William Tobler, MD, is a neurological surgeon and chairman of the board of managers at The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center in Cincinnati. The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center is a free-standing facility focused on outpatient spine surgeries and pain management procedures. The surgery Center is a partnership between The Christ Hospital, spine specialists from the Mayfield Clinic and United Surgical Partners International. In addition to his work at The Christ Hospital Surgery Center, Dr. Tobler also serves as director of neurosurgery at The Christ Hospital, a position he has held since 2002.Dr. Tobler earned his medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. His special interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, minimally invasive deformity correction, tumors of the brain and spine; stereotactic and image-guided neurosurgery, endoscopic pituitary surgery and Chiari malformations. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Tobler is a member of numerous professional organizations, including North American Spine Society and Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and a professor of neurosurgery at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Dr. Tobler recently discussed the use of — and his doubts about — robotic technology in spine surgery. "I have evaluated robotic systems but have not used them in the operating room. I would consider using a robotic system if I was convinced that it could be easily integrated into the operating room environment, and at an affordable cost," he said. "However, I am not yet convinced that it offers me a better advantage for the improvement of patient care over what I currently do."