Biographical summary
Benjamin Elder, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurosurgeon who is fellowship-trained in complex spinal surgery and spinal oncology. Additionally, he completed an orthopedic surgery fellowship in spinal deformity surgery. He specializes in the treatment of adult spinal deformity, scoliosis surgery, and revision spine surgery of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He also has extensive experience in the surgical management of a variety of spinal conditions, including spinal tumors, spinal stenosis, neck and back pain, herniated discs, and pinched nerves, and holds particular expertise in the treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus. His goal is to work with each patient individually to develop the least invasive treatment to improve their pain and function, ranging from nonsurgical management to major reconstructive surgeries. His clinical interests are focused on the following areas:
- Degenerative spine pathology
- Complex adult spinal deformities
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis/kyphosis
- Flat-back syndrome
- Spine tumors
- Spinal cord tumors
- Spinal fusion
- Herniated discs
- Craniocervical junction pathology
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Tissue engineering strategies for spinal fusion
- Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for the spine
Dr. Elder is a neurosurgeon clinician-scientist, and is the principal investigator of the Mayo Clinic Stem Cell Therapeutics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory. His research is focused on developing new regenerative medicine and tissue engineering approaches using stem cells and biomaterials for repair of the bone and cartilage of the spine. Additionally, he has significant expertise in the management and optimization of bone health and osteoporosis for patients undergoing spinal surgery in order to maximize the benefits of surgery.
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
- Cervical disk replacement
- Cervical diskectomy
- Cervical laminectomy
- Cervical pseudoarthrosis procedure
- Cervical scoliosis surgery
- Cervical spine fusion
- Cervical spine surgery
- Diskectomy
- Hemivertebra resection
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Laminotomy
- Lumbar diskectomy
- Lumbar fusion
- Lumbar laminectomy
- Lumbar pseudoarthrosis procedure
- Lumbar scoliosis surgery
- Lumbar spinal fusion (Deprecated)
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Spinal deformity correction surgery
- Spinal fusion
- Spinal stabilization surgery
- Spine tumor surgery
- Thoracic diskectomy
- Thoracic fusion
- Thoracic laminectomy
- Thoracic pseudoarthrosis procedure
- Thoracic scoliosis surgery
Interests
- Degenerative spine pathology
- Complex adult spinal deformities
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis/kyphosis
- Flat-back syndrome
- Spine tumors
- Spinal cord tumors
- Spinal fusion
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Brain tumor surgery
- Chiari malformation
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Tissue engineering strategies for spinal fusion
- Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for spinal cord injury
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2017
Fellowship - Orthopedic Surgery-Adult Spinal Deformity (Khaled Kebaish, M.B.B.Ch.)The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2017
Residency - Department of NeurosurgeryThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2016
Fellowship - Enfolded Fellowship, Complex Spine Surgery, Department of NeurosurgeryThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2010
MD - M.D./Ph.D. Combined Program.Baylor College of Medicine
- 2009
Ph.D. - Bioengineering, Advisor: Kyriacos Athanasiou, Ph.D., “Optimizing a Scaffoldless Approach for Cartilage Tissue Engineering”Rice University
- 2003
MS - Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Advisor: Gerald Shulman, M.D./Ph.D., “Using Mitochondrial Uncoupling to Prevent Diet Induced Hepatic Insulin Resistance”Yale University
- 2003
BS - Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (with distinction), Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta KappaYale University
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2020
Neurological SurgeryAmerican Board of Neurological Surgery
Awards and honors
- 2023
Mayo Fellows' Association 2023 Teacher of the Year in Neurologic SurgeryMayo Clinic
- 2021
Best Paper Award, 2021 Annual MeetingNorth American Spine Society
- 2017
Charlie Kuntz Scholar AwardCNS/AANS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2017
Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award for Clinical ExcellenceThe Johns Hopkins Hospital
- 2016
Irving J. Sherman Traveling Fellowship AwardThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery
- 2016
Award of Recognition for “Outstanding performance as a Medical Officer evaluating spinal devices through the Medical Device Fellowship Program in the Division of Orthopedic Devices, ODE, CDRH, FDA, and for contributions to the Agency”ODE, CDRH, FDA
- 2016
Inducted into the Distinguished Teaching SocietyJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2016
House Staff Council Resident Leadership RecognitionThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2016
Charlie Kuntz Scholar AwardCNS/AANS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2016
Walter Dandy Award for Excellence in Neurosurgery and Clinical Research AchievementsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2016
Young Investigators AwardInternational Society for Hydrocephalus and Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorders
- 2016
Elected into Alpha Omega AlphaThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2015
Harvey Cushing Hunterian Research Award.Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2015
