Dr. Bennie W. Chiles III, a neurosurgeon with Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC in Hartsdale, New York, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking his seventh consecutive year receiving this designation. The recognition is awarded to only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians annually based on their regional specialties, underscoring Dr. Chiles's standing in the medical community and his dedication to advanced surgical care for spine and brain conditions. This consistent honor reflects the high regard peers hold for his clinical expertise and patient-centered approach to neurosurgery.
Dr. Chiles emphasizes a conservative approach to surgery, stating that he rarely recommends it unless there is clear evidence of significant benefit and no reasonable nonsurgical alternatives. However, when surgery is necessary, he utilizes state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to ensure the safest and best outcomes for patients. His practice focuses on evaluating and treating a wide range of neurological and spinal issues, including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal tumors, and traumatic spinal injuries. Key procedures performed by Dr. Chiles 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, PLLC integrates modern diagnostic capabilities and specialized surgical planning to provide high-precision care. Dr. Chiles earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 1991 and 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, building a reputation for technical skill and careful patient selection.
In addition to the Castle Connolly honor, Dr. Chiles has received extensive professional recognition. He has been named a Top Neurosurgeon by Westchester Magazine for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025 and is scheduled for a seventh feature in the November 2026 issue. Castle Connolly has also recognized him as a Top Neurosurgeon in the New York Metro Area annually since 2021. As a result of this consistent peer recognition, he has been featured in New York Magazine's 'Best Doctors' issue for five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025. Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team, which evaluates criteria such as medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories.
Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications. Doctors cannot pay to be selected for this honor, ensuring the list's integrity and reflecting genuine peer respect for Dr. Chiles's contributions to neurosurgery. This recognition matters because it signals to patients and the medical community that Dr. Chiles maintains exceptional standards in a field where precision and judgment are critical. His conservative philosophy combined with advanced surgical capabilities offers a balanced approach to complex neurological conditions, potentially influencing care standards and patient trust in specialized neurosurgical practices. The implications extend beyond individual accolades, as such consistent recognition helps validate surgical methodologies and reinforces the importance of peer-reviewed excellence in healthcare, guiding patients toward highly qualified specialists for spine and brain treatments.
