Overview
Reno, Nevada occupies a distinct position in the western United States healthcare landscape. As the largest city in Nevada outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Reno is home to a cluster of regional medical centers — including Renown Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and Carson Tahoe Health — that draw patients from across the Great Basin. This concentration of hospital infrastructure has, over the past two decades, supported a parallel growth in outpatient specialty and integrative medicine, including regenerative and stem cell therapies. Patients from rural Nevada, northern California, and eastern Oregon regularly travel to Reno for specialized care not available closer to home, which means local clinics must maintain standards capable of serving both local and regional demand.
Stem cell therapy and related regenerative treatments attract patients for a consistent set of reasons: chronic joint pain that has not responded to physical therapy or steroid injections, a desire to avoid or delay joint replacement surgery, sports and soft tissue injuries, and conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or shoulder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy — an adjacent and frequently combined treatment — uses concentrated growth factors drawn from the patient’s own blood to accelerate tissue repair. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) therapy goes further by delivering adult stem cells harvested directly from the patient’s iliac crest into the site of injury or degeneration. These approaches are not FDA-approved as cures for any specific condition, but a growing body of clinical literature supports their use as adjuncts or alternatives to more invasive orthopedic interventions.
Reno’s regenerative medicine clinics vary considerably in structure. Some are founded by orthopedic surgeons who transitioned into non-operative care after careers in traditional surgery. Others are run by internal medicine or anesthesiology and pain management physicians who have pursued additional training specifically in regenerative protocols. Still others operate as franchise or network affiliates tied to national chains with standardized treatment menus. Each model has tradeoffs: the independent surgeon-founded clinic may offer deeper orthopedic expertise but a narrower service menu, while the network clinic may provide broader condition coverage but less individualized protocol development. Understanding these structural differences helps patients ask better questions before committing to a treatment plan.
When evaluating any stem cell therapy clinic in Reno — or anywhere — several factors deserve close scrutiny. First, verify that the treating physician holds an active, unrestricted Nevada medical license through the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (medboard.nv.gov). Second, confirm board certification in a relevant specialty — orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology with pain management, internal medicine, or physical medicine and rehabilitation — through the appropriate certifying body (ABOS, ABA, ABIM, or ABPMR). Third, ask specifically what type of biological product will be used: the patient’s own cells (autologous), donor-derived cord tissue (allogeneic), or off-the-shelf exosome products. The FDA’s regulatory position on each of these differs. Fourth, ask whether injections are guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy, since image-guided delivery is the standard of care and substantially reduces the risk of misplacement. Fifth, request a written treatment plan with documented baseline functional assessments so that outcomes can be measured against a real starting point.
Top Stem Cell Therapy Clinics in Reno
1. Sierra Stem Cell Institute
Address: 5546 Longley Lane, Suite B, Reno, NV 89511
Phone: (775) 348-8100
Website: https://sierrastemcellinstitute.com
About: Sierra Stem Cell Institute was founded in 2010 by Dr. Laurence McClish, MD, and Dr. Andrew C. Wesely, MD, making it northern Nevada’s first and longest-running dedicated stem cell therapy center. The institute was built specifically around the premise that PRP and autologous stem cell therapy could allow patients to avoid surgery and long-term pharmaceutical pain management — a clinical philosophy the founders developed after observing consistent outcomes gaps between what surgery could offer and what regenerative biology was beginning to demonstrate. All treatment procedures are performed in a single day visit, meaning patient tissue and blood are processed and reinjected on the same date without leaving the clinical premises. The preparation and harvesting procedures are conducted in a sterile clean-room environment modeled on operating room standards. Injections are guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy to ensure precise delivery to the target tissue. The institute’s clinical approach emphasizes that bone marrow aspirate concentrate is the preferred source for adult stem cells in joint applications because it delivers active stem cells, platelets, and growth factors simultaneously — unlike PRP alone, which provides indirect stimulation. Patient reviews over more than a decade reflect high satisfaction rates, with multiple documented cases of durable pain relief following knee treatment without surgery.
