Rajiv Sethi, MD, PhD
Rajiv Sethi, MD, PhD
Education
| Degree | Organization | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D., Health Economics | Radboud University, Nijmegen, Holland | 2024 | |
| M.D. | Harvard Medical School | 2001 | |
| Fulbright Scholar, Public Health/Preventative Medicine | University of Jordan Medical School, Amman, Jordan | 1997 | |
| B.S., Neuroscience and B.A., Middle Eastern Studies | Brown University | 1996 |
About Rajiv Sethi, MD, PhD
Dr. Rajiv Sethi is a Professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and serves as Chief of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, Co-Director of the UCSF Spine Center, and UCSF System Medical Director of Value-Based Musculoskeletal Initiatives. An internationally recognized expert in complex spinal surgery, Dr. Sethi brings extensive experience in clinical care, research, education, and health system leadership to UCSF. In his roles, he leads the orthopaedic spine surgery division, helps guide the growth of the UCSF Spine Center, and expands UCSF’s system-based musculoskeletal initiatives to improve access and outcomes for patients from across the globe.
Clinical Care
Dr. Sethi specializes in complex spinal surgery, including scoliosis and adult spinal deformity. He is widely recognized for his multidisciplinary approach to spine care, integrating surgical excellence with patient-centered care. Throughout his career, he has treated patients from all 50 states and internationally, advancing quality, safety, and innovative approaches to spine surgery.
Research and Innovation
Dr. Sethi has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and given invited presentations focused on patient safety, value-based spine care, and healthcare economics. He is noted for pioneering multidisciplinary collaboration and quality improvement initiatives, including the Seattle Spine Team Approach, which has been adopted globally and informed centers of excellence contracts with private payors. His first-author publications in JBJS, Spine, JNS Spine, and Spine Deformity are highly cited. He has delivered keynote lectures for spine societies in Brazil, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Germany, and Canada, and served as a visiting professor and grand rounds speaker at leading U.S. institutions, including Hospital for Special Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, UNC Chapel Hill, Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Columbia University, Brown University, and Vanderbilt University.
Education and Academic Background
Dr. Sethi earned his MD and completed residency at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a fellowship in Complex Spinal Surgery, Scoliosis, and Deformity at the UCSF Spine Center. He holds a PhD in Health Economics from Radboud University in the Netherlands and was a Fulbright Scholar in Public Health. Prior to joining UCSF, Dr. Sethi served as Clinical Professor at the University of Washington and Executive Medical Director of the Center for Neurosciences & Spine at Virginia Mason Medical Center, where he also directed the Complex Spine Clinical and Research Fellowship and led the Neuroscience Institute.
Leadership and Outreach
Throughout his career, Dr. Sethi has held senior leadership and board positions in numerous national and international spine societies. His work emphasizes expanding access to advanced spine care, mentoring the next generation of spine surgeons, and advancing health system innovation through value-based care initiatives. At UCSF, he is committed to continuing the legacy of clinical excellence, education, and research leadership, while broadening the impact of the UCSF Spine Center both locally and globally.
