Hoag Orthopedic Institute Names Steven L. Barnett, M.D. As New Chief Medical Officer

Orthopedic surgeon Steven L. Barnett, M.D., has been named the new Chief Medical Officer of Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI), which performs the most hip and knee joint replacement surgeries in California. He replaces Robert Gorab, M.D., a founder of HOI who served in the position for more than 10 years.

“Dr. Barnett possesses the vision, clinical acumen and passion to lead our clinical team,” said Dr. Gorab, who will remain an active surgeon and leader at HOI. “He’s been a long-time colleague and friend whose drive for high quality clinical care is without reproach. I am confident that Dr. Barnett will lead our clinical team for years to come.”

In his new position, Dr. Barnett will oversee the organization’s clinical quality and lead a medical staff of more than 300 physicians, including 80 orthopedic specialists. He will also oversee HOI’s annual outcomes reporting process and serve as editor for its annual Outcomes Report.

Dr. Barnett is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in total hip replacement, total knee replacement and adult reconstructive surgery. His area of expertise incudes primary and revision surgical procedures of the hip and knee, including direct anterior approach to hip replacement.

Dr. Barnett is involved in community and physician education and has presented at numerous conferences nationally and is published in many journals on arthritis and new advances in joint replacement techniques. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the California Orthopedic Association, and the Western Orthopedic Association.

He received his undergraduate degree in Physiology at the University of California, Berkeley. Afterwards, he attended Boston University School of Medicine for his medical degree. At Boston University, Dr. Barnett graduated Cum Laude and was selected as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He then went on to complete both his surgical internship and orthopedic residency at University of California, Irvine. Following residency, he completed an additional fellowship year in joint replacement and adult reconstructive surgery at the Institute for Bone and Joint Disorders in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Dr. Gorab has set the bar high for HOI in terms of providing world-class quality orthopedic care, and our clinical outcomes reflect his dedication for continuous quality improvement,” added Dr. Barnett. “His passion for high quality surgical care, clinical accountability and transparency in reporting clinical outcomes is a commitment I will work tirelessly to honor and uphold,” he said.

HOI is ranked in the top two percent of orthopedic hospitals in the nation, according to research from U.S. News & World Report. HOI has the lowest hip-knee replacement surgical complication rate in southern California and is ranked number two nationally.