Byron H. Willis, MD, FAANS

Byron H. Willis, MD, FAANS is a Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Physician specializing in neurosurgery at The CORE Institute. He has been practicing neurosurgery in Phoenix since 2002.

Dr. Willis is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and serves on the teaching staff at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix where he has served as chair of the surgery Committee and chairman of the department of neurosurgery.

Dr. Willis has clinical interest in complex spinal disorders and spinal biomechanics, having completed cadaveric spinal biomechanical studies and written book chapters on the subject. He has a particular academic interest in the application of engineering principles to the surgical treatment of the spine. Dr. Willis has pioneered the use of intra-operative CT image guidance for spinal instrumentation at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix doing well over 300 navigated spine cases and continuously working to expand the use of this technology in spine surgery.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in New York City and a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He completed his medical degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo graduating summa cum laude. Dr. Willis completed his neurosurgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation with special training in complex spinal disorders studying under Dr. Edward Benzel. Dr. Willis completed further specialized training in intracranial tumors and open cerebrovascular disorders during a 1-year fellowship at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England.

Dr. Willis is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and is licensed by the Arizona medical board. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He is on the medical staff and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and Banner Thunderbird Hospital Peoria.