San Diego Spine Foundation

What San Diego Spine Foundation does

The San Diego Spine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, founded in 2006. Its mission centers on advancing spine-related medical research, education, and clinical fellowship training, with a particular focus on spinal deformity and scoliosis care. The Foundation serves practicing spine surgeons, surgical fellows, and ultimately patients with spinal deformities, and it supports humanitarian outreach to underserved populations in Mexico through Global Spine Outreach.

Its core "products" are programmatic rather than commercial: an accredited spine surgery fellowship, the annual Bridging the Gap Conference, endowed academic chairs in partnership with the University of California, San Diego, and co-authored clinical research including publications underpinning the 2014 FDA approval of the Magnetic Controlled Growing Rod (MCGR) for early-onset scoliosis. There is no proprietary technology platform or commercial product line; outputs are research papers, trained fellows, and convened industry-academic forums.

The Foundation is funded through donations, fundraising events, and industry sponsorships from leading spine medical device companies including Globus Medical, Medtronic, Orthofix-Seaspine, NuVasive, and SI-BONE. Its 2022 gala alone raised more than $400,000, and the organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees. Pricing is not applicable as no fee-for-service product is sold; revenue mechanics rely on annual giving, event proceeds, and multi-year sponsor commitments.

Name

San Diego Spine Foundation

Legal name

San Diego Spine Foundation

Website

https://sandiegospinefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The San Diego Spine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds spine deformity research, surgical fellowship training, academic chairs at UCSD, an annual industry conference, and humanitarian outreach missions in Mexico, serving spine surgeons, fellows, and underserved patient populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Specialty Education and Spine Research

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spine (Orthopedic Spine) (HLAKALAE), Spine Implants & Motion Preservation (Fusion/Disc/Interspinous) (HLAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Spine research education
• Surgical fellowship training
• Spinal deformity care
• Early onset scoliosis
• Humanitarian medical outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, SDSF relies on individual and corporate donations, with bi-annual combined SDSF-GSO galas raising significant funds (over $400,000 at the 2022 gala). The foundation also receives research grants and endowment contributions.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors at Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels sponsor the annual Bridging the Gap Conference and associated golf tournaments, generating revenue for SDSF and GSO outreach initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Diego Spine Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that advances spine care through a post-residency clinical San Diego Spine Fellowship Program, an annual Bridging the Gap Conference for spine surgeons, a Research Grant Program funding spine-related research, comprehensive free Patient Education Resources, and humanitarian Outreach Programs delivered via annual Global Spine Outreach medical missions to Mexico. The foundation also co-established the first endowed chair in Spinal Surgery at UC San Diego and was instrumental in securing the first FDA Compassionate Use exemption that led to 2014 FDA approval of magnetically controlled growth rods (MCGR) for pediatric use.

Product overview

The San Diego Spine Foundation is a nonprofit medical foundation focused on advancing spine care through a multi-faceted approach. The organization operates the San Diego Spine Fellowship Program for training spine surgeons, provides comprehensive Patient Education Resources covering spinal anatomy, conditions, diagnostics, and treatments, and hosts the annual Bridging the Gap Conference for professional development. Additional offerings include the SDSF Webinar Series for continuing education, a Research Grant Program funding spine research, and Outreach Programs providing humanitarian spine care in underserved communities through Global Spine Outreach (GSO) partnerships. The Growing Spine Foundation, a related 501(c)(3) established in 2009, specifically focuses on Early Onset Scoliosis research and education for young children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Growing Spine Foundation: A related 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2009 by Dr. Behrooz A. Akbarnia to support research and education for young children with Early Onset Scoliosis and other deformities related to the growing spine and chest.

