Skip to main content
Deborah Benzil, MD, Neurosurgery, Cleveland, OH

Deborah L Benzil MD

Neurosurgery•Cleveland, OH

Brain & Spinal Tumor, Neurosurgical Spine Surgery, Peripheral Nerve, Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery

Vice Chair, Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic

Join to view full profile

  • 6780 Mayfield RoadCleveland ClinicCleveland, OH 44124

  • Phone+1 440-312-6100

  • Fax+1 440-312-0454

Dr. Benzil is on Doximity

As a Doximity member, you’ll join more than three million U.S. healthcare professionals—including 85+% of physicians, and 2/3 of all NPs and PAs—in a private, secure network.

  • Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
  • Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
  • Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.
See Dr. Benzil's full profileAlready have an account?

Summary

  • Deborah Benzil, MD, is a neurosurgeon based in Cleveland, OH, specializing in brain and spinal tumors, neurosurgical spine surgery, peripheral nerve, and stereotactic & functional neurosurgery. She completed her education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, followed by a residency in Neurological Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University Health. Currently, she serves as a neurosurgeon and Vice Chair at the Cleveland Clinic Health System and is a Professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. She now focuses primarily on continuous improvement across a Neurological Institute including issues related to value, quality, and patient safety and satisfaction. Dr. Benzil has published several works in reputable journals such as Vox Sanguinis and Neurosurgery and has received multiple honors, including being named a New York Top Doctor by New York Magazine and receiving the Planetree Award from Northern Westchester Hospital. She has also been recognized with many awards from national neurosurgical organizations including the Lifetime Achievement Award (SNS), the Lyle Leibrock Lifetime Achievement Award (CSNS), and the inaugural Trailblazer Award (WINS)

Education & Training

  • Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University Health
    Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University HealthResidency, Neurological Surgery, 1987 - 1994
  • Brown University
    Brown UniversityInternship, Transitional Year, 1986 - 1987
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine
    University of Maryland School of MedicineClass of 1985
  • Brown University
    Brown UniversityBA, Brown University, Healthy and Society, 1977 - 1981

Certifications & Licensure

  • OH State Medical License
    OH State Medical License 2017 - 2027
  • SC State Medical License
    SC State Medical License 2025 - 2027
  • NC State Medical License
    NC State Medical License 2025 - 2026
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 2024 - 2026
  • VA State Medical License
    VA State Medical License 2024 - 2026
  • CO State Medical License
    CO State Medical License 2024 - 2025
  • CT State Medical License
    CT State Medical License 2024 - 2025
  • Neurological Surgery
    American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery
  • Join now to see all

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification NextGen Ambulatory EHR, NextGen Healthcare, 2012-2017
  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification NextGen Ambulatory EHR, NextGen Healthcare, 2012-2017
  • New York Top Doctors New York Magazine, 2016

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Toward an Understanding of Sexual Harassment in Neurosurgery  
    Deborah Benzil, MD, Journal of Neurosurgery
  • United States Medical Licensing Exam Step I Score as a Predictor of Neurosurgical Career Beyond Residency  
    Gelinne A, Zuckerman S, Benzil D, Grady S, Callas P, Durham S, Neurosurgery, 1/13/2018
  • Analysis of the 1990-2007 neurosurgery residency match: does applicant gender affect neurosurgery match outcome?  
    Durham S, Donaldson K, Grady MS, Benzil D, J Neurosurgy, 1/1/2018

Books/Book Chapters

  • Heart of a Lion, Hands of a Woman: What Women Neurosurgeons Do. 
    Editors: DL Benzil and KM Muraszko.Donning Company Publishers2009
  • An Anatomical Approach to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery 
    Chapter: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Tumors of the Spine. 
    DL Benzil and CR MoorthyEditors: MJPerez-Cruet, LT Khoo, and RG Fessler.Quality Medical Publishing, Inc.2006
  • Advances in Neuro-Oncology 
    Chapter: Parameters of glial differentiation: Modulation by neoplastic transformation and tumor promoters. 
    Page 41 - 54DL Benzil, A Hirshfeld, JP BresslerEditors: PW Kornblith and MD Walker.Futura Publishing Company1988

Abstracts/Posters

  • Neurosurgeon-hospital relationships: Options, negotiations and opportunities.
    DL Benzil, CNS Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 1/1/2016
  • The Business of Neurosurgery.
    DL Benzil, AANS Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 1/1/2016
  • Osteoporosis and Spinal Fusion.
    DL Benzil (Course Director), AANS Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 1/1/2016

Lectures

  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Innovation in Neurosurgery. 
    Brown University, Providence, RI - 1/1/2013
  • Catch-22: Educating neurosurgical residents 
    1/1/2009
  • Neurosurgery and the Aging Population 
    1/1/2008

Other

Authored Content

  • WINS 30th Anniversary: Reason to CelebrateNovember 2020

Press Mentions

  • History of Women in Neurosurgery (WINS)
    History of Women in Neurosurgery (WINS)March 2nd, 2021
  • Stem Cell Therapy: Is the US Missing a Trick?
    Stem Cell Therapy: Is the US Missing a Trick?February 26th, 2016
  • Tonight’s Hangout: Neurosurgeon Presents, “Neurosurgical Cold Case: Tomb of the Unknown Human”
    Tonight’s Hangout: Neurosurgeon Presents, “Neurosurgical Cold Case: Tomb of the Unknown Human”January 26th, 2016

Professional Memberships

Viewing the full profile is available to verified healthcare professionals only.

Find your profile and take control of your online presence:

Dr. Deborah Benzil, Dr. Deborah Benzil, MD, Dr. D Benzil, Dr. Deborah L Benzil