L. Scott Benson

L. Scott Benson, MD, PhD, MPH

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Academic Information

Divisions: Public Health

Research Interests

  • Global Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Infectious Disease

Scott Benson, MD, PhD, MPH is a Professor in the Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. His interest in global health was fostered by his time living in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and seeing the impact that environmental health has on human health. This interest in the overlap between Public Health and the environment prompted him into medicine. He completed medical school, an internship/residency in Internal Medicine as well as a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. Since completing his training, he has conducted and continues to participate in research in Ghana, Peru, Pakistan and India. He joined the Divisions of Public Health to focus on Global Health where he teaches, continues to work abroad, consult with infectious disease patients and returning travelers. Outside of the clinic, he continues to work on Global Health Security issues such as antimicrobial resistance, emerging and novel pathogen detection and response and health systems capacity building.

Dr. Benson earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, emphasis in Environmental Engineering from Utah State University, MD at the University of Utah, MPH in Health Behavior & Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts in Public Health; Minor: Hispanic Studies at the College of William & Mary. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah.

Education History

Fellowship University of Utah
 Fellow
Residency University of Utah
 Resident
Professional Medical University of Utah
 MD
Doctoral Training Utah State University
 PhD
Graduate Training University of Utah
 MPH
Undergraduate Brigham Young University
 BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Warren E, VanDerslice J, Benson LS, Brazelton WJ, Tanner W, Lyons AK, Whitehill F, Coulliette-Salmond A, Fusco S, Weidhaas J (2026). Evaluation of Detection Methods for Wastewater Surveillance of Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria from Healthcare Facilities. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(13).
  2. Henrie AJ, Atobiloye M, Radmall B, Sorensen QN, Yanagihara A, Ansong D, Sarpong E, Benson LS, Dickerson T (2026). Family planning in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District: A follow-up on attitudes and practices. J Public Health Afr, 17(1), 1285.
  3. Coulliette-Salmond A, Whitehill F, Lyons AK, Abera B, Adler C, Walters MS, Medrzycki M, Ganim C, Campbell M, Lin MY, Poretsky RS, Horton A, Weidhaas J, VanDerslice J, Benson LS, Driver EM, Halden RU, Hamilton KA, Williams M (2025). Healthcare wastewater surveillance: methodological considerations for sampling, feasibility, and implementation. J Water Health, 24(1), 50-64.
  4. Tajammul A, Benson LS, Ahmed J, VanDerslice J, Tanner WD (2025). Detection of Salmonella Typhi and blaCTX-M genes in drinking water, wastewater, and environmental biofilms in Sindh Province, Pakistan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 19(4), e0012963.
  5. Aguzzi A, Frost CJ, Singh T, Benson LS, Gren LH (2024). Exploring the preferences of traditional versus Western medicine in the Spiti Valley region of India: A qualitative approach. Dialogues Health, 5, 100185.
  6. Palmer T, Benson LS, Porucznik C, Gren LH (2022). Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing Mandates on Gastrointestinal Pathogen Positivity: Secondary Data Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill, 8(8), e34757.
  7. Fernandez V, Ahmed SM, Graves MC, Pender MA, Shoemaker H, Birich H, Pupaibool J, Benson LS, Leung DT (2022). Incidence Rate and Risk Factors Associated with Travelers' Diarrhea in International Travelers Departing from Utah, USA. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 107(4), 898-903.
