Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch
2515 North Clark Street
Suite 800
Chicago IL USA 60614
Tel: 773-388-7700

Richard Fessler, M.D.

Dr. Richard Fessler is the Founder and Director of the Chicago Spine Institute and is a Professor of Neurological Surgery at Rush Medical School in Chicago. Formerly he was Director of Clinical Services and Education at the University of Florida Brain Institute. Additionally, at the University of Florida, he was a Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery. In 1994 he was appointed to the Dunspaugh-Dalton Chair of Brain and Spinal Surgery. Dr. Fessler's current hospital appointments include Rush-St. Lukes Presbyterian Medical Center and Columbus Hospital, both in Chicago, Illinois.

At the University of Chicago, Dr. Fessler completed with honors a Medical Doctorate, and Surgical and Neurosurgical residencies. In addition to surgical training, Dr. Fessler completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Physiology. Continuing education after earning doctoral degrees, Dr. Fessler held research Fellowships at the University of Chicago Medical Center in Neurological Surgery and Psychiatry. The Chicago Surgical Society honored Dr. Fessler with the Excellence in Surgical Research award.

Dr. Fessler has made significant contributions to endoscopic and microendoscopic surgical developments. The Kambin Foundation awarded Dr. Fessler the annual research award for his research in the field of minimal invasive spinal surgery.

Dr. Fessler is a member of the American Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Society of America, Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, North American Skull Base Society, Joint Section on Pain, Joint Section on Trauma and Critical Care, American College of Surgeons, Society of Neurological Surgeons, Southern Neurosurgical Society, and the North American Spine Society. He has held leadership positions for several of these professional organizations, and has been a course director or faculty member for meetings sponsored by these groups. For the Federal Government, Dr. Fessler is currently on Advisory Committees for the Food and Drug Administration. In addition to the FDA, Dr. Fessler served on the government committees of the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Head Injury Foundation. At the state-level as well, Dr. Fessler has served on several advisory councils for the state of Florida.

A prolific author, Dr. Fessler has written six books and contributed 51 book chapters to medical texts. He has published 61 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented 59 papers at peer-reviewed symposiums. Dr. Fessler lends his expertise to the Editorial Boards of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Orthopaedics, and he is an editorial reviewer for several other professional journals. He is frequently invited for speaking engagements and visiting professorships worldwide.

This active doctor has three times been listed among the Best Doctors in America. In addition to all of the above accomplishments, Dr. Fessler is a Medical Specialist and Flight Surgeon for NASA/Space Shuttle.

Dr. Fessler is a member of the SpineUniverse Editorial Board.