CNSA Celebrates 37 Physicians Named Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2025
01.28.2025

CNSA Celebrates 37 Physicians Named Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2025

We are thrilled to announce that 37 of our exceptional physicians have been named 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors, marking a significant milestone for Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates (CNSA). This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment of our team to providing world-class care across the communities we serve.

This year’s recognition represents a remarkable leap from the 21 CNSA physicians honored in 2024 and underscores our standing as a national leader in neurosurgery, pain management, neurology, and physiatry.

National and State Recognition

CNSA continues to excel on both national and state levels:

National Rankings
- #1 Private Practice, Neurosurgery (2nd consecutive year)
- #2 Private Practice, Neurology & Neurosurgery (first-time award in this category)
State Rankings (North Carolina)
- #1 Private Practice, Neurological Surgery (2nd consecutive year)
- #3 Private Practice, Surgery Care
- #3 Private Practice Overall, All Specialties (moved up from 5th place in 2024)

These accolades highlight CNSA’s leadership in healthcare and reinforce our mission to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care while fostering innovation across all specialties.

Meet Our 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors

Charlotte Region

Neurosurgery

Anthony L. Asher, MD, FAANS, FACS
Joe D. Bernard, Jr., MD
Ben Boudreaux, MD
Michael Bohl, MD
Byron C. Branch, MD
Joseph T. Cheatle, MD
E. Hunter Dyer, MD
Martin M. Henegar, MD
Christopher M. Holland, MD
S. Taylor Jarrell, MD
Paul K. Kim, MD
Daniel P. Leas, MD
Matthew J. McGirt, MD
Daniel M. Oberer, MD
Mark D. Smith, MD
William R. Stetler Jr., MD
Mark D. Van Poppel, MD
Scott D. Wait, MD
John E. Ziewacz, MD, MPH

Pain Management

Julian Willoughby, MD
Michael A. Worobel, DO

Physiatry

Sanjiv Lakhia, DO
Scott M. Otis, MD
Stephanie J. Plummer, DO
Andrew Sumich, MD
Sameer Vemuri, MD
David R. Wiercisiewski, MD
John A. Welshofer, MD
Joseph P. Zuhosky, MD

Neurology

Ki S. Jung, MD

Greensboro Region

Neurosurgery

Gary P. Cram, MD
Henry J. Elsner, MD
Jeffrey D. Jenkins, MD
David S. Jones, MD
Henry A. Pool, MD
Jonathan G. Thomas, MD

Pain Management

Dave S. Eichman, MD

About Castle Connolly and the Selection Process

Castle Connolly is an independent organization renowned for curating a national registry of the most respected physicians across specialties. Their rigorous, peer-nominated selection process evaluates candidates based on professional qualifications, patient outcomes, hospital affiliations, and leadership in the field.

Only 7% of U.S. physicians earn this recognition, making it a prestigious mark of excellence. Physicians must meet additional criteria for the “Top Doctor” designation, including at least 10 years of practice in their specialty (including residency).

This significant increase in recognized CNSA physicians reflects the trust and respect our peers and patients have in our team’s expertise and dedication.

A Milestone of Collective Excellence

While this recognition highlights the accomplishments of individual physicians, it also underscores CNSA’s collective leadership in healthcare. Our multidisciplinary approach, commitment to quality outcomes, and dedication to innovation allow us to consistently set the standard for care in neurosurgery, pain management, neurology, and physiatry.

As the nation’s #1 private practice in neurosurgery and a leader in neurological care, we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver top-tier care to the communities we serve.

Join us in congratulating our 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors!