Dr. Avery L. Buchholz, MD, FAANS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third year he has received the prestigious designation. Only 7 percent of licensed physicians in the United States are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties within their regions.
Dr. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon and spine specialist with Capital Spine and Pain Institute, a leading interdisciplinary practice known for providing comprehensive, minimally invasive spine care and targeted pain management solutions. The recognition highlights his expertise in treating complex spine disorders and his commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care.
Dr. Buchholz evaluates and treats a range of conditions, including adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma. He prioritizes conservative, non-surgical treatment protocols whenever appropriate, and when surgery is required, he tailors care plans to minimize tissue disruption, reduce recovery times, and optimize clinical outcomes. His key procedures 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.
Dr. Buchholz completed his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He then completed his neurological surgery residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by 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 (FAANS) and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on spinal surgery outcomes, biomechanics, and surgical safety.
Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs, and honorees are chosen based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. The Top Doctors list is published at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications.
This recognition matters because it signals to patients and peers that Dr. Buchholz meets rigorous standards of excellence in neurosurgery and spine care. As only a small fraction of physicians receive this honor, it reinforces his standing as a trusted specialist for those seeking advanced, minimally invasive treatment options.
