Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD is Professor of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and is a neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  He is a co-author of The Cervical Spine. 

Dr. Fessler received his MD and PhD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and he performed his post-graduate work at the University of Chicago Hospitals. He is board certified in neurological surgery, and holds a master’s degree in psychology and a PhD in pharmacology and physiology. 

Dr. Fessler has made significant contributions to endoscopic and microendoscopic surgical developments, and he is a leading authority on the non-invasive and minimally invasive treatment of spine disorders. Dr. Fessler also has an expertise and special interest in spinal cord transplantation. 

Internationally renowned as a speaker and visiting professor, Dr. Fessler has held leadership positions for several professional organizations; has been an honored guest of neurosurgical societies in many countries, including Japan, Mexico, Egypt, South Africa, China and Argentina; has served on the advisory committees for the Food and Drug Administrations and the government committees of the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Head Injury Foundation; and is a medical specialist and flight surgeon for NASA/Space Shuttle. 

A prolific author and experienced editor, Dr. Fessler lends his expertise to the editorial boards of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Orthopaedics, and is an editorial reviewer for several other professional journals. In addition to multiple listings in Best Doctors in America, Dr. Fessler has recently been listed in Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.  The Kambin Foundation awarded Dr. Fessler the annual research award for his research in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgery, and the Chicago Surgical Society has honored Dr. Fessler with the Excellence in Surgical Research award.