About Us

• About Us Richard Kim, MD, MS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery. He currently serves patients across Orange County and Los Angeles at his practices, in Newport Beach, California and Orange, CA. Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Kim earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside, followed by a Master of Science in biochemistry and neurophysiology. He then earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, graduating magna cum laude. Dr. Kim’s post-graduate training included an internship and residency at New York University Medical Center and a fellowship in epilepsy surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Kim serves as the Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach and is a diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. An active researcher, Dr. Kim has published numerous scientific articles and chapters in neurosurgical textbooks on subjects ranging from surgery for epilepsy to complex spine surgery. He has also been an invited speaker at many professional conferences. As a result of his years of training, Dr. Kim specializes in performing artificial disc replacement, cervical fusion surgery, lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, lumbar fusion surgery, sacroiliac joint fusion, spinal tumor removal, craniotomy, and gamma knife radiosurgery. He also specializes in treating conditions such as herniated discs, stenosis, radiculopathy, back pain, sciatica, spinal fractures, tumors, and epilepsy. Dr. Kim is active in many professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society, the American Epilepsy Society, the Epilepsy Foundation of America, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Kim is an avid cyclist, with experience in competitive mountain and road cycling. As a two-time California state champion, cycling informs his philosophy in practice, trying to get patients back to being as active as they can be. Cycling has influenced Dr. Kim's approach to treatment by focusing on patient goals and optimizing their activity.