This year marks 20 years since the founding of The CORE Institute, a milestone that invites
reflection not only on how far the organization has come, but on why it was created, and how
that purpose continues to guide its evolution.
To mark the anniversary, Dr. David Jacofsky, the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of The CORE
Institute, recently discussed how a small orthopedic practice with less than a dozen employees,
transformed into one of the largest and well-respected musculoskeletal and neurological
practices nationally. He reflects on the early days, the defining moments along the way, and
what this moment means as CORE looks toward the future of musculoskeletal care.
When Dr. Jacofsky founded The CORE Institute in 2005 with Dr. Mark Campbell and Dr. John
Brown (all of whom still practice at CORE), the vision was both simple and ambitious: create a
physician-led orthopedic organization centered on outcomes, accountability, and patient-first
care at a time when healthcare was becoming increasingly fragmented.
From the outset, CORE was designed to be more than a traditional practice. It was built as a
system that aligned physicians, data, and operations around measurable quality, continuous
improvement, and driving value for patients.
“We wanted to prove that physicians could lead,” Dr. Jacofsky said. “That you could measure
outcomes, hold yourself accountable, and still deliver highly personalized care.”
Those principles of outcomes, structure, and transparency became the foundation on which
everything else was built. The CORE Institute helped found and continues to support the MORE
Foundation in its quest to deliver charitable care to those in need while leading academic
research to improve care quality worldwide. This commitment to giving back underscores
CORE’s mission to enhance patient care and community well-being.
By the time CORE reached its 10th anniversary in 2015, the organization had already
transformed dramatically. What began as a single clinic in Sun City West at the then Del E.
Webb Memorial Hospital (now Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center) had grown into a nationally
recognized, multi-specialty organization, spanning dozens of facilities and hundreds of team
members.
That first decade was defined by evidence-based medicine, early investment in outcomes
tracking, and technology-enabled care models. CORE expanded beyond orthopedics into
complementary specialties and formed innovative partnerships that reinforced its belief in
coordinated, data-driven musculoskeletal care.
The message of that milestone was clear: the model worked! But as Dr. Jacofsky noted, proving
the model was only the beginning.
From 2015 to 2025, CORE’s evolution accelerated, shaped by rapid changes in healthcare
delivery, reimbursement pressures, and rising expectations around value and patient
experience.
During this period, CORE expanded both the depth and breadth of care it provides. Advanced
clinical offerings were introduced, including new minimally invasive spine treatments for
chronic low back pain and surgical robots in joint replacement, reflecting CORE’s continued
focus on innovation rooted in evidence and outcomes. Specialties and services expanded with
the addition of neurology, neurosurgery, and vein health.
In 2023, Arizona Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists joined The CORE Institute, significantly
expanding its spine and neurosurgery platform and strengthening collaboration across
orthopedic and neurologic disciplines. This integration reinforced CORE’s long-standing belief
that musculoskeletal care is best delivered through coordinated, multidisciplinary teams.
At the same time, CORE continued to grow its physical footprint opening and expanding clinics
in key Arizona markets to improve access, convenience, and continuity of care for patients.
The practice has been ranked the #1 orthopedic and spine practice in the state in numerous
Ranking Arizona polls, reflecting direct community and peer support for its people-centered
approach to care. It has been honored as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies for
leadership, innovation, workplace culture, and community engagement. CORE physicians have
been repeatedly named Top Doctors by PHOENIX Magazine, and founder Dr. David Jacofsky has
been recognized among Arizona’s Top 50 Most Powerful People in Business and most recently
named by Becker’s ASC Review as “10 Physician Practice and ASC Influencers to Know – 2025.”
These accolades underscore the organization’s influence in both healthcare and the broader
business community, reflecting The CORE Institute’s ongoing commitment to excellence,
leadership, and measurable impact.
For Dr. Jacofsky, the significance of recognition is always grounded in patient impact, “Awards
only matter if they reflect real results for patients. That’s what we’ve always cared about,” he
said.
Despite two decades of growth, innovation, and recognition, Dr. Jacofsky is clear about what he
considers CORE’s most important accomplishment which is its people.
Over 20 years, CORE has trained residents and fellows, developed physician leaders, and built a
culture where collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement are expectations, not
aspirations. Many clinicians who trained within CORE have gone on to influence orthopedic and
spine care well beyond the organization itself.
“The real legacy isn’t buildings or numbers,” Dr. Jacofsky said. “It’s the people who carry these
values forward.”
As CORE enters its third decade, the healthcare environment continues to evolve toward value-
based care, digital enablement, and accountability across the full continuum. These shifts are
not new to CORE; they are areas the organization has long embraced.
Dr. Jacofsky believes CORE is well positioned for what comes next, not because of any single
initiative, but because of the mindset that has guided the organization since 2005.
“The principles don’t change,” he said. “You stay focused on outcomes, you stay willing to
adapt, and you never lose sight of why you do this work.”
Twenty years is a milestone worth recognizing, but it is also a moment to recommit.
From its founding in 2005, through the momentum of its first decade, and into the complexity
and innovation of the past 10 years, The CORE Institute has remained grounded in a simple but
powerful idea that better structure and better culture leads to better care.
As CORE looks ahead, this anniversary is less about celebrating what has already been achieved
and more about reaffirming the commitment to patients, to physicians, and to continuously
raising the standard for musculoskeletal care.
As Dr. Jacofsky put it, “In many ways, we’re just getting started.”
- Twenty years of CORE from vision to impact and the work still ahead - December 29, 2025
- Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Guide from The CORE Institute - December 3, 2025
- The Vein Health Center at The CORE Institute expands services with addition of new experts - November 17, 2025