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 places him among an elite group: only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians are chosen each year as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions. For patients with complex spinal conditions, this honor signals that Dr. Buchholz has met stringent peer-reviewed standards for clinical excellence.
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. His practice focuses on evaluating and treating a range of complex spine disorders, adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma. He utilizes an evidence-based approach to patient care, prioritizing conservative, non-surgical treatment protocols whenever appropriate. 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 advanced techniques reflect a commitment to less invasive options that can lead to faster recovery and better long-term results for patients.
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 Doctor selection process is rigorous. Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. The team chooses honorees based on nominee criteria that includes their medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs. Crucially, doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, preserving the integrity of the designation. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at castleconnolly.com and in a variety of print and online partner publications.
For patients in the Tallahassee region and beyond, Dr. Buchholz's third consecutive Top Doctor award provides independent validation of his surgical skill and patient-centered approach. It also underscores the growing importance of specialized, minimally invasive spine care in addressing chronic back pain and complex spinal deformities. Those seeking a consultation can schedule an appointment by calling (571) 399-6340 or visiting capitalspineinstitute.com/contact-us.
