Andrew Cannestra
Chief Medical Officer and Neurosurgeon
Jacksonville, Florida
About Andrew Cannestra
Dr. Andrew F. Cannestra, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Altus Medical Group in Jacksonville, Florida. He is fellowship trained in spine surgery and spinal cord injury and has extensive experience in minimally invasive and robotic spinal procedures.
Dr. Cannestra earned his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, graduating summa cum laude with double minors in Psychology and Musical Performance. He completed his M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles, through the Medical Scientist Training Program. His doctoral research focused on cortical perfusion and neuroimaging.
He completed his surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the UCLA Department of Surgery and a fellowship in spine neurosurgery and spinal cord injury at the University of Miami, training under Dr. Barth Green and Dr. Allan Levi. Dr. Cannestra also completed post-doctoral research in near-infrared spectroscopy at the Charité–Humboldt Universität in Berlin, Germany, and participated in a European Traveling Fellowship in Spine and Neurosurgery.
Before joining Altus Medical Group, Dr. Cannestra served as Director of the Baptist Robotic Spine Surgery Program and Medical Director for Neurologic Surgery Services at Baptist Medical Center Downtown in Jacksonville. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurologic Surgery and a founding member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery. His clinical work focuses on spinal fusion, dynamic stabilization, neuroendoscopy, and spinal reconstruction with an emphasis on minimally invasive approaches.
Areas of Focus
Career Background
JG Neurosurgery
Education
Media
Press
Altus Medical Group and Dr. Andrew Cannestra Call for Smarter Surgical Decisions
Read the full article ›Andrew Cannestra Advocates for Responsible Spine Surgery and Patient-Centered Care
Read the full article ›Awards & Recognition
- America’s Top Surgeons – Publication, 2010
- America’s Top Surgeons – Publication, 2011
- America’s Top Surgeons – Publication, 2012
- Florida’s Top Docs – Publication, 2018
- Best Paper Finalist – Global Spine Conference, 2018
- Florida’s Top Docs – Publication, 2019
- Continuing Education Award in Neurosurgery – Maintenance of Certification Committee, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2019
- Florida’s Top Docs – Publication, 2020
Licenses & Certifications
- Medical Licensure – State of California, License No. A77446, 2001–Present
- Medical Licensure – State of Florida, License No. ME95573, 2006–Present
- Medical Licensure – State of Hawaii, License No. MD18411, 2015–Present
- Medical Registration for Licensure – State of Florida, TRN 7938, 2004–2006
- Fluoroscopy X-Ray Supervisor and Operator – State of California, License No. RHC 163488, 2005–Present
- Diplomate, American Board of Neurologic Surgery – 2009–Present
Charities & Volunteering
- International Medical Relief, Volunteer Physician
Boards & Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Member, 2000–Present
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Member, 2000–Present
- Society for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (SMISS), Founding Member, 2006–Present
- National Association of Spine Surgeons (NASS), Member, 2008–Present
- American Board of Neurologic Surgery, Diplomate, 2009–Present
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Andrew Cannestra do?
Dr. Andrew F. Cannestra is a board-certified neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Altus Medical Group in Jacksonville, Florida. He is fellowship trained in spine surgery and spinal cord injury with extensive experience in minimally invasive and robotic spinal procedures.
What is Andrew Cannestra known for?
He is known for his clinical work in spinal fusion, dynamic stabilization, neuroendoscopy, and spinal reconstruction, with an emphasis on minimally invasive approaches. He has been featured in several press profiles discussing precision spine surgery, patient-centered care, and access to minimally invasive spine surgery.
Where is Andrew Cannestra based?
Dr. Cannestra is based in Jacksonville, Florida.
Where did Andrew Cannestra study?
He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He also completed post-doctoral research at Charite-Humboldt Universitat in Berlin and a Mini-MBA in Physician Leadership at the University of Florida.
Who does Andrew Cannestra work for?
Dr. Cannestra works for Altus Medical Group in Jacksonville, Florida, where he serves as Chief Medical Officer and Neurosurgeon.
Last updated July 23, 2026