No Referrals Required
Dr. Christopher Sliva is a board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon specializing in treatment of herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and degenerative diseases of the spine. In addition, Dr. Sliva has extensive experience in the treatment of spinal tumors, infections, and trauma in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. His interests and expertise also include spinal deformity such as scoliosis and kyphosis in adults and children.
As one of the partners of Rockford Spine Center now, The Spine Center at OrthoIllinois, Dr. Sliva and his colleagues are often called upon to perform complex revision spinal surgery. “We have considerable experience in providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment of complex spinal conditions,” says Dr. Sliva. The Spine Center is one of the premier centers for revision spinal surgery in the region.
Dr. Sliva completed his fellowship in spinal surgery at the prestigious William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Sliva’s goals in patient care are to fully diagnose the spinal condition, ensure understanding of all the treatment options, and reach a shared decision as to the best treatment plan. He encourages his patients to gather as much information about their diagnosis and treatment as possible, so the patient is the “driver of their treatment plan.” We want to provide a predictable and successful surgical plan, with the least amount of risk, and a quick recovery.
Dr. Sliva’s patients often characterize his bedside manner as caring and compassionate; a direct reflection of his core values is to treat others with honesty, act with integrity, and provide the highest level of surgical care available. The idea of pursuing medicine started while he was growing up in a small central Illinois town after sustaining an athletic related knee injury. “Surgery has been a fascinating science to me from a young age, but your surgeon also needs to understand who benefits from surgery, and that is the art,” says Dr. Sliva.
Dr. Sliva is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Winnebago County Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society.
Dr. Sliva volunteers his time providing orthopaedic care for the children at the Walter Lawson Children’s Home in Loves Park, Illinois. He gains humility in caring for children with such complex health conditions. On weekends and evenings, Dr. Sliva can be found shuttling his children to various school and sporting events. He and his wife enjoy supporting their children’s community, school and church functions. He is an avid collegiate sports fan. You might also see him shooting a round of golf with friends, kicking a soccer ball with his daughter, skiing with his oldest son, or on the running trails with his wife.
Spinal Surgery
William Beaumont
Royal Oak, MI
Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Rush University Medical School
Chicago, IL
University of Illinois, Rockford
College of Medicine
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
