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Title Vice-Chair, Neurosurgery
Department Center for Spine Health
Primary Location Hillcrest Hospital
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon Yes
Locations
Hillcrest Hospital
Primary Location

Hillcrest Hospital

Appointment:
216.636.5860
Desk:
440.312.6100
Fax:
440.312.0454
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Brain Biopsy
  • Brain Tumor Surgery
  • Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
  • Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Complex Spinal Surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Craniotomy for Brain Tumor
  • General Neurosurgery
  • Image-Guided Spinal Navigation
  • Image-Guided Surgery
  • Lumbar Fusion
  • Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Nerve Biopsy
  • Nerve Transfer Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Peripheral Nerve Decompression/Transfer
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Surgery
  • Spine Decompression
  • Spine Reconstruction
  • Spine Tumor Removal and Reconstruction
  • Spine Tumor Surgery
  • Thoracic Spine Surgery
View all 26 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Aging Spine
  • Arachnoid Cysts
  • Back Pain in Athletes
  • Bone Cancer
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brain Cancer
  • Brain Hemorrhage
  • Brain Metastases
  • Cancer
  • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Cervical Facet Syndrome
  • Cervical Foraminal Stenosis
  • Cervical Herniated Disc
  • Cervical Myelopathy
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Cervical Spine Disorders
  • Cervical Spine Kyphosis
  • Cervical Spondylosis
  • Cervical Stenosis
  • Cervical Tumors
  • Degenerative Spine Disease
  • Facet Arthropathy
  • Herniated Disc
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Lumbar Canal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Lumbar Facet Syndrome
  • Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Disorders
  • Lumbar Strain
  • Lumbosacral Plexopathy
  • Neck Pain
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Peripheral Nerve Disorders
  • Post-Laminectomy Syndrome
  • Radiculopathy
  • Schwannoma
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal Cancer
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Tumors
  • Spondylosis
  • Thoracic Spine Disorders
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
View all 50 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Deborah Benzil, MD

Providing state of the art, patient centered comprehensive neurosurgical care, including minimally invasive surgical interventions, Deborah L. Benzil, MD, FACS, FAANS joins the Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health as Vice Chair of Neurosurgery.  Dr. Benzil received her undergraduate degree with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) at Brown University and her MD from University of Maryland.  She then completed a 2-year Fellowship at NIH, Surgical Neurology Branch doing brain tumor research before completing her Neurosurgical Residency at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital.

Upon completion of training, Dr. Benzil started work as Assistant Professor and attending neurosurgeon at NY Medical College, Valhalla, NY.  Since then, she has held several practice and academic positions, most recently as Associate Professor at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) with a practice through CareMount Medical.

Throughout her career, Dr. Benzil as been recognized for her patient care, innovation in education, and leadership, most notably relating to the wide spectrum of socioeconomic issues facing physicians, especially surgical specialists.  She has been a leader in social media as a tool for patient education, advocacy awareness, and education. 

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2018

Education & Fellowships

Residency - Rhode Island Hospital
Neurosurgery
Providence, RI
1994

Residency - Rhode Island Hospital
General Surgery
Providence, RI
1987

Medical Education - University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
1985

Undergraduate - Brown University
Providence, RI
1981

Additional Training

  • Fellowship, NIH, Surgical Neurology (Molecular Biology Research)

Professional Highlights

  • Vice President, American Association Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
  • Executive Board AANS
  • Chair, Council of State Neurosurgical Societies
  • Editor, AANS Neurosurgeon
  • Chair, Communication and Public Relations Committee
  • Elected member, Senior Neurosurgical society

Certifications

  • Neurological Surgery

Awards & Honors

  • New York Magazine, top Doctors
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors, Westchester
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors, Hudson Valley
  • Plantree Physician Award, Northern Westchester Hospital
  • Hats Off Award, Westchester Medical Center

Memberships

  • AMA
  • AANS
  • CNS
  • WINS
  • SNS
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Deborah Benzil, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 6/25/2024, Dr. Benzil has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

105 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.5 out of 5
Explains 4.5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.6
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.4

11 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024

Doctor actually came into the wrong room when she did come in she apologize and said she had never reviewed my medical records unacceptable

Reviewed on Aug 7, 2024

Great experience Dr. Benzil listened to me and was very patient with all of my questions.

Reviewed on Aug 6, 2024

The doctor, nurses and assistants were very concerned and very courteous about providing my needs

Reviewed on Jul 24, 2024

Dr. Had difficulty connecting

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2024

Was disappointed she didn't have all the images she wanted but had the reports. Yet still wouldn't come to a conclusion. Had me do so physical evaluation which ended up hurting me later. Her conclusion was inconclusive. Waste of my time and hurt my back worse.

Reviewed on Jun 5, 2024

With 70+ years of doctors appointments under my belt I had the distinct sensation that this doctor was nearing retirement and simply playing out the string. I felt she was not listening and was dismissive.

Reviewed on Jun 5, 2024

I did feel a real connection with Dr. Benzel.

Reviewed on Apr 2, 2024

Dr seem to be hurried, x/rays done and was told we would have X-rays results the same day or nexts. Husband has called with no results of X-ray report.

Reviewed on Mar 8, 2024

Doctor Benzil was wonderful. I could not ask for a better doctor. She took time to sit down and talk with me. That is so very rare today. I came for a 2nd opinion and I left her office that day feeling 100% better than I did prior to the appointment. I am so thankful that I was able to see Dr Benzil !

Reviewed on Mar 8, 2024

I would highly recommend Dr Benzil to my family and friends.

Reviewed on Feb 20, 2024

Dr. Benzil took time to completely describe my condition and the options available and the risks and benefits of each option.

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