Spine Institute of San Diego Main Office: Alvarado Campus
La Jolla
Mission Valley
Appointments: 619-265-7912
Fax: 619-265-7922
Email: info@sdspineinstitute.com
About Us
   
   
   


Contact Us
Have a Doctor Evaluate Your Case Media

Home > About Us > Dr. Kim Print Page Print Page

Dr. Kim
Biography

Dr. Choll Kim graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School and completed his fellowship training in complex spine surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He is board certified by American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Dr. Kim is a nationally known expert in the modern field of computer-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery. He has trained specialists throughout the country on the safe and effective application of state-of-the-art techniques using image guidance and navigation technologies.

Dr. Kim utilizes a broad range of minimally invasive treatments to effectively treat all aspects of complex spinal disorders, including spinal stenosis, spinal deformities (such as scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and kyphosis), traumatic injuries, tumors, and infections throughout the entire spine from the neck to the low back.

A leader in his field, Dr. Kim is the founder of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS), director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Center at Alvarado Hospital and associate clinical professor at UCSD. He is a Qualified Medical Evaluator and a past voting member of the FDA Orthopedic Devices Panel which reviews all new spinal technologies. Additionally, Dr. Kim is an active member of the North American Spine Society and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and past-president of the San Diego Chapter of the Western Orthopaedic Association.

» MIS Benefits & Testimonials


Choll W. Kim, M.D. Ph.D.
Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery



Certification and Licensure
  • Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • California State Medical License: A064323
  • Qualified Medical Evaluator: QME #955174

Educational Background and Special Training
  • Mayo Clinic
    Fellowship in Spine Surgery - June 2002

  • University of California, San Diego
    Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery - July 2001

  • Harvard Medical School
    M.D.  Graduation with Honors, cum laude - June 1996

  • Residency
    Orthopedic Surgery
    University of California, San Diego

  • University of California, Los Angeles
    Ph.D. in Molecular Biology - August 1992

  • University of California, San Diego
    B.A./M.S. in Biology, Combined 5-year program - June 1987

Administrative/Academic Activites
  • SAS Journal, Associate Editor, MIS Section: 2006 – present
  • President, San Diego Chapter - Western Orthopaedic Association: 2007 - present
  • Director, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: June 2006 - present
  • UCSD Spine Fellowship, International Program Director: July 2004 - 2008
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – Active Fellow -  March 2006-present
    FDA Orthopaedic Devices Panel - Voting Member - Jun 2004-2008
    Director Spine Research Program - Jan 2005-present
    Course Director for Surgery 401 and 427 - July 2003-2007
    UCSD Medical School ISP Liaison -  Feb 2005-2008
    Manuscript Reviewer – The Spine - Jun 2003-present
    Manuscript Reviewer – Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research - Apr 2005-present
    Treasurer/Secretary, San Diego Chapter – Western Orthopaedic Association - Jul 2003 -2007
    Member, North American Spine Society - Nov 2001 - present
    Faculty, Stein Institute for Research in Aging - Aug 2002 - present
    Orthopaedic Research Advisory Committee - Jan 2003 - present
  • Instructional Course Lectures, MIS Program Moderator - Feb 2009

Awards And Honors
  • World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery & Techniques: 2008 Lyman Smith Award, Best Basic Science Presentation - June 2008
  • Expert Consultant for ABC News - May 2007
    Fourth Annual Asian Heritage Awards – Nominee - May 2007
  • VA Merit Review Entry Program Grant - Jan 2004
  • UCSD Academic Senate Grant - Apr 2003, Jun 2007
    Academic Geriatric Resource Center Award - February 2003
  • OREF Zimmer Award - January 2003
    California Orthopaedic Association Lloyd W. Taylor Award - Feb 2000
    James Esch Award for Best Clinical Research - Jun 1999
    Honors in Special Field, cum laude – Harvard Medical School - June 1996
    Selected Speaker, Harvard Medical School Research Assembly - June 1994
    Harvard Medical School Student Research Fellowship - Terms 1993 and 1994
    Mandel Scholarship – UCLA - Term 1991
    United States Public Health Service National Research Awards - Terms 1988, 1989, 1990
    UCLA Graduate Division Scholarship - Term 1987

Academic Interests
  • Computer-assisted Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
        Image-guidance and Spinal Navigation
  •     Endoscopic Diskectomy Surgery
  •     Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion
  •     Thoracoscopic Spinal Surgery
  •     Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF/XLIF)
  • Spinal Tumor
    Spinal Infections
  • Adult Scoliosis

Personal
  • Born in Rangoon, Burma – Nov 13, 1964.

    Married to Jacqueline with son Alexander (born11/17/94) and daughter Jessica (born 8/8/97).

  • Contact Information
  • Address:
    Spine Institute of San Diego
    Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
    6719 Alvarado Road, Suite 308, San Diego, CA 92120
    Appointments: (619) 265-7912
    Fax: (619) 265-7922
    E-mail: chollkim@sdspineinstitute.com