Ray Raven, MD, MBA, MHCIHand & Upper Limb Specialist
Dr. Ray Raven is a renowned orthopedic surgeon with diverse experience and a rich history of impactful contributions to the medical field. With subspecialty training in hand and upper extremity surgery and sports medicine, he belongs to a select group of surgeons nationwide. Triple board certified in Orthopedic Surgery, Surgery of the Hand, and orthopedic Sports Medicine.
Born and raised in East Side San Jose, Dr. Raven, a proud product of California public schools, pursued his bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UC Irvine. He then attained his medical degree from UC San Francisco, where he went on to hone his skills in multiple areas of surgery, including vascular, neurosurgery, plastic, orthopedic, and reconstructive limb surgery, during his internship and residency.
Dr. Raven’s postgraduate training is vast and internationally recognized, taking him from the birthplace of Nelson Mandela in Umtata, South Africa, where he served as a volunteer surgeon, to Barcelona, Spain, where he studied complex wrist conditions at Institut Kaplan. He further expanded his expertise with pediatric hand and upper extremity surgery at Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Dallas before completing his fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital-Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Beyond his acclaimed surgical practice, Dr. Raven is a passionate physician entrepreneur and patient advocate. He co-founded and served as the CEO of orthopedic Surgery Specialists, a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment center for musculoskeletal conditions in Los Angeles County, overseeing quality healthcare delivery for over 70,000 patient encounters annually. He is dedicated to health equity, collaborating with other healthcare providers to address disparities in treatment outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. To support this cause, he co-founded the OSS Health Network Foundation to aid uninsured patients and families with their healthcare needs.
Dr. Raven’s commitment to society extends beyond the walls of his clinic. As a member of the Medical Reserve Corps, he volunteers on missions to developing countries, providing essential medical services. A strong advocate for education, especially for children from underprivileged backgrounds, Dr. Raven has served on the Board of Directors for Rocketship Education since 2015. This non-profit network of public elementary charter schools focuses on lifting communities in economically challenged areas.
Additionally, Dr. Raven is the CEO and co-founder of Smart Health & Wellness. This transformative medical practice focuses on comprehensive musculoskeletal care for patients with injuries and chronic conditions and emphasizes injury prevention and wellness services. The team at Smart strives to empower individuals to live their best lives, bridging the gap between healthcare and wellness through their comprehensive approach, delivering personalized physical therapy, fitness training, and wellness services. The vision for SMaRT is to be a global leader in comprehensive musculoskeletal health and wellness, integrating advanced technology, evidence-based practices, and innovative therapies for a seamless patient experience.
An esteemed fellow of the American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and an active member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), Dr. Raven’s influence extends to educational and scholarly platforms as well. He co-founded Handle, the Hand Society’s premier educational web portal. He was the first Deputy Editor for Social Media for the Journal of Hand Surgery. His exceptional leadership in orthopedic practice has earned him the prestigious designation of Fellow of the American orthopedic Association (AOA), an honor achieved by fewer than 10% of practicing orthopedic surgeons. He holds a significant role on the California orthopedic Association (COA) board of directors. He is slated to preside over the largest state orthopedic association in 2025.
Dr. Raven’s reputation as a surgeon is complemented by his achievements as a visionary business leader and physician executive. Holding a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from UC Irvine and a Masters in Health Care Innovation (MHCI) from the University of Pennsylvania, he has transformed his practice’s delivery model into a scalable and sustainable Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), fostering more than 20% growth per year on average. He has centralized business functions for his providers within a Management Services Organization (MSO), optimizing operations and financially integrating multiple medical groups. This approach promotes high-quality healthcare outcomes across the OSS Health Network.
Dr. Raven holds multiple patents for medical devices used to treat upper extremity fractures. He has a keen eye for future healthcare trends and continuously adapts his practice to meet upcoming demands. His interests span digital health technology, augmented and virtual reality, and regenerative medicine therapeutics, providing subject matter expertise to several health-tech companies as an advisory board member.
Away from his professional commitments, Dr. Raven cherishes the simple joys of life – chess, photography, mountain biking, backpacking, martial arts, and traveling with his wife, Despina. His extraordinary journey is a testament to his relentless commitment to advancing healthcare, advocating for education, and serving the community. Dr. Raven’s unique blend of medical expertise, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills position him as a true pioneer in the healthcare industry.
