Dr. William H. McAllister IV, MD is a highly respected board-certified neurosurgeon based in Newport News, Virginia, whose clinical excellence and leadership in neurosurgery have earned him national recognition and the admiration of peers and patients alike. He currently serves as a senior neurosurgeon with Riverside Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, and is co-medical director of the Radiosurgery Center at Riverside Health System.
Dr. McAllister’s journey into medicine began with his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He then completed his rigorous neurosurgical residency at Loyola University Medical Center and Cook County Hospital in Chicago, followed by specialized training in spinal deformity surgery at Chicago’s Rush St. Luke’s Presbyterian Hospital. His additional neurology training at the University of California, San Francisco provided deep foundational expertise that continues to inform his practice today.
Over more than three decades of neurosurgical practice, Dr. McAllister has developed a reputation for treating some of the most complex and delicate conditions affecting the brain and spine, including trigeminal neuralgia and brain tumors. Patients and colleagues alike praise his straightforward, honest approach to care — valuing clear communication alongside surgical precision.
A hallmark of Dr. McAllister’s career has been his commitment to radiosurgery — a non-invasive technique that uses precise, targeted radiation to treat brain and spinal tumors without the need for traditional open surgery. At Riverside’s Radiosurgery Center, he has overseen the adoption of advanced technologies like the Gamma Knife Perfexion and the Varian Edge system, enabling clinicians to reach previously difficult-to-treat lesions with greater accuracy and fewer side effects. These technologies expand treatment options while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue, a critical advancement in radiosurgical care.In addition to his radiosurgery work, Dr. McAllister has championed the integration of real-time intraoperative imaging with devices like the O-arm 2 — an intraoperative CT scanner that allows surgeons to see detailed scans of patient anatomy during operations. This innovation enhances the precision of spinal surgeries, enabling safer screw and hardware placements and giving surgeons immediate feedback without relocating patients mid-procedure.
Dr. McAllister’s skill and dedication have been recognized nationally. In 2025, he was named among Newsweek and Statista’s America’s Leading Doctors, an accolade reserved for physicians demonstrating exceptional clinical expertise, leadership, and outcomes in their specialties. Additionally, he and his colleague Dr. Dean Kostov were both included in Newsweek’s 2024 list of the 150 Best Spine Surgeons in the U.S., a testament to their impact in advancing spine care and improving patient quality of life.
Outside the operating room, Dr. McAllister enjoys cycling, hiking, reading, and spending time with his family. His commitment to both technological innovation and compassionate care continues to shape modern neurosurgical practice in southeastern Virginia and beyond.
Dr. McAllister is emblematic of a new generation of surgeons who balance innovation with human-centered care, and his work remains a model for how advanced medicine can transform lives — one patient at a time.
