HOI Appoints Dr. Hafiz F. Kassam as Inaugural Director of Shoulder Reconstruction

Renowned orthopedic shoulder surgeon, Dr. Hafiz Kassam has been appointed the inaugural Director of the Shoulder Reconstruction Program at Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI), one of the nation’s largest providers of orthopedic care.

In his new role, Dr. Kassam will lead the development and strategic direction of HOI’s shoulder program, ensuring that cutting-edge innovations in shoulder treatment are seamlessly integrated into patient care. He will chair the Shoulder Program Committee, driving collaborative efforts to enhance clinical outcomes and patient experiences. Dr. Kassam’s leadership will also focus on advancing education, quality improvement, and performance initiatives across the program.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kassam to lead our Shoulder Reconstruction Program,” said Kim Mikes, MBA, RN, CEO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute. “His deep expertise in shoulder care, coupled with his dedication to advancing orthopedic practices, makes him the perfect fit to guide this critical program. We are confident that under his leadership, the program will continue to set new standards in the field and deliver exceptional outcomes for our patients.”

Dr. Kassam brings a wealth of experience to HOI, with a distinguished background in shoulder reconstruction and a passion for implementing the latest advancements in surgical techniques and patient care. He is committed to further elevating HOI’s reputation as a national leader in orthopedic care, ensuring patients have access to the most innovative and effective treatments available.

Dr. Kassam is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery. He is an expert in minimally invasive techniques in shoulder and elbow joint replacement, as well as advanced arthroscopy, traumatic reconstruction, and non-operative treatments. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, as well as the highly selective society of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Dr. Kassam is regularly invited as faculty at national courses on shoulder and elbow surgery and is currently a member of several multi-center research initiatives.

He pursued his education and training at world-class institutions in three different countries. After completing his undergraduate work and medical training in the United Kingdom, he completed his residency at the University of Toronto, which is one of the largest and most academically productive programs in North America. He then moved to the United States and completed his shoulder and elbow fellowship training at Yale University.

Dr. Kassam has performed nearly 2,000 shoulder replacements and arthroscopic reconstructions in his career so far. He was the first to complete a robotic-assisted reverse

shoulder arthroplasty in California and the fifth surgeon in the world to utilize this groundbreaking technology. HOI performs the highest volume of shoulder replacements and shoulder reconstructions in Orange County.