Baptist Health Spine Center emphasizes non-surgical treatment options in advance of spine surgery. This can include pain-relieving spinal injections that relieve symptoms of numbness or weakness in a hand or foot and other radiating pain symptoms caused by a herniated disc. The pain management specialist at Baptist Health Spine Center may also refer the patient to physical therapists that can provide customized stretches that also relieve back and neck strain and bridge the patient back to activity and their job.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians

Andrew “Gunter” Cain, MD

Anesthesiologist specializing in non-surgical spine care
Fellowship-trained in Interventional Spine

Andrew “Gunter” Cain, MD, is a specialist in interventional spine care at Baptist Health Spine Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Cain received his Medical Degree at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Cain completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock where he was named “Chief Resident.” He then completed his fellowship in pain management at the University of North Carolina Hospitals Department of Anesthesiology in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

At Baptist Health Spine Center, Dr. Cain is involved with the assessment of back and neck pain patients and performs interventional spinal injections in the spine center’s internal injection suite. Dr. Cain coordinates a wide variety of non-surgical treatement options for back and neck problems, including spine therapy through the spine center’s internal physical therapy department and exercise gym.

Affiliated Spine Neurosurgeons at Baptist Health

If non-surgical options fail to work, or when a herniated disc cannot respond to a spinal injection, spine surgery may be necessary. Baptist Health Spine Center refers patients to a team of spine neurosurgeons on the Baptist Health campus. This includes the following spine surgeons.

Tim Burson, MD

Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon

At the Baptist Health Spine Center, Dr. Burson specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal trauma and spinal tumors. Where possible Dr. Burson emphasizes a minimally invasive spine surgery approach for patients which reduces the length of the incision, lessens time in the hospital and speeds return to activity with a less painful recovery.

Dr. Burson spends most of his time devoted to spinal surgery. Some of his specialties include neck and back surgery for herniated discs, lumbar spinal fusions with instrumentation, and spinal tumors.

Dr. Burson’s encourages his patients to ask questions because he knows it’s important that the patients are educated about the spine problems they are experiencing and all treatment options available.

David Connor, Jr., DO

Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon

At the Baptist Health Spine Center, Dr. Connor specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal trauma and spinal tumors. Where possible Dr. Connor emphasizes a minimally invasive spine surgery approach for patients which reduces the length of the incision, lessens time in the hospital and speeds return to activity with a less painful recovery.

Dr. Connor earned his medical degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. He completed his internship and residency at Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Gautam K. Gandhi, MD

Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon

Dr. Gandhi received his Doctor of Medicine from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Medical School. He completed his four year residency in neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Gandhi has 8 years of diverse experience in spine surgery. Dr. Gandhi currently has hospital privileges at Drew Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and Baptist Health Medical Center. Dr. Gandhi is currently a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. 

Blake Phillips, MD

Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon

At the Baptist Health Spine Center, Dr. Phillips specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal trauma and spinal tumors. Where possible Dr. Phillips emphasizes a minimally invasive spine surgery approach for patients which reduces the length of the incision, lessens time in the hospital and speeds return to activity with a less painful recovery.

Dr. Phillips graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee with a degree in Biochemistry. He soon began research in St. Judes’ neurodevelopmental biology lab. Dr. Phillips received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, after which he completed an internship in general surgery. Dr. Phillips continued his neurosurgical training gaining expertise in cranial and spine surgery at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Phillips addresses a wide range of spine problems, including degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, tumors of the spinal cord and the vertebrae, spinal deformity including adult scoliosis. Dr. Phillips continues to be active in medical education with a number of recent peer reviewed publications and conference speaking engagements. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the American Medical Association, and the Arkansas Medical Association and has recently been recognized in Who’s Who for professionals.

Jonathan Reding, MD

Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon
Fellowship-Trained Neurosurgeon

At the Baptist Health Spine Center, Dr. Reding specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal trauma and spinal tumors. Where possible Dr. Reding emphasizes a minimally invasive spine surgery approach for patients which reduces the length of the incision, lessens time in the hospital and speeds return to activity with a less painful recovery.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Reading earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with the nationally known Semmes-Murphey Clinic. During his residency, he also completed a 6-month fellowship at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, UK, focusing on pituitary tumors and acoustic schwannomas. Dr. Reding remains active as a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Southern Neurosurgical Society (SNS).