As chief of KP East Bay’s Spine Surgery department for nearly 2 decades, Ravi S. Bains, MD, has been a transformative force in the field of spine surgery, demonstrating innovative leadership, unparalleled dedication to patient care, and a profound commitment to global health.
Under Dr. Bains’s leadership, KP Northern California Spine Surgery has grown into a premier spine treatment and surgical group, nationally known for its technical expertise, highly skilled surgeons, and evidence based, patient-centered outcomes.
“When patients develop a spine problem it needs to be treated conservatively first, so we collaborate with physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and pain interventionists,” says Dr. Bains, spine surgeon at KP Oakland. “We implemented pathways for patients so they can get to the right person at the right time for their spinal problem.”
While ensuring that patients are referred for spine surgery only after less-invasive treatments have been exhausted, the spine surgery department focuses on the most up-to-date technology coupled with minimally invasive procedures for spine conditions ranging from scoliosis to fusion surgery.
To elevate the quality of spine care across the region, Dr. Bains initiated the prestigious Spine Surgery Fellowship at KP Oakland, which has trained more than 20 surgeons, and he launched a monthly Continuing Medical Education (CME) webinar in spine surgery. In addition to enrolling patients in clinical trials, he has published numerous peer reviewed research articles advancing the science of spine surgery.
As founder of the nonprofit organization Standing Straight, Dr. Bains leads biannual surgical missions to Southeast Asia to offer spine surgery for impoverished children, leveraging technology to provide pre- and post-operative care coordination from Northern California.
“In the developing world, especially countries like India, spine surgery can cost 10 years of a family’s wages,” Dr. Bains says. “We partner with local surgeons, and hospitals donate their facilities. We’re able to work in a collaborative fashion, training local surgeons but also learning a lot from their practices and how resourceful they are. It’s a two-way street.”