Daniel Benito, MD

Daniel Benito MD, is a fellowship trained Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Cleveland Clinic Florida's Head and Neck Institute. 

Dr. Benito earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine where he served as Class President and went on to complete his residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The George Washington University. 

He then pursued a fellowship in Advanced Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery, accredited by the American Head and Neck Society, at the University of Florida. 

He specializes in the surgical removal of head and neck masses, tumors, and cancers. This includes the mouth, tongue, jaws, throat, tonsil, voice box, face, skin, sinuses, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands and other head and neck areas. He is also specialized in surgically treating osteoradionecrosis and medication related osteonecrosis of jaw and maxilla. He uses open techniques as well as minimally invasive approaches, including robotic surgery, or TORS. He also specializes in head and neck reconstruction using microvascular surgery (free flaps) and other flaps and grafts. Dr. Benito has a clinical interest in using virtual surgery and 3D modeling for complex jaw and midface reconstruction. His focus is on rebuilding defects to optimize postoperative swallowing, speech, cosmesis and quality of life. As a cancer surgeon, he believes in providing the highest quality of personalized cancer care with an emphasis on improving survival and quality of life. 

Dr. Benito is an active clinical researcher, with interests in clinical trials, optimizing functional outcomes and quality within Head and Neck Surgery, increasing cancer survival, and improving quality of life after head and neck cancer treatment. 

He has been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions, including being elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He has authored and published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals including JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck, Oral Oncology, Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and has presented his research at both regional and national meetings. In addition, he serves as a reviewer for several leading journals in his specialty, including Head and Neck, Oral Oncology, and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. He is an active member of the American Head and Neck Society, including the Thyroid and Reconstructive Committees of the American Head and Neck Society.

He strives to combine world class care and surgery with research, quality improvement, and teaching. He is committed to training the next generation of surgeons, and trains both residents and fellows at the Cleveland Clinic. 

Read about Dr. Benito's role in a patient's care here: Patient Regains Eyesight through Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery