Skip to main content
Christoph Hofstetter, MD, Neurosurgery, Seattle, WA, UW Medicine/University of Washington Medical Center

ChristophPaulHofstetterMDPhD

Neurosurgery • Seattle, WA

Brain & Spinal Tumor, Neurosurgical Spine Surgery, Neurotrauma

Associate Professor, Director for spine surgery, Fellowship co-director, University of Washington

Request Appointment

Overview of Dr. Hofstetter

Christoph Hofstetter, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques. His primary clinical focus is on the surgical treatment of degenerative spinal disorders, including disc herniation, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and cervical myelopathy, as well as spinal oncology.
Dr. Hofstetter received his MD from the University of Vienna, Austria, and earned his PhD at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on experimental treatment strategies for traumatic spinal cord injuries. He then completed a surgical internship and neurosurgery residency at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Hofstetter completed clinical fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic, and a spine fellowship focusing on complex minimally invasive spine surgery at the University of Miami. Dr. Hofstetter is a faculty member in the UW Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine. His research lab investigates various experimental treatment strategies to enhance nerve fiber plasticity and regeneration following spinal cord injury, including electrical stimulation to enhance signaling of remaining nerve fibers, replacement of lost neural cells via stem cell-based transplantation, and the promotion and guidance of nerve fiber regeneration utilizing scaffolds. Dr. Hofstetter’s clinical research focuses on the development of novel minimally invasive motion preserving spinal procedures. In particular he is investigating the use of endoscopic techniques for the treatment of disc herniations and foraminal stenosis. His research efforts strive to improve surgical tools as wells as to study clinical outcomes following these procedures.

Education & Training

  • New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)
    New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)Residency, Neurological Surgery, 2006 - 2012
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital
    New York Presbyterian HospitalInternship, Transitional Year, 2006 - 2007
  • University of Vienna Faculty of Medicine
    University of Vienna Faculty of MedicineClass of 2005

Certifications & Licensure

  • MT State Medical License
    MT State Medical License 2023 - 2025
  • ID State Medical License
    ID State Medical License 2023 - 2025
  • WA State Medical License
    WA State Medical License 2014 - 2025
  • AK State Medical License
    AK State Medical License 2023 - 2024
  • NM State Medical License
    NM State Medical License 2014 - 2017
  • NY State Medical License
    NY State Medical License 2009 - 2015
  • FL State Medical License
    FL State Medical License 2013 - 2015
  • American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery
  • Join now to see all

Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Press Mentions

  • Joimax® Launches NAVENTO® Navigation Endoscopic Tower at NASS and EUROSPINE
    Joimax® Launches NAVENTO® Navigation Endoscopic Tower at NASS and EUROSPINESeptember 29th, 2021
  • Joimax® Launches New Generation of Shrill® Shaver Drill System
    Joimax® Launches New Generation of Shrill® Shaver Drill SystemJune 24th, 2021
  • Challenges of Adopting Endoscopic Spine Surgery & Advice for Overcoming the Learning Curve: Q&A with Dr. Saqib Hasan
    Challenges of Adopting Endoscopic Spine Surgery & Advice for Overcoming the Learning Curve: Q&A with Dr. Saqib HasanMarch 9th, 2021
  • Join now to see all

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Christoph Hofstetter, Dr. Christoph Hofstetter, MD, Dr. C Hofstetter, Dr. Christoph Paul Hofstetter