William Steven Benko, M.D.
Director, UC Davis Leukodystrophy Clinic
Professor, Division of Pediatric Neurology
To see if William Steven Benko is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Specialties
Neurodegenerative Conditions
Epilepsy
Pediatric Neurology
Locations and Contact
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Benko utilizes a very personal approach, allowing the child, when appropriate, to help guide the treatment plan allowing the best outcome. If they have any questions, he will be happy to answer them. To help ease any anxiety of visits, no "shots" will be given. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Benko has transitioned a vast amount of patient care to video visits (via various platforms) to minimize travel and risk of virus exposure.
Clinical Interests
William S. Benko is a Professor of Neurology and the Director of the Leukodystrophy Clinic in the Division of Pediatric Neurology within the Department of Neurology. Though he see pediatric patients from birth up until adulthood with conditions related to Developmental Delays, Seizures and Epilepsy, Tic disorders, Headaches and Migraines, he does hold special interest in the rapidly expanding knowledge and management of Neurogenetics, with an emphasis on Leukodystrophies.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Benko is active in several projects in academic medicine. In addition to teaching residents and fellows, he is the site director for the Child Neurology Rotation for the Child Psychiatry Fellowship Program at UC Davis.
He also actively collaborates with other Leukodystrophy centers around the country in research projects.
He is passionate about medical education and has been very active and proactive in using several platforms of Tele-Neurology especially in the time of COVID-19 pandemic for both patient care and medical education of fellows, residents and medical students.
Division
Pediatric Neurology
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.A., University of Rochester, Rochester NY 1993
Medical School
M.D., Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary 1999
Internship
Pediatrics, Atlantic Health System/Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown NJ 2000-2001
Residency
Pediatrics, Atlantic Health System/Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown NJ 2001-2002
Fellowship
Pediatric Neurology, Children's National Medical Center - George Washington University, Washington DC 2002-2005
Fellowship
Developmental and Metabolic Neurology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 2005-2007
Outstanding Junior Member Award, Child Neurology Society 2004, 2005
Top Scholar Award, Ortho McNeil, 2003
To view a detailed list of Dr. Benko's publications, please click here.
Pelletier F, Perrier S, Cayami FK, Mirchi A, Saikali S, Tran LT, Ulrick N, Guerrero K, Rampakakis E, van Spaendonk RML, Naidu S, Pohl D, Gibson WT, Demos M, Goizet C, Tejera-Martin I, Potic A, Fogel BL, Brais B, Sylvain M, Sebire G, Lourenço CM, Bonkowsky JL, Catsman-Berrevoets C, Pinto PS, Tirupathi S, Strømme P, de Grauw T, Gieruszczak-Bialek D, Krägeloh-Mann I, Mierzewska H, Philippi H, Rankin J, Atik T, Banwell B, Benko WS, Blaschek A, Bley A, Boltshauser E, Bratkovic D, Brozova K, Cimas I, Clough C, Corenblum B, Dinopoulos A, Dolan G, Faletra F, Fernandez R, Fletcher J, Garcia Garcia ME, Gasparini P, Gburek-Augustat J, Gonzalez Moron D, Hamati A, Harting I, Hertzberg C, Hill A, Hobson GM, Innes AM, Kauffman M, Kirwin SM, Kluger G, Kolditz P, Kotzaeridou U, La Piana R, Liston E, McClintock W, McEntagart M, McKenzie F, Melançon S, Misbahuddin A, Suri M, Monton FI, Moutton S, Murphy RPJ, Nickel M, Onay H, Orcesi S, Özkınay F, Patzer S, Pedro H, Pekic S, Pineda Marfa M, Pizzino A, Plecko B, Poll-The BT, Popovic V, Rating D, Rioux MF, Rodriguez Espinosa N, Ronan A, Ostergaard JR, Rossignol E, Sanchez-Carpintero R, Schossig A, Senbil N, Sønderberg Roos LK, Stevens CA, Synofzik M, Sztriha L, Tibussek D, Timmann D, Tonduti D, van de Warrenburg BP, Vázquez-López M, Venkateswaran S, Wasling P, Wassmer E, Webster RI, Wiegand G, Yoon G, Rotteveel J, Schiffmann R, van der Knaap M, Vanderver A, Martos-Moreno GÁ, Polychronakos C, Wolf NI, Bernard G. Endocrine and Growth Abnormalities in 4H Leukodystrophy Caused by Variants in POLR3A, POLR3B, and POLR1C. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Oct 1:dgaa700. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa700. Epub ahead of print. PMID:33005949.