  8. Apanga PA, Ahmed J, Tanner W, Starcevich K, VanDerslice JA, Rehman U, Channa N, Benson LS, Garn JV (2022). Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in sink drains of 40 healthcare facilities in Sindh, Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 17(2), e0263297.
  9. Keating EM, Robison JA, Chiume M, Taddie M, VanDerslice JA, Benson LS, Fitzgerald E, Crouse HL, Eckerle MD, Ciccone EJ, Porucznik CA (2022). Relationship between distance of referring facilities and haemoglobin change in children in Malawi. Paediatr Int Child Health, 41(4), 253-261.
  10. Pupaibool J, Walaliyadda H, Tasevac B, Brintz BJ, Park IK, Graves M, Benson LS, Hale P, Powell J, Leung DT (2021). Travel-Related Behaviors and Health Outcomes of Adolescents Compared with Adults on Short-Term International Service Missions. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 106(1), 345-350.
  11. Okyere B, Owusu-Ofori A, Ansong D, Buxton R, Benson LS, Osei-Akoto A, Owiredu EW, Adjei C, Xorse Amuzu E, Marfo Boaheng J, Dickerson T (2020). Point prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and the comparison of microscopy, rapid diagnostic test and nested PCR for the diagnosis of asymptomatic malaria among children under 5 years in Ghana. PLoS One, 15(7), e0232874.
  12. Qeadan F, Honda T, Gren LH, Dailey-Provost J, Benson LS, VanDerslice JA, Porucznik CA, Waters AB, Lacey S, Shoaf K (2020). Naive Forecast for COVID-19 in Utah Based on the South Korea and Italy Models-the Fluctuation between Two Extremes. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(8).
  13. Gren LH, Jaggi R, Frost CJ, Benson LS (12/07/2018). Ethics of Managing Unintended Consequences in Global Health Research: A Case Study. African Journal of Current Medical Research, 2(2).
  14. Stewart M, Grahmann B, Fillmore A, Benson LS (2017). Rural Community Disaster Preparedness and Risk Perception in Trujillo, Peru. Prehosp Disaster Med, 32(4), 387-392.
  15. Stevens AM, Esposito DH, Stoney RJ, Benson LS, Maclean JD (2017). Clostridium difficile infection in returning travellers. J Travel Med, 2017 May 1(24), 3.
  16. Tanner WD, Atkinson RM, Goel RK, Toleman MA, Benson LS, Porucznik CA, VanDerslice JA (2017). Horizontal transfer of the blaNDM-1 gene to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in biofilms. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 364(8).
  17. Harris M, Birdsall A, Benson LS, Dickerson TT (2017). The Perception and Management of Acute and Chronic Pain in Rural Ghana. Ann Glob Health, 83(1), 59-70.
  18. Gren LH, Jaggi R, Landward R, Benson LS, Frost CJ (2016). A Community Health Coach-Delivered Mental Wellness Intervention: Using Mind-Body Bridging to Reduce Health Disparities in Diverse Communities . Pedagogy Health Promot, 3(3), 167-176.
  19. Jaziri M, Lyman ME, Benson LS, Dickerson TT (2016). The prevalence and correlates of hypertension among rural Ghanaian adults. Ann Glob Health, 82(3), 426-27.
  20. Green JA, Leiser C, Stewart M, Benson LS (2016). Water quality analysis of a nontraditional distribution system in Trujillo, Peru. Ann Glob Health, 82(3), 443-444.
  21. Zappas K, Fishler A, Benson LS (2016). Contraception use in communities surrounding Trujillo, Peru. Ann Glob Health, 82(3), 573.
  22. Tanner WD, VanDerslice JA, Toor D, Benson LS, Porucznik CA, Goel RK, Atkinson RM (2015). Development and field evaluation of a method for detecting carbapenem-resistant bacteria in drinking water. Syst Appl Microbiol, 38(5), 351-7.
  23. Benson LS, Frost CJ, Gren LH, Jaggi R (2015). Assessing Geospatial Barriers in Refugee Resettlement Communities: A Descriptive Exploration about How to Identify the Health and Other Resource Needs of Recently Resettled Refugee Women. Womens Health Issues, 1(1), 1-7.
  24. Klc TR, Ames S, Ansong D, Benson LS, Dickerson TT (2015). Cultural norms, knowledge and attitudes regarding abortion in rural Ghana. Ann Glob Health, 81(1), 224-225.
  25. Ansong D, Tawfik D, Williams EA, Benson LS, Nyanor I, Boakye I, Obirikorang C, Sallah L, Arhin B, Boaheng JM, Amuzu E, Asibey O, Dickