Neurological Spine Surgeon and Founder of DISC Sports & Spine Center,

Renowned within the medical community, Dr. Robert S. Bray, Jr. stands as the pioneering neurosurgeon who introduced minimally invasive spine surgery to California. In 2006, he founded DISC with a mission to revolutionize spine care, and he continues to lead the field, catering to a diverse clientele including elite athletes, celebrities, and professionals.

Dr. Bray, a Baylor College of Medicine graduate, has held key positions at esteemed institutions like St. John’s Medical Center, Century City Hospital, and Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital. His notable contributions include founding Cedars Sinai’s The Institute for Spinal Disorders, a major spine program, and subsequently establishing the state-of-the-art DISC Sports & Spine Center.

Beyond his clinical achievements, Dr. Bray is committed to education and research, mentoring over 25 fellows and contributing to global medical discourse through lectures and peer-reviewed articles. A holder of multiple surgical device patents, Dr. Bray is a sought-after expert frequently featured in the media.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Co-founder Texas Back Institute

The co-founder and chairman of the board of the Texas Back Institute, Stephen Hochschuler, M.D., is a board certified orthopedic surgeon with outstanding credentials and expertise in the treatment of the spine.

A graduate of Columbia College in New York, Dr. Hochschuler received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship and surgery residency at Boston City Hospital and an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.

He has founded several medical-related companies, including Back Systems, Inc., a risk management company in Dallas; and CompTain, Inc., a worker’s compensation PPO. He also served on the advisory boards of CeDaR Surgical, Inc. and Advanced Medical Technologies, Inc., and as a trustee with Picower Institute for Medical Research.

Professor, Director, Section of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, and Director, Division of Spine Surgery, Rush University Medical Center

Dr. Frank Phillips, a trailblazer in minimally invasive spine surgery, has been a visionary since the 1990s. Specializing in cervical and lumbar reconstructive surgery, he is renowned for expertise in motion-preserving procedures, leading FDA trials on cervical disc replacement. As a founder and past president of the Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Dr. Phillips has pioneered techniques widely used today. Currently, a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, he educates spine surgeons globally.

With a stellar career that includes directing the Spine Center at The University of Chicago, Dr. Phillips, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, is recognized as one of the top 28 spine surgeons in the country by Orthopedics this Week and listed in Becker’s Orthopedic Spine and Pain Management as one of the nation’s Top 100.

Founder, Pain Management and Injury Relief

Dr. Alexander Hersel, Vice President of Physician Engagement at Trias MD, is nationally recognized as one of the most highly trained and experienced physicians performing spinal cord stimulator implants for failed back surgery syndrome in Southern California. He believes in creating comprehensive solutions for treating pain and utilizes today’s leading-edge technologies and procedures to manage acute and chronic pain, including epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, nerve root blocks, morphine spinal pump implants, and discography. His comprehensive care plans consider long-term relief for acute and chronic conditions.