Advanced Training. Comprehensive Perspective.
Born in California and raised in Nevada, Dr. Penalosa completed his undergraduate education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) before earning his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
He returned to Southern California to complete his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center and major regional referral center.
Training in this demanding, high-volume environment exposed Dr. Penalosa to the full spectrum of orthopedic surgery—from common musculoskeletal injuries to complex fractures, severe trauma, and challenging surgical cases. Working alongside accomplished surgeons across multiple orthopedic subspecialties helped him develop the broad clinical perspective and technical foundation that continue to shape his practice today.
His experience caring for complex patients also reinforced an important lesson: the right answer isn’t always surgery.
The best orthopedic care comes from understanding the full spectrum of treatment options and knowing when—and when not—to use each one.
Modern Orthopedics Beyond the Operating Room
Dr. Penalosa has a particular interest in advanced nonsurgical, ultrasound-guided, and orthobiologic treatments designed to expand the options available to patients seeking to remain active and potentially avoid or delay surgery when appropriate.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound allows Dr. Penalosa to dynamically evaluate many joints, tendons, muscles, ligaments, and soft-tissue structures in real time. It can also be used to precisely guide procedures to specific anatomical targets, allowing for a highly targeted approach to treatment.
For appropriately selected patients, Dr. Penalosa offers advanced treatment options that may include platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), microfragmented adipose tissue, and other orthobiologic procedures.
Dr. Penalosa believes innovation should always be paired with sound clinical judgment. Newer does not automatically mean better, and no single treatment is appropriate for every patient. His approach is to carefully evaluate the underlying orthopedic problem, understand the patient’s goals, and provide an informed discussion of the available options—including what current evidence supports and where limitations or uncertainties remain.
This comprehensive perspective is one of the advantages of being evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Penalosa’s goal is not to sell a particular injection, procedure, or operation. It is to determine the most appropriate path forward—whether that means rehabilitation, activity modification, an advanced ultrasound-guided or orthobiologic procedure, or surgery.
For patients looking beyond the limitations of a traditional insurance-driven model, his private practice offers a more personalized approach—one centered on time, access, precision, advanced treatment options, and individualized decision-making.
An Athlete’s Perspective on Performance & Recovery
Dr. Penalosa’s understanding of movement extends beyond the clinic and operating room.
He is an experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and dedicated weight-training enthusiast, giving him firsthand experience with the physical demands of strength training, combat sports, and maintaining an active lifestyle.
Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have developed an appreciation for the complex interaction between leverage, mobility, stability, strength, and technique. Weight training provides another perspective—one centered on progressive loading, biomechanics, muscular strength, and the importance of building a body capable of performing over the long term.
Together, these experiences influence how Dr. Penalosa thinks about orthopedic recovery.
For an active patient, being “better” doesn’t necessarily mean being able to walk without pain. It might mean getting underneath a barbell again. Returning to the mat. Playing a full round of golf. Running. Competing. Working a physically demanding job. Or simply being strong and active enough to keep up with family.
Dr. Penalosa understands the difference.
His goal is not simply to eliminate symptoms but, whenever possible, to help patients restore function, rebuild confidence in their bodies, and return to meaningful activity.
The principles that have kept him engaged in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and strength training—discipline, preparation, technical precision, consistency, adaptability, and continuous improvement—are the same principles he brings to orthopedic surgery and patient care.
A Surgeon and an Educator
Dr. Penalosa is also actively involved in graduate medical education and the training of resident physicians.
He participates in the education of physicians training in Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Family Medicine, and Occupational Medicine, sharing his experience in musculoskeletal diagnosis, orthopedic treatment, procedural care, and surgical decision-making with the next generation of physicians.
Teaching physicians from several specialties requires more than technical knowledge. It requires the ability to analyze complex problems, communicate clinical reasoning clearly, remain current with evolving medical evidence, and continually reassess why a particular treatment is—or is not—the right choice for a patient.
That academic mindset carries directly into his private practice.
Dr. Penalosa believes that patients deserve the same thing physicians in training expect from a great teacher: a clear diagnosis, an understandable explanation, thoughtful consideration of the available options, and a well-defined plan.
A Different Kind of Orthopedic Experience
Dr. Penalosa believes exceptional orthopedic care should combine expertise, innovation, precision, and personal attention.
Every consultation begins with listening. He takes the time to understand each patient’s symptoms, lifestyle, concerns, previous treatments, and—most importantly—the activities they want to return to.
Imaging is reviewed together. Diagnoses are explained in understandable terms. Treatment options are discussed openly. And rather than allowing an insurance-driven algorithm to dictate the conversation, the focus remains on determining what makes sense for the individual patient.
That may mean physical therapy, modifying training, or allowing the body time to recover. It may involve a precisely targeted ultrasound-guided procedure or an orthobiologic treatment. And when surgery truly represents the best option, Dr. Penalosa brings the experience of extensive surgical and trauma training to the operating room.
His philosophy is straightforward
The best treatment isn’t necessarily the most aggressive treatment—or the newest treatment. It’s the right treatment for the right patient.
Through his private practice, Dr. Penalosa strives to offer a modern orthopedic experience that combines the expertise and surgical capabilities developed at a major academic Level I Trauma Center with the innovation, accessibility, and individualized attention possible in private practice.
Whether treating a competitive athlete, a weekend warrior, a dedicated lifter, a working professional, or someone who simply wants to stay strong and active as they age, Dr. Penalosa approaches each patient with the same objective:
Understand the problem. Understand the person. Explore every appropriate option. Build a plan to get them moving forward.
