Search for a doctor

Ben R. Veenstra, M.D.

  1. Surgeon
Request an Appointment

Departments

Specialty Groups

Location

  1. Jacksonville, Florida

Languages

English

Existing patients

Benjamin R. Veenstra, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in minimally invasive GI and bariatric surgery.

Dr. Veenstra attended medical school at Tulane University in New Orleans. He obtained his training in general surgery at Rush University Medical Center/John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital in Chicago and completed his fellowship in Minimally Invasive GI and Bariatric Surgery at Mayo Clinic Florida.

Dr. Veenstra's clinical practice focuses on the treatment of a wide range of surgical diseases (from hernias to obesity), focusing on a minimally invasive approach. His research interests include clinical outcomes (bariatric and hernia), surgical education, and surgical simulation.

  1. Appendicitis
  2. Cholecystitis
  3. Gallstones
  4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  5. Hernia
  6. Obesity
  7. Small bowel obstruction
  1. Abdominal wall reconstruction
  2. Appendectomy
  3. Bariatric surgery
  4. Cholecystectomy
  5. Diagnostic laparoscopy
  6. Gastric bypass surgery
  7. Hernia repair
  8. Robotic surgery
  9. Robotic ventral hernia repair
  10. Sleeve gastrectomy
  • Resident Education
  • Surgical Simulation
  • Bariatric Outcomes
  • Hernia Outcomes
  1. 2015
    FellowFLA Minimally Invasive Surgery, Programs in Florida, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  2. 2015
    FellowshipFLA Minimally Invasive Surgery, Programs in Florida, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  3. 2014
    Internship/Residency - Integrated General SurgeryRush University Medical Center/John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Rush University
  4. 2009
    MDTulane University School of Medicine
  5. 2005
    BS - BiologyMillikin University

Certifications

  1. 2015
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2019
    Phoenix AwardRush Medical College
  2. 2019
    Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Rush Medical College
  3. 2018
    Best New Member Paper Midwest Surgical Association
  4. 2011
    Junior Surgical Resident Teaching AwardDepartment of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
  5. 2010
    Categorical Surgical Intern of the YearDepartment of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center
  6. 2005
    George and Rick Glasscock Memorial Biology AwardMillikin University
  7. 2005
    Alpha Epsilon Delta AwardMillikin University
  8. 2004
    Alpha Epsilon Delta - Premedical Honor SocietyMillikin University
  9. 2003
    Sigma Zeta - National Science and Mathematics Honor SocietyMillikin University
  10. 2001
    Dean’s ListMillikin University

Professional memberships

  1. 2025 - present
    MemberRisk Management Committee, Mayo Clinic Health System - Eau Claire, Northwest Wisconsin Region
  2. 2025 - present
    MemberHospital Practice Subcommittee
  3. 2025 - present
    Committee MemberRisk Management
  4. 2025 - present
    Surgical/Procedural RepresentativeApella Campaign
  5. 2024 - present
    MemberPreliminary Resident Interview Committee
  6. 2024 - present
    Commiittee MemberElectronic Stop Sign Campaign
  7. 2023 - present
    Committee MemberAcute Care Surgery Service
  8. 2022 - present
    MemberDiversity, Equity and inclusion Committee, Central Surgical Association
  9. 2021 - 2023
    ChairRush University Medical Center
  10. 2021 - present
    MemberCommittee for Dissemination of Educa- tional Resources for the AEIs, American College of Surgeons
  11. 2021 - present
    MemberAmerican Foregut Society
  12. 2020 - present
    FellowAmerican Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
  13. 2020 - 2023
    ChairRush University Medical Center
  14. 2020
    MemberLCME Standard 11 Task Force, Rush University Medical College
  15. 2020 - present
    MemberCommunications Committee, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)
  16. 2020 - present
    MemberYoung Surgeons Committee, Central Surgical Association
  17. 2020 - present
    MemberAssociation for Academic Surgery
  18. 2019 - present
    MemberCentral Surgical Association
  19. 2019 - 2023
    Co-Clerkship DirectorRush University Medical Center
  20. 2019 - 2022
    MemberMembership Committee, Midwest Surgical Association
  21. 2018 - 2023
    MemberDepartment of Surgery Quality Work Group, Rush University Medical Center
  22. 2018 - 2020
    Vice ChairRush University Medical Center
  23. 2018 - 2020
    MemberOR Improvement Committee, Rush University Medical Center
  24. 2018 - 2020
    MemberWellness Committee, General Surgery Residency, Rush University Medical Center
  25. 2018 - 2019
    ChairClinical Competency Committee (CCC), General Surgery Residency, Rush University Medical Center
  26. 2018 - present
    FellowAmerican College of Surgeons
  27. 2018 - present
    MemberSociety for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
  28. 2017 - 2023
    MemberOperating Room Value Assessment Committee, Rush University Medical Center
  29. 2017 - present
    MemberMidwest Surgical Association
  30. 2016 - 2023
    MemberCommittee for Resident Advancement, Continuing Clinical Center, Rush University Medical Center
  31. 2016 - 2023
    MemberRobotic Steering Committee, Rush University Medical Center
  32. 2016 - 2021
    MemberChicago Surgical Society
  33. 2016 - 2020
    MemberERAS: General Surgery Work Group, Rush University Medical Center
  34. 2016 - 2018
    RepresentativeM1/M2 New Integrated Curriculum: Surgery, Rush Medical College
  35. 2016 - 2018
    MemberM4 Core Work Group, Rush Medical College
  36. 2016 - 2018
    MemberM3 Core Work Group, Rush Medical College
  37. 2015 - present
    MemberSociety of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Publications