Nirav Pandya

Dr. Nirav Pandya is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine for young athletes. He uses a variety of traditional and minimally invasive surgical techniques, providing care in both clinic and hospital settings. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic treatment (techniques that use a specialized endoscope) for cartilage and ligament injuries of the ankle, knee, elbow and shoulder. He serves as vice chair and division chief of pediatric orthopedics, and director for the Center for Sports Medicine for Young Athletes.

Pandya's research interests include how single-sport specialization affects young athletes, developing techniques for treating cartilage and ligament injuries in growing athletes, and techniques for improving the outcomes of cartilage and ligament surgeries for the same group. He also studies outcomes of traumatic injuries in pediatric patients.

Pandya earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Rady Children's Hospital – San Diego.

Pandya is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a founding member of the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine Society. He is also a member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and Arthroscopy Association of North America.

As an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, Pandya was on the track and field team, serving as captain during his senior year. He remains one of the top 10 triple jumpers in the school's history. While in medical school, he served as an assistant coach for the school's track and field team, coaching several national qualifiers in the long and triple jump. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and exploring the outdoors in the Bay Area. He also co-hosts the podcast Six to Eight Weeks: Perspectives on Sports Medicine.