Charles Reginald Watts MD PhD

Neurosurgery•Saint Louis Park, MN

Neurocritical Care

Chair of Neurosurgery Health Partners/Park Nicollet - Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park, MN

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3931 Louisiana Ave SSaint Louis Park, MN 55426
Phone+1 952-993-3230
Fax+1 952-993-1748

Summary

Dr. Charles R. Watts, MD, PhD is a board-certified neurosurgeon with subspecialty expertise in neurocritical care, surgical critical care, and spine surgery. He currently serves as Chair of Neurosurgery at HealthPartners, where he leads initiatives to improve outcomes in neuro-oncology and minimally invasive spine procedures.
Dr. Watts earned his MD from Creighton University School of Medicine and a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. He completed his residency in neurological surgery and fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Minnesota. His academic appointments have included faculty roles at Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota, and he has served as a consultant to Medtronic Spine & Biologics and Thompson Surgical Instruments.
His research focuses on molecular biophysics, neurosurgical oncology, and surgical quality improvement, with publications in World Neurosurgery, Proteins, and the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. He is a named inventor on multiple U.S. patents and has received honors including Alpha Omega Alpha, Mayo Clinic Quality Fellow awards, and the Dr. William A. & Ethel Perer Award for Excellence in Biochemistry.
Dr. Watts is committed to integrating translational research, surgical innovation, and mentorship into clinical practice to advance the field of neurosurgery.

Education & Training

University of MinnesotaResidency, Neurological Surgery, 2000 - 2006
University of MinnesotaFellowship, Surgical Critical Care, 2003 - 2004
M Health FairviewInternship, Preliminary Year, 2000 - 2001
Creighton University School of MedicineClass of 2000
University of Minnesota/College of Biological SciencesPh.D, Biophysical Chemistry, 1991 - 1998
University of St. Thomas - MinnesotaB.A, Chemistry, 1987 - 1991

Certifications & Licensure

OH State Medical License Current
MN State Medical License 2003 - 2025
WI State Medical License 2014 - 2025
American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery
American Board of Surgery Surgical Critical Care
The Society of Neurological Surgeon: Committee on Advanced and Sub-specialty TrainingNeurocritical Care
United Council of Neurological SubspecialtiesNeurocritical Care

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Silver Quality Fellow Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 2017
Bronze Quality Fellow Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 2014
Fellow (FAANS) American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Dr. William A. & Ethel Perer Annual Award for Excellence in Biochemistry 2000
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Beta Chapter of Nebraska, 1999
Medical Student Research Scholarship Nebraska Medical Foundation Inc, 1999
Dean’s Research Scholarship Creighton University School of Medicine, 1998
Molecular Biophysics Training Grant Trainee (NIH 5732-GM08277-07) National Institutes of Health, 1993-1995, 1996
Summa Cum Laude University of St. Thomas, 1991
Phi Lambda Upsilon National Chemistry Honor Society, 1991
Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, 1990
Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society of Catholic Colleges and Universities, 1989
Outstanding Introductory Physics Student for the Physical Sciences 1989
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Developing a Standardized Process to Visualize, Analyze, and Communicate NSQIP Data Using an Advanced Visual Data Analytics Tool.
Linda C Alongi, Brady Alsaker, David J Willis, William A Burns, Charles R Watts
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2025-05-01
4 citations
Cervical Total Disc Replacement and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Comparison of 30-Day Population Comorbidities and Perioperative Complications Using 6 Year...
Charles R Watts, Jacob L Haapala
World Neurosurgery. 2023-02-01
2 citations
Using a Data-Driven Improvement Methodology to Decrease Surgical Site Infections in a Community Neurosurgery Practice: Optimizing Preoperative Screening and Perioperat...
Panagiotis Kerezoudis, Parker C. Kelley, Charles R. Watts, Chris J. Heiderscheit, Michael C. Roskos
World Neurosurgery. 2021-01-28

