Raffy Mirzayan, MD

Dr. Raffy Mirzayan is a double board-certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with over 25 years of experience, recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in sports medicine, joint preservation, and the biologic treatment of shoulder, elbow, and knee conditions. Practicing at DOCS Health in Los Angeles, he combines advanced surgical skill with a compassionate, patient-centered philosophy—helping patients regain motion, strength, and confidence.

A UCLA graduate with Departmental Honors in Kinesiology, Dr. Mirzayan earned his medical degree from the USC Keck School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society, the highest distinction in academic medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Los Angeles General Medical Center, serving as Chief Resident, followed by a sports medicine fellowship at the world-renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, where he served as assistant team physician to the Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, and Sparks.

Dr. Mirzayan is a true innovator in orthopedic surgery. He is the inventor of Biologic Tuberoplasty™, a minimally invasive arthroscopic technique that allows patients with massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears—many told they need a reverse shoulder replacement—to return to activities like golf, tennis, and pickleball with minimal downtime. He also developed BioPFJ™ biologic patellofemoral reconstruction and the Double Button Tommy John technique for UCL reconstruction. As one of the most experienced cartilage restoration surgeons in the United States, he has performed over 350 cartilage transplantation procedures in the knee, shoulder, and elbow.

A dedicated educator, Dr. Mirzayan is co-founder of Shoulder360™, one of the largest shoulder courses in the United States, bringing together surgeons from around the world to advance techniques in shoulder surgery. He is the editor of three orthopedic textbooks—Cartilage Injury in the Athlete, Shoulder and Elbow Trauma, and co-editor of Surgical Techniques in Sports Medicine—and has authored more than 150 publications and book chapters. As a Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, he has trained over 100 orthopedic residents and delivered more than 200 lectures and presentations as an international lecturer and visiting professor.

Dr. Mirzayan’s clinical focus centers on biologic solutions to joint problems, using orthobiologics such as PRP and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), cartilage restoration, and minimally invasive techniques including scarless NanoNeedle arthroscopy to delay or avoid traditional joint replacement whenever possible. His expertise spans rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability, Tommy John surgery, OCD of the capitellum, ACL reconstruction, and meniscus preservation.

His contributions have earned him recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, one of America’s Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report, and a Super Doctor, along with the UCLA President’s Medal of Honor and an Achievement Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, AAOS, AOSSM, and ISAKOS.

Dr. Mirzayan lives by the principle his mother taught him: “Whatever you do, be the best at it.”