John Fleming MD

John F. Flemming, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Coastal Ortho with offices in El Segundo and Torrance, California. He joined the team in 2017 because he was impressed by how the practice built a reputation of trust, respect, and empathy that aligns with his values.

As a child, Dr. Flemming spent his days off school at his mother’s workplace, a chiropractor’s office on the south side of Chicago. He followed the doctor, noticing that he was always kind, informative, and adored by his patients. This inspired him to want to make that kind of impact someday. Dr. Fleming ultimately chose to specialize in orthopedic spine surgery because of its unique and profound capacity to improve the lives of his patients.

Born in Chicago, Dr. Flemming graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. During his surgical training, he sought new challenges around every bend because he knew it would eventually pay off for his patients. 

Today, he is trained in a relatively new form of minimally invasive spine surgery called the MidLIF (Midline Lumbar Interbody Fusion). It utilizes advanced imaging during the operation to decrease incision size and minimize the amount of internal surgery necessary to achieve spinal fusion. 

Dr. Flemming also has advanced training in the side-body incision technique of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion, which avoids dissecting large amounts of muscles from the back. These options are combined with traditional open surgery to find the best-fit operation for each individual.

He also invests his time in research and intraoperative and clinical teaching for the orthopedic residents at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 

When not working, you can find him paddle boarding, cycling, hiking, and enjoying the beach community. He also attends Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and is thankful for his community. 

Even with such specialized surgical training and experience, Dr. Fleming believes in first looking at all options and tailoring a specific treatment plan for each patient.