Journal Articles

Cervical Total Disc Replacement: better outcomes and cost savings
Charles R. Watts, Minnesota Physician Volume XXX, No. 9, 12/1/2016
Targeted temperature management: Improving outcomes in neurocritical care
Charles R. Watts, Minnesota Physician Volume XXX, No. 3, 6/1/2016
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: Diagnosis and Treatment of a Reversible Cause of Dementia.
Watts, C. R.; Hames, E, Minnesota Physician, Vol. XXV, No. 5
Corticosteroids in the Management of Cerebral Edema: a Neurosurgical Perspective.
Watts, C. R, Frontline: A publication of Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Neuroscience Institute
Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery.
Watts, C. R, Frontline: A publication of Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Neuroscience Institute
Managing Cerebral Edema.
Watts, C. R, Fairview Scope, Volume 13, No.9
The Artificial Cervical Disc: treating symptomatic degenerative disc disease more effectively and efficiently.
Watts, C. R, Minnesota Physician, Vol. XXII, No. 10
Multidisciplinary Treatment of Intracranial Metastatic Disease.
Watts, C. R.; Sperduto, P.; Bender, G. P, Minnesota Physician, Vol. XXIII, No. 1
Intra-operative MRI in Neurosurgery: Experience in a Tertiary Care Facility.
Watts, C. R.; Nagib, M, Minnesota Physician, Vol. XXIII, No. 4
A Validation Study of a New Prognostic Index for Patients with Brain Metastases: the Graded Prognostic Assessment.
Sperduto, C.M.; Watanabe Y.; Mullan, J.; Hood, T.; Dyste, G.; Watts, C.; Bender, G.P.; Sperduto, P, Journal of Neurosurgery, 109 (Suppl), 87-89
Age-old Injury, Update Treatment: Chronic Subdural hematomas in the elderly.
Hames, E.; Watts, C. R, Minnesota Physician, Vol. XXV, No. 9
On the Use of Dodecylphosphocholine Micelles in NMR.
Kallick, D. A.; Tessmer, M. R.; Watts, C. R.; Li, C.-Y, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Series B, 109, 60-65
Rationally Designed N,N’-bis[(N-p-guanidinobenzyl-N-methyl)aminocarbonyl]1,3-diaminobenzene, ‘BIGBEN’, Binds to the Minor Groove of d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 as Determined by T...
Watts, C. R.; Kerwin, S. M.; Kenyon, G. L.; Kuntz, I. D.; Kallick, D. A, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 117, 9941-9950
Structure of Leucine5-Enkephalin Bound to a Model Membrane as Determined by High Resolution NMR.
Watts, C. R.; Tessmer, M. R.; Kallick, D.A, Letters in Peptide Science, 2, 59-70
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Epidermal Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor- Structures in Water.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics, 33, 396-407
Domain Movement in the Epidermal Growth Factor Family of Peptides.
Watts, C. R.; Tóth, G.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas, S, Journal of Molecular Structure (Theochem), 535, 171-182
Significance of Aromatic-Backbone Amide Interactions in Protein Structure.
Tóth, G.; Watts, C. R.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas, S, Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics, 43, 373-381
Conformational Space Comparison of GnRH and GnRH III using Molecular Dynamics, Cluster Analysis and Monte Carlo Thermodynamic Integration.
Watts, C. R.; Mezei, M.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas, S, Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 18, 733-748
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Books/Book Chapters

Peptides 1999: Frontiers of Peptide Science.
Chapter: Determination of Specific Peptide Micelle Interactions Using NMR Spectroscopy
Page 402 - 403Kallick, D. A.; Watts, C. REditors: Barany, G.; Fields, G. B.Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands
Peptides 1998: Proceedings of the 25th European Peptide Symposium.
Chapter: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Analogs of Human Epidermal Growth Factors: Conformation and Receptor Binding Properties
Page 402 - 403Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. FEditors: Bajusz, S,; Hudecz, F.Akademiai Kiado, Hungary
Peptides 1998: Proceedings of the 25th European Peptide Symposium.
Chapter: Conformational Space Comparison of GnRH and GnRH-III
Page 426 - 427Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. FEditors: Bajusz, S.; Hudecz, F.Akademiai Kiado, Hungary
Peptides 1997: Frontiers of Peptide Science, Proceedings of the 15th American Peptide Symposium.
Chapter: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Epidermal Growth Factors in Aqueous Solution
Page 412 - 413Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. FEditors: Tam, J. P.; Kaumaya, P. T. P.Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands
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Abstracts/Posters

