Benyam Z. Kinde, MD, PhD

Bio

Dr. Kinde is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist and ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Stanford Health Care Byers Eye Institute. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Kinde completed the American Society of Ophthalmic and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship in ophthalmic plastic surgery through the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.

Dr. Kinde diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions related to the eyelid and other eye structures, including facial nerve palsy, skin cancer, and thyroid eye disease. He also provides care for patients who wish to enhance their appearance through surgical and nonsurgical interventions. Dr. Kinde offers many types of treatments, including cosmetic surgery, eyelid surgery (including upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty and ptosis surgery), reconstructive surgery, tear duct (lacrimal) surgery, and orbital surgery.

Dr. Kinde is a physician-scientist whose research interests focus on developing new tools to promote survival of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury. He has investigated how modulating the DNA damage response in mouse models of traumatic optic neuropathy (symptoms of nerve damage) may promote and improve optic nerve function after injury. His previous work focused on increasing the resilience of neurons (messaging nerve cells) in mouse models of glaucoma and in humans with glaucoma. He completed his MD and PhD in neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, where his thesis work revealed a new understanding of Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects body movement.

Dr. Kinde has published in many peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Ophthalmology, and Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. He has presented to his peers at international and national meetings, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Inter-American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology.

Clinical Focus

• Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Academic Appointments

• Assistant Professor - University Medical Line, Ophthalmology

Professional Education

• Fellowship: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (2024) FL
• Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology (2023)
• Residency: UCSF Ophthalmology Residency (2022) CA
• Internship: UCSF General Surgery Residency (2019) CA
• Medical Education: Harvard Medical School (2018) MA