DISC Carlsbad and Tri-City Medical Center have partnered to create a coordinated spine, musculoskeletal, and pain management care pathway—combining DISC’s nationally recognized outpatient surgical expertise with the full-service hospital resources of Tri-City Medical Center.
Patients in North County now benefit from a streamlined model that ensures the right care, in the right setting, at the right time—from advanced outpatient procedures to complex hospital-based surgery when clinically appropriate.
DISC Carlsbad and Tri-City Medical Center remain independent healthcare institutions, each recognized for their expertise in distinct clinical environments.
Through this strategic partnership, those strengths are aligned to create a coordinated care pathway for orthopedic, spine, musculoskeletal, and pain management patients throughout North County San Diego.
Patients benefit from:
Specialized spine and orthopedic expertise
A clear outpatient-to-hospital care pathway
Advanced minimally invasive procedures
Access to hospital resources when medically necessary
A coordinated physician-led decision process
This collaboration ensures that each patient is treated in the setting best suited to their condition, procedure, and overall health needs.
As healthcare needs evolve across North County, DISC Carlsbad and Tri-City Medical Center have joined together to expand access to high-quality spine and orthopedic care close to home.
This partnership connects DISC’s advanced outpatient surgical model with the full-service hospital capabilities of Tri-City Medical Center, allowing patients to receive coordinated treatment without navigating multiple disconnected providers.
For patients and referring physicians, this means:
One coordinated spine, musculoskeletal, pain management, and orthopedic care pathway
Trusted specialists collaborating across care setting.
Streamlined referrals and treatment planning
Advanced surgical options available locally
Together, DISC and Tri-City are strengthening access to safe, specialized care for the communities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, and greater North County San Diego.
Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery now allow many procedures to be performed safely in specialized outpatient surgery centers. However, some conditions still require the additional monitoring and resources available in a full-service hospital environment.
Through the DISC Carlsbad and Tri-City Medical Center partnership, physicians evaluate each patient’s condition, overall health, and surgical needs to determine the safest and most appropriate setting for treatment. The goal is simple: match every patient with the right care environment for their procedure.
Many modern spine procedures can now be performed safely in a specialized outpatient surgical environment such as the DISC Surgery Center in Carlsbad.
These may include:
Artificial disc replacement
Minimally invasive spine surgery
Certain orthopedic procedures
Interventional pain procedures
Same-day spine procedures
Patients who qualify for outpatient surgery often benefit from:
Shorter recovery times
Same-day discharge
Lower infection risk
Highly specialized surgical teams focused on spine care
Some spine conditions require the resources of a full-service hospital environment. In these cases, procedures may be performed at Tri-City Medical Center.
Hospital-based surgery may be recommended for:
Complex spinal reconstruction
Multi-level spinal procedures
Patients with certain medical conditions requiring monitoring
Surgeries requiring extended post-operative care
Tri-City Medical Center provides advanced hospital support including:
Inpatient surgical care
Advanced imaging and diagnostic capabilities
ICU and post-operative monitoring when needed
Multidisciplinary hospital teams for complex cases
The DISC + Tri-City partnership brings together experienced spine and orthopedic specialists dedicated to delivering patient-centered care across both outpatient and hospital environments.
Each physician is committed to evaluating patients thoroughly and recommending the most appropriate treatment pathway.
James Andry, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon focusing on shoulder arthroscopy and reconstruction, sports medicine, knee arthroscopy and reconstruction, and fracture care. He strives to provide the best in orthopedic care to his patients at Ortho 1 Medical Group in La Jolla, San Diego, and Coronado, California.
MEET DR. Andry
Drawing on his specialized training, Dr. Babaria prides himself on achieving proper diagnoses for his patients’ musculoskeletal, spine and orthopedic issues by using ultrasound to give patients real-time data about their injuries. He then gives each patient a tailored plan to fit their goals, with both traditional and cutting-edge treatment options that include minimally invasive interventional procedures, neuromodulation, radiofrequency ablation and orthobiologic therapies such as PRP, prolotherapy and hyaluronic acid.
Meet Dr. Babaria
Dr. Bray, the CEO and Founding Director of DISC Sports & Spine Center, is recognized globally for pioneering and implementing minimally-invasive neurological spine surgery. Nicknamed “Dr. Fix-It,” he has performed more than 14,500 successful surgeries, including on top athletes and celebrities.
Meet Dr. Bray
Dr. James B. Chen is a highly skilled, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee total joint replacement. Embracing a personalized, patient-first approach, he believes in treating the individual, not the condition. To Dr. Chen, joint replacements aren’t just joint replacements, but are rather the means to help his patients achieve their unique lifestyle goals.
Meet Dr. Chen
Brandon P. Hirsch, MD is a highly skilled, dual fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon with expertise in the minimally invasive treatment of complex degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
Meet Dr. Hirsch
Dr. Jeswani is a neurosurgeon specializing in the surgical treatment of conditions affecting the brain, skull base, spinal cord, spine, and peripheral nerves. He earned dual degrees in computer science and molecular biology from the University of Michigan, graduating with University Honors.
Meet Dr. Jeswani
Dr. Kureshi is a highly experienced, board-certified neurosurgeon who has been serving the San Diego community for over 20 years. He joined Neurosurgical Medical Clinic, Inc. in 2000 after completing his neurosurgery residency at Duke University, where he was Chief Resident. His journey in medicine began at UC San Diego, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, followed by his medical degree from the USC School of Medicine.
Meet Dr. Kureshi
Dr. Kusnezov earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude in bioengineering from UCLA and received his medical degree from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, where he graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honors. Notably, he was the only dual recipient of the Edward K Rice Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award and the university-wide Outstanding Bachelor of Science Award, and also received the prestigious Longmire Surgical Society Award for his surgical aptitude.
Meet Dr. Kusnezov
Braden McKnight, MD, is a orthopedic fellowship-trained spine specialist at DISC Sports & Spine Center. A native of San Diego, Dr. McKnight completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He continued his education with an orthopedic surgery residency at USC’s Keck School of Medicine and a combined neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, where he trained in advanced and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.
Meet Dr. McKnight
Dr. Moazzaz’s dedication to advancing spine care goes beyond the operating room. He has been instrumental in developing and refining robotic-assisted techniques that have set new benchmarks for precision and safety in spine surgery. His contributions have not only improved individual patient outcomes but have also influenced broader trends in surgical innovation. As a trusted voice in the San Diego medical community, Dr. Moazzaz continues to lead with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.
Meet Dr. Moazzaz
Patients entering the DISC + Tri-City care pathway benefit from coordinated communication between specialists, surgical teams, and care coordinators.
From diagnosis through recovery, the focus remains on delivering safe, effective treatment in the most appropriate setting.
Patients may receive:
Comprehensive evaluation and imaging
Non-surgical treatment when appropriate
Minimally invasive surgical options
Hospital-based care for complex conditions
Post-operative follow-up and rehabilitation planning
If you are experiencing ongoing back pain, neck pain, or other spine or orthopedic conditions, our specialists can help determine the most appropriate treatment pathway.
The DISC + Tri-City partnership ensures that patients in North County have access to advanced care—whether your condition is best treated in an outpatient setting or hospital environment.
