Gary K. Michelson

Gary K. Michelson
Born	(1949-01-14) January 14, 1949 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Orthopedic surgeon, inventor, philanthropist
Known for	Medical inventions in spinal surgery, philanthropy

Gary K. Michelson (born January 14, 1949) is an American orthopedic surgeon, inventor in the medical field, and a billionaire known for his philanthropic efforts.

Early life and education

Raised in Philadelphia alongside his three brothers by their mother and grandmother, Michelson was inspired to focus on spinal conditions due to his grandmother’s battle with syringomyelia. After completing his studies at Central High School of Philadelphia in 1966, he pursued higher education at Temple University and then attended Hahnemann Medical College of Drexel University. He finalized his orthopedic surgery residency at Hahnemann Medical Hospital in 1979. Subsequently, Michelson undertook a spinal surgery fellowship at St. Luke's Medical Center, a collaborative program between Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas. He practiced as a spinal surgeon for more than 25 years before retiring from clinical practice in 2001 to dedicate himself fully to charitable activities.

Medical innovations

At the outset of his career, Michelson identified the limited success rates in spinal surgeries and proceeded to invent new surgical implants, instruments, and techniques aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. These advancements, collectively referred to as "Michelson Devices," are designed to minimize blood loss, reduce incision sizes, and improve other vital surgical parameters. Globally, he holds over 950 patents either granted or pending that pertain to treatments for spinal disorders.

In 2005, Michelson sold a significant portion of his spine-related patents to Medtronic for $1.35 billion, which secured his inclusion on the Forbes 400 list. This transaction followed a legal dispute initiated by Medtronic regarding the origins of certain patents; Michelson responded with cross-litigation starting in 2001 and was ultimately awarded damages. The case set an important legal precedent in 2004 concerning the expenses associated with pre-trial electronic evidence discovery.

Philanthropy

Established in 1995 with an initial $100 million endowment from Michelson, the Gary Karlin Michelson, M.D. Charitable Foundation, Inc. was renamed the Michelson Medical Research Foundation in 2005. This nonprofit organization does not accept external donations.

Michelson and his wife Alya are among the founding benefactors of the National Medal of Honor Museum.

Michelson Center for Public Policy

The Michelson Center for Public Policy supported legislation introduced in 2021 by U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan aimed at removing the FDA’s mandate for animal testing in drug efficacy evaluations.

Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Founded by Michelson in 2005, the Found Animals Foundation is a private operating foundation under section 501(c)(3) dedicated to animal welfare causes. In response to Hurricane Katrina, it developed the Found Animals Registry—the first nationwide free pet microchip registry. The foundation also conducts research surveys analyzing trends within the pet industry.

In 2008, it launched the Michelson Prize and Grants in Reproductive Biology, a $75 million initiative focused on creating a safe, single-dose, non-surgical sterilization method for cats and dogs. This includes a $25 million prize alongside $50 million allocated for research grants. To date, 41 grants have been awarded, including projects exploring gene therapy techniques that could offer long-lasting contraception for felines.

In 2021, Pethealth Inc., a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial, acquired the Found Animals Registry. Additionally, the foundation participates on the board of the Best Friends Animal Society’s No-Kill Los Angeles campaign.

For World Spay Day 2024, the foundation contributed $1 million to Community Animal Medicine Project clinics located in Southern California. In October 2024, Michelson received recognition at the Malibu Sunset Soirée For Animals event and was honored with the Pioneer Award by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during CAMP’s Pet Gala.

The Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative—launched jointly by Michelson Found Animals and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)—advocates for policy reforms that eliminate housing obstacles faced by pet owners.

Better Neighbor Project

The foundation initiated the Better Neighbor Project in 2020 to assist pet owners facing financial hardship and homelessness by providing pet food and veterinary care.

In January 2025, Michelson Found Animals, in collaboration with Greater Good Charities, received a shipment of 17 tons of Purina dog food at their Inglewood facility to support pet owners impacted by the California wildfires.

Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property

Dr. Michelson contributed to the 2016 publication The Intangible Advantage: Understanding Intellectual Property in the New Economy, a textbook aimed at non-legal professionals and undergraduate students to help them understand patents, copyrights, and trademarks. That same year, the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property was founded to offer complimentary educational materials on intellectual property topics.

Michelson Medical Research Foundation

Established in 2005, the Michelson Medical Research Foundation fosters advancements in medical and scientific research. Notable projects include the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, and the California Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy located at UCLA Research Park, which was announced in January 2024.