Dayal P, Chang CH, Benko WS, Ulmer AM, Crossen SS, Pollock BH, Hoch JS, Kissee JL, Warner L, Marcin JP. Appointment completion in pediatric neurology telemedicine clinics serving underserved patients. Neurol Clin Pract. 2019 Aug;9(4):314-321. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000649. PMID:31583186.
Dayal P, Chang CH, Benko WS, Pollock BH, Crossen SS, Kissee J, Ulmer AM, Hoch JS, Warner L, Marcin JP. Hospital Utilization Among Rural Children Served by Pediatric Neurology Telemedicine Clinics. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Aug 2;2(8):e199364. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.9364. PMID:31418803.
Jany PL, Agosta GE, Benko WS, Eickhoff JC, Keller SR, Köehler W, Koeller D, Mar S, Naidu S, Marie Ness J, Pareyson D, Renaud DL, Salsano E, Schiffmann R, Simon J, Vanderver A, Eichler F, van der Knaap MS, Messing A. CSF and Blood Levels of GFAP in Alexander Disease. eNeuro. 2015 Oct 1;2(5):ENEURO.0080-15.2015. doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0080-15.2015. PMID:26478912.
Gutierrez M, Thiffault I, Guerrero K, Martos-Moreno GÁ, Tran LT, Benko W, van der Knaap MS, van Spaendonk RM, Wolf NI, Bernard G. Large exonic deletions in POLR3B gene cause POLR3-related leukodystrophy. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2015 Jun 5;10:69. doi:10.1186/s13023-015-0279-9. PMID:26045207.
Wolf NI, Vanderver A, van Spaendonk RM, Schiffmann R, Brais B, Bugiani M, Sistermans E, Catsman-Berrevoets C, Kros JM, Pinto PS, Pohl D, Tirupathi S, Strømme P, de Grauw T, Fribourg S, Demos M, Pizzino A, Naidu S, Guerrero K, van der Knaap MS, Bernard G; 4H Research Group. Clinical spectrum of 4H leukodystrophy caused by POLR3A and POLR3B mutations. Neurology. 2014 Nov 18;83(21):1898-905. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000001002. Epub 2014 Oct 22. PMID:25339210.
Benko W, Ries M, Wiggs EA, Brady RO, Schiffmann R, Fitzgibbon EJ. The saccadic and neurological deficits in type 3 Gaucher disease. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e22410. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022410. Epub 2011 Jul 20. PMID:21799847.
Mochel F, Yang B, Barritault J, Thompson JN, Engelke UF, McNeill NH, Benko WS, Kaneski CR, Adams DR, Tsokos M, Abu-Asab M, Huizing M, Seguin F, Wevers RA, Ding J, Verheijen FW, Schiffmann R. Free sialic acid storage disease without sialuria. Ann Neurol. 2009 Jun;65(6):753-7. doi:10.1002/ana.21624. PMID:19557856.
Schiffmann R, Fitzgibbon EJ, Harris C, DeVile C, Davies EH, Abel L, van Schaik IN, Benko W, Timmons M, Ries M, Vellodi A. Randomized, controlled trial of miglustat in Gaucher's disease type 3. Ann Neurol. 2008 Nov;64(5):514-22. doi:10.1002/ana.21491. PMID:19067373.
Goker-Alpan O, Wiggs EA, Eblan MJ, Benko W, Ziegler SG, Sidransky E, Schiffmann R. Cognitive outcome in treated patients with chronic neuronopathic Gaucher disease. J Pediatr. 2008 Jul;153(1):89-94. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.12.023. Epub 2008 Feb 14. PMID:18571543.