Dr. Avery L. Buchholz, MD, FAANS, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third consecutive year he has earned this prestigious designation. Only 7 percent of licensed physicians in the United States are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors, making this recognition a significant honor in the medical field.
Dr. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon and spine specialist practicing at Capital Spine and Pain Institute, a leading interdisciplinary practice known for providing comprehensive, minimally invasive spine care and targeted pain management solutions. His expertise covers a wide range of complex spine disorders, including adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal trauma. He employs an evidence-based approach to patient care, prioritizing conservative, non-surgical treatment protocols whenever appropriate. When surgery is necessary, Dr. Buchholz tailors care plans 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 his commitment to staying at the forefront of spinal surgery.
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.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process is rigorous. Doctors are nominated by their peers and then evaluated by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. The team considers criteria such as medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Importantly, doctors cannot pay to be selected, ensuring the integrity of the recognition. The full list of Top Doctors is published at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications.
This recognition matters because it signals to patients that Dr. Buchholz is among the most trusted and skilled neurosurgeons in the country. For the Tallahassee community and beyond, it provides assurance that top-tier spine care is available locally. Patients seeking treatment for complex spinal conditions can have confidence in Dr. Buchholz's expertise. His repeated inclusion on the Castle Connolly list underscores his consistent dedication to excellence and patient outcomes.
For those interested in learning more about Dr. Buchholz or scheduling an appointment, additional information is available at capitalspineinstitute.com/contact-us.
