welcomes new and existing patients to Advanced Spine Care and looks forward to optimizing their spinal health and overall quality of 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.

A native of South Africa, he completed both his undergraduate studies and his medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr. Tradonsky went on to complete his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He then did a fellowship in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital Center, Chicago, Illinois. 

Kristopher Downing, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Ortho 1 Medical Group in San Diego, and La Jolla, California. Dr. Downing specializes in orthopedic and hand surgery. He holds board certifications from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) as a fellow and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH).

Dr. Downing earned his bachelor’s degree in 2001 at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), completing a seven-year biomedical sciences program that included enrollment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) during his fourth year. In 2004, he received his medical degree from UCLA.

After graduation, Dr. Downing completed his surgical internship at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, before relocating to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for his surgical residency. He received extensive training at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Health System hospitals, the only freestanding orthopedic surgery department in the US.

Dr. Downing later received additional training at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, completing a hand surgery fellowship. Today, he uses his expertise to perform surgery to correct trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other painful hand conditions.

He is an expert in wrist arthroscopy, trigger finger release, and cubital tunnel release. Dr. Downing also uses his skill as an orthopedic surgeon to perform arthroscopic surgery on the knees, shoulders, and elbows. This minimally invasive technique results in less pain and downtime than traditional open surgery.

Dr. Downing is a compassionate and patient-focused surgeon. His goal is to help his patients recover from injury using the least invasive methods possible. His meticulous care has helped countless patients return to the activities they love without pain or restricted mobility.

When away from work, Dr. Downing loves to spend time with his wife and three children. He comes from a family of carpenters and considers himself a craftsman much in the same way. While his father and brother build and repair homes, he uses his training to restore function and strength to the human body.

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.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, he completed his undergraduate work at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. He received his medical doctorate from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Peterson completed his surgery internship at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, and an orthopaedic residency at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California. His post graduate training included two fellowships: Hand Surgery at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, and Foot and Ankle Surgery fellowship at Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Post fellowship positions included Staff Orthopaedic Surgeon, Director, Foot and Ankle Surgery Service and Staff Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California.