The Michelsons introduced the Michelson Prize in 2017 to encourage young researchers under age 36 conducting medically significant studies. The 2020 recipients were Danika Hill from Monash University and Michael Birnbaum from MIT.

In 2024, the foundation contributed $120 million to establish the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA's Research Park. In recognition of his health research leadership connected to this institute, Michelson received the Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award from Research!America in 2025.

Michelson Neglected Disease Initiative

Since 2013, Michelson has been a major supporter of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, initiating the Michelson Neglected Disease Vaccine Initiative to enhance access to affordable treatments targeting tropical diseases.

Michelson 20MM Foundation

The Twenty Million Minds Foundation, launched in 2011, strives to increase college affordability by funding a free online textbook repository. In 2016, it released a variety of intellectual property resources publicly to aid innovation.

In 2019, 20MM introduced the Spark Grants platform to simplify grant distribution processes. The foundation partnered with California in 2020 for the California Digital Divide Challenge, awarding a $1 million prize aimed at expanding broadband availability.

The Michelson 20MM Foundation has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide through advocacy efforts and stakeholder convenings, influencing FCC policies that prevent discrimination in internet service provision. Additionally, it published a Los Angeles report examining internet access among low-income households after federal subsidies concluded.

In 2024, CHIRLA was awarded a $25,000 community broadband grant from 20MM. That July, the foundation collaborated with the California State University system to launch the CSU Pregnant and Parenting Student Initiative.

Legislative

Since 2017, Michelson has played a pivotal role in supporting and promoting significant legislation, including:

• Legislation that ended the practice of pet shops acquiring animals from out-of-state breeders, along with AB 485, which mandates that California pet retailers obtain animals exclusively from local shelters and rescue organizations.
• The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetic Act, which prohibits the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.
• The Circus Cruelty Prevention Act, banning the use of animals in circus performances within California.
• California Law AB 1260, which terminates commercial fur trapping and forbids the sale of exotic animal skins, specifically targeting alligator and crocodile products.
• California Senate Bill 573, requiring microchipping for all cats and dogs that are reclaimed or adopted.
• California Law SB 990, permitting parolees to reside, work, or study outside the county where they were previously incarcerated.
• California Law AB 2881, eliminating registration obstacles at community colleges and state universities while enhancing awareness of the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• The FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which updates standards for humane animal testing.
• California Law AB 2458 (GAINS Act), designed to remove challenges faced by student parents pursuing higher education.

Personal life

Michelson lives in Los Angeles with his wife Alya and their three children.

In December 2015, he was recognized by Forbes as one of "10 People with Big Ideas to Change the World."

Academic books

• (2016) The Intangible Advantage: Understanding Intellectual Property in the New Economy (contributing author)

Selected articles

• (2020) "America's Needed Medical Revolution" - US News & World Report
• (2020) "Transform higher education - make textbooks free" - EdSource
• (2021) "To vaccinate our economy, boost support for the NIH" - Fortune
• (2021) "Microchipping your pets doesn't have to be expensive. Paying for registration is a scam." - USA Today
• (2022) "Accelerating the Pace of Innovation for the Greater Good" - Technology & Innovation, Vol. 22 No. 2
• (2022) "Let's help struggling students rather than benefiting textbook publishers" - EdSource (with Michelle Pilati)
• (2024) "Is India the Key to Ending the War in Ukraine?" - C-Suite Quarterly
• (2024) "Low-cost solution to L.A.'s animal shelter crisis" - Daily Breeze
• (2024) "Why We All Should Love the NIH and How We Can Make It Better" - Joomag

Awards and honors

• Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 2011.
• Inducted into the National Academy of Inventors on March 7, 2014.
• 2015 - Albert B. Sabin Humanitarian Award recognizing philanthropy and dedication to combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
• 2015 - Distinguished Achievement Award from B'nai B'rith International for contributions to philanthropy, humanitarian efforts, and community leadership.
• 2017 - Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters awarded by the University of Southern California.
• 2017 - Innovation Award for Technology presented by the Los Angeles County Medical Association.
• 2018 - Visionary of the Year Award in Philanthropy from CSQ / C-Suite Quarterly Magazine.
• 2022 - Humanitarian Award at the 22nd Annual Inner City Law Center Awards.
• 2022 - IP Champion Award from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation.
• 2024 - Tommy Lasorda Leadership Award bestowed by the Milken Institute.
• 2024 - Humanitarian Award from the World Brain Mapping Foundation.

External links

• Michelson Medical Research Foundation