Dr. Johnny C. Benjamin is Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Indian River Medical Center, Director of the Joint Implant Center and Director of Medical Specialty Procedures Surgery Center in Vero Beach, Florida. Dr. Benjamin is one of twenty fellowship-trained African-American orthopedic spine surgeons in the country. During the past eleven years, he has developed a national reputation for providing insightful and relevant orthopedic medical commentary regarding injuries, safety measures and business matters related to sports and general health.

Dr. Benjamin is highly respected amongst his peers, professional and collegiate athletes for his honesty, integrity and natural straight forward manner. His approach to medicine is refreshing in this current era of ‘spin doctors’. He states, “My mission is to explain the physical and social impact of orthopedics upon sports and daily life. I pray that my articulate straight-forward style will help to transcend barriers and defy popular stereotypes.”

He is often called upon to participate in the national dialogue on numerous topics as varied as school back packs causing childhood scoliosis, perils of yoga, steroid scandal in professional sports, impact of injuries sustained by professional and collegiate athletes, the benefits of drinking milk and more. Dr. Benjamin has treated a number of elite athletes from the NFL, NBA and MLB. His medical practice has a unique niche within professional boxing and mixed martial arts. He has worked with world champion boxers including Antonio Tarver, Arturo Gatti, Laila Ali, Vernon Forrest and Nate Campbell amongst others.

Dr. Benjamin continues to set new standards in medical service delivery and challenge the status quo. As an African-American medical administrator, leader in the medical field and community at large, he is committed to helping define the “new face of America”. He has been interviewed and quoted in numerous high profile media outlets such as CBS evening News with Katie Couric, FOX News Live, Bloomberg TV, Inside MMA, Houston Chronicle, ESPN.com, Men’s Fitness, Health Magazine, Steve Harvey Morning Show and many more.

Dr. Benjamin, a native of Houston, Texas, received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his medical degree from the University of Texas. He underwent his orthopedic surgery training at Temple University Hospital. His sixth year of post-doctoral training was a spinal surgery fellowship at the Florida Spine Institute. Dr. Benjamin is a member of the board of directors of the Indian River Education Foundation and the Indian River Community College Richardson Center.

Blog Entries by Dr. Johnny Benjamin

Craig James for Father of the Year

Posted January 1, 2010 | 09:52 AM (EST)


It's a sad day in the great State of Texas when a father protecting his family is frowned upon. I know as Texans that traditionally we have always valued football but I thought that God and family still came before grid iron glory.

Craig James, the father, not Craig James...

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Apparently Floyd Mayweather Knows a Thing or Two About PED Testing

21 Comments | Posted December 30, 2009 | 07:26 AM (EST)


There is a great deal of misinformation, propaganda, misleading statements and foolishness on the internet in general but with regards to the drama surrounding the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao potential super fight the internet 'conspiracy theory' engine is in hyper-drive.

Chat rooms, forums and barber shops are the perfect and appropriate...

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We're supposed to believe that Manny Pacquiao is afraid of a little needle?

21 Comments | Posted December 23, 2009 | 08:03 AM (EST)


ESPN's senior boxing writer, Dan Rafael, reported that on the eve of signing the contract for boxing's biggest mega-fight in decades, Manny Pacquiao (not Floyd Mayweather) is balking at a provision for Olympic-style testing for performance enhancing drugs (PED's) and threatening to walk away.

The potential mega-mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather...

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Tiger Woods, Dr. Galea, Gossip and PRP Injections

4 Comments | Posted December 16, 2009 | 08:44 AM (EST)


When it rains it pours. Clearly, Tiger Woods is in the midst of a profound marital crisis. Therefore, by definition it is personal in nature and doesn't concern me.

There appears to be a physician in Canada by the name of Dr. Anthony Galea that may have treated Tiger...

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Kudos, NFL Commissioner Goodell ... But Don't Stop There

Posted December 11, 2009 | 03:40 PM (EST)


Last week Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, sent out a league wide memo stating that players with symptoms of a concussion should not be allowed to return to competition that day.  That statement is a significant improvement over the prior standard of removing a player from competition if they lose...

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NFL Week 12: Winning In Pittsburgh Is Apparently A Matter Of Life And Death

1 Comments | Posted November 30, 2009 | 07:07 PM (EST)


The Pittsburgh Steelers have won 6 championships, are the defending Super Bowl champions and as an organization have done more for the promotion of cultural diversity in NFL head coaching than any other single entity.  The University of Pittsburg Medical Center is the epicenter of concussion research, having developed concussion...

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NFL Week 11: Upsets and Concussions Steal The Spotlight

Posted November 23, 2009 | 05:18 PM (EST)


The Steelers and the Bengals both lose to teams with terrible records.  Who saw that coming?

Fortunately, concussion safety and management have finally progressed to a level where the subject can be intelligently discussed.

NFL week 11 saw two marquee, starting quarterbacks go down with concussions: Arizona’s Kurt Warner and...

