President
Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles
Dr. Gantwerker is a Chicago native who attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned his pre-medical education and graduated magna cum laude with honors, majoring in psychology and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago, completed his neurosurgical residency in 2008 at University Hospitals of Clevelande. Dr. Gantwerker completed his complex spine fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona in 2009.
After moving to California to pursue a position, he transitioned to his current practice with his wife, Halina, a California native, managing. The two of them have been the center of the practice since its inception in 2011.
Dr. Gantwerker has authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles and has instructed undergraduate, medical students, and residents in various neurosurgical topics. He is member of the AANS, serving as alternate delegate to the AMA, the CNS, SMISS, Los Angeles County Medical Association and California Medical Association (CMA), and delegate to the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS) where he is chair of the medicolegal committee.
He volunteers as a member of the Neurosurgery PAC. He is a member of the Private Practice Section of the AMA. Dr. Gantwerker hosts 2 podcasts for the CNS and is a frequent guest on other medical podcasts. Dr. Gantwerker is a contributor Becker’s Medical publications where he has been featured over 300 times. He is a tireless patient and physician advocate both in and out of the clinic.
He is a proud husband, father to his brilliant son Alexander, brother, and son. He is a diehard Cubs, Bears, and Blackhawks fan. He loves cycling outdoors and is an amateur mechanic. He loves nearly every genre of music and curates a special operating room playlist that is ever-evolving.
Disclosure(s): Eyedaptic: Stock Shareholder (excluding mutual funds) (Ongoing); Raydiant: Stock Shareholder (excluding mutual funds) (Ongoing); Remex: Consultant (Ongoing)
Ownership and Employment in Neurosurgery: Evolving Practice Models
Saturday, May 2, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CT