Neurosurgeon Avery L. Buchholz, MD, FAANS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third consecutive year he has received the designation. The recognition places him among an elite group: only 7 percent of the nation’s licensed physicians are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions.
Dr. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon and spine specialist with Capital Spine and Pain Institute, a leading interdisciplinary practice recognized for providing comprehensive, minimally invasive spine care and targeted pain management solutions. The practice’s model emphasizes collaboration across specialties to address complex spinal conditions.
He evaluates and treats a range of complex spine disorders, adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma. His approach prioritizes conservative, non-surgical treatment protocols whenever appropriate, utilizing evidence-based care. When surgical intervention is required, care plans are tailored to minimize tissue disruption, reduce recovery times, and optimize clinical outcomes.
Key procedures performed by Dr. Buchholz 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. These techniques reflect a broader shift in spine surgery toward less invasive options that aim to preserve motion and accelerate recovery.
Dr. Buchholz completed his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He 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.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctors selection process is peer-driven. Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. According to the organization, doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected. Honorees are chosen based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. The list is published at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications.
For patients, the designation serves as an independent signal of clinical standing in a field where treatment options can be complex. Dr. Buchholz’s third consecutive selection suggests sustained peer recognition and may help patients seeking specialized spine care identify a qualified provider.
Appointments with Dr. Buchholz can be scheduled by calling (571) 399-6340 or visiting capitalspineinstitute.com/contact-us.
