Ashe Orthopedics physician Dr. Ronald Benfield enjoys getting to know each of his patients on a personal level.Picture of Ashe Orthopedics physician, Dr. Ronald Benfield wearing a mask while looking a female patient that is sitting on patient table bed

Dr. Ronald Benfield constructs relationships while helping patients find relief from orthopedic problems

Every patient has a story to tell.

All they need is someone to listen.

That's where Dr. Ronald Benfield comes in.

Whether it's a first-time patient recounting the pain they've been experiencing or a former patient sharing details of a successful tomato harvest, Dr. Benfield recognizes the importance of getting to know his patients on a personal level.

"I enjoy the town and the people are salt of the Earth," says Dr. Benfield. "I enjoy talking to my patients. You don't have the hustle and bustle of the city, so you can take the time to talk to your patients and get a little something out of it. This is a great community we live in."

As a physician for Ashe Orthopedics, Dr. Benfield treats a variety of ailments associated with the spine, shoulders, hands and knees, among others. The majority of the injuries that Dr. Benfield treats are non-surgical; however, in those instances where surgery is required, such as hip and total knee replacements, Dr. Benfield will formulate a game plan to create the best possible outcome for the patient.

"We've developed a network of specialists that we can refer patients to if they need additional help," says Dr. Benfield.

The son of a general contractor, Dr. Benfield can't remember a time when he didn't want to be a physician. He has always enjoyed helping people and ultimately chose orthopedics as a way to combine his passion for medicine and the mechanical skills he learned from his father growing up.

"It was the closest thing I could get to construction while still being in the medical field," says Dr. Benfield.

The New Bern native completed his undergraduate studies at Davidson College before earning his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1981.

Dr. Benfield went on to complete a yearlong surgical residency at Emory University in Atlanta before completing an orthopedic surgery residency at George Washington University Medical Center.

"I was smart enough to enjoy the work that it took to get here," says Dr. Benfield. "You have to work hard to be your best and understand what you're going to need to know to help people."

In 1986, Dr. Benfield opened his own orthopedic practice in Statesville where he worked for 28 years. He then went on to practice orthopedics in Virginia and South Carolina before joining Ashe Orthopedics in 2017.

Today, Dr. Benfield treats every day as an opportunity to provide the best possible care while trying to learn something about his patients that he might not have known when they first walked through the door.

The ability to restore function mechanically while connecting with patients on a personal level is what makes orthopedics more than just a profession for Dr. Benfield. Orthopedics is also his hobby and something he genuinely loves to do.

"I enjoy when I make a diagnosis on a very complex case that others have missed," says Dr. Benfield. "That comes from doing this for 35 years. Diagnostic is a challenge, but watching people smile after they get better is nice."

"People in orthopedics are different," adds Dr. Benfield. "They are not real sick, so they can communicate with you."

If he wasn't involved in orthopedics, Dr. Benfield would most likely be building houses, working as a mechanic or helping run Conner Media Corporation, his family's radio broadcast business.

For now, Dr. Benfield is content constructing relationships while helping his patients find relief from orthopedic problems. And when he's not busy working, the West Jefferson resident enjoys spending time with his wife, Pam, seven children, two of which are studying medicine, and six grandchildren.