Neurosurgeon Avery L. Buchholz, MD, FAANS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third year he has received the designation. The recognition is limited to approximately 7 percent of licensed U.S. physicians each year, according to Castle Connolly. For patients navigating complex spine conditions, such honors can serve as a signal of peer-recognized expertise at a time when treatment options are expanding rapidly.
Dr. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon and spine specialist with Capital Spine and Pain Institute, an interdisciplinary practice focused on minimally invasive spine care and targeted pain management. He evaluates and treats a range of complex spine disorders, including adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma. His approach prioritizes evidence-based, conservative care whenever appropriate, and when surgery is needed, he tailors plans to minimize tissue disruption, reduce recovery times, and optimize outcomes.
Key procedures he performs include minimally invasive lumbar discectomy and laminectomy, robotic-assisted spinal fusion and instrumentation, complex adult spinal deformity and scoliosis reconstruction, cervical artificial disc replacement, motion-preservation spinal surgery, and image-guided spinal decompression. The breadth of these offerings reflects broader trends in spine care toward less invasive techniques and motion preservation, which can matter for patients hoping to return to daily activities sooner.
Dr. Buchholz completed his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, his neurological surgery residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, and a specialized clinical fellowship in complex spinal deformity and pediatric scoliosis surgery at the University of Virginia. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on spinal surgery outcomes, biomechanics, and surgical safety.
The Castle Connolly selection process relies on nominations from peer physicians and review by a physician-led research team. Honorees are chosen based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Doctors cannot pay to be selected. This peer-driven model is intended to give patients a trusted reference point amid a crowded health care landscape.
For those seeking care, the designation may provide added confidence when choosing a spine specialist. Dr. Buchholz's profile is available through Dr. Buchholz on the Castle Connolly site, and appointments can be scheduled by visiting capitalspineinstitute.com/contact-us. The full Top Doctors list is published at castleconnolly.com and in partner publications.
As spine care continues to evolve toward minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques, recognition like this highlights the importance of specialized training and peer validation. For patients, it may mean greater access to advanced options and a clearer way to identify experienced surgeons.
