The Legacy of Kerlan-Jobe
Built on the Legacy of Two Pioneers in Sports Medicine
Kerlan-Jobe was founded on a vision that changed the future of orthopaedic care. Dr. Robert Kerlan and Dr. Frank Jobe helped shape modern sports medicine by combining clinical excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to helping patients return to the lives they love. Their work laid the foundation for what Kerlan-Jobe represents today: advanced orthopaedic care rooted in expertise, integrity, and forward-thinking treatment. Kerlan-Jobe traces its origins to the partnership between Dr. Kerlan and Dr. Jobe in the 1960s, and the practice remains recognized for decades of leadership in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
The Vision of Dr. Robert Kerlan
Setting the standard for elite athletic care before the field even had a name.
Dr. Robert Kerlan was widely regarded as an early pioneer in sports medicine. He served as a physician for elite athletes and played an important role in bringing specialized orthopaedic care to the world of professional sports at a time when the field was still taking shape. His reputation for treating complex injuries and understanding the physical demands placed on athletes helped establish the standard of excellence that still defines Kerlan-Jobe today. He was also associated with the Los Angeles Dodgers after their move to Los Angeles, reinforcing the practice’s long-standing connection to high-level athletic care.
The Innovation of Dr. Frank Jobe
The moment that changed sports medicine—and rewrote the future of athletic recovery.
Dr. Frank Jobe brought a groundbreaking spirit to the practice and became one of the most influential figures in the history of sports medicine. He is best known for performing the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on pitcher Tommy John in 1974, a procedure that later became known worldwide as “Tommy John surgery.” That milestone did more than restore one athlete’s career. It reshaped what was possible in orthopaedic treatment and elevated the role of surgical innovation in helping athletes recover from severe injuries once considered career-ending.
A Partnership That Helped Define a Specialty
Defining the standard for sports medicine, from elite athletes to everyday patients.
Together, Dr. Kerlan and Dr. Jobe built more than a practice. They helped define an entire specialty. Their collaboration helped establish Kerlan-Jobe as a trusted name in orthopaedic and sports medicine care, known for treating professional athletes while also advancing care for everyday patients. Their influence extended beyond patient treatment into research, education, and the continued development of better approaches to injury diagnosis, surgery, rehabilitation, and return to activity.
A Legacy That Still Shapes Kerlan-Jobe Today
Where a founding vision continues to elevate modern orthopaedic care.
The founders’ legacy remains woven into the identity of Kerlan-Jobe. Their commitment to innovation, precision, and patient-first care continues to guide the practice’s mission. Today, Kerlan-Jobe is recognized for orthopaedic care, sports medicine, spine surgery, pain management, and joint replacement, serving not only elite athletes but also active adults, workers, and patients seeking expert musculoskeletal care. That breadth reflects the same philosophy Dr. Kerlan and Dr. Jobe helped establish: great orthopaedic care should restore movement, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.
Honouring the Past While Advancing the Future
At Kerlan-Jobe, the founders’ influence is not simply historical. It is active in the way care is delivered every day. Their legacy lives on in a practice that continues to value clinical excellence, thoughtful treatment, and progress in orthopaedic medicine. As Kerlan-Jobe moves forward, it does so with respect for the men whose names helped build one of the most recognized institutions in sports medicine.
Experience the legacy of Kerlan-Jobe
Discover orthopaedic care designed to restore performance and quality of life.
Built on the pioneering work of Dr. Robert Kerlan and Dr. Frank Jobe, Kerlan-Jobe continues to provide expert orthopaedic care designed to help patients move better, recover confidently, and return to active living.