Brian Benson  MD MSc PhD CCFP(SEM) DipSportMed

From Group23 Sports Medicine

Dr. Brian Benson earned a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree (First Class Honours in Exercise Physiology), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Degree, Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree (Specialization: Epidemiology, Sport Injury), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree (Specialization: Epidemiology, Sport Concussion Prevention in Ice Hockey), all from the University of Calgary. Dr. Benson went on to complete Family Medicine Residency Specialization and Certification (CCFP) and then completed a Sport Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, obtaining both a Diploma in Sport Medicine from the Division of Orthopedic Surgery and Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and Certificate of Added Competency in Sport and Exercise Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Dr. Benson’s sport concussion research has received several prestigious awards from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Sport Medicine Section of the Ontario Medical Association, Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and Own the Podium Sport Innovation (SPIN) Summit Dr. Gord Sleivert Young Investigator Award. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, abstracts and book chapters, and is a Principle and Co-Investigator of several research projects on sport concussion assessment, management and prevention, including the use and validation of cutting-edge robotic assessment technology. Dr. Benson holds Academic and Clinical Appointments in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Department of Family Medicine (University of Calgary), and has served as a member of several National, North American, and International concussion executive committees. After two decades of concussion research and clinical experience, Dr. Benson launched the Benson Concussion Institute (BCI), an innovative, high performance, multi-disciplinary sport concussion clinic and research program, and currently co-supervises two post-doctorate clinical research fellows.

Dr. Benson is currently the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Sport Medicine at the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta. He has a clinical consulting practice in Sport and Exercise Medicine and has considerable clinical experience working with high performance sport teams and athletes, including Head Physician roles with the Canadian National Bobsleigh team (2010 - present), Canadian National Skeleton team (2010 - present), Canadian National Luge team (2010 - present), Alpine Canada (2011 - 2014), University of Calgary Dinosaur Football team (2006 - 2013), Calgary Canucks AJHL Hockey Club (2015 - present), and several Canadian National Men’s Ice Hockey Teams representing Canada at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup (2005), Under-18 World Championships (2006), Deutschland Cup (2006), World Junior Championships (2007, 2008, 2010), Canada vs Russia Super Series (2007), Spengler Cup (2008, 2014), and Men’s World Championships (2012, 2014, 2015). Dr. Benson has also been a Consultant Physician for Skate Canada (2015 - present), the Canadian National Wrestling Team (2015 - present), the Calgary Flames NHL Hockey Club (2013 - 2015), and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (2007 - present).

Dr. Benson was born and raised in Cranbrook, B.C. He played four years of Junior Hockey in the KIJHL (Cranbrook Colts: 1986-88) and BCJHL (Penticton Knights: 1988-90), and two years of College Hockey (ACAC) at Mount Royal in Calgary, Alberta (1990-92). Dr. Benson is happily married with three children, and is an avid backcountry recreational enthusiast.