Steven L. Barnett, M.D.–New CMO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute

Steven L. Barnett, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, has been named the new chief medical officer of Irvine, California-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI). Dr. Barnett replaces Robert Gorab, M.D., a founder of HOI who served as chief medical officer for more than 10 years.

“Dr. Barnett possesses the vision, clinical acumen and passion to lead our clinical team,” said Dr. Gorab, who will remain an active surgeon and leader at HOI. “He’s been a long-time colleague and friend whose drive for high quality clinical care is without reproach. I am confident that Dr. Barnett will lead our clinical team for years to come.”

According to HOI, “Dr. Barnett will oversee the organization’s clinical quality and lead a medical staff of more than 300 physicians, including 90 orthopedic surgeons. He will also oversee HOI’s annual outcomes reporting process and serve as editor for its annual Outcomes Report.”

A board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in total joint replacement and adult reconstructive surgery, Dr. Barnett is regularly involved in community and physician education, presents at national conferences and publishes in academic journals.

Dr. Barnett earned his undergraduate degree in Physiology at the University of California, Berkeley and then went East to Boston University School of Medicine for his M.D. At Boston University, Dr. Barnett graduated Cum Laude and was selected as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He did a surgical internship and orthopedic residency at University of California, Irvine and then did a one-year fellowship in joint replacement and adult reconstructive surgery at the Institute for Bone and Joint Disorders in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Barnett told OTW, “I have been involved with Hoag Orthopedic Institute since its opening in 2010 and have held multiple leadership positions including Chairman of Orthopedics and Chief of Staff at HOI. I’ve closely worked with partner and mentor Dr. Robert Gorab throughout his tenure as CMO.”

When OTW asked about his vision for this new role, he commented, “I will use the knowledge and experience gained over the last five years in outpatient total joint program to do the same for spine. I will continue to refine the criteria for transition to outpatient surgery in a manner that is both responsible and safe for all of our patients. I plan to champion our newly created opioid stewardship campaign for postoperative surgical patients. In addition, I will refine logistics as necessary as historical inpatient cases shift to ambulatory surgery center (i.e., preop planning to minimize implant storage needs on site, appropriately apply cost-conscious use of single use instruments).”

Kim Mikes, senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at HOI, told OTW, “Dr. Barnett has led, or participated in, virtually every clinical initiative, protocol committee, workgroup and taskforce that we have had since I have been at HOI.”