Los Angeles has one of the deepest benches of regenerative medicine physicians in the country. A patient researching stem cell therapy for a knee, shoulder, or hip will find professional team physicians, university research centers, and long-established independent practices, often within a few miles of one another. They are not interchangeable, and the differences in training, biologic options, and patient focus are worth understanding before the first consultation.

This guide profiles six well-regarded Los Angeles physicians and centers working in orthopedic stem cell therapy. Interest in the field continues to grow alongside the research: a 2025 review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine examined 59 clinical trials and found that mesenchymal stem cell treatment showed the strongest association with pain reduction among the interventions studied, though questions around dosing and long-term outcomes remain open [1].

Note: Throughout this guide, the term stem cell therapy refers to orthopedic regenerative medicine procedures using autologous products, which come from the patient, or allogeneic products, which are donor derived.

Evaluation Criteria

Overall Rankings

Dr. Steve Yoon, MD 

Dr. Steve Yoon is a sports and regenerative medicine physician and is the Head Team Physician for the LA Clippers, Team Physician for the Los Angeles Angels, and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and Los Angeles Super Doctor. He is the founder and former Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan Jobe Institute. . 

His practice documents one of the widest ranges of biologic options in Los Angeles, including stem cell therapy, PRP, platelet lysate, alpha-2 macroglobulin, autologous protein concentrate, exosomes, autologous conditioned serum, bone marrow concentrate, and microfragmented adipose tissue, alongside an in-practice biostimulation lab. He is involved in IRB approved stem cell research studies. 

For patients wanting a non-surgical biologics expert with extensive use in professional sports, laboratory research, clinical trials experience, and numerous treatment offerings then this may be a good match. 

Quick Facts: 

• Practice Name: Steve Yoon, MD
• Notable Affiliations: Head Team Physician, Los Angeles Clippers; Team Physician, Los Angeles Angels; Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute
• Independent Recognition: Castle Connolly Top Doctor; Super Doctors Southern California
• Breadth of Biologic Options: Nine documented biologic treatments plus a biostimulation lab
• Patient Education Resources: A dedicated page for each biologic treatment and condition pages by joint

Dr. Frank Petrigliano, MD

Dr. Frank Petrigliano is an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon at UCLA Health and Vice Chair of Education for the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is head team physician for the LA Chargers and a team physician for UCLA Athletics, and previously led the Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine at Keck Medicine of USC.

His practice offers platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate for orthopedic injuries and joint arthritis. He also runs an NIH-funded laboratory investigating stem cells specialized to restore muscle after chronic rotator cuff injury, work that recently received the Charles S. Neer Award for outstanding shoulder research.

For patients drawn to an academic environment, or those who want a surgeon weighing biologic and surgical options side by side, a university practice can be a natural starting point. His biologic offering is focused on PRP and bone marrow concentrate, and it sits within a practice built primarily around arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery.

Quick Facts: 

• Practice Name: UCLA Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (Westwood, Santa Monica, and Downtown LA)
• Notable Affiliations: Head Team Physician, LA Chargers; Team Physician, UCLA Athletics; Vice Chair of Education, UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Independent Recognition: Castle Connolly Top Doctor; Super Doctors Southern California; Charles Neer Award, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
• Breadth of Biologic Options: PRP and bone marrow aspirate concentrate alongside cartilage restoration and surgical treatment
• Patient Education Resources: Dedicated orthobiologics page plus condition guides by joint

Dr. Marc Darrow, MD, JD

Dr. Marc Darrow brings more than 25 years of experience in regenerative medicine techniques and has treated thousands of patients. He trained and taught at UCLA, is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is the founder and medical director of Joint Rehab and Sports Medical Center on Wilshire Boulevard.

His practice centers on bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy, PRP, and prolotherapy for joints, tendons, and ligaments. He also maintains one of the largest patient education libraries in Los Angeles, with condition-specific guides and running commentary on new research. 

For patients who want to read deeply before committing, few practices offer more published material. The treatments themselves center on a patient’s own bone marrow and blood.

Quick Facts:

• Practice Name: Joint Rehab and Sports Medical Center
• Notable Affiliations: Taught at UCLA; member, American Academy of Orthopedic Medicine
• Breadth of Biologic Options: Bone marrow concentrate, PRP, and prolotherapy
• Thought Leadership: Seven published papers on bone marrow concentrate and PRP outcomes, plus three books and a radio show
• Patient Education Resources: Condition libraries by joint, published research section, and video archive

Dr. Padra Nourparvar, DO

Dr. Padra Nourparvar is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Stem Cell & PRP Institute of L.A. in Beverly Hills. His practice materials describe training affiliations with UCLA, UC Irvine, NYU, Mount Sinai, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and his practice documents both ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance for injections. 

His published patient materials cover orthopedic conditions such as joint degeneration, cartilage damage, and ligament tears, and extend into systemic conditions including kidney failure, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease as well.

For patients weighing several biologic approaches, the range here is among the widest in Los Angeles. Orthopedic care sits alongside neurological, systemic, and cosmetic work, so the practice is organized around regenerative medicine broadly rather than sports injuries specifically.

