Edward Benzel, MD

Appointed
1999

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - VA Medical Center
SpineSurgery & Spinal Cord Inj
Albuquerque, NM USA
1981

Residency - Medical College of Wisconsin Clinics
Neurosurgery
Milwaukee, WI USA
1980

Residency - Medical College of Wisconsin Clinics
General Surgery
Milwaukee, WI USA
1976

Medical Education - Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI USA
1975

Undergraduate - Washington State University
Chemical Engineering
Pullman, WA USA
1971

Professional Highlights

• Medical Co-Director, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Spine Research Laboratory, 1999-Present
• Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, May 2002-May 2009 
• Course Director, Annual Cleveland Spine Review: Hands-On, Cleveland, Ohio, 2000-Present

Certifications

• Neurological Surgery

Specialty Interests

Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Neoplasms, Spine Biomechanics

Awards & Honors

• Scholarship in Teaching Award, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 2005
• Pioneer in Spine Surgery, North American Spine Society, 2006
• North American Spine Society’s David Selby Award, 2007
• Finalist, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” Award, 2007
• Paul C. Bucy Award in Neurosurgical Education; The Chicago Review Course in Neurosurgery, February 2011
• World Federation of Neurological Societies William Beecher Scoville Prize, 2011
• Honoree at the 13th Congress of Spine Surgery, Sao Paolo Brazil for “outstanding contribution to medical science worldwide” February 2013

Innovations & Patents

• United States Patent 5,681,312 Spine Construct with Band Clamps, Hansen A. Yuan, Edward C. Benzel, Alex Dinello, Michael H. Wefers, Aaron C. Smith (inventors), issued Oct. 28, 1997 
• United States Patent 5,800,433 Spinal Column Retaining Apparatus, Edward C. Benzel, Alex Dinello, Hansen Yuan, Michael Wefers (inventors), issued Sept. 1, 1998
• United States Patent 5,843,082 Cervical Spine Stabilization Method and System, Edward C. Benzel (inventor), issued Dec. 1, 1998 
• United States Patent 5,713,900 Apparatus for Retaining Bone Portions in a Desired Relationship, Edward C. Benzel (inventor), issued Feb. 3, 1998 
• United States Patent 6,036,693 Cervical spine Stabilization Method & System, Edward C. Benzel (inventor), issued March 14, 2000 
• United States Patent 6,193,720 Cervical Spine Stabilization Method & System, Edward C. Benzel (inventor), issued Feb. 27, 2001 
• United States Patent 6,214,005 Spinal Column Retaining Apparatus, Edward C. Benzel (inventor), issued April 10, 2001
• United States Patent 6,706,005 Apparatus and Methods for Assessing Loads on Adjacent Bones, Shuvo Roy, Lisa Ferrara, Aaron Fleischman, Edward C. Benzel (inventors), issued March, 2004 
• United States Patent 7,182,736 B2  Apparatus and Method for Assessing Loads on Adjacent Bones, Shuvo Roy, Aaron Fleischman, Edward C. Benzel, Lisa Ferrara (inventors), issued February 2007

Memberships

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• Cervical Spine Research Society
• World Spine Society, Aug. 2003-Present
• Society of Neurological Surgeons, 1994-Present
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons

See publications for Edward Benzel, MD.

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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 6/12/2023, Dr. Benzel 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.

Consulting and/or Speaking. Dr. Benzel receives fees of $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) as a paid consultant, speaker or as a member of an advisory committee for the following companies:

• Anthem, Inc.

Royalty Payments. Dr. Benzel receives or has the right to receive royalty payments for inventions or discoveries commercialized through the companies shown below:

• Prevent Biometrics, Inc.

Right to Future Distribution of Cleveland Clinic Financial Interest. Dr. Benzel may receive future financial benefits from the Cleveland Clinic for inventions or discoveries commercialized through the companies shown below:

• Prevent Biometrics, Inc.

Equity Dr. Benzel owns stock or stock options in the following companies for activities as a founder, inventor, discover, developer:

• Prevent Biometrics, Inc.

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.