Physicians:
- Dr. Laurence McClish, MD — Board-certified orthopedic surgeon and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Dr. McClish earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley (1966) and practiced full-time orthopedic surgery in the Reno area for over 40 years before retiring from operative surgery in 2010 to focus exclusively on regenerative medicine. He subsequently obtained board certification in anti-aging medicine through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He is affiliated with Barton Memorial Hospital, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Regional Medical Center, and Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Dr. McClish speaks at national conferences and trains other physicians in regenerative protocols, particularly in the use of autologous stem cells for arthritic joints.
- Dr. Andrew C. Wesely, MD — Board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. Dr. Wesely completed his MD at Oral Roberts University, followed by an Internal Medicine internship and Anesthesiology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center (completed 1993). He holds board certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Pain Management and has practiced pain management in Reno continuously since 1994. He serves as Physician and Chief Scientific Officer at Sierra Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Wesely has completed specialized training in both BMAC and lipoaspiration mesenchymal stem cell harvesting techniques, along with laboratory preparation and administration of PRP, prolotherapy, and neural prolotherapy. He is a member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the Spine Intervention Society, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the North American Neuromodulation Society.
Services:
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Therapy: Adult stem cells are harvested from the patient’s iliac crest using a minimally invasive approach. The concentrate is then injected into the target joint or tissue under imaging guidance on the same day. This is the institute’s core treatment modality.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: The patient’s blood is drawn, centrifuged, and concentrated to isolate growth factors. PRP is used as a standalone treatment or in combination with BMAC depending on the clinical assessment.
- Image-Guided Injection Procedures: All injections are performed under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to ensure accurate delivery to the target anatomical structure.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration
- Hip joint arthritis
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Elbow conditions including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Spinal disc injuries and axial back pain
- Sports-related soft tissue injuries (muscle, tendon, ligament)
- Bone injuries with impaired healing
Technology and Equipment: Sterile clean-room environment for tissue processing; ultrasound and fluoroscopy imaging systems for injection guidance; same-day processing so patient cells never leave the premises.
Patient Experience: The clinic has accumulated over a decade of patient outcomes data and maintains an established reputation in northern Nevada. Multiple patients have reported pain-free intervals of five or more years following knee treatment, with no subsequent surgical intervention required.
2. StemXgene (ArtaMed)
Address: 5546 Longley Lane, Suite B, Reno, NV 89511
Phone: (775) 384-3867
Website: https://stemxgene.com
About: StemXgene is the regenerative medicine practice of Dr. Arshavir Artashesyan, MD, operating out of the same Longley Lane medical complex as the Sierra Stem Cell Institute and under the broader ArtaMed primary care umbrella. Dr. Artashesyan built StemXgene as a specialized outpatient clinic dedicated to non-surgical interventional treatments, with a particular focus on musculoskeletal regenerative therapy, hormone optimization, and men’s health conditions including erectile dysfunction. The clinic operates Monday through Saturday, providing wider appointment availability than many competing practices. Its treatment menu spans PRP therapy, stem cell therapy, A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin) injections, hormone replacement therapy, and hair restoration — representing one of the broader non-surgical service menus available from a single physician practice in Reno. Dr. Artashesyan holds hospital affiliations at Renown Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center, and Carson Tahoe Health, which allows his patients access to ancillary imaging and laboratory services through the regional hospital network. The clinic publishes its pricing for regenerative treatments on its website, which is an uncommon level of transparency in this specialty.
Physicians:
- Dr. Arshavir Artashesyan, MD — Board-certified internist and regenerative medicine specialist. Dr. Artashesyan earned his MD from Yerevan State Medical University Named for Mkhitar Heratsi (2002), completed a Urology residency at Yerevan State Medical University, and subsequently completed an Internal Medicine residency at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital in New York. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and holds additional certification in pain management from the American Academy of Procedural Medicine. He also holds a Certificate of Achievement in Genetics and Genomics from Stanford Medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians. He has been in practice for more than 20 years. In regenerative medicine, Dr. Artashesyan specializes in PRP injections, autologous stem cell therapy for joint conditions, and the Stellate Ganglion Block procedure, which is used in the treatment of PTSD and certain pain syndromes.
Services:
- Stem Cell Therapy: Autologous cell-based treatment for joint arthritis including knee, hip, and shoulder, as well as sports injuries and tendon conditions such as tennis elbow and Achilles tendinopathy.
- PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy: Injections of the patient’s own concentrated platelets to accelerate healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints.