Award of Recognition for “Clinical leadership while consulting on complex spinal device submissions in the Division of Orthopedic Devices"U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiologic Health, Office of Device Evaluation
- 2015
Elected as departmental representativeHouse Staff Council, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hospital, The Johns Hopkins University
- 2014
Employee of the Month, December 2014, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiologic Health, Division of Orthopedic Devices.U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 2014
Sanford Larson Award for Outstanding Resident ResearchCNS/AANS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2014
Sanford Larson Award for Outstanding Resident Research.CNS/AANS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2013
Irving J. Sherman Award for Resident Achievement.Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- 2013
Highest score on American Board of Neurological Surgery Primary Examination among Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery residents.American Board of Neurological Surgery
- 2012
Highest score on American Board of Neurological Surgery Primary Examination among Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery residents.American Board of Neurological Surgery
- 2010
Baylor College of Medicine MD/PhD program publications award.Baylor College of Medicine
- 2009
T32 Institutional Training Grant SupportNIH NRSA
- 2008
1st Place, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Tissue Engineering and Cellular Mechanics Division PhD level paper competition.American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- 2008
Best graduate student poster, Rice University Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering Annual Symposium.Rice University
- 2007
NIH Biotechnology Training Program FellowshipNIH
- 2007
NIH Biotechnology Training Program Fellowship.Rice University
- 2005
Member, MD/PhD Program Operating Committee.Baylor College of Medicine
- 2003
Awarded B.S. Magna cum Laude.Yale University
- 2003
Graduated with Distinction in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry.Yale University
- 2003
Elected into Phi Beta Kappa in Alpha of Connecticut Chapter.Yale University
- 2002
Funded Summer Student Research FellowshipHoward Hughes Medical Institute
- 2002
Scholarship RecipientBarry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
- 2002
Accepted into 4-year combined MS/BS program at YaleYale University
Professional memberships
- 2024 - 2025
Vice chair-social media committeeScoliosis Research Society
- 2024 - present
Executive Leadership CommitteeSpine Center, Mayo Clinic Rochester
- 2024 - present
Scientific Program CommitteeLumbar Spine Research Society
- 2024 - present
Chair, Rules and Regulations SubcommitteeCNS/AANS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2024 - present
Executive CommitteeCNS/AANS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2024 - present
Education Committee MemberHydrocephalus Society
- 2024 - present
Nominating Committee MemberHydrocephalus Society
- 2024 - present
Industry Relations Committee MemberHydrocephalus Society
- 2023 - present
Ad Hoc Grant ReviewerNeurosurgery Research and Education Foundation
- 2023 - present
Scientific Advisory Board MemberNational Spine Health Foundation
- 2023 - 2027
Social Media Committee MemberScoliosis Research Society
- 2023 - present
Drugs and Devices Committee MemberAANS/CNS
- 2023 - present
Vanguard Leadership InstituteCongress of Neurological Surgeons
- 2022 - present
NEXUS Committee-Spine Co-chairCongress of Neurological Surgeons
- 2022 - present
Deformity Committee MemberNorth American Spine Society
- 2022 - 2023
Education Committee MemberScoliosis Research Society
- 2022 - present
MemberSpinopelvic Study Group
- 2022 - present
Membership Commmittee MemberLumbar Spine Research Society
- 2022 - present
Research and Awards Committee MemberCNS/AANS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2021 - present
MemberAmerican College of Surgeons
- 2021 - present
Executive Board MemberHydrocephalus Society
- 2021 - 2024
Mentorship FamilyMayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
- 2021 - present
Chair, Clinical Competency CommitteeDepartment of Neurosurgery
- 2021 - present
MemberNeuroscience Mortality Huddles, Department of Neurosurgery
- 2020 - present
MemberMidwest Surgical Equipment and Supply Subcommittee (SESC), Mayo Surgical and Procedural Committee, Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees
- 2020 - present
MemberNorth American Spine Society
- 2020 - present
Scientific Program CommitteeCNS/AANS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2020 - 2021
Research Promotion & Oversight CommitteeScoliosis Research Society
- 2020 - present
Section on Biologics and Basic ResearchNorth American Spine Society
- 2020 - present
Clinical Events CommitteeSI BONE-SILVIA Study
- 2020 - present
MemberMayo SMART committee for COVID response
- 2019 - present
MemberNeurosurgery Enterprise Research Committee
- 2019 - 2020
Research Grants CommitteeScoliosis Research Society
- 2019 - present
MemberNeurosurgery Education Committee
- 2019 - present
Residency Associate Program DirectorDepartment of Neurosurgery
- 2019 - present
MemberLumbar Spine Research Society
- 2019 - present
MemberScoliosis Research Society
- 2018 - present
MemberAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons
- 2017 - present
Temporary voting memberUS Food and Drug Administration Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel
- 2017 - present
MemberCongress of Neurological Surgery
- 2017 - present
MemberAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons/Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- 2015 - present
MemberInternational Society for Hydrocephalus and CSF Disorders
Publications
Research activities