Quick Facts: 

• Practice Name: Stem Cell & PRP Institute of L.A., Los Angeles
• Notable Affiliations: Provider for professional and Olympic athletes; training affiliations with UCLA, UC Irvine, NYU, Mount Sinai, and CHLA
• Independent Recognition: UCLA Vice Provost Prize; Motif Award for Advancement of Health
• Breadth of Biologic Options: Cord blood, Wharton’s jelly, adipose, and bone marrow stem cell therapies, plus PRP, PRF, amniotic fluid, exosomes, ACS, and prolotherapy
• Thought Leadership: UCLA Vice Provost Prize for research article of the year; invited speaker at regenerative medicine conferences
• Patient Education Resources: Condition pages by joint and by systemic condition, plus a blog updated monthly

Dr. Bruce Fishman, MD, MPH, FICS

Dr. Bruce Fishman brings more than 25 years of practice in Los Angeles. In addition to his board certification, he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery.

His Encino practice, Dr. Stem Cell, is affiliated with the Cell Surgical Network, which gives it access to shared clinical protocols across a national group of member practices. The practice offers stem cell therapy alongside laser therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, peptides, and aesthetic and sexual health services.

The practice publishes an active blog covering topics such as rotator cuff injuries, tennis elbow, and what to expect during recovery after treatment. 

For patients who want regenerative treatment and other wellness services under one roof, the practice is set up for exactly that. The offerings extend across orthopedics, wellness, and aesthetics, which is a wider footprint than a sports-focused clinic.

Quick Facts:

• Practice Name: The Stem Cell Institute of Los Angeles AKA Dr. Stem Cell
• Notable Affiliations: Affiliate practice, Cell Surgical Network
• Breadth of Biologic Options: Stem cell therapy alongside laser, hyperbaric oxygen, and peptide options
• Thought Leadership: Network affiliation with shared clinical protocols
• Patient Education Resources: Active blog covering biologics and joint conditions

Dr. Peter A. Fields, MD, DC

Dr. Peter Fields directs OrthoRegen in Santa Monica and holds both a medical and chiropractic doctor degree, a combination he notes places him among a small number of physicians nationally. His practice is built on three regenerative techniques: stem cell treatment, PRP, and dextrose prolotherapy, including a protocol he calls the Gold Standard Stem Cell Treatment for patients who have been told they need joint replacement.

He has appeared on national television as a commentator on regenerative medicine and serves as a clinical instructor with the Hackett-Hemwall Foundation, a teaching organization in the prolotherapy field.

For patients interested in prolotherapy specifically, or in a physician who is a serious endurance athlete himself, this may be a good match. 

Quick Facts:

• Practice Name: OrthoRegen, Santa Monica
• Notable Affiliations: Clinical instructor, Hackett-Hemwall Foundation; lecturer for California chiropractic relicensing seminars
• Breadth of Biologic Options: Stem cell treatment, PRP, and dextrose prolotherapy
• Thought Leadership: Column in the Townsend Letter; lectures to physicians in Las Vegas, Santa Monica, and Australia; national TV and KABC radio
• Patient Education Resources: Article library by joint and condition, video testimonials, and treatment overviews

Choosing With Confidence

Every physician and center in this guide has qualified credentials and a documented practice in orthopedic stem cell therapy. Each medical practice is unique in its own ways, and that is the useful part.

A patient who wants care shaped by professional sports experience will weigh team physician roles heavily. Someone interested in research participation may lean toward an academic center. A reader who wants to understand the evidence in depth before committing will value a practice with a deep publication or education library. Someone who has already tried certain treatments may care most about a physician that can offer a variety of other biologic therapies.

The most useful thing a patient can do is look at what each practice offers, schedule a consultation, and ask many questions and pick the physician who you think will help you obtain your goals.

FAQ

What should I consider when choosing a stem cell therapy physician in Los Angeles?

Look at a physician’s expertise and accolades, affiliations, breadth of biologic treatments they offer, research or teaching experience, and patient reviews. These things are usually available online and can give you a good sense of what a practice is like.

Do these physicians all offer the same treatments?

No. Every practice is unique in its focus and may specialize in certain therapies. Some focus exclusively on orthopedic injuries  and others may treat a variety of other conditions as well. Matching that focus to your own situation is the most helpful step.

Is stem cell therapy used for sports injuries?

Yes, stem cell treatments are widely used in sports medicine for joint, tendon, ligament, and cartilage conditions. Biologic treatments including stem cells have been extensively reviewed in the orthopedic literature, tracing their development from basic science through clinical application [2].

References

1. Goulian, A. J., Goldstein, B., & Saad, M. A. (2025). Advancements in regenerative therapies for orthopedics: A comprehensive review of platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells, peptide therapies, and biomimetic applications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(6), 2061. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14062061
2. Fortier, L. A., Cercone, M., Keller, L. E., Delco, M. L., Becktell, L., & Wells, K. V. (2021). Amnion and umbilical cord-derived products in sports medicine: From basic science to clinical application. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(7), 1954-1961. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465211010466

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