Evidence
Over Ego.
FORM & FUNCTION WITH DR. BEN
27 years in the OR. Chief of Orthopaedics. Residency educator for military physicians. Competitive athlete, expedition angler, and fly fisher — sharing what medicine, sport, and the field have taught me about how the body really works.
27
Years in practice
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PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 27-YEAR HAND & UPPER EXTREMITY SURGEON CHIEF OF ORTHOPAEDICS · CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH
MILITARY RESIDENCY PROGRAM EDUCATOR. ALL-AMERICAN SWIMMER · COMPETITIVE ATHLETE
WHO IS DR. BEN
Princeton UniversityB.S. Molecular Biology — the foundation behind every clinical decision
Orthopaedic Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery27 years of practice — 6 continents of lectures
Chief of Orthopaedics · Cape Fear Valley HealthAssociate Residency Program Director training military physicians
Competitive Tennis · Expedition Fly Fisher · Offshore AnglerThe lab expands beyond the OR — Tongass, Resurrection Bay, Holden Beach
A surgeon who lives what he teaches.
I spent 27 years operating on hands, wrists, and upper extremities — from weekend warriors to professional athletes. I've seen what breaks bodies down and what builds them back up. Now I bring that same clinical precision to how I train, gear up, and move through the world.
This isn't lifestyle content. It's evidence-based performance medicine from someone who's been on both sides of the scalpel.ughtfully crafted to elevate what matters most.
Four pillars. One framework.
Medical authority is the root. Everything else — performance, gear, leadership — grows from that trunk.
Medical Education
Real clinical knowledge, stripped of jargon. No Big Deal or Red Flag. Rapid-fire myth busting. Anatomy that changes how you move and how you age.
Performance & Injury Prevention
Training principles grounded in surgical anatomy. How to load, recover, and adapt across decades — not just seasons. For athletes who want to stay on the field.
Safety Officer Ben
Expedition-tested gear reviewed through a surgeon's lens. Alaska. Tongass. Holden Beach. The OR/OR double standard: what works in the Operating Room, and in the Outdoors.
Healthcare Leadership
What 27 years and three health systems taught me about building teams, training physicians, and why natural systems outperform manufactured ones.
The Form & Function Brief
Published Tuesdays · 6:30 AM
No Big Deal or Red Flag
One symptom. Clinical clarity. Should you see a doctor or not?
Clinical Depth
One condition explained the way your surgeon would — if they had time to talk.
Safety Officer Ben
One piece of gear, trip, or performance protocol worth your attention.
FREE · NO SPONSORS · NO SPAM
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Your surgeon in your inbox.
Three columns. Five minutes. Every Tuesday — clinical judgment you can actually use, from someone who operates for a living.
My Story
From the pool to the operating room, my life has always been about precision, purpose, and performance.
I grew up as a competitive swimmer, earning All-American honors in high school and competing at the NCAA level in college. The discipline I learned in the water carried me through Princeton University, where I studied molecular biology, and then on to medical school, an orthopaedic residency, and a hand surgery fellowship.
My career has given me the privilege of treating everyone from weekend athletes to the pros — serving as a hand surgeon for organizations including the Minnesota Vikings, Timberwolves, Twins, and Wild, as well as their minor league affiliates. Whether it was helping a professional athlete return to play or guiding a patient back to simple daily activities, I’ve seen firsthand how much function means to living a full life.
Service has always been at the heart of my journey. I’ve volunteered on mission trips in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and I was a member of one of the first medical teams to respond to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. These experiences shaped my belief that the skills we’re given are meant to be shared — both at home and abroad.
Beyond medicine, I’ve sought challenge and balance in many forms: lifeguarding on the Jersey Shore, competing in international lifeguard competitions, racing as a triathlete, exploring the depths through scuba diving, and finding quiet focus in gardening and baking. I’m also passionate about traveling the world with my wife and four daughters — whether it’s a high-end safari in South Africa, flying Delta One, or experiencing Royal Caribbean’s Star Class.
Today, my mission is to share the lessons I’ve learned — from medicine, sports, travel, and life — to help others pursue health, performance, and meaning without limits.
This is the heart of Form & Function with Dr. Ben:
Form — the structure we build in our bodies, habits, and systems.
Function — the way we move, recover, grow, and live fully.
I believe that when we align the two, we create a life of resilience, freedom, and purpose.