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Cleveland Clinic has appointed Michael Steinmetz, M.D., as chairman of its Department of Neurosurgery.
In this role, Dr. Steinmetz will lead a team of neurosurgeons devoted to the most advanced surgical treatments for patients with neurological disorders and injuries. In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Steinmetz will oversee the administrative and academic activities of the Department of Neurosurgery, while continuing to serve in a leadership role in The Center for Spine Health.
“It is a great honor to welcome Dr. Steinmetz as our new chairman of Neurosurgery. His vision and expertise as a national leader in complex spine care and his extensive experience in the leadership of national societies will be instrumental in developing the future of neurosurgery” said Andre Machado, M.D., Ph.D, chairman of the Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Steinmetz graduated from Texas Tech University School of Medicine and completed his internship at the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine. He graduated from his neurosurgery residency at Cleveland Clinic in 2005 and completed a fellowship in Complex Spine Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, returning to Cleveland Clinic soon after. In 2011, Dr. Steinmetz left Cleveland Clinic to become the chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Metro Health Medical Center, an affiliated program with Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Steinmetz returned to Cleveland Clinic in 2014 as the co-director of the Center for Spine Health in the Neurological Institute.
“I am honored to be given this opportunity to lead and work alongside the most talented neurosurgeons in the field,” Dr. Steinmetz said. “We will seek to focus on improving the quality of life for our patients through the advancement of academic excellence and innovation.”
Dr. Steinmetz is professor of neurosurgery in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and is the author or co-author of more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He has written numerous book chapters, authored two textbooks and edited two more, the most recent being Benzel’s Textbook of Spine Surgery. He serves as the vice president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, secretary of the Council of State Neurological Societies, an executive committee member of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, and involved with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the North American Spine Society and the Society for Neurosciences. He is on the board of directors of the NeuroPoint Alliance.
Dr. Steinmetz performs basic science research in the field of neuroprotection and regeneration following experimental spinal cord injury, as well as clinical outcomes research.
Dr. Steinmetz replaces Edward Benzel, M.D., who stepped down as neurosurgery chair. Dr. Benzel will work closely with Dr. Machado as the director for patient experience and staff career development, along with his very busy clinical practice.
“We sincerely thank Dr. Benzel for his spectacular service as chairman of Neurosurgery and we are excited to have him lead major new opportunities in the Neurological Institute,” said Dr. Machado.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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