About
Dr. Russ P. Nockels is a board-certified neurological surgeon, who specializes in spine surgery, and serves as Vice Chairman for the Department of Neurosciences and Chief of Spine Surgery at NorthShore Neurological Institute (NNI) at Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH). He is located at the NCH Spine and Pain Center in Arlington Heights.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Nockels has dedicated himself to providing exceptional care to patients of all ages with spinal disorders, ranging from routine to complex care. Having performed more than 10,000 surgeries, he brings the latest advancements in spine surgery innovation to NNI at NCH. Areas of expertise include scoliosis, complex spinal deformity correction, spinal revision surgery, spinal trauma, spinal tumors and degenerative disease and disc herniations, among others.
He graduated Cum Laude from Loyola University of Chicago, and he attended medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, during which he carried out research on the central nervous system. Dr. Nockels completed a residency in Neurosurgery at New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital and was an Honorary House Officer at the Queen’s Square Hospital for Nervous System Diseases in London, England.
He became an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco California (UCSF) where he founded the Neurospine program. After travelling and working with orthopedic surgeons around the world, he joined the Senior Staff at Henry Ford Hospital and worked as spine surgeon for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Red Wings. Most recently, Dr. Nockels moved back to Chicago and joined the department of Neurosurgery at Loyola University Medical Center with a joint appointment in the department of Orthopedic surgery. He rose from Associate Professor and Program Director to Full Professor as well as Vice Chair and Complex Spinal Surgery Fellowship Director.
Dr. Nockels’ clinical and basic research has culminated in over 70 publications and over 150 presentations, as well as presiding as chair of several spinal surgery courses worldwide. He was principal investigator of clinical trials in the treatment of spinal cord injury and has a funded basic science laboratory exploring Activity Dependent Plasticity following experimental stroke and spinal cord injury. He also led the discovery and clinical application of innovative spinal implants that have been used successfully on a global basis.
Learn more about Dr. Russ P. Nockels ›
Experience: 33 Years in Practice
Board Specialty: Neurological Surgery
Education
Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Internship: Loyola University Medical Center - GME
Residency: New York University School of Medicine
NCH Facilities
Northwest Community Hospital
Northwest Community Day Surgery Center
Accepted Insurance
To find out if this healthcare professional accepts your insurance plan, it is important to verify coverage with your health insurance company. Verify your coverage by either calling the number on your insurance card or confirming coverage through your insurance company’s website or mobile app.
Learn more about insurance coverage verification and Endeavor Health Medical Group’s accepted insurance plans.
Independent Provider
This provider is an independent medical provider who has been permitted to use the hospital’s facilities and to exercise their independent medical judgment in the care and treatment of their patient.
NCH Spine and Pain Center
880 W. Central Rd.
2nd Floor
Arlington Heights, IL 60005-2355