Dr. Michael Steinmetz has been named chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurosurgery.
Steinmetz will continue to serve in his leadership role at the Clinic’s Center for Spine Health, while transitioning to his new role, which will be effective on November 1.
“It is a great honor to welcome Dr. Steinmetz as our new chairman of Neurosurgery,” Dr. Andre Machado, chairman of the Clinic’s Neurological Institute, said in the news release. “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.”
Steinmetz, also a professor of neurosurgery in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, will oversee the department’s administrative and academic activities in addition to continuing his clinical practice and research initiatives. He performs clinical outcomes research and basic science research in neuroprotection and regeneration following experimental spinal cord injury. He has authored and co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, written many book chapters, and authored two textbooks.
Dr. Edward Benzel, Steinmetz’s predecessor, stepped down from his role as chairman and will serve as the institute’s director for patient experience and staff career development and work closely with Machado. He will also continue to work in his 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,” Machado said in the news release.
Steinmetz graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Medicine, completed his internship at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and graduated from his neurosurgery residency at the Clinic in 2005, according to a news release. He also completed a fellowship in complex spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin before assuming a faculty role at the Clinic.
Steinmetz has experience in demanding administrative roles, having served in 2011 as chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at MetroHealth Medical Center. He returned to the Clinic in 2014 as 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,” Steinmetz said in the news release. “We will seek to focus on improving the quality of life for our patients through the advancement of academic excellence and innovation.”
For more information: https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2016/09/21/cleveland-clinic-names-michael-steinmetz-m-d-chairman-neurosurgery/