Nitin Bhatia

Chief, Spine Surgery at University of California, Irvine

Dr. Nitin N. Bhatia is a highly esteemed medical professional and academic leader in the field of orthopaedic surgery, particularly specializing in spinal surgery. Here are some key points about his background and achievements:

Education and Training

Dr. Bhatia graduated with honors from Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1994.1 2 3
He attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he earned his M.D. in 1998 and was the valedictorian of his graduating class.1 2 3

Residency and Fellowships

Dr. Bhatia completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at UCLA.
He then completed two spine surgery fellowships: one at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital, and another at Miami Children’s Hospital.1 2 3

Professional Roles

Dr. Bhatia serves as the Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).1 2 6
He is also a Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at UCI.5

Specializations and Expertise

Dr. Bhatia specializes in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of spinal disorders, including spinal stenosis, disc herniations, spine trauma, scoliosis, complex cervical and lumbar reconstruction, and failed back syndrome.1 3 4
He has expertise in both orthopaedic and neurosurgical techniques and is skilled in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) and robot-assisted spine surgery.3 4

Research and Awards

Dr. Bhatia is actively involved in multiple research projects, including federally funded spinal cord injury research. He has been nominated for the prestigious Russell Hibbs research award by the Scoliosis Research Society.1 2
His research has won awards from the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), the Western Orthopaedic Association (WOA), and the American College of Spine Surgery.1

Memberships and Recognition

Dr. Bhatia is a member of several international and national spine-related organizations, including the North American Spine Society and the exclusive Cervical Spine Research Society, to which fewer than 20 physicians in California have been admitted.1 2
He has been featured in various media outlets, including "Guardian Angels, MD" on The Learning Channel (TLC), PBS, Sports Illustrated, Time, the Orange County Register, Fox Sports, and the Bill Handel radio show on KFI.1 2

Teaching and Leadership

Dr. Bhatia frequently gives lectures and runs meetings for other surgeons to teach his advanced techniques. He has been selected to run instructional lectures and symposia for multiple international organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME).1

Dr. Bhatia's LinkedIn profile can be found under the username nitin-bhatia-4a969140.7