Benjamin Kaffenberger, MD
Physician, Associate Professor
Dermatology
Make an appointment
614-293-1707Conditions and expertise
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Pyoderma Gangrenosum
- Skin Care
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
- Dermatomyositis
Locations
- Dermatology West
Academics and research
Department: Dermatology
About
- Gender
- Male
Biography
As a dermatologist at The Ohio State University, I specialize in hospital dermatology and work with individuals who have complex medical diseases, drug and allergic reactions, and autoimmune skin diseases. I am interested in diseases like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, drug and allergy hypersensitivity syndromes, pyoderma gangrenosum and ulcerating skin conditions, vasculitis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
I take the time to talk with my patients about their conditions. I help them to understand all aspects of their diagnosis, answer any questions they may have and help them find the most cost-effective treatment option possible.
I like the collegial and world-class atmosphere that Ohio State offers. I also enjoy the challenge of treating rare and difficult diseases.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, especially in the outdoors.
Highlights
- Rated in the top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
- Mikhail Novikov Faculty of the Year Award, Department of Family Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 2015
- Dermatology Foundation Career Development Award, 2018
- Named to Castle Connolly's Regional Top Doctors list
- My research interests include drug hypersensitivity syndromes, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, and conducting clinical trials to develop new therapeutics
Conditions and expertise
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
- Dermatomyositis
- Graft vs Host Disease
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Pyoderma Gangrenosum
- Skin Cancers
- Skin Care
- Skin Diseases
- Vasculitis
Locations
Please note: Not all physicians schedule patients at each listed location.
Credentials
Education
- Residency - Dermatology
- Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
7/1/2011 - 6/30/2014 - Internship - Internal Medicine
- Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
6/17/2010 - 6/30/2011 - Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
8/9/2006 - 6/13/2010
Certification
-
American Board of Dermatology
7/24/2014
Academics and research
In addition to my clinical work, I am a member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, where my research focuses on the early identification, description and treatment of novel cutaneous toxicities from targeted anticancer therapies. I am also interested in studying cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, teledermatology and automated assessments, and biobanking cancerous and noncancerous skin tissue.
Currently, my research focuses on outcomes of hospitalized skin disease, development of new instruments to measure skin disease severity and development of new therapeutic options for underserved skin diseases.
My work has been published in top peer-reviewed dermatology journals, and I am the dermatology representative to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for immune-related adverse events.
It is up to all of us, not only scientists and inventors, but the public to encourage, and insist upon investments in research and development for the betterment of everyone.
Research interests
- Fibrosis
- Graft vs Host Disease
- Lymphoma
- Lymphoma T Cell
- Lymphoproliferative Disorders
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Neoplasms
- Neurilemmoma
- Neurofibroma
Honors
- OSU Community Service Excellence Award, 2007
- OSUCOM Outstanding Academic Merit Scholarship, 2007-2010
- Mildred Horton Ansel Scholarship for Academic Achievement
- The Clinical Excellence Award Winner for the OSUCOM Class of 2010 for the highest clinical grades.
- OSUMC Dept. of Internal Medicine Intern Teaching Excellence Award, 2010-2011
- OSUMC Division of Dermatology Chief Resident, 2013-2014
- Outstanding Achievement in Patient Service 2014 for satisfaction greater than the 90th percentile nationally, 2013-2014
- 2015 Mikhail Novikov Faculty of the Year Award from OSUWMC Department of Family and Community Medicine
- Outstanding Achievement in Patient Service 2016 for patient satisfaction greater than the 90th percentile nationally, 2015-16
- Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing (top 10% of reviewers) JAAD, 2016
- Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing (top 10% of reviewers) JAAD Case Reports, 2016
- American Academy of Dermatology Academic Dermatology Leadership Program, 2017
- Outstanding Achievement in Patient Service 2017 for patient satisfaction greater than the 90th percentile nationally, 2016-17
Professional Activities
- Alpha Omega Alpha, Gold Humanism Honor Society
- Landacre Honor Society
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Ohio Dermatology Association
- Medical Dermatology Society
- Society of Dermatology Hospitalists
- Association of Professors of Dermatology
Book Chapters
- Kaffenberger, BH. Panniculitis. In: Dean S, Satiani B, eds. Color Atlas and Synopsis of Vascular Medicine, 1st ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011.
- McKinley G, Maher M, Gru AA, Kaffenberger, BH. Histopathology of cutaneous adverse reactions to oncologic therapeutics. In: Gru AA ed. Hematopathology of the skin, 1st ed. New York, NY: Springer Press 2015.
- Kaffenberger BH, Bechtel MA, Porcu PG. Chapter 2: Treatment of Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma. In: Magro CM, Crowson AN, Mihm MC eds. The Cutaneous Lymphoid Proliferations: A comprehensive textbook of lymphocytic infiltrates of the skin 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley Medical Press. 2016.
- Kaffenberger BH, Jaglowski S. Dermal and Subcutaneous chronic Graft-versus-Host disease. In: Cotliar J, ed. Atlas of Graft-versus-Host disease. New York, NY: Springer Medical 2017.
