Meet Dr. Benjamin D. Elder, MD, PhD
Benjamin D. Elder, M.D., Ph.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon who is fellowship trained in complex spine surgery, adult spinal deformity surgery, and spinal oncology with the Mayo Clinic Spine Center.
Dr. Elder at a Glance
- Dr. Elder has extensive clinical experience in adult spinal deformity and regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for spinal fusion as well as the conditions listed below..
- He runs the Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Therapeutics laboratory at Mayo Clinic in addition to his clinical duties.
- He focuses on developing new approaches for tissue engineering and regeneration of bone and cartilage through minimally invasive approaches for disorders of the spine.
Contact Dr. Elder who will work in collaboration with an outstanding multidisciplinary team of other clinicians, biomedical engineers, and polymer chemists to accomplish these goals and help to provide you with the best possible outcome
Dr. Elder is a member of Mayo Clinic Spine Center
Doctor Quote
Dr. Elder strongly believes in working collaboratively with his patients to develop the least invasive treatment that will help them return to their normal activity and lives, ranging from nonoperative treatment to minimally invasive surgery, up to complex spinal deformity correction operations.
How Dr. Benjamin D. Elder, MD, PhD Can Help You
Specialties
- Neurosurgeon
- Spine Surgeon
Languages Spoken
- English
Years in Practice
- 5 Years
Education
- Fellowship, Orthopedic Surgery-Adult Spinal Deformity, Johns Hopkins University
- Residency, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University
- MD./PhD. Combined Program. Baylor College of Medicine
- PhD - Bioengineering, Rice University
- BS./MS - Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University
Conditions
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Cervical Spine Disorders
- Complex Spinal Disorders
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Degenerative Spinal Conditions
- Foot Drop
- Herniated Disc/Bulging Disc
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Spine Disorders
- Myelopathy
- Neck Pain
- Osteoporosis
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
- Sciatica/Radiculopathy/Leg Pain
- Scoliosis and Deformity
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Spinal Fracture
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Trauma
- Spinal Tumors
- Spondylolisthesis
- Thoracic Spine Disorders
Treatment
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Anterior/Posterior Lumbar Fusion
- Cervical Disc Replacement
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Lumbar Corpectomy
- Microdiscectomy/Microdecompression
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy
- Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
- Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion
- Reconstructive/Revision Spine Surgery
- Scoliosis Surgery
- Spinal Cord Surgery
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine Surgery
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
Accolades for Dr. Benjamin D. Elder, MD, PhD
Professional Distinctions
- 2019-present, Associate Residency Program Director, Mayo Clinic Department of Neurosurgery
- 2019-present, Mayo Clinic Neurosurgery Enterprise Research Committee
- 2019-present, Mayo Clinic Neurosurgery Education Committee
- 2019-present, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Biomedical Engineering
- 2018-present, Academic Editor, PLOS ONE
- 2017-2019, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Biomedical Engineering
Professional Affiliations
- Scientific Committee Member, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
- Committee on Biologics and Basic Science, North American Spine Society
- Research Promotion & Oversight Committee, Scoliosis Research Society
- Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Member, North American Spine Society
- Member, Lumbar Spine Research Society
- Board Member, International Society for Hydrocephalus and CSF Disorders
Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery
Awards
- 2017 Charlie Kuntz Scholar Award, CNS/AANS
- 2017 Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award for Clinical Excellence, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- 2016 Irving J. Sherman Traveling Fellowship Award, Johns Hopkins University
- 2016 Award of Recognition for, "Outstanding performance as a Medical Officer..." ODE, CDRH, FDA
- 2016 Inducted into the Distinguished Teaching Society, Johns Hopkins University
- 2016 House Staff Council Resident Leadership Recognition, Johns Hopkins University
- 2016 Charlie Kuntz Scholar Award CNS/AANS
- 2016 Walter Dandy Award for Excellence in Neurosurgery and Clinical Research Achievements
Office Information for Dr. Benjamin D. Elder, MD, PhD
Primary Location

Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN
200 First Street SW
Mayo Building W15
Rochester, MN 55905
Hours
Tuesday: 8:00 – 5:00 CT
Wednesday: 8:00 – 5:00 CT
Thursday: 8:00 – 5:00 CT
Friday: 8:00 – 5:00 CT
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