In the early days, Dr. Bray started exploring minimally invasive procedures before they were even a thought in the industry. After recognizing that spinal procedures often require lengthy hospital stays, he sought to develop the techniques, tools, and protocols to make minimally invasive spinal surgery a medical reality.
Dr. Bray has since founded DISC Sports & Spine Center, an outpatient center designed to provide medical and surgical care in a unique way. The first of its kind, DISC is a progressive growth facility and a true leader in the field of minimally invasive techniques.
How did Dr. Bray become the first neurosurgeon to dedicate his entire practice to the spine?
It began in the US Air Force, where he served as a major while stationed as Chief of Neurosurgery at the David Grant Medical Center. The military was a great place to get started, allowing Dr. Bray to focus on and hone his craft without the common hurdles many providers face. From there, Dr. Bray launched the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedar Sinai, building it into one of the largest spine programs in the country and decreasing the average stay after spine surgery from 5.8 to 1.8 days.
As his career progressed, Dr. Bray went on to redefine sports medicine, even earning the nickname “Dr. Fix-It” in the sports community. From professional snowboarders and surfers to BMX riders, he has been fortunate to perform minimally invasive procedures on some of the world’s most elite athletes, such as hurdler Lolo Jones, motocross rider Robbie Maddison, and big-wave surfer Ian Walsh.
After introducing minimally invasive tools and techniques at the elite athletic level, it was time to move forward, use the opportunity as a learning experience and proving ground, and apply the same concepts for everyday individuals. From this vision, DISC was born, not to mention a number of innovative instruments that are still widely used today. Dr. Bray has patents on multiple spinal implants and surgical instruments and regularly consults with leading manufacturers on the design and use of their products—including the development of the Zeiss microscope.
DISC brings together specialty physicians and focuses on delivering minimally invasive care that leads to better patient outcomes. Building on past accomplishments, Dr. Bray and his team have reduced the average outpatient stay to less than one day after spine surgery. That’s why it’s no surprise that DISC maintains the leading edge in the minimally invasive field, practicing at a level beyond what anybody else in the country is doing—and doing so while delivering exceptional outcomes and improving the process for patients.
What’s next for DISC?
The future is centered on growing the field and continuing to push the envelope of what can be done as an outpatient procedure. People want to be more active, engaged, and functional, and with new modern techniques in spine surgery—and Dr. Bray and DISC paving the way—they’re able to do just that.
