Christopher C. Gillis, MD

Dr. Christopher Gillis is a board-certified neurosurgeon and advanced spine specialist who brings minimally invasive expertise and complex deformity correction to patients across New Jersey. Blending state-of-the-art robotics with precision navigation, he tailors care to preserve natural motion and shorten recovery—helping people with degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spinal instability get back to the activities they love with less pain and fewer disruptions to life. Before recommending an operation, he considers non-surgical options and focuses on restoring function and quality of life; when surgery is needed, he favors motion-sparing approaches and meticulous, tissue-preserving techniques. Previously the Spine Program Medical Director and an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Gillis now sees patients in Eatontown, Toms River, and Holmdel, where he is recognized as one of the region’s leading spine surgeons.

Dr. Gillis’ practice ranges from minimally invasive decompressions and disc replacements to complex deformity correction and fusion procedures, particularly cases where robotic assistance and image-guided navigation can improve accuracy and outcomes. Dr. Gillis graduated with distinction from Dalhousie University with a BSc in Biology, earned his medical degree from the Schulich School of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario, completed neurosurgery residency at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and pursued a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS). Across every setting, Dr. Gillis combines rigorous training with a patient-first philosophy, using the most advanced techniques available to minimize discomfort, protect healthy tissue, and preserve as much natural spinal motion as possible.

Clinical Interests:

Spine surgery, Minimally invasive fusion, minimally invasive deformity correction, scoliosis, revision spine surgery, disc replacement