EDUCATION
- 2019
Master of Health Care Innovation (MHCI)
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania - 2013
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine - 1997
Medical Degree (MD)
School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco - 1993
Bachelor of Science (BS), Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
School of Biology, University of California, Irvine
POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING
- 08/2003 - 01/2005
Fellowship, Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Columbia University - St. Luke’s - Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY
Department of orthopedic Surgery - CV Starr Hand Surgery Center
Chief: Steven Glickel, M.D.
Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, Dallas, TX
Department of orthopedic Surgery
Chief: Mary-Beth Ezakie, M.D.
Surgery of the Hand and Wrist
Institut Kaplan, Barcelona, Spain
Chairman: Marc Garcia-Elias, M.D. - 07/1998 - 06/2003
Residency, orthopedic Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
Department of orthopedic Surgery
Chairman: David Bradford, M.D. - 06/1997 - 05/1998
Internship, General Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Surgery
Chairman: Theodore Schrock, M.D.
LICENSURE
- State of Hawaii Medical License - 2016
- State of California Fluoroscopy X-Ray Supervisor and Operator - 2005
- State of California Medical License - 1998
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration License - 1998
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
- Certificate of Added Qualifications in orthopedic Sports Medicine, ABOS - 2010
- Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand, ABOS - 2008
- Diplomate, American Board of orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) - 2007
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EXPERIENCE
- 2023 - present
orthopedic Hand & Upper Limb Specialist
SMaRT Health & Wellness, Aliso Viejo, CA - 2016 - present
orthopedic Hand & Upper Limb Specialist
orthopedic Surgery Specialists, Burbank CA - 2005 - Present
orthopedic Surgeon, Qualified Medical Evaluator
Raven Orthopedics, Inc., Burbank, CA - 2004 - 2005
Physician
Kaiser Permanente, South San Francisco, CA
APPOINTMENTS
- 2018 - 2020
Division Chief, orthopedic Surgery
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
Department of Surgery, Burbank, CA - 2008 - 2016
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Department of orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles, CA
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
- 2021 - present
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
SMaRT Health & Wellness, Aliso Viejo, CA - 2021 - present
Co-Founder, Managing Member
SMaRT Health & Wellness Management, Aliso Viejo, CA - 2021 - present
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Medical Director
East County Urgent Care, Inc El Cajon, CA - 2021 - present
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Medical Director
Burbank Urgent Care, Inc, Burbank, CA - 2021 - present
Founder, Chief Visionary Officer and Managing Member
California MSK MSO, LLC, Burbank, CA - 2018 - present
Board of Councilors - State Legislative & Regulatory Issues Committee
American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL - 2016 - present
Executive Medical Director and Managing Member
Glendale Surgery Center, Glendale, CA - 2016 - Present
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner
orthopedic Surgery Specialists, Burbank, CA - 2016 - 2020
Chief Medical Officer
AppliedVR, Los Angeles, CA - 2015 - 2021
Deputy Editor, Social Media
Journal of Hand Surgery, Chicago, IL - 2014 - present
Managing Member
Buena Vista Surgery Center, Burbank, CA
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY AFFILIATION
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA - 2021 - present
- Glendale Surgery Center, Glendale CA - 2016 - present
- Buena Vista Surgery Center, Burbank CA - 2015 - present
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Burbank CA - 2005 - present
ADDITIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 2023
- Qualified Medical Evaluator, California Division of Workers' Compensation - 2023
- Volume to Value: Preparing Your Practice for Healthcare Reform, AAOS - 2015
- Emerging Issues in Health Care, Harvard University Executive Education - 2014
- Health Care Forecast Conference, UCI Merage School of Business - 2014
- AOA Leadership Series, University of Chicago Booth School of Management - 2013
- Disaster Response Training, SOMOS/OTA/AAOS/POSNA, Chicago, IL - 2013
- Executive Leadership Residential, UCI Merage School of Business - 2013
- Federal Policy in Health Care, The Washington Campus, Washington D.C. - 2012
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- American orthopedic Association (AOA), Fellow - 2021
- American Association of orthopedic Executives (AAOE), Member - 2012
- Wilderness Medicine Society (WMS), Member - 2010
