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“Dedicated exclusively to the care of children, my clinical and research teams work tirelessly to facilitate and advance world class care and achieve the best possible outcomes for children with neurosurgical needs.”

– Dr. Richard C.E. Anderson

MD, FACS, FAAP

Chiari Malformation – Pediatrics

Spinal Surgery – Pediatrics

Paterson

Ridgewood

See all my awards

About Dr. Richard C.E. Anderson

Dr. Anderson is one of the leading pediatric neurosurgeons in the Tri-State region and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Meet Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson specializes in the surgical treatment of pediatric brain and spinal tumors, complex spinal disorders (including tethered spinal cords, scoliosis, and instability), spasticity, Chiari I malformation, vascular disorders (including arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and moyamoya disease), hydrocephalus, and general pediatric neurosurgery.

Dr. Anderson extensively tests and utilizes the latest proven techniques in pediatric neurosurgery, including computer-guided surgical navigation, minimally invasive endoscopy, and microsurgery.

Training & Education

Dr. Anderson received his undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude as the top student in his class. He then earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, graduating in the top 5% of the class.

After completing his residency and chief residency in neurosurgery at The Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Anderson spent a year at the University of Utah-Primary Children’s Medical Center receiving advanced fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery.

Dr. Anderson’s laboratory and clinical research efforts focus on brain tumor immunology and biomechanics of the pediatric cervical spine. He has published over 150 neurosurgical papers and book chapters for the Journal of Neurosurgery-Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, Clinical Immunology, Journal of Immunology, PloSOne, BMC Cancer, and others.

He participates actively in organized pediatric neurosurgery efforts and is currently on the executive committees of the AANS/CNS Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Society of University Neurosurgeons.

Dr. Anderson has been interviewed and featured in US News and World Report, 201 Magazine, New York Magazine, Wikipedia, and The Bergen Record as well as on television networks including ABC and NY1.

He has received over one hundred invitations to lecture and teach courses at domestic and international academic institutions and conferences. Donating time and expertise to those in need has sent him across the country and the world, including Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Morocco, and China.

Dr. Anderson is consistently named one of America’s Top Doctors, America’s Top Surgeons, Top Doctors in New Jersey, Top Doctors New York Metro area, Top Doctors in New York Magazine, and annually receives the Patient’s Choice Award.

Areas of Excellence

  • Pediatric spinal disorders including Chiari malformation, scoliosis, instability, and tethered spinal cords
  • Pediatric spasticity including selective dorsal rhizotomy and intrathecal baclofen pumps
  • Pediatric craniofacial disorders including craniosynostosis
  • Pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Pediatric vascular malformations including arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and moya moya

Conditions Treated

  • Chiari malformation
  • Scoliosis
  • Tethered spinal cord
  • Selective dorsal rhizotomy
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and cavernous malformations
  • Moya moya

Treatments Performed

  • Minimally invasive suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation
  • Minimally invasive selective dorsal rhizotomy
  • Non-operative and operative correction of scoliosis and spondylolisthesis
  • Release of tethered spinal cord
  • Minimally invasive, endoscopic assisted repair of craniosynostosis
  • Resection of brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Resection and radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations
  • Bypass surgery for treatment of Moya moya syndrome

Hospital Privileges

In addition to working out of our Ridgewood, Livingston and Paterson offices, Dr. Anderson has the ability to treat and admit patients at the following area hospitals.

  • NYU Langone Health
  • Hackensack UMC
  • St. Joseph’s Health
  • St. Barnabas Medical Center
  • The Valley Hospital

Insurances

  • Aetna Medicare
  • Aetna Meritain & Assure
  • Aetna Signature (1199 & GEHA)
  • Aetna Whole Health
  • Americhoice/UHC Community Plan
  • Clover Medicare – Case by Case exception
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Card/Suitcase/PPO)
  • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ (commercial)
  • Horizon Braven Health (PPO, HMO-POS)
  • Braven Medicare Choice PPO
  • Braven Medicare Freedom PPO
  • Braven Medicare Group HMO-POS
  • Braven Medicare Access group HMO-POS
  • Horizon NJ Health
  • Medicare (Part A and Part B)
  • No Fault (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Only)
  • Omnia (tier 1)
  • Oxford Garden State Health Plan
  • Oxford Health Plan
  • UHC under Empire/NYSHIP plan
  • United HealthCare (commercial, including All Savers) UMR
  • Wellcare Medicaid
  • Worker’s Comp- NJ Only

Dr. Anderson received his undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude as the top student in his class. He then earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, graduating in the top 5% of the class.

