Experience Matters: The Specialist Difference

When it comes to hernia repair, surgical volume is the strongest predictor of success. In this video, Dr. Todd Harris explains why choosing a dedicated specialist center offers a distinct advantage over a general hospital setting. From a team of nurses who only treat hernia patients to anesthesiologists familiar with our specific recovery protocols, every aspect of our practice is optimized for one thing: getting you back to your life faster, with less pain and lower risk.

Welcome to California Hernia Specialists: Program Overview

Dr. Todd Harris and his patients discuss the benefits of choosing a specialized hernia center, focusing on high surgical volume, dedicated staff, and world-class outcomes.

Todd S. Harris, MD – Bio

Dr. Todd S. Harris is a board-certified surgeon and the Medical Director of California Hernia Specialists in Newport Beach. Specializing in high-volume inguinal and ventral hernia repair (600+ procedures annually), Dr. Harris is recognized as a premier expert in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and “no-mesh” surgical techniques.

Dr. Harris was born and raised in South Carolina and is a graduate of Clemson University and The Medical University of South Carolina. He completed his general surgery training at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. After completing his surgical residency, Dr. Harris returned for a Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR) fellowship at the University of Minnesota. After completing his fellowship in 2008, he relocated to Orange County to develop his hernia practice.

Recognized by his peers for his dedication to surgical quality, Dr. Harris has been named an OCMA Physician of Excellence for 11 consecutive years (2015–2026) and is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. He is an ACHQC “Verified Surgeon of Quality,” a distinction reflecting his commitment to data-driven outcomes and superior patient safety. He has also been named a Southern California Super Doctor for the past 10 consecutive years (2017-2026). Because of his experience, he serves as a trainer for surgeons across the country who are interested in furthering their education in hernia repairs and has spoken at hernia conferences as a national leading hernia expert.

Outside of work Todd S. Harris, MD enjoys a variety of recreational activities. He is an avid runner and swimmer. He has competed in countless Olympic distance triathlons including Malibu, Miami South Beach, Santa Barbara, Escape Series, and OC Triathlon along with numerous 70.3 and Full Ironman races including Wildflower, Augusta GA, Dublin Ireland, IMAZ (Arizona), Santa Cruz, Coeur D’alene, and Salem OR. He balances cardiovascular activities with core and strength training. His interest in fitness allows him to appreciate getting patients back to what they enjoy as quickly and pain free as possible.

National Leadership & Academic Presentations

Dr. Todd Harris is regularly invited to serve as faculty at national surgical quality summits, helping to set the standard for hernia repair outcomes across the United States.

• 2025 American Hernia Society (AHS) Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN (September 2025), Featured Guest Speaker on “Practice Marketing & Solo Private Practice Excellence.”
• 2025 ACHQC Quality Improvement Summit, Denver, CO (February 2025), Faculty Moderator: Leading the session on Inguinal Hernia Outcomes, benchmarking national data to improve surgical quality.
• 2024 ACHQC Quality Improvement Summit, Denver, CO (March 2024), National Faculty: Served as a faculty leader discussing national hernia outcome metrics.
• 2023 ACHQC Quality Improvement Summit, Denver, CO (March 2023), Leadership Participant: Collaborated on defining key quality indicators for abdominal wall health.
• 2022 ACHQC Quality Improvement Summit, Denver, CO (March 2022), National Faculty: Contributed to the collaborative’s goal of improving patient safety and long-term outcomes.

Real Stories: Overcoming Surgery Fears

Choosing a surgeon is about more than just finding someone to perform a procedure; it’s about finding true medical care. in this video, three patients share why they chose Dr. Todd Harris. From a patient who had a traumatic anesthesia experience at another facility to another who was worried about ‘mesh controversy,’ these stories highlight how Dr. Harris listens, educates, and alleviates fears. As one patient notes, ‘There are two dozen doctors between here and Palm Desert… but what I got from Dr. Harris was medical care.’

Patient Reviews: Why We Chose Dr. Todd Harris for Hernia Repair

Three patients discuss their hernia repair experiences with Dr. Todd Harris, covering topics like anesthesia safety, hernia mesh concerns, and surgical reputation.

Independent and Outside Resources

We know that learning about your doctor is important and something that every patient should try to do before scheduling an appointment. That’s why we provide as many outside resources as possible. Patients are encouraged to visit:

• HealthGrades.com – the top physician review site in the country, over 1200 Dr. Harris reviews and comments
• Yelp – over 160 past patients share their opinions
• Google – over 100 past patients share their opinions
• Patient Testimonials – feedback from our past patients
• Named a Physician of Excellence for 11 consecutive years (2015–2025) Physician of Excellence Award – awarded by the OCMA
• Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative annual meeting – Guest speaker – Programs
• Guest Speaker at the American Hernia Society 2025 – AHS Program
• The Orange County Medical Association – highlighted for our hernia practice
• The American Board of Surgery – Dr. Harris is board certified
• Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award- Bio Page
• Super Doctors Awards – Bio Page
• Published Author on Opioid Reduction Initiatives for Ventral Hernias – Characterizing patterns of opioid prescribing after outpatient ventral hernia repair with mesh

Certification and Membership Matters

Dr. Harris has been named a Verified Surgeon of Quality by the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative due to his focus on hernia care, patient outcomes, and ongoing research. By selecting a VSOQ patients can ensure that they are giving themselves the best chance at a high quality outcome after their surgery. No one would want to fly with a pilot who only flys 1-2 times a month and the same goes for a patient who needs hernia surgery. Finding a surgeon with high volume and known outcomes improves a patient’s chance of having a successful outcome after their surgery.

Certification and Membership in national organizations shouldn’t be overlooked. It shows a commitment to being involved with cutting edge medicine, research, and with other leaders in the field. Dr. Harris is a member of numerous professional societies which ensures he is providing the best possible care to patients with hernias.

• California Medical License Number A105121
• Member of the Orange County Medical Association – OCMA
• American Board of Medical Specialties ABMS
• Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative Verified Surgeon of Quality VSQ
• Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative Opioid Reduction Initiative
• Member of the California Medical Association CMA