Dr. Bennie W. Chiles III, a neurosurgeon with Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking his seventh consecutive year receiving this designation. The honor is awarded to only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians annually based on regional specialties, underscoring Dr. Chiles's standing in the medical community and his dedication to advanced surgical care for spine and brain conditions. This recognition matters because it reflects consistent peer validation of clinical excellence in a highly specialized field where patient outcomes depend significantly on surgical precision and judgment.
Dr. Chiles emphasizes a conservative approach to surgery, stating 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. 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 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.
The implications of this repeated recognition extend beyond individual achievement, as it signals reliability and trust within the medical community, which can influence patient referrals and confidence in complex surgical decisions. Dr. Chiles has performed over 4,000 major operative procedures since entering private practice in Westchester in 1998, following his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and training at New York University Medical Center. In addition to the Castle Connolly honor, 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, and 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 consistent recognition highlights the importance of peer-reviewed excellence in healthcare, where such accolades can guide patients toward highly qualified specialists for critical procedures, ultimately impacting community health outcomes by promoting access to proven surgical expertise.
