In June 2024 MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center announced that Dr. Bhalla, Medical Director of its Spine Center, had been named one of the 150 surgeons on Newsweek's America's Best Spine Surgeons 2024 list.
Newsweek builds the list with the research firm Statista to help people with chronic back pain find specialized care. The 2024 ranking drew on Medicare data, a survey of more than 30,000 medical experts, peer ratings of quality of care and American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery certification, across the 20 states with the most practicing physicians.
Joe Kim, MD, the hospital's chief medical officer, called the recognition a testament to Dr. Bhalla's expertise and commitment to patients. Dr. Bhalla said the honor meant a great deal because it reflected the judgment of his peers, and described the trust patients place in him as the true north of every clinical encounter.
"It is a tremendous honor and deeply humbling."
The release also notes that the Spine Center was recognized by Blue Shield as a 2023 Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, and offers extensive pre operative education alongside surgeons trained in advanced techniques including the ExcelsiusGPS platform. Read the full announcement on the MemorialCare website.
