Kirk T. Benson, MD

Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
and President of KU Physicians Incorporated

kbenson@kumc.edu

For nearly 20 years, Kirk T. Benson, MD, has been an integral member of the University of Kansas School of Medicine faculty. As chair of the Department of Anesthesiology for seven years and an active member of KU Physicians Incorporated for eight years, Dr. Benson is a proven leader who will help steward the School and KUPI toward achieving their individual and common missions.

Dr. Benson earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he also completed an internship in internal medicine and residency training in anesthesiology. He joined the School faculty in 1983 and during the past two decades has attained a number of positions within the department of anesthesiology, including full professor, assistant residency director, clinical director, vice chair for clinical affairs, acting chair and chair.

Dr. Benson has been an active member in several professional organizations at the national, state and local levels. He has served as an associate oral examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology, on the Disciplinary Review Committee for the Kansas Board of Healing Arts and is now serving the latest of four, three-year terms as chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Transfusion. He has also been president of the Kansas City Society of Anesthesiologists, Kansas Society of Anesthesiologists and the Academy of Anesthesiology.

As chair of anesthesiology for the past eight years, Dr. Benson has successfully managed the department's fiscal and human resources to maximize clinical services and meet the School's teaching and research missions in an ever-changing environment. Dr. Benson has also been an active member of KU Physicians Incorporated since the organization's inception in 1994. His leadership in the organization has included, among others, continuous service on the KUPI Board and the KUPI Finance Committee. He was appointed vice president/interim president in May 2002.