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Two Concussions in Three Weeks ... What Should NFL's Brian Westbrook Do Now?

4 Comments | Posted November 16, 2009 | 02:57 PM (EST)


I was encouraged while I watched NFL running back Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles organization and medical staff take their time in allowing his return to live competition, after his week 7 concussion.  I viewed it as progress and an encouraging sign that the message of concussion safety was finally gaining traction. 

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Andre Agassi ... Keep Your Head Up, Dude

Posted November 11, 2009 | 11:14 AM (EST)


Andre Agassi is taking a lot of heat related to recent interviews and admissions made in his upcoming autobiography.  The revelation of his crystal meth use and subsequent misrepresentations (lies) to tennis’ governing body when questioned after a failed drug screen seem to be the source of most of the...

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Cal Jahvid Best's Future in Question After Spectacular Concussion

1 Comments | Posted November 10, 2009 | 09:40 PM (EST)


Jahvid Best is the amazing running back for the University of California Golden Bears football team.  He is known for his abilities both on and off the field.

On November 7th as his team battled Oregon State University in a fierce Pac-10 battle, Best...

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An Open Letter: Dear Mr. President, We Need the Public Option

3 Comments | Posted October 29, 2009 | 05:40 PM (EST)


Dear Mr. President,

When you won the election people said ‘who in their right mind would want to be President now’?  Many felt that our country faced so many enormous problems simultaneously that this was a recipe for certain failure…and the failure would be all yours.

I begged to...

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The NFL, Owners, Commissioner, Coaches and Players, Don't Need Rush Limbaugh's 'Brand' of Hate

4 Comments | Posted October 14, 2009 | 04:25 PM (EST)


I believe in the freedom of speech but I also believe in civility.  I also firmly believe in consistency.  The NFL has a long a proud tradition of attempting to ‘do the right thing.’ 

The NFL under the leadership of Commissioner Roger Goodell has taken a strong and consistent...

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Gina Carano's ESPN Cover is Great Promo for Her ... Not So Much for Women's Mixed Martial Arts

7 Comments | Posted October 7, 2009 | 02:23 PM (EST)


One version of the latest edition of ESPN the Magazine has a semi nude, heavily photo shopped image of Gina Carano on the cover.  There she is shielding her bare breasts while throwing a side kick in a pair of what appears to be regulation Victoria’s Secret lace boy shorts....

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NCAA Title, Tim Tebow and Proper Concussion Management -- The Nation is Watching

7 Comments | Posted September 29, 2009 | 06:47 PM (EST)


The University of Florida Gator Football team has won 2 of the last 3 NCAA National Championships and is currently 4-0 and ranked number one in the polls.  Many experts and casual observers will agree that Heisman trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow is the catalyst to the current UF football...

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An Accidental Death, a Trial and Another 'Teachable' Moment

Posted September 18, 2009 | 10:38 AM (EST)


 

In Kentucky, Max Gilpin, a 15 year old high school football player, lost his life running sprints on a hot day.  David Stinson, Max’s coach, just got his life back after a jury found him not guilty in causing the young man’s death.

Were the sprints known as...

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No Longer Want to Be Like Mike?

Posted September 16, 2009 | 04:31 PM (EST)


His ‘Air-ness’ is taking a great deal of heat these days over his induction speech during the Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies.  I’ve heard and read very few positive comments about his 23 minutes of reflection.

I’ll preface my comments by saying that I like many others enjoyed Michael Jordan’s...

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Will We Accept the President's Challenge? History is Watching

3 Comments | Posted September 10, 2009 | 01:32 PM (EST)


Each generation is faced with a defining test of character.  Your grandparent’s generation fought a world war.  Your parent’s generation bled for civil rights for all. 

Affordable health care coverage for all Americans will be our moment of truth.  It will be how history remembers us.

Our fiscal and...

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NBA Star Dirk Nowitzki Is Scum ... Not

16 Comments | Posted September 4, 2009 | 09:13 AM (EST)


The blogosphere pounced on NBA star Dallas Maverick’s Dirk Nowitzki after he chose not to support his ex-fiancé after her sordid past was revealed.  He was vilified as some ‘jerk jock’; a guy whom bailed on his pregnant ‘wifey’ in her most desperate hour, when she needed him the most. ...

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That Muffin Top Is Killing You

Posted August 27, 2009 | 07:43 AM (EST)


 

The fundamental problem is that most people, especially women, have been conditioned to view obesity as a cosmetic beauty issue.  They don’t like their appearance. The nebulous dream of six-pack abs or a sexy bikini body is most peoples fleeting motivation.  Obesity is more importantly a very serious public...

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Edutainment--Must Educational Entertainment Be an Oxymoron?

2 Comments | Posted August 25, 2009 | 01:00 PM (EST)


I know that I'm just getting old and out of touch. I'm clearly not cool anymore or 'the business' as my teenage niece and nephew frequently remind me. But must television programming be dominated by reality TV that is mind numbing as hell?

I am far from an elitist when...

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