Alumni Board Director Spotlight: Ben Abelson, MD

For Ben Abelson, MD (CCLCM’14, U’20), Cleveland Clinic has always been part of the family. Inspired by his parents — Tom Abelson, MD (OTO'81) and Abby Abelson, MD (Staff'02) — he followed their path into medicine, graduating from Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and completing his urology residency at Cleveland Clinic before pursuing a fellowship in pediatric urology.

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Today, as a pediatric urologist at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Abelson finds fulfillment in connecting with his youngest patients and their families. He also helps train the next generation of physicians through academic partnerships with Mayo Clinic Arizona, Creighton University and the University of Arizona.

Here, Dr. Abelson reflects on his path to medicine, memorable moments at Cleveland Clinic and the importance of making time for family.

Q. What led you to a career in medicine?

A. I grew up watching my parents thrive in their roles as physicians. I remember hearing them on the phone with patients and listening to stories about their work. Seeing how much they enjoyed what they did motivated me to follow a similar path. My mom, a rheumatologist, helped me find chicken legs at a market so we could take them into my elementary school class to demonstrate joint movement. My dad, an ear nose and throat doctor, and I made an unusual show-and-tell video of my vocal cords!

I graduated from Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in 2014 and stayed at Cleveland Clinic for my urology residency. In 2020, I left for a fellowship in pediatric urology at Vanderbilt University.

Today, I’m a pediatric urologist at Phoenix Children’s I am incredibly lucky to have struck gold in my first job out of training—I am surrounded by supportive colleagues, grateful and complex patients, and engaged students and trainees.

Q. What is most gratifying to you in your current role?

A. Connecting with patients. Today, I sat on a mat in my office and played catch with a bouncy ball with a 5-year-old who has spina bifida. I get to do that while I’m working!

It can be daunting to walk into a room full of parents, grandparents and children and figure out how to connect with everyone. But our job is to put the patient first, whether that’s a newborn or an 18-year-old. Creating those connections is an incredibly gratifying challenge.

Sometimes we take for granted the tremendous trust families place in us when they pass their babies into our arms for surgery. I try to remind myself of that responsibility every day.

Q. What is one of your favorite Cleveland Clinic memories?

A. My favorite Cleveland Clinic memory in 2016 when I was on call during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Championship. I remember poking my head into patients’ rooms throughout the evening, eager to catch a few minutes of the game on their little TVs. I watched the end of the game in the House Staff lounge outside the cafeteria with other residents and medical students. The entire city of Cleveland felt unified that night. The rest of the evening was a blur, and every patient I saw was on a championship high.

I also have wonderful memories of my wife and kids coming to visit during a short break in my schedule. The kids would don their scrubs and run down the skyway to say hi.

Q. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

A. Outside of work, I’m primarily a father and spouse, our weekends filled with swim meets, soccer tournaments, music practice, homework and walks or bike rides along the canal system that snakes through Phoenix.

I had children early in my training. Two were born while I was in medical school. For much of their early childhood, I was gone well before they woke up, so I got into the habit of leaving little Post-it notes with brief messages on the kitchen table. That experience taught me the importance of being present when I’m home, especially when time together can be limited.

Q. What advice would you share with fellow alumni?

A. For anyone in medicine who has a family, work hard to be present when you’re home. Our time with family can be limited by the demands of our profession, so it’s important to make the most of the time we have together.