Dr. Anthony Kim earned his M.D. at the Keck-University of Southern California School of Medicine and graduated as valedictorian with Highest Distinction and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society in 2000. He also graduated from Yale University with a B.S. intensive in Biology and a B.A. in Music. He also underwent one year of Masters in Musical Arts at Yale University.

Dr. Kim completed both a neurosurgery residency and a complex spine fellowship at the University of Southern California (USC) Department of Neurosurgery. His spine fellowship included reconstructive spine techniques in tumor, deformity, and trauma as well as travel to Australia to study the latest advancements that have not yet reached the United States. He also studied minimally invasive spinal surgery with the pioneers of the field.  Los Angeles’ first one –level minimally invasive fusion was performed at LAC-USC with Dr. Larry Khoo and Anthony Kim.

Early on his career, Dr. Kim’s research included the natural history of the ageing spine, particularly facet degeneration and diseases of the posterior spine; posterior-only approaches to the cervico-thoracic junction and thoracic ventral lesions; penetrating traumatic brain and spinal cord injury; transpedicular and en bloc trauma and tumor spine reconstructions; the use of biologics in neuro-regeneration and repair; scoliosis and adult deformity; failed back syndrome and adjacent segment degeneration; patients with prior surgery and worsening conditions; minimally invasive spine techniques; advanced imaging modalities (e.g. MR myelography, fusion bone CT-SPECT, and tensor DWI) in the care of spine patients; posterior dynamic stabilization; and rare tumors of the cerebral nervous system.  He is well versed in all forms of spinal hardware, and has implanted over 13,000 spinal instrumentation products circa 2018.

Dr. Kim continues to partner with the Brain Tumor Board at UCSF Neuro-Oncology and encourages his patient to seek academic and second opinions.  By having a local oncologist/radiation oncologist as well as academic input, Dr. Kim hopes to advance Brain Tumor Oncology in Southern California to the latest and most advanced level while assuaging patients’ concerns of “traveling to obtain the right treatment” in a timely manner.  Additionally, Dr. Kim provides close monitoring or brain tumors and metastatic tumors, and provides stereotactic radiosurgery (most commonly, cyberknife) for minimally invasive outpatient treatment.

Since 2014, Dr. Kim has served as physician liaison and now Chief Medical Officer for the application of non-invasive magnetic resonance therapy (MeRTTM) on patients with traumatic brain injury and PTSD at NeuroMod Sciences and the Brain Treatment Center.  He has worked with active soldiers as well as veterans to alleviate concerning symptoms of PTSD and depression and substance abuse.  He seeks to advance non-invasive non-surgical methods to alleviate symptoms and improve diagnosis in a new realm of neuro-physics.  As an adjunct realm of study, how the brain is affected by space travel and performance enhancement is being investigated.

He has been invited to meetings to speak before the Plenary Session at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Western Neurological Society (WNS), the AANS-CNS section of Spine and Peripheral Nerve Disorders (“Spine section”), and the AANS-CNS section of Pediatric Neurosurgery to name a few. He has published in the main neurosurgical journals, Journal of Neurosurgery, the Spine journal, Neurosurgery, and Neurosurgical Focus among others, and has reviewed for Neurosurgery in the field of penetrating trauma and for the International Society for the Advancement of Spinal Surgery (ISAAS). He is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS).

Dr. Kim has been awarded the ‘Physician of Excellence’ designation by the Orange County Medical Association (OCMA) in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  He also continues to work as interviewer and college fair speaker for Yale University and won the Yale Service Award in 2016.  He will continue to champion the motto of Yale (“Lux et Veritas”) to all high school students, and advocate for all students to achieve a higher education.

First and foremost, Dr. Kim is dedicated to the care and well-being of his patients. His goal is to combine compassionate patient care with the most up-to-date evidence-based medicine, and to provide patients with teaching, insight, and knowledge of the pros and cons of recent advances in the field.  Dr. Kim is fluent in Korean. Away from work, Dr. Kim enjoys swimming and being with his wife, two sons, and daughter.

Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery

Honors
Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS)

Medical Education
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

Residency
LAC-University of Southern California, Neurosurgery

Fellowship
LAC-University of Southern California, Neurosurgery

Office Location
Mission Viejo | T: (949) 388-7190, 26732 Crown Valley Pkwy #541, Mission Viejo, CA 92691