Kids with complex musculoskeletal tumors benefit from specialized, coordinated care
Rady Children’s Hospitals in San Diego and Orange County have long partnered to expand access to highly specialized pediatric care across Southern California. Now united under Rady Children’s Health*, the organization is poised to make an even greater impact for generations to come.
For children with musculoskeletal tumors, that collaboration means something extraordinary: access to one of the few orthopedic surgeons in the nation who exclusively treats kids—bringing world-class expertise, compassion, and hope to families when they need it most.
Amirhossein Misaghi, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Musculoskeletal/Orthopaedic Oncology Program at Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County. He trained at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego and UC San Diego, with fellowships at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (pediatric orthopedics) and Mayo Clinic (musculoskeletal oncology). Dr. Misaghi specializes in pediatric orthopedic oncology, treating benign and malignant bone and soft-tissue tumors and reconstructing the affected bone.
“My goal was always to focus solely on pediatric orthopedic oncology,” he says. “That allows me to better understand the needs of a growing child and the unique issues specific to them.”
How the partnership works
Multidisciplinary teams across San Diego and Orange County collaborate closely—orthopedics, oncology, radiology and interventional radiology, pathology, plastic surgery, nursing, rehabilitation, and more—to deliver comprehensive, coordinated care. Children from San Diego with complex tumors may be referred to Dr. Misaghi for surgery, while some Orange County patients who require specialized radiation therapy receive treatment in San Diego. Wherever kids live, they receive the most advanced care possible.
Care designed for growing bodies
Pediatric-focused surgeons anticipate outcomes on developing bones and joints—and on childhood itself.
“When treating kids, we’re thinking about them being able to run, jump, and play—that’s not usually part of the consideration in adult patients,” Dr. Misaghi says. “Some techniques are similar to adult care, but adapted for growth—for instance, custom prosthetics that allow continued lengthening. My goal is to allow kids to be kids.”
Building a best-in-class program
Rady Children’s Health is expanding the musculoskeletal tumor program—growing teams on both campuses and creating one of the only collaborative, pediatric-focused programs of its kind in the country.
“We can now offer highly specialized care to more patients across Southern California,” says Dr. Misaghi. “As our collective experience grows, outcomes get even better.”
*While our hospitals now share a single brand name, they remain separate entities with different contracts, networks, and medical group affiliations. Patients should check their health plan to confirm coverage.