Misfolding and Oligomerization of Amyloid B(1−40)
Lovas, S and Watts, C. R., 2015 American Peptide Symposium, Orlando, FL, 6/2015
Higher Dose Requirements for Melanoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma in Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases.
Lin, D.; Watts, C. R.; Watanabi, Y.; Sperduto, P.; Hunt, M, 75th Anniversary William T. Peyton Society, Minneapolis, MN
Intracranial Operative Anatomy, Techniques and Instrumentation: an Introduction.
Watts, C. R, Minnesota State Assembly of Surgical Technologists, Bloomington, MN
Comparison of Location of Brain Metastases Among Different Diagnosis and Corrlation with Brain Volume and Blood Flow.
Watts, C. R.; Watanabi, Y.; Sperduto, P, 75th Anniversary William T. Peyton Society, Minneapolis, MN
MR-Guided Neurosurgical Procedures.
Watts, C. R.; Liu, H.; Hall, W, Minnesota’s Medical Device Community Forum: Design of Medical Devices, Minneapolis, MN
Characterization of the conformations of polypeptides containing aromatic(i)-amide(i+1, i+2) interactions.
Toth, G.; Watts, C. R.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas S, 26th European Peptide Symposium, Montpellier, France
Domain Movement in Analogs of Epidermal Growth Factor.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, 16th American Peptide Symposium, Minneapolis, MN
The Role of Aromatic-Amide Interactions in Peptide and Protein Structures.
Toth, G.; Watts, C. R.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas, S, 16th American Peptide Symposium, Minneapolis, MN
Determination of Specific Peptide Micelle Interactions Using NMR Spectroscopy.
Kallick, D. A.; Watts, C. R, 16th American Peptide Symposium, Minneapolis, MN
Conformational Properties of Analogs of Human Epidermal Growth Factor.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum XXX, Omaha, NE
Aromatic-Amide Interaction in the model Peptide Ace-Phe-Gly-Gly-NH-CH3 Studied by Molecular Dynamics.
Toth, G.; Watts, C. R.; Murphy, R. F.; Lovas, S, Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum XXX, Omaha, NE
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Analogs of Human Epidermal Growth Factors: Conformation and Receptor Binding Properties.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, 25th European Peptide Symposium, Budapest, Hungary
Conformational Space Comparison of GnRH and GnRH-III.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, 25th European Peptide Symposium, Budapest, Hungary
Conformational Space Comparison of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormones GnRH and GnRH-III.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum XXIX, Omaha, NE
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Epidermal Growth Factors in Aqueous Solution.
Watts, C. R.; Lovas, S.; Murphy, R. F, 15th American Peptide Symposium, Nashville, TN
Rationally Designed N,N’-bis[(N-p-guanidinobenzyl-N-methyl)aminocarbonyl]1,3-diaminobenzene, ‘BIGBEN’, Binds to the Minor Groove of d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 as Determined by T...
Watts, C. R.; Kerwin, S. M.; Kenyon, G. L.; Kuntz, I. D.; Kallick, D. A, Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Frontiers of NMR in Molecular Biology IV, Keystone, CO
The Investigation of DOCK Designed Minor Groove Binding Agents Using NMR Spectroscopy and Computational Methods.
Watts, C. R.; Kerwin, S. M.; Kenyon, G. L.; Kuntz, I. D.; Kallick, D. A, 33rd Annual Medicinal Chemistry Meeting-in-Miniature (MIKI), Lawrence, KS
Structural Determination of Opioid Peptides Bound to Dodecylphosphocholine Micelles by Solution NMR.
Tessmer, M. R.; Watts, C. R.; Kallick, D. A, 33rd Annual Medicinal Chemistry Meeting-in-Miniature (MIKI), Lawrence, KS
How a New Minor Groove Binder Interacts with 5'CGCGAATTCGCG3'.
Watts, C. R.; Kallick, D. A, Gordon Research Conference on NMR in Biology and Medicine, Henniker, NH
An Introduction to Cranial Anatomy and Physiology.
Watts, C. R, Fairview Southdale Hospital EMS Stroke Conference, Minneapolis, MN
Synthes: Nursing Continuing Education Spine Bio skills Workshop, A Team Approach to AO Techniques.
Watts, C. R. Sherman, J.; Smith, M, Synthes/DePuy, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Edina, MN
MASTTM Techniques Regional Training Program.
Watts, C.R.; Czerwein, J.K.; Hodges, S.; Yam, D, Sponsored by Medtronic, Memphis, TN
Minimally Invasive spine Surgery.
Watts, C.R, We’ve Got Your Back, Sponsored by Genex Services and AJ Gallagher LLP, Golden Valley, MN
Making Sense of Spine Surgery: A Program Designed for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals.
Watts, C. R.; Garner, H, Sponsored by Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN
Grading, Prognosis and Treatment of Primary Brain Tumors.
Watts, C. R, Fairview Southdale Hospital Spine, Brain, and Stroke Conference, Bloomington, MN
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Lectures

Sedation and Analgesia in Neuro ICU Patients
Mayo Clinic Neuro and Intensive Critical Care: Review and Hands-on Workshops, Orlando, Fl - 5/2015

Other

The Investigation of Molecular Recognition via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Computational Modeling.
Watts, C. R, 1998, Ph.D. Dissertation
University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry

Grant Support

Investigation of Amyloid Beta AggregationMayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare Foundation2015–2016

Committees

Neurosurgery/Neurocritical Care Representative, Society of Critical Care Medicine - Board Review Item Writing Committee (Adult) 2015 - Present
Neurosurgery/Neurocritical Care Representative, Society of Critical Care Medicine - Advanced Knowledge Assessment Committee (Adult) 2015 - Present
South West Wisconsin Representative, Mayo Clinic Health System - Surgical and Procedural Committee 2014 - Present
South West Wisconsin Representative, Mayo Clinic Health System - Regional Patient Safety Committee 2014 - Present
Surgical Subspeciality Representative, Mayo Clinic Health System - Personnel Committee 2014 - Present
Neurosurgery Representative, Fairview Southdale Hospital - Trauma Committee 2011 - 2013
Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care Representative, Fairview Southdale Hospital - Critical Care Committee 2011 - 2013
Chairperson (2008 to 2010) and Neurosurgery Representative, Fairview Southdale Hospital - Neuroscience Committee 2006 - 2013
Representative, Fairview Health System - Technology Committee 2006 - 2011