College and Graduate Level Course Instruction
- 11/2013-11/6: OSUCOM. Med 2 Host Defense Block: Inflammatory Skin Diseases Part 1 and Part 2.
- 03/2008 – 06/2008 Division of Anatomy, Ohio State University - 201 Anatomy for Science Majors TA
- 09/2007 - 09/2007 MEDPATH, Ohio State University - MCAT Facilitated Review Instructor
- 08/2007 - 11/2007 Division of Anatomy, Ohio State University Medical School Gross Anatomy TA
- 04/2007 - 07/2007 MEDPATH, Ohio State University 693 Immunology Course Instructor
Editorial Activities
- Biomed Central (BMC) Cancer – Associate Editor
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Case Reports – Editorial Board: Term 6/1/15-6/1/18
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology – Ad hoc Reviewer
- JAMA Dermatology – Ad hoc Reviewer
Funding
- 2013-14: National Psoriasis Foundation Fellowship. $40,000 in direct and indirect costs concurrent with residency. Mentor: Henry Wong MD, Ph.D., Marshall Williams Ph.D., and Maria Ariza Ph.D. Project: Biomarker development of human endogenous retrovirus K dUTPase as a marker of severity, treatment, and arthritis in psoriasis patients.
- 2015-16: American Acne and Rosacea Society, AARS. $10,000 in direct costs. Project: Acnes Recognition System (ARES): A low-cost, alternative acne image analysis and clinical trial scoring system. Role: PI.
- 2016-2018: Upper Limit Payment Advancement Awards, funded through Dept of Ohio Medicaid. $304,709 in direct costs. Project: Teledermatology: Improving Patient Access to Dermatology. Cultivate advanced delivery care models improving access, outcomes and lower costs for Medicaid patients. Role: PI. Effort 15%.
- 2017-2018: Strategic Pharma-Academic Research Collaboration Awards, Indiana University CTSA. $99,252, $119,102 in direct and indirect costs. Project: Gene Expression and Microbiome Profiling in Hidradenitis Suppurativa to Identify Immunological Biomarkers of Disease Activity. Role: Site Co-PI. Effort 5%.
- 2017-2018: National Rosacea Society, $25,000. Project: The use of digital image segmentation and analysis as a rosacea biomarker. Role: PI. Effort 10%.
- 2018-2021: Dermatology Foundation, $165,000. Project: Prospective Categorization and Outcomes Analysis of Cutaneous Drug Eruptions Medical Career Development Award. Role: PI. Effort 25%.
- 2018-2019: Patient Safety Advancement Grant, OSUWMC, $25,000. Project: The Effect of Histopathologic Analysis and Tissue Cultures on Inpatient Management of Cellulitis and Pseudocellulitis. Role: PI. Effort NA.
Local, Regional and National Committee Involvement
- Ohio State University Department of Internal Medicine Quality and Safety Committee: 12/14-6/17
- Ohio State University IHIS (Electronic Medical Record) Physician Steering Committee: 6/16-Present
- Patient Advocacy Committee for the American Academy of Dermatology 3/16-Present
- Ohio Dermatology Association, Young Physicians Committee, Co-Chair 11/17-Present
Academic information
- Department:
- Dermatology
- Division:
- Dermatology
More about my research
Ratings and reviews
The overall patient satisfaction rating is an average of all patient responses to the six doctor communication related questions shown below from the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. For additional information about the patient satisfaction survey, please visit our Patient Satisfaction Survey page.
The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their view and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
195 Patient Satisfaction Reviews
Patient Comments
Consulting and related relationships
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the University requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their University responsibilities.
As of 11/3/2025 Benjamin Kaffenberger has reported relationships with the companies or entities listed below. If you have questions about the relationships listed below, please ask the faculty member. If you have questions about how these relationships are monitored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, please contact our Compliance Office.
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Eli Lilly and Company
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
He listens to you. He is intelligent, thoughtful, respectful, knowledgeable and competent.
I feel Dr. Kaffenberger genuinely cares about his patients, and he was open to listen to what I had to say about my open wound.
Dr.Kaffenberger was friendly and gave clear explanations as he did biopsy. Discussed thoroughly possible treatments. He also offered reassurance to my spouse about my situation.
Ben is always professional and personal during my visit!
Dr. Kaffenberger is great! He takes time during screening and in answering my questions
No complaints at all.
Good
Punctual, kind, listened
He's the best
Very well informed, calm professional and caring
Skilled good experience
He is the best. He found out what was going on with me, when others could not.
Couldn't be any better
I think Dr. Kaffenberger is a rock star. He put me one the path to healing from the very first appointment I had with him. He knew exactly what was wrong with me and why. I had been getting the wrong treatment for 18 months prior and was in severe pain. I am almost completely healed now. It is worth traveling 2 1/2 hours to his office.
Always attentive and helpful
Dr. K is the best! Kind. Compassionate. Caring. Just an all-around great doctor.
Excellent care
Dr. Kaffenberger Is a fantastic physician!
Professional. Courteous. Knowledgeable.
Very nice doctor but couldn't really help me until my autoimmune diseases are under control. Hopefully my wound will heal then.