Dr. Benjamin Weisenthal was drawn to medicine at a young age when he saw how surgery could positively impact patients’ lives, including his own. At the age of ten, Dr. Weisenthal underwent spine surgery that transformed his life for the better. In high school, he joined his father, an ophthalmologist, on medical mission trips where he watched patients enter the hospital with no sight and leave with full sight. These inspiring personal experiences launched his surgical career.
After graduating high school in his hometown of Syracuse, New York, Dr. Weisenthal spent a gap year in Chile through the Rotary Youth Exchange program where he became fluent in Spanish. He then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Following college, Dr. Weisenthal spent a year in New York City working in the research department at the Hospital for Special Surgery, which solidified his decision to specialize in orthopedics. He then moved to Rochester, New York, where he earned his Medical Degree from the University of Rochester. While in medical school, Dr. Weisenthal worked as a trainer at a local CrossFit gym and published a book chapter on CrossFit injuries.
Dr. Weisenthal ultimately found his forever home in Tennessee when he moved to Nashville to complete his orthopaedic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. During his residency at Vanderbilt, Dr. Weisenthal grew fascinated with the variety of pathology and surgical treatments in spine surgery. His fantastic mentors introduced him to all aspects of adult and pediatric spine care and encouraged him to pursue further advanced training in spine surgery. After residency, Dr. Weisenthal completed a combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Adult and Pediatric Fellowship at the Norton Leatherman Spine Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. During fellowship, he had the unique opportunity to train with both board-certified orthopaedic surgeons and board-certified neurosurgeons.
His surgical interests include cervical and lumbar degenerative conditions, revision spine surgery, spinal tumors, traumatic spinal injuries, and adult spinal deformities. Dr. Weisenthal encourages his patients to exhaust conservative treatments before considering surgery. He employs a variety of surgical techniques ranging from minimally invasive decompressions and motion-preserving surgeries like cervical disc arthroplasty, to robotic and navigated fusions, to complex fusions for adult degenerative scoliosis and cervical deformities. He is especially passionate about using new technology to optimize the patient experience.
Dr. Weisenthal is a member of the North American Spine Society and has published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals on cervical myelopathy, surgical techniques, osteoporosis in spine surgery, and costs in spine surgery. He has presented at conferences throughout the country and was nominated for the Whitecloud award for his three-dimensional analysis of pelvic screws.
Dr. Weisenthal is a member of the North American Spine Society and has published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals on cervical myelopathy, surgical techniques, osteoporosis in spine surgery, and costs in spine surgery. He has presented at conferences throughout the country and was nominated for the Whitecloud award for his three-dimensional analysis of pelvic screws.
Outside of work, Dr. Weisenthal enjoys spending time with his wife, Kaycee (a Knoxville native), working out at his home CrossFit gym, trail running, snow skiing, and going on long walks with his two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
B.S., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, 2010
M.D., University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester NY, 2015