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), Member - 2009
- American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), Fellow - 2008
- American Association for Hand Surgery (ASSH), Member - 2008
- California Medical Association (CMA), Member - 2006
- Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), Member - 2001
- California orthopedic Association (COA), Member - 1999
- American Medical Association (AMA), Member - 1998
PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES
- Vice President (Presidential Line), COA - 2021- present
- State Legislative and Regulatory Issues Committee, AAOS/BOC - 2019 - present
- Program Chair, Annual Meeting of the COA, Laguna Niguel, CA - 2016
- Industry Guide Editorial Board, ASSH - 2016 - 2018
- Advisory Group, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - 2016 - 2020
- Social Media Advisory Board, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - 2016 - 2018
- Board of Directors, COA - 2014 - present
- Information Technology Committee, COA - 2014 - 2021
- Hand-e (Online-Education Platform) Advisory Board, ASSH - 2014 - 2020
- Committee on Evidence-Based Quality and Value, AAOS - 2013 - 2015
- Public Education Committee, ASSH - 2012 - 2017
- Co-Chair and Co-Founder, Hand-e Online Resource Network, ASSH - 2011 - 2014
- Commercial Support Committee, ASSH - 2010 - 2015
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE
- Board of Directors, Rocketship Public Schools (Non-profit), San Jose, CA - 2015
- Board of Directors, Manus Club, Inc (Non-profit), NY, NY - 2014 - present
- Emergency Services Department, Black Rock City, NV - 2013 - 2014
- Volunteer Surgeon, Hôpital Sacré Coeur, Milot, Haiti - 2011
- Medical Reserve Corps of Los Angeles, CA - 2009 - present
- Volunteer Clinical Faculty, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA - 2008 - 2014
- Volunteer Surgeon, Bedford Orthopedic Hospital, Umtata, South Africa - 2002
- Volunteer Health Screening Physician, Silver Creek High School, San Jose, CA - 1997 - present
HONORS AND AWARDS
- East Side Union High School District Hall of Fame, San Jose, CA - 2017
- Emerging Leaders Program, AOA - 2013
- Leadership Fellows Program, AAOS - 2013
- Young Leaders, ASSH - 2009
- S.O.F.C.O.T. International Traveling Fellowship - 2003
- Excellence in Teaching and Leadership, Department of Orthopedics, UCSF - 2003
- Orthopedics Overseas - OREF Traveling Fellowship - 2001
HEALTH-TECH START-UP EXPERIENCE
- 2019 - present
OutcomeMD
Advisor - 2018 - present
OpticSurg, New York, NY
Advisor - 2018 - 2022
Stasis Labs
Advisor - 2016 - 2020
CaseTabs, Santa Monica, CA
Advisor - 2018 - 2020
Former Chief Medical Officer
AppliedVR, Los Angeles, CA
Advisor
ORIGINAL INVENTIONS
- System for treating bone fractures: US Patent No 9295506B2 - 2016
- System for treating bone fractures: US Patent No 8603148B2 - 2014
- System for treating bone fractures: US Patent No 8591554B2 - 2013
- Clavicle bone plate: US Patent No 20120059424A1 - 2012
- “Raven” surgical retractor: US Patent No D642679S1 - 2011
- System for treating bone fractures: U.S. Patent No D622853S1 - 2010
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Other Publications
- Audio Digest: Dupuytren Contracture: Diagnosis and Treatment Options. August 2020
- White Paper: Practice Survival for an orthopedic Practice During COVID-19. California orthopedic Association. April 2020
- White Paper: Telehealth in Orthopedics: An Essential Technology. California orthopedic Association. December 2019
- Op-Ed: Embracing digital technology in the ASC. Physician Practice. March 2020.
- Educational Brochure: The Jammed Finger. American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Patient Education. 2015
Editor & Reviewer
- Information Technology Editor. American Society for Surgery of the Hand Textbook of Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery. 2013 - 2016
- Reviewer. Journal of Hand Surgery (American). 2014 - 2016
Books, Chapters, and Contributions
- Raven R, Kushner H, Nguyen D, Naam N, Curtin C. Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Treatment With Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum Among Subgroups of Patients With Dupuytren Contracture. Annals of Plastic Surgery: September 2014;73-3:286-290
- Zlotolow D, Raven R. Salvage procedures of the wrist. American Society for Surgery of the Hand Textbook of Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery. 2013
- Zlotolow D, Raven R. The ulnar side of the wrist. American Society for Surgery of the Hand Textbook of Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery. 2013
- Lifchez DS, McKee DM, Raven RB, Shafritz AB, Tueting JL: Guidelines for Ethical and Professional Use of Social Media in a Hand Surgery Practice. Journal of Hand Surgery 2012;37A:2636–2641.
- Zlotolow D, Raven R: Avoiding complications with volar plating of distal radial fractures. Current orthopedic Practice. 23(4):300-304, July/August 2012.
