The first thing William wanted was someone to listen. After years suffering with debilitating spinal issues, he felt exhausted, hopeless, and ignored. Then he met with Double-Board-Certified Neurosurgeon Dr. Jean Louis Benae. “Dr. Benae listened to me completely, discussed my concerns and symptoms, and really seemed to care,” William said. “He explained my condition and the treatment he recommended. He and his staff treated me like I was the only patient they’d see that day.”
The internet is filled with such glowing reviews all singing the praises of the founding physician at North Texas Brain & Spine Specialists and his seasoned team of caregivers. With more than 10 years of neurosurgical experience, Dr. Benae runs his practice with a simple four-word philosophy: Do the right thing. That principle is at the heart of everything they do.
Patients come to them from all over Texas — and even other states — with complex spine and brain disorders and injuries such as herniated disc in their lower back, peripheral neuropathy, complex brain infections, and other life-altering conditions. Many, like William, have been suffering for years. Because Dr. Benae begins with the simple knowledge that every patient is uniquely different and deserves the least invasive non-surgical or surgical treatment option, care is customized specifically to them.
Meet Dr. Benae
Jean Louis Benae’s journey to North Texas was a winding yet highly decorated one. Born in Cameroon and raised in Paris, France, he made his way to the United States at age 20 to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he pursued a degree in physiological sciences and graduated with honors. He continued his education at the David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine and obtained his Doctorate in Medicine. Throughout his extensive training and career, Dr. Benae accrued remarkable versatility with complex spine and minimally invasive spine surgery.
Dr. Benae is double board certified and a member of various distinguished national and international neurosurgical societies, such as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, and AO Spine. He’s a popular speaker at major multinational corporations headquartered in Texas, speaking on his unique multi-specialty approach to care and preventive measures that can be taken in the workplace to improve brain and spine health. He also mentors young, up-and-coming neurosurgeons in medical schools around the U.S.
Welcome Carlissa Wells
Carlissa Wells, PA-C is our Neurosurgery Physician Assistant (Associate) at North Texas Brain & Spine Specialists. Carlissa is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelors in Biological Sciences and a minor in Sociology. She then obtained her Masters of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Carlissa loves to spend time with her family and travel in her free time, amongst other hobbies. She has a genuine passion for her patients and strives to provide them with the best care and attention at every interaction.
Comprehensive Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment Options
Surgery is often the best path forward for Dr. Benae’s patient — but not always. “The foundation of my practice has always been to look for and find the origin of the patient’s problem,” Dr. Benae said. “There are often many treatments we can try to find relief before we resort to surgery. When surgery is the best option, robotic surgery and microsurgical techniques — among others — allows me to operate with a minimum of cutting, less bleeding, less trauma to the body, less risk of infection, and much shorter recovery times. It also makes surgery more precise for greatly improved outcomes for all kinds of surgery. Being able to provide the least invasive option means patients recover faster and better.”
The Latest Advanced Technology
North Texas Brain & Spine Specialists utilizes the most up-to-date technological advances in the field of neurosurgery. This ranges from the latest Konica Minolta digital X-Ray system in the clinic to the latest advances in AI guided spine navigation in the operating room. Dr. Benae also utilizes a highly specialized neurosurgical operating microscope on all his surgeries. This adds an incredible layer of precision during these surgical procedures and allows Dr. Benae to really hone in with his minimally invasive surgical skills and limit damage of surrounding tissue.
“Pain is scary and debilitating and can come from different sources,” Dr. Benae said. “I partner with my patients to investigate and find the source of that pain.” Because of this forward-thinking mindset, Dr. Benae can make decisions about a plan of action that won’t simply mask his patient’s symptoms but address the root cause and correct the problem. Since minimally invasive spine surgery doesn’t require the long incisions associated with traditional, open surgery, the muscles surrounding the spine don’t suffer extensive tissue damage. Minimally invasive techniques have been used for decades, and the results are typically faster recovery times and a substantially reduced amount of pain and scarring.
Paying it Forward
Dr. Benae has long been a leader in give-back programs beyond the walls of his practice aimed at providing free surgical and medical procedures for economically disadvantaged communities near and
far. At the forefront is the Brain Project Africa Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded in 2016 to empower Africa’s healthcare system. Dr. Benae and his team routinely spend weeks at a time in Africa treating patients with a variety of services such as dental surgery, complex brain and spine surgery, general surgery, and more.
According to Dr. Benae, the Brain Project has donated large quantities of medical equipment and supplies gathered from the kind donations of many of the hospitals in North Texas. And when he’s not treating patients, he’s providing hands-on mentorship opportunities to young leaders in the African medical community. For more information, please visit BrainProject.co to learn more and contribute.
If you’re looking for relief from neck or back pain, turn to Dr. Benae and the experts at North Texas Brain & Spine Specialists. Call their office in McKinney at 469-908-2340 or contact them online at DrBenae.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.
“When a patient comes to me with a spine or neuro problem, they’re already experiencing a lot of stress. It’s fundamental they know they’ll be given the time to understand what’s going on, that I answer all their questions, and that their care is all about what’s best for them.”
