Bennie W. Chiles III, MD, a neurosurgeon practicing in Hartsdale, New York, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the seventh consecutive year he has received this professional recognition. The designation places him among the 7 percent of licensed physicians nationwide selected annually for their regional specialty expertise.
Dr. Chiles practices at Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC, where he provides surgical evaluation and treatment for various spine and brain conditions, with particular emphasis on complex spinal problems requiring operative intervention. His clinical philosophy centers on recommending surgery only when clear evidence suggests significant benefit and nonsurgical alternatives have been exhausted. "One of my fundamental philosophies is that I rarely recommend surgery unless there is clear and compelling evidence to suggest that it is likely to bring significant benefit and there are no reasonable nonsurgical alternatives," Dr. Chiles stated. "However, if surgery is needed, patients can be assured use of state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to maximize the possibility of the safest and best outcome."
The neurosurgeon's practice focuses on degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal tumors, and traumatic spinal injuries. Key procedures performed include microsurgical lumbar discectomy, cervical and lumbar spinal fusion, laminectomy for spinal stenosis, artificial disc replacement, and image-guided navigational surgery. Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery integrates modern diagnostic capabilities with specialized surgical planning to deliver high-precision care.
Dr. Chiles earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 1991, then completed his neurosurgery residency and a combined orthopedic-neurosurgical fellowship in complex spine surgery at New York University Medical Center from 1991 to 1998. Since entering private practice in Westchester in 1998, he has performed over 4,000 major operative procedures.
This Castle Connolly recognition follows extensive professional honors, including six consecutive years as a Top Neurosurgeon by Westchester Magazine (2020-2025) with a seventh feature scheduled for November 2026, annual selection as a Top Neurosurgeon in the New York Metro Area by Castle Connolly since 2021, and five consecutive appearances in New York Magazine's 'Best Doctors' issue (2021-2025). Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://castleconnolly.com and selects honorees through a physician-led research process that evaluates medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Physicians cannot pay for selection as Top Doctors.
The consistent recognition of Dr. Chiles highlights the importance of specialized neurosurgical expertise in treating complex spinal conditions, particularly as healthcare systems emphasize evidence-based approaches and patient outcomes. For patients requiring neurosurgical intervention, such peer-validated expertise provides assurance of quality care standards, while for the medical community, it reinforces the value of conservative surgical philosophies combined with advanced technical capabilities. The recognition also underscores the growing importance of regional specialty care networks that can deliver complex surgical treatments without requiring patients to travel to major metropolitan medical centers.
