– Dr. Christopher Gillis

MD, FRCSC, FAANS

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Holmdel

Toms River

Eatontown

About Dr. Christopher Gillis

Dr. Christopher Gillis brings advanced spine surgery expertise to patients throughout New Jersey as a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive techniques and complex spinal corrections. He combines state-of-the-art robotics and navigation technology with a focus on preserving your body’s natural movement, helping patients with conditions like degenerative disorders, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis get back to the activities they love with less pain and faster healing.

Meet Dr. Gillis

As a board-certified neurosurgeon and leading spine specialist in New Jersey, Dr. Christopher Gillis has dedicated his career to helping patients overcome complex spinal conditions through both surgical and non-surgical approaches. Previously serving as Spine Program Medical Director and Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Gillis now practices from our Eatontown, Toms River, and Holmdel locations, where he’s recognized as one of the region’s top spine surgeons.

Dr. Gillis focuses on restoring function and improving the quality of life for patients dealing with:

Complex spinal deformities that require specialized corrective approaches
Degenerative spine conditions are treated through minimally invasive methods
Herniated discs and spinal stenosis using motion-preserving techniques
Spinal instability is addressed through fusion procedures and deformity correction
Advanced spinal conditions where robotics and navigation technology make a difference

What sets Dr. Gillis apart is his commitment to using the most advanced surgical techniques available, including robotic-assisted procedures, precision navigation systems, and motion-sparing approaches. These methods allow him to provide more accurate treatments while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues, reducing post-operative discomfort, and helping patients recover more quickly while preserving as much natural spinal movement as possible.

Training & Education

Dr. Gillis is a neurosurgeon with a focus on complex spine disorders. He graduated with distinction in 2004 from Dalhousie University with a BSc. Biology, and went onto get his medical degree from the Schulich School of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London, ON in 2008. He then completed a neurosurgery residency at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. and subsequently trained in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery during a clinical fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Dr. Gillis was the Spine Program’s Medical Director and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and member of Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the spine and peripheral nerve subsection of AAND/CNS.

Hospital Privileges

In addition to working out of our Long Branch and Toms River offices, Dr. Gillis has the ability to treat and admit patients at the following area hospitals.

Monmouth Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center

Publications

See the research Dr. Christopher Gillis has had published.

Insurances

Aetna Medicare
Aetna Meritain & Assure
Aetna Signature (1199 & GEHA)
Aetna Whole Health
Clover Medicare – Case by Case exception
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Card/Suitcase/PPO)
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ (commercial)
Horizon Braven Health (PPO, HMO-POS)
Braven Medicare Choice PPO
Braven Medicare Freedom PPO
Braven Medicare Group HMO-POS
Braven Medicare Access group HMO-POS
Medicare (Part A and Part B)
No Fault (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Only)
Omnia (tier 1)
Oxford Garden State Health Plan
Oxford Health Plan
UHC under Empire/NYSHIP plan
United HealthCare (commercial, including All Savers) UMR
Worker’s Comp- NJ Only

Dr. Gillis was the Spine Program’s Medical Director and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and member of Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the spine and peripheral nerve subsection of AAND/CNS.

In addition to working out of our Eatontown and Toms River offices, Dr. Gillis has the ability to treat and admit patients at the following area hospitals.

Monmouth Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center
NYU Langone Health

See the research Dr. Christopher Gillis has had published.

Aetna Medicare
Aetna Meritain & Assure
Aetna Signature (1199 & GEHA)
Aetna Whole Health
Clover Medicare
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Card/Suitcase/PPO)
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ (commercial)
Horizon Braven Health (PPO, HMO-POS)
Braven Medicare Choice PPO
Braven Medicare Freedom PPO

Braven Medicare Group HMO-POS
Braven Medicare Access group HMO-POS
Medicare (Part A and Part B)
No Fault (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Only)
Omnia (tier 1)
Oxford Garden State Health Plan
Oxford Health Plan
UHC under Empire/NYSHIP plan
United HealthCare (commercial, including All Savers) UMR
Worker’s Comp- NJ Only

Ask the Doctor

What Degree of Scoliosis Requires Surgery? – Dr. Christopher Gillis

Dr. Christopher Gillis is an accomplished neurosurgeon practicing out of our Eatontown office. Dr. Gillis is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon out of Rush University in Chicago and his specialty is minimally invasive and complex brain and spine surgery.