Accolades & Experience
Dr. Christopher McCarthy, an Ivy League trained orthopedic spine surgeon, brings a unique combination of skills to our practice. As one of the only physicians in the nation trained in both Orthopedic Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Dr. McCarthy has extensive experience in managing all aspects of spine, orthopedic, and general medical care. His background gives him unique insight into managing even the most medically and surgically complex patients.
Raised in northern NJ, Dr. McCarthy attended Princeton University graduating magna cum laude. He then got his MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School followed by his initial residency training in Emergency Medicine at Harvard. There he was trained by some of the top physicians in the world in the full scope of emergency care including acute cardiac issues, diabetes, pulmonary care, ICU/critical care, and trauma. Also while in Boston he provided on-field medical care for the Boston Red Sox during their world championship years of 2004-2007 (as a lifelong Mets fan, he found this morally acceptable).
After residency Dr. McCarthy returned to NJ to obtain fellowship training in EMS/Prehospital Care and Disaster Medicine at Morristown Memorial Hospital. During this period he was active at the highest levels of emergency care in NJ, serving as assistant medical director for the largest ambulance company in northern NJ (Atlantic Ambulance) and as team physician for the NJ State Police Urban Search and Rescue team. Dr. McCarthy then worked as an emergency room physician and head of the second largest ambulance service in New York City as Director of EMS and Disaster Medicine for St. Vincent’s healthcare system, based out of the prestigious St. Vincent’s Hospital in lower Manhattan.
In 2011, with the support of his wife and family, he made the decision to expand his scope of practice to Orthopedic Surgery and attended an additional 5-year residency program in Orthopedic Surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. During his orthopedic training, Dr. McCarthy served as a sideline physician for the Rutgers University football program.
Within orthopedics, Dr. McCarthy was immediately drawn to the unique diagnostic and surgical challenges of spine surgery. After completing residency training, he was invited to spend an additional, optional year of sub-specialty fellowship training in Spine Surgery at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. While at Brown, Dr. McCarthy maintained his own very busy elective orthopedic and spine practice while also spending the year performing several hundred major spine trauma cases at the 6th busiest trauma center in the nation.
The spine is one of the most delicate and intricate structures of the body. As a spine specialist, Dr. McCarthy is able to bring his entire diverse skill set into play in meeting the diagnostic and technical challenges of surgery on the spine. With his wide range of experience and dedication to all aspects of his patients’ physical and mental well-bring, Dr. McCarthy truly cares for the entire patient and is able to identify every individual’s unique medical needs. Interested primarily in Adult Degenerative spine issues as well as in Spinal Trauma, Dr. McCarthy brings to our practice both expertise and experience in the most cutting edge Minimally Invasive and traditional “open” decompression and reconstructive spine procedures. His extensive experience in trauma and sports surgery also make him an expert in the care of general orthopedic diagnoses including fractures, arthritis, hand injuries, shoulder and rotator cuff problems as well as sports-related injuries.