Robert M. Kay, MD

Robert Kay, MD, serves as Division Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Medical Director of the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center. In these roles, he provides administrative and clinical leadership that includes overseeing the strategic planning, recruitment and programmatic development for the Orthopedic Center’s clinical, research and educational programs focused on bone and soft tissue tumors; childhood hip disorders; hand and upper extremity conditions; neuromuscular conditions; scoliosis and spinal deformity; and sports medicine and other orthopedic trauma injuries.

Dr. Kay earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Scottish Rite Hospital.

Dr. Kay came to CHLA in 1997, at which time he joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he now is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery. Prior to being named interim Division Chief, Dr. Kay served as Vice Chief of the Children’s Orthopaedic Center from 2009 to 2021. He has also served as Chief of the Medical Staff at CHLA from 2009 to 2011, and as Medical Director of the John C. Wilson Jr. Motion and Sports Analysis Laboratory since 1997. Under his leadership, the laboratory has become internationally renowned and remains one of only 21 fully accredited motion analysis laboratories in the United States. The lab, which has been accredited by the Commission for Motion Laboratory Accreditation (CMLA) four times, is the second lab in history to receive CMLA full accreditation with no deficiencies.

Dr. Kay has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles and 25 book chapters. He is active in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, and the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society. He serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics and the Board of Directors for the Committee for Motion Laboratory Accreditation.