In May 2022 the Long Beach Business Journal followed Dr. Amandeep Bhalla and his father, Dr. Sarbpaul Bhalla, into the operating room at Long Beach Medical Center. The two orthopedic spine surgeons operate together most weeks, usually on five or six cases, and by the time of the article had performed more than 1,500 orthopedic surgeries side by side over six years.
The article describes a partnership built on trust. Dr. Sarbpaul Bhalla began his surgical career in India in 1972, moved to the United States in 1976 and completed his orthopedic residency in 1989. Dr. Amandeep Bhalla grew up in Southern California, studied at the University of Pennsylvania, attended the UCLA School of Medicine, completed his residency at Harbor-UCLA and trained in spine surgery during a fellowship at Harvard. Despite decades more experience, the elder Dr. Bhalla defers to his son in the operating room, and his son in turn leans on his father's judgment.
A focus of the piece is technology. Two months before the article, the Bhallas completed their 100th procedure using the ExcelsiusGPS robotic arm, a system that lets surgeons plan and navigate screw placement in three dimensions. Long Beach Memorial was the first hospital in Los Angeles County to acquire the robot, and the Bhallas now train surgeons from other hospitals to use it. Robotic assisted and minimally invasive techniques remain central to how Dr. Amandeep Bhalla practices today.
"A surreal experience."
The article closes with Dr. Sarbpaul Bhalla reflecting on eventual retirement and the comfort of knowing his son will carry on his approach to patient care. For the full story and the original photographs, read the article on the Long Beach Business Journal website.