After completing his residency and chief residency in neurosurgery at The Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Anderson spent a year at the University of Utah-Primary Children’s Medical Center receiving advanced fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery.

Dr. Anderson’s laboratory and clinical research efforts focus on brain tumor immunology and biomechanics of the pediatric cervical spine. He has published over 150 neurosurgical papers and book chapters for the Journal of Neurosurgery-Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, Clinical Immunology, Journal of Immunology, PloSOne, BMC Cancer, and others.

He participates actively in organized pediatric neurosurgery efforts and is currently on the executive committees of the AANS/CNS Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Society of University Neurosurgeons.

Dr. Anderson has been interviewed and featured in US News and World Report, 201 Magazine, New York Magazine, Wikipedia, and The Bergen Record as well as on television networks including ABC and NY1.

He has received over one hundred invitations to lecture and teach courses at domestic and international academic institutions and conferences. Donating time and expertise to those in need has sent him across the country and the world, including Italy, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Morocco, and China.

Dr. Anderson is consistently named one of America’s Top Doctors, America’s Top Surgeons, Top Doctors in New Jersey, Top Doctors New York Metro area, Top Doctors in New York Magazine, and annually receives the Patient’s Choice Award.

  • Pediatric spinal disorders including Chiari malformation, scoliosis, instability, and tethered spinal cords
  • Pediatric spasticity including selective dorsal rhizotomy and intrathecal baclofen pumps
  • Pediatric craniofacial disorders including craniosynostosis
  • Pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Pediatric vascular malformations including arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and moya moya
  • Chiari malformation
  • Scoliosis
  • Tethered spinal cord
  • Selective dorsal rhizotomy
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and cavernous malformations
  • Moya moya
  • Minimally invasive suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation
  • Minimally invasive selective dorsal rhizotomy
  • Non-operative and operative correction of scoliosis and spondylolisthesis
  • Release of tethered spinal cord
  • Minimally invasive, endoscopic assisted repair of craniosynostosis
  • Resection of brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Resection and radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations
  • Bypass surgery for treatment of Moya moya syndrome

In addition to working out of our Ridgewood, Livingston and Paterson offices, Dr. Anderson has the ability to treat and admit patients at the following area hospitals.

  • NYU Langone Health
  • Hackensack UMC
  • St. Joseph’s Health
  • St. Barnabas Medical Center
  • The Valley Hospital
  • Aetna Medicare
  • Aetna Meritain & Assure
  • Aetna Signature (1199 & GEHA)
  • Aetna Whole Health
  • Americhoice/UHC Community Plan
  • Clover Medicare – Case by Case exception
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Card/Suitcase/PPO)
  • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ (commercial)
  • Horizon Braven Health (PPO, HMO-POS)
  • Braven Medicare Choice PPO
  • Braven Medicare Freedom PPO
  • Braven Medicare Group HMO-POS
  • Braven Medicare Access group HMO-POS
  • Horizon NJ Health
  • Medicare (Part A and Part B)
  • No Fault (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Only)
  • Omnia (tier 1)
  • Oxford Garden State Health Plan
  • Oxford Health Plan
  • UHC under Empire/NYSHIP plan
  • United HealthCare (commercial, including All Savers) UMR
  • Wellcare Medicaid
  • Worker’s Comp- NJ Only

Honors, Awards & Recognition

See what Dr. Anderson has accomplished over the years.

Awards

  • Patient’s Choice Award (2009-2021)
  • America’s Top Doctor (2010-2021)
  • America’s Top Surgeons (2010-2012)
  • Castle Connolly’s New York Metro Top Doctor (2012-2021)
  • America’s Top Doctors for Cancer (2014)
  • Top Doctors Bergen County (2014-2021)
  • Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors (2015-2021)
  • 201 Family’s Top Doctors (2016-2021)
  • Favorite Kid’s Doctors in NJ (2016-2021)
  • SuperDoctors, New York and Bergen County (2014-2021)

Valley Hospital Affiliate

  • Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award Recipient (2017)
  • Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Cranial Neurosurgery (2017)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Cranial Neurosurgery (2017)

Publications

See the research Dr. Anderson has had published.

Patients stories

Ask the Doctor

Recent Videos

Read Dr. Anderson’s Blog Posts

Call Dr. Anderson today at 201-327-8600.

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