SAN DIEGO, Calif. — June 12, 2025 – Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, ranked among the nation’s top 10 pediatric health care systems by U.S. News & World Report, proudly announces the appointment of Michael Soon Il Kwon, MD, as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in the Division of Orthopedics. Dr. Kwon has also been appointed as an associate clinical professor in University of California San Diego School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Kwon brings more than 20 years of expertise in pediatric orthopedic and hand surgery, with a unique combination of skills that span both upper extremity conditions and complex trauma. He most recently served for 14 years at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where he established and led the pediatric hand surgery program and was an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Michael Kwon, MD
“It’s a rare opportunity to bring on a surgeon with Dr. Kwon’s breadth of expertise in both pediatric orthopedics and hand surgery,” said Peter O. Newton, MD, chief of the Division of Orthopedics & Scoliosis and surgeon-in-chief at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. “His clinical insight and passion for teaching align perfectly with our mission to deliver world-class care and train the next generation of pediatric orthopedic surgeons.”
Dr. Kwon first gained an interest in orthopedics as an engineering major at MIT where he helped develop and patent novel biomaterials while also an all-star goalie on the lacrosse team. He earned his medical degree from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Virginia Health System. He then pursued dual fellowship training in pediatric orthopedic surgery and pediatric hand/upper extremity surgery at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, one of the nation’s most prestigious centers for pediatric orthopedics.
Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Kwon is nationally recognized for his work in congenital hand differences, syndactyly, polydactyly, brachial plexus birth injuries, neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy, and trauma reconstruction. His research has been widely published and presented at national and international meetings.
At Rady Children’s, Dr. Kwon hopes to grow and expand the hospital’s offerings for children with complex hand deformities. He brings a compassionate, family-centered approach to care, especially for patients born with congenital conditions.
“Families often go through a process of grief and adjustment when a child is born with a visible hand difference,” Dr. Kwon said. “Part of my role is to reassure them—this isn’t their fault—and to guide them through the options, from improving function to addressing aesthetic concerns, always with the child’s development and confidence in mind. I’m honored to join the Rady Children’s team.”
Dr. Kwon is especially passionate about access to care. At St. Christopher’s, he built a high-quality hand surgery program from the ground up. That same drive for equitable access extends globally—he has volunteered his surgical skills in South Sudan, Haiti, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic.
Dr. Kwon said, “In our field, sometimes small interventions can dramatically change a child’s life—for the better. That’s the reason I do this work.”
Outside the Hospital, Dr. Kwon enjoys fly fishing, watching Philadelphia Eagles games, and spending time outdoors. He officially began his new role at Rady Children’s on March 1, 2025.