Holly J. Benjamin, MD

  • Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine
    Professor of Pediatrics
  • Clinical Interests: Concussion and Brain Injury, Disordered Eating, Overhead Sports Related Injuries, Overuse Musculoskeletal Injuries, Running Injuries, Sport Biomechanics, Sports Physicals, Sprains Strains and Tendonitis
  • Research and Scholarly Interests: Children and Teens Sports Medicine, Concussions and Return to Play Issues, Sport Biomechanics
  • Websites: Research Network Profile
  • Contact: hbenjami@bsd.uchicago.edu

Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FACSM, is a specialist in sports medicine and non-surgical musculoskeletal injuries. She has been regionally and nationally recognized for expertise in treating all types of athletic injuries in young patients. She routinely does office consultations discussing sport safety and return to play guidelines following an injury. Dr. Benjamin sees patients to discuss sport "readiness" for activities such as weightlifting and "en pointe" for ballet.



She is currently chair of the committee on sports medicine and fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. She serves as director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Program at the University of Chicago Student Care Center.



Dr. Benjamin has been invited to present dozens of lectures on sports problems in child, adolescent and female athletes. She is a member of the editorial board for the American Academy of Pediatrics' "Sport Shorts" — an educational publication for physicians, coaches, and parents. She is a medical officer for the Chicago Marathon and Chicago Triathlon and is part of the medical team for the WNBA Chicago Sky. In addition, she is head team physician for the University of Chicago Lab School, and a team physician for the varsity athletic program where she specializes in the treatment of medical conditions in the athlete.

Primary Care Sports Medicine Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge, IL
Fellowship - Clinical Associate, Department of Pediatrics
1998

The University of Chicago Children’s Hospital
Chicago, IL
Residency, Pediatrics
1997

Kent State University
Kent, OH
B.S - Integrated Life Sciences
1994

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Rootstown, OH
Medical School - combined BS/MD
1994

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Rootstown, OH
MD
1994

Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Cleveland, OH
Pre-doctoral Fellowship - Molecular Biology
1992

American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Position Statement: Mononucleosis and Athletic Participation.
American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Position Statement: Mononucleosis and Athletic Participation. Clin J Sport Med. 2023 May 15.
PMID: 37186809

Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: A Longitudinal Analysis of Recovery.
Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: A Longitudinal Analysis of Recovery. Am J Sports Med. 2023 01; 51(1):214-224.
PMID: 36412549

Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: The Influence of Previous Concussion Diagnosis Status on Baseline Assessment Outcomes.
Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: The Influence of Previous Concussion Diagnosis Status on Baseline Assessment Outcomes. Am J Sports Med. 2022 10; 50(12):3406-3416.
PMID: 35998010

Estimated age of first exposure to American football and outcome from concussion.
Estimated age of first exposure to American football and outcome from concussion. Neurology. 2020 11 24; 95(21):e2935-e2944.
PMID: 32907967

Investigating the Range of Symptom Endorsement at Initiation of a Graduated Return-to-Play Protocol After Concussion and Duration of the Protocol: A Study From the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion, Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium.
Investigating the Range of Symptom Endorsement at Initiation of a Graduated Return-to-Play Protocol After Concussion and Duration of the Protocol: A Study From the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion, Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. Am J Sports Med. 2020 05; 48(6):1476-1484.
PMID: 32298132

Wake up call for collegiate athlete sleep: narrative review and consensus recommendations from the NCAA Interassociation Task Force on Sleep and Wellness.
Wake up call for collegiate athlete sleep: narrative review and consensus recommendations from the NCAA Interassociation Task Force on Sleep and Wellness. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jun; 53(12):731-736.
PMID: 31097460

Genetic Testing by Sports Medicine Physicians in the United States: Attitudes, Experiences, and Knowledge.
Genetic Testing by Sports Medicine Physicians in the United States: Attitudes, Experiences, and Knowledge. Sports (Basel). 2018 Nov 12; 6(4).
PMID: 30424536

Public Attitudes and Knowledge About Youth Sports Participation and Concussion Risk in an Urban Area.
Public Attitudes and Knowledge About Youth Sports Participation and Concussion Risk in an Urban Area. J Natl Med Assoc. 2018 Dec; 110(6):635-643.
PMID: 30376961

Health-Related Quality of Life Following Concussion in Collegiate Student-Athletes With and Without Concussion History.
Health-Related Quality of Life Following Concussion in Collegiate Student-Athletes With and Without Concussion History. Ann Biomed Eng. 2019 Oct; 47(10):2136-2146.
PMID: 30302664

Influences of Mental Illness, Current Psychological State, and Concussion History on Baseline Concussion Assessment Performance.
Influences of Mental Illness, Current Psychological State, and Concussion History on Baseline Concussion Assessment Performance. Am J Sports Med. 2018 06; 46(7):1742-1751.
PMID: 29672135

View All Publications

Interview - Naperville Sun article, “Big spike in Naperville District 203 concussion numbers tied to
2017

Common Pediatric Medical Procedures Videos, AAP.
2015

Interview –“Safe Bee Water Intoxication” for the AMSSM Weekly Digest, Columbia, AM
2015

Fitness and Health: Expert opinion on Menstruation and distance running, for Runner’s World.
2015

Common Pediatric Medical Procedures video, American Academy of Pediatrics. http://pedia
2015

Ankle Sprains in Youth Sports. AAP News Today, Orland, FL.
2014

AAP Digital Medical Solutions: Pediatric Orthopedic Emergencies. Video CME Production.
2014

Invited to serve as a volunteer physician for the Olympic Training Center. Colorado Springs
2008

Elected Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (2nd female pediatrician ever elected fell
2003

Distinguished Alumni Award, The New Aurora High School Alumni
1999