- Zlotolow DA, Raven RB 3rd. Treatment Options After Failed Distal Radial Fracture Treatment (Salvage Procedures). Operative Techniques in Orthopedics. 2009 Apr;19(2):119-129.
- Greene D, Raven R, Carvalho G, Maas CS. Epidemiology of facial injury in blunt assault. Determinants of incidence and outcome in 802 patients. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997 Sep;123(9):923-928.
- Azakie A, McElhinney DB, Thompson RW, Raven RB, Messina LM, Stoney RJ. Surgical management of subclavian-vein effort thrombosis as a result of thoracic outlet compression. J Vasc Surg. 1998 Nov;28(5):777-786
- Macdonald MR, Spiegel JH, Raven RB, Kabaker SS, Maas CS. An anatomical approach to glabellar rhytids. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998 Dec;124(12):1315-1320.
- Hwang PH, Tami TA, Lee KC, Raven RB. Attitudes, knowledge, and practices of otolaryngologists treating patients infected with HIV. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg. 1995 Dec;113(6):733-739.
Presentations and Posters at Society Meetings
- Program Moderator. Practice Management Day. California orthopedic Association; 2023 Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA
- Presenter. Management Services Organization: What is an MSO? Practice Management Section. California orthopedic Association; 2023 Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA
- Presenter. How to Leverage the Internet for Your Hand Surgery Practice. Instructional Course. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2020 Annual Meeting, Virtual.
- Presenter: Dupuytren’s Disease. Kaiser Permanente Dale Daniel orthopedic Symposium; 2020 Annual Meeting. Miramonte Indian Wells, CA
- Presenter. Distal Radius Fractures. The Volar Plate is Not the Panacea. California orthopedic Association; 2018 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA
- Moderator/Presenter. The Internet and Social media – Marketing your practice and dealing with negative online reviews. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2017 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Lecturer/Instructor: Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Use of Ultrasound for the Elbow. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Lecturer: 8th Annual Los Angeles orthopedic Trauma Course: Hot Topics in orthopedic Trauma. Acute Traumatic Instability of the Elbow: Fixing Them Right the First Time.
- Lecturer/Instructor: Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: A Primer for Hand Surgeons. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Use of Ultrasound for the Elbow
- Moderator. Surgeons Get Graded: Your Report Card Online. Practice Management Section. California orthopedic Association; 2016 Annual Meeting, Laguna Niguel, CA
- Presenter. Web Presence Optimization: Making Yourself More Visible On the Internet. Practice Management Section. California orthopedic Association; 2016 Annual Meeting, Laguna Niguel, CA
- Presenter. Virtual Reality in Medicine and Healthcare. Bradford Eaton Memorial Lecture. Littler-Eaton Hand Society - Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University School of Medicine. 2016 Annual Meeting.
- Section Moderator. Finger-tip injury. Combined Meeting – Australian Hand Surgery Society & American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Sydney, Australia.
- Presenter. Hand-e: Navigating the educational platform of the ASSH. Instructional Course. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2014 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
- Moderator. Leveraging Information Technology to Organize Your Life Professionally and Personally. Instructional Course. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2015 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
- Course Chair. Practice Management in the 21st Century. Instructional Course. American Association for Hand Surgery; 2015 Annual Meeting, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
- Instructor. Social Media and Your Practice – Web Presence Optimization. Instructional Course. American Association for Hand Surgery; 2015 Annual Meeting, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
- Moderator. Leveraging Information Technology to Organize Your Life Professionally and Personally. Instructional Course. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2014 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
- Moderator. Effective Use of Social Media in Your Practice. Precourse. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2013 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Moderator: Engaging Patients Online. Symposium. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2013 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Presenter. Social Media and your Practice: How to Connect with and Inform your Patients and the Public. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2012 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Il.
- Presenter. Leveraging Social Networking in Orthopedics. American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons; 2012 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Presenter: Social Media and your Practice: How to Connect with and Inform your Patients and the Public. American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2011 Annual Meeting.
- Presenter: Botulinum Toxin: Treatment Option for Digital Ischemia in Raynaud’s Phenomena. Bradford Eaton Memorial Lecture. Littler-Eaton Hand Society - Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University School of Medicine. 2011 Annual Meeting.
- Poster: Treatment of Proximal Femur Fractures using an Extended-Short Nail. Poster session presented at: American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons; 2011 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
- Poster: Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Treatment with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Among Subgroups of Patients with Dupuytren’s Contracture. Paper session presented at: American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2010 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
- Presenter: Hand Fracture Fixation Using a Novel Plating System. Presented at American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2010 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.