Products and services

• San Diego Spine Fellowship Program
• Bridging the Gap Conference
• SDSF Webinar Series
• Research Grant Program
• Patient Education Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 children received life-changing spine surgery during one Mexico outreach mission
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Globus MedicalflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024Platinum-level sponsor of the 3rd Annual Bridging the Gap Conference 2024. Also a contributor to the UCSD Endowed Chair.
• MedtronicflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024Platinum-level sponsor of the 3rd Annual Bridging the Gap Conference 2024.
• Orthofix-SeaspineflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024Platinum-level sponsor of the 3rd Annual Bridging the Gap Conference 2024. Also a Gold-level sponsor in 2023.
• NuVasiveflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024Gold-level sponsor of the 2023 BTG Conference. Also partner referenced in outreach video for supporting medical missions. Globus-NuVasive also contributed to the UCSD Endowed Chair.
• Rady Children's Hospital and Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2023The IRB-approved Growing Spine Research Project involves Rady Children's Hospital as the primary and central location for data collection for multicenter studies of the Growing Spine Study Group. Major surgeries including MCGR procedures are performed at Rady Children's Hospital.
• SI-BONEflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 July 2023Gold-level sponsor of the 2023 BTG Conference.
• Global Spine Outreach (GSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with Global Spine Outreach (GSO), a non-profit providing complex spine surgery to underserved children. SDSF and GSO hold bi-annual combined fundraising galas, integrate GSO humanitarian service into the San Diego Spine Fellowship curriculum, and co-host the Bridging the Gap Conference. The collaboration enables annual medical missions to Mexico where SDSF surgeons perform life-changing procedures on children with severe spinal deformities.
• University of California San Diego (UCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep partnership with UCSD Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. SDSF co-contributed to establishing the Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD and Nasrin A. Owsia, MD Endowed Chair in Spinal Surgery at UCSD - the first-ever endowed chair in this department. Richard (Todd) Allen, MD, PhD named inaugural chair holder in November 2023. Dr. Akbarnia is Clinical Professor at UCSD.
• Growing Spine FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by Dr. Behrooz A. Akbarnia in 2009 to improve global care of patients with Early Onset Scoliosis and other deformities related to the growing spine and chest. Supports Growing Spine Study Group (GSSG) research and education projects through grants from private and industry donations.
• Scoliosis Research SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Behrooz A. Akbarnia served as Past President of the Scoliosis Research Society. SRS created the Growing Spine Committee under Dr. Akbarnia's leadership. The SRS awards the Walter P. Blount Humanitarian Award (received by Dr. Mundis in 2025).
• AOSpinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOSpine provided a link to a talk by SDSF Vice President Dr. Greg Mundis, Jr. on Mentorship and self-reflection for physicians, as part of the AOSpine Banff Virtual Educational Series.
• NuVasive Spine FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with NuVasive Spine Foundation enables medical mission work in Mexico. The NuVasive Spine Foundation provides support for outreach surgical missions that change children's lives.
• Pediatric Spine FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Behrooz A. Akbarnia is Co-Founder and Past President of the Pediatric Spine Foundation, which drives research and education in pediatric spinal deformities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pediatric Spine Foundation: Co-founded by SDSF founder Dr. Akbarnia, Pediatric Spine Foundation is the closest peer: a 501(c)(3) focused on research and education for pediatric spinal deformities. Directly comparable mission, scope, and leadership overlap.
• Global Spine Outreach: GSO is SDSF's core strategic partner for humanitarian spine missions in Mexico. Operates an essentially identical mission (medical missions, surgeon training in complex spine deformity care) and shares fundraising events.
• Scoliosis Research Society: SRS is the leading international society dedicated to scoliosis research and education. SDSF leadership has held SRS presidency; the organizations share surgeon membership, research priorities, and humanitarian award programs (e.g., Walter P. Blount).
• Growing Spine Foundation: A 501(c)(3) sub-brand of SDSF established in 2009 by Dr. Akbarnia to support EOS research and the Growing Spine Study Group. Most directly comparable in scope: pediatric early onset scoliosis research grantmaking.
• Cervical Spine Research Society: CSRS is a peer medical society dedicated to cervical spine research and education, sharing the surgeon-researcher membership base, fellowship training interest, and industry sponsorship pool with SDSF.
• Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation: A non-profit foundation focused on idiopathic scoliosis research and education, including a Harms Study Group. Operates a closely analogous mission (scoliosis research grantmaking, surgeon education) to SDSF.
• NuVasive Spine Foundation: The corporate-affiliated foundation of NuVasive (now Globus), an SDSF Flagship sponsor. Funds humanitarian spine care globally, including Mexico missions with GSO — essentially a sibling organization with overlapping grantees and mission.

Broad incumbents

• North American Spine Society: NASS is the largest multidisciplinary spine society in North America. While broader in scope (all spine conditions, all providers), it competes for surgeon education, conference attendance, and corporate sponsorship dollars that also flow to SDSF.
• AO Spine: AO Spine is a global spine-focused community within the AO Foundation, offering fellowship training, research grants, and surgeon education that directly overlap with SDSF's fellowship and research grant programs.
• Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation: OREF is the leading U.S. orthopaedic research grantmaking foundation. A natural comparator for SDSF's research grant program, though OREF's scope spans the full orthopaedic specialty rather than spine specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SDSF.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about San Diego Spine Foundation