- A2M (Alpha-2-Macroglobulin) Therapy: A naturally occurring plasma protein concentrated from the patient’s blood; used as an adjunct treatment for joint pain and cartilage preservation.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy and Testosterone Therapy: Management of low testosterone and hormone imbalances through bioidentical or conventional protocols.
- Hair Restoration: Combination of PRP scalp injections and Dutasteride-based mesotherapy to address androgenic hair thinning.
- Stellate Ganglion Block: Ultrasound-guided cervical sympathetic nerve block used in the treatment of hot flashes, PTSD-related symptoms, and certain neuropathic pain conditions.
- Erectile Dysfunction Treatment: P-Shot (PRP-based procedure), hormone therapy, and nerve block options.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow osteoarthritis
- Back pain and neck pain
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Erectile dysfunction and sexual health conditions
- Low testosterone and hormonal imbalance
- Hair thinning and androgenic alopecia
- PTSD-associated symptoms (via Stellate Ganglion Block)
Insurance and Pricing: StemXgene publishes a price list for regenerative treatments on its website (stemxgene.com/pricelist). Regenerative procedures are generally not covered by insurance. Interested patients can review published pricing directly on the clinic website before booking a consultation.
3. Advanced Neurosurgery — Regenerative Medicine Program
Address: 10791 Double R Blvd., Reno, NV 89521 (primary Reno location)
Phone: (775) 312-8120
Website: https://www.advancedneurosurgery.net
About: Advanced Neurosurgery is a multi-specialty neurosurgical and pain management practice serving Reno, Carson City, and surrounding communities including Sparks, Lake Tahoe, Susanville, and Elko. The practice has built its regenerative medicine program around the clinical position that adult stem cells harvested from bone marrow represent the gold standard for orthopedic joint applications — both because they deliver active mesenchymal stem cells directly to the site of injury and because bone marrow concentrate simultaneously contains the platelets and growth factors that PRP therapy delivers indirectly. The regenerative medicine program at Advanced Neurosurgery was developed in part by Dr. Andrew Wesely, MD, who also serves at Sierra Stem Cell Institute, bringing consistent clinical methodology across both practices. The practice maintains a 4.89-star aggregate patient satisfaction rating based on 379 verified reviews, and is open Monday through Friday with online scheduling available through its website. The combination of neurosurgical expertise for complex spinal conditions and a dedicated regenerative medicine program makes this practice well-suited for patients whose pain may have both surgical and non-surgical treatment options — allowing a single clinical team to evaluate the full spectrum and recommend the appropriate pathway. A second office location in Carson City (1470 Medical Parkway, Suite 240, Carson City, NV 89703; 775-269-4717) serves southern Nevada patients.
Physicians:
- Dr. Michael H. Song, MD — Board-certified neurosurgeon. Dr. Song earned his MD from Indiana University School of Medicine (graduated 1997), completed a general surgery internship at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, and finished a neurosurgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center (completed 2003). He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society, and received the American College of Surgeons Award as a top student in surgery. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, herniated disc decompression and fusion, complex spinal revisions, and microsurgery of the spinal cord. Hospital affiliations include Renown Children’s Hospital, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Banner Lassen Medical Center, and Carson Tahoe Health.
- Dr. Andrew C. Wesely, MD — (See full credentials listed under Sierra Stem Cell Institute above.) Dr. Wesely serves as the regenerative medicine specialist at Advanced Neurosurgery’s Reno and Carson City locations, overseeing the bone marrow stem cell and PRP therapy programs.
Services:
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Stem Cell Therapy: Adult stem cells are harvested from the iliac crest using a minimally invasive aspiration technique, concentrated, and injected under imaging guidance into the target joint or tissue. The practice describes BMAC as a direct therapy that delivers active stem cells, platelets, and growth factors simultaneously, in contrast to PRP alone.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Concentrated growth-factor-rich plasma derived from the patient’s own blood; used for joint pain, tendinopathies, and soft tissue injuries.
- Neurosurgical and Spinal Procedures: Full spectrum of neurosurgical care including minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, spinal fusion, tumor resection, and aneurysm treatment — available for patients whose evaluation determines that surgical intervention is appropriate.
- Interventional Pain Management: Spinal cord stimulation, nerve and medial branch blocks, medication management, and implantable drug delivery systems.
