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Charles Blair Stillerman
( out of 36 reviews )

Charles Blair Stillerman, MD, FAANS, FACS

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Veterans Administration Medical Center

Salt Lake City
  • Dr. Charles Stillerman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and an MD from Loyola School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. He completed his residency training at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California, where he served as Resident Supervisor from 1983 to 1987. Following his residency, Dr. Stillerman became board certified and undertook a Spine Fellowship in Spine Reconstruction/Stabilization and Spinal Cord Injury at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

    Dr. Stillerman's clinical focus centers on the contemporary surgical management of spinal disorders. The surgical options often include minimally invasive techniques. Additionally, when appropriate a wide variety of spinal fusion procedures are available for use. His academic areas of interest include degenerative and traumatic spinal problems in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar Spine. Currently, he holds the position of Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Utah and serves as Chief of Neurosurgery at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As of 2022, he also heads the Neurotrauma department at Holy Cross Davis Hospital.

    Consistently recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors, Dr. Stillerman has authored and delivered extensive lectures on spinal disorders, spinal injuries, and specifically on Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Stabilization. He is an active member of various professional associations and committees, including being a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Neurosurgical Society of America, the AANS-CNS Joint Section of Neurotrauma and Critical Care, and the AANS-CNS Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerve.

    Board Certification

    American Board of Neurological Surgery
    National Board of Medical Examiners

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 36 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    January 25, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    Dr Charles B. Stillerman really great man. He give me all the right answers I need. Explain everything to me great.

    December 22, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER 1

    Dr. Stillerman was very attentive and kind. He was willing to discuss my concerns and discuss options to remedy the problems. He is a very good person and easy to talk to.

    December 15, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER 1

    Dr Stillerman was very kind . He explained what was wrong with my back in a way easy to understand. Told me to call him if I needed to .

    November 17, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    He made me feel very safe

    November 10, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    He has been amazing through this entire experience. Most caring and compassionate physician. He always makes time to listen.

    October 30, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    Best experience I may have ever had with a physician

    October 20, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    He listened to my worries and needs. We were able to come up with a plan to start with to try and elevate my pain for now and in the future hopefully.

    October 19, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    Personable and probably

    September 11, 2024
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER

    Dr Stillerman was kind and spent time explaining what was going on and what would be required for surgery. He took interest in body mechanics, past history of back trouble, etc. I feel confident he can get me feeling better.

  • Dr. Charles Stillerman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and an MD from Loyola School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. He completed his residency training at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California, where he served as Resident Supervisor from 1983 to 1987. Following his residency, Dr. Stillerman became board certified and undertook a Spine Fellowship in Spine Reconstruction/Stabilization and Spinal Cord Injury at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

    Dr. Stillerman's clinical focus centers on the contemporary surgical management of spinal disorders. The surgical options often include minimally invasive techniques. Additionally, when appropriate a wide variety of spinal fusion procedures are available for use. His academic areas of interest include degenerative and traumatic spinal problems in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar Spine. Currently, he holds the position of Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Utah and serves as Chief of Neurosurgery at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As of 2022, he also heads the Neurotrauma department at Holy Cross Davis Hospital.

    Consistently recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors, Dr. Stillerman has authored and delivered extensive lectures on spinal disorders, spinal injuries, and specifically on Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Stabilization. He is an active member of various professional associations and committees, including being a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Neurosurgical Society of America, the AANS-CNS Joint Section of Neurotrauma and Critical Care, and the AANS-CNS Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerve.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Neurosurgery -Professor (Clinical)
    Board Certification
    American Board of Neurological Surgery
    National Board of Medical Examiners

    Education history

    Fellowship Spine Reconstruction/Stabilization and Spinal Cord Injury - Medical College of Wisconsin Fellow
    Chief Resident Neurological Surgery - University of Southern California School of Medicine Chief Resident
    Residency Neurological Surgery - University of Southern California School of Medicine Resident
    Internship General Surgery - Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center Intern
    Professional Medical Medicine - Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate General Studies - University of Michigan B.G.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Couldwell WT, Surnock AA, Tobia AJ, Cabana BE, Stillerman CB, Forsyth PA, Appley AJ, Spence AM, Hinton DR, Chen TC (2011). A phase 1/2 study of orally administered synthetic hypericin for treatment of recurrent malignant gliomas. Cancer, 117(21), 4905-15. (Read full article)
    2. Couldwell WT, Zhang W, Allen R, Arce D, Stillerman CB (1998). Cerebellar contusion associated with type I Chiari malformation following supratentorial head trauma: case report. Neurol Res, 20(1), 93-6. (Read full article)
    3. Couldwell WT, Scheithauer BW, Rice SG, Zhang W, Stillerman CB (1997). Osteosarcoma of the meninges in association with glioblastoma. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 139(7), 684-9. (Read full article)
    4. Levy ML, Gans W, Wijesinghe HS, SooHoo WE, Adkins RH, Stillerman CB (1996). Use of methylprednisolone as an adjunct in the management of patients with penetrating spinal cord injury: outcome analysis. Neurosurgery, 39(6), 1141-8; discussion 1148-9. (Read full article)
    5. Stillerman CB, Chen TC, Day JD, Couldwell WT, Weiss MH (1995). The transfacet pedicle-sparing approach for thoracic disc removal: cadaveric morphometric analysis and preliminary clinical experience. J Neurosurg, 83(6), 971-6. (Read full article)
    6. Arnold PM, Baek PN, Stillerman CB, Rice SG, Mueller WM (1995). Surgical management of lumbar neuropathic spinal arthropathy (Charcot joint) after traumatic thoracic paraplegia: report of two cases. J Spinal Disord, 8(5), 357-62. (Read full article)
    7. Stillerman CB, Wilson JA (1993). Atlanto-axial stabilization with posterior transarticular screw fixation: technical description and report of 22 cases. Neurosurgery, 32(6), 948-54; discussion 954-5. (Read full article)

    Review

    1. Stillerman CB, Chen TC, Couldwell WT, Zhang W, Weiss MH (1998). Experience in the surgical management of 82 symptomatic herniated thoracic discs and review of the literature. [Review]. J Neurosurg, 88(4), 623-33. (Read full article)