Mitchell C. Benson MD

Dr. Mitchell C. Benson began his affiliation with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in the Autumn of 1973 when he enrolled in Columbia P&S as a first year medical student.  He recognized early in his training that he wished to pursue a career in Urology and following an internship and residency in general surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, he became a resident in Urology at The Presbyterian Hospital in New York in 1979.  Following his chief residency in Urology at The Presbyterian Hospital, he went to Johns Hopkins Hospital and University where he was a Research Fellow in Urologic Oncology from 1982-1984.

After completion of his fellowship, Dr. Benson returned to Columbia University P&S where he joined the Urology faculty.   Dr. Benson was one of the first recipients of the Herbert Irving Assistant Professor awards and he was the Herbert Irving Assistant Professor of Urology from July 1988 - June 1991.  He was then promoted to Associate Professor of Urology, and in July 1995 to Professor of Urology.  In November 2003, he was named the Interim Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) of Columbia University.  Dr. Benson was able to secure ongoing NCI funding for the HICCC and guided the Cancer Center through its reorganization.  In April 2005, Dr. Riccardo Dalla-Favera became the Director of the Cancer Center and Dr. Benson resumed his role as a member of the Executive Committee. 

In September 2004, he became the Acting Chairman of the Columbia University Department of Urology and the Acting Chief of the Urology Service at Columbia University Medical Center, N.Y. Presbyterian Hospital.  In August 2005, he was named Chair of the Department of Urology and Urologist-in-Chief at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center.  He served as Chair until September 2013 when he stepped down to concentrate on his research interests in Urologic Oncology.  Dr. Benson has expertise in prostate and bladder cancer.  His prostate cancer interests include robotic surgery, outcomes research, and personalized medicine utilizing molecular and genetic prognosis.  His bladder cancer interests have focused on the development of new intravesical therapies to spare patients radical surgery, robotic surgery and outcomes research.