Conditions Treated:
- Knee, hip, shoulder, and spine degeneration and osteoarthritis
- Herniated and degenerative disc disease
- Soft tissue injuries of muscle, tendon, and ligament
- Spinal stenosis and radiculopathy (nerve compression)
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Bone injuries with degeneration
- Complex spinal and intracranial pathology (surgical program)
Technology and Equipment: Imaging-guided injection delivery (ultrasound and fluoroscopy); minimally invasive bone marrow aspiration instrumentation; full neurosurgical operative capabilities at affiliated hospital facilities.
Insurance and Pricing: Regenerative medicine procedures at Advanced Neurosurgery are not currently covered by insurance, consistent with the broader payer landscape for stem cell and PRP therapies. The office staff can assist with payment options and cost estimates. Standard neurosurgical procedures may be eligible for insurance coverage depending on the patient’s plan and the specific procedure.
What to Know Before Choosing a Stem Cell Clinic in Reno
The first and most important step before committing to any stem cell or regenerative medicine clinic in Reno is credential verification. A physician’s name on a clinic website does not confirm that they are the treating provider at your appointment, that their license is current, or that their board certification is active. The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners maintains a public physician lookup tool at medboard.nv.gov where you can confirm that a physician holds an active, unrestricted Nevada license. For board certification, each specialty has its own verification database: the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (abos.org), the American Board of Anesthesiology (theaba.org), the American Board of Internal Medicine (abim.org), and the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (abpmr.org) all offer public lookup tools. Verifying through these primary sources — not through the clinic’s own marketing materials — is the appropriate standard of diligence for any elective procedure.
The second practical step is imaging. Before any stem cell or PRP injection into a joint, the treating physician should review current imaging of the target structure. For joints, this typically means a recent MRI or weight-bearing X-ray that allows the physician to characterize the degree and pattern of damage. A clinic that offers to proceed with treatment without reviewing relevant imaging should be regarded with skepticism. The injection protocol — what is injected, how much, at what concentration, and precisely where — should be informed by the structural findings. Image-guided delivery during the procedure itself (ultrasound or fluoroscopy) is also a critical quality indicator: clinically meaningful placement into the joint space or at the tendon insertion requires real-time visualization, and blind injection increases both the risk of misplacement and the risk of adverse events.
Third, ask about laboratory processing. Autologous treatments — those using your own cells or blood — require centrifugation equipment that must be properly calibrated and operated by trained staff. Clinics that process biologics in-house in a dedicated, sterile environment are operating at a meaningfully different quality level than those using point-of-care kits in a general exam room. The source of biological material also matters: autologous treatments (from your own body) carry no disease transmission risk and no immune rejection risk; allogeneic treatments (from a donor, such as umbilical cord-derived products) carry low but non-zero risks and are subject to different FDA regulatory requirements. Ask the clinic directly which type of product will be used in your case and request documentation of the product’s regulatory status and chain of custody if allogeneic material is proposed.
Fourth, Reno patients evaluating regenerative medicine clinics should ask for outcome data, not just testimonials. The most credible clinics track patient outcomes using standardized functional assessment instruments — visual analog pain scales, KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), DASH scores for upper extremity function, or similar — and can describe what percentage of their treated patients achieved clinically meaningful improvement at defined follow-up intervals. This is different from curated patient testimonials on a clinic website, which select for positive experiences by definition. No clinic in any market will show you a complete outcomes dataset including unfavorable results without direct inquiry, but asking the question reveals something about how the clinic thinks about accountability. If the answer is that they do not systematically track functional outcomes, that is useful information. Combined with board-verified physician credentials, image guidance practices, and transparent biological sourcing, outcome transparency forms the basis of an informed decision in a specialty where the evidence base is still maturing and where patient expectations must be calibrated carefully against realistic probabilities of benefit.
Disclaimer: This directory is for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of any clinic, physician, or treatment. Clinic information was gathered from publicly available sources and verified to the extent possible as of the publication date; patients should independently confirm addresses, phone numbers, physician credentials, and service availability before scheduling. Stem cell and PRP therapies are not FDA-approved treatments for specific conditions and may be considered experimental. Consult a licensed physician before pursuing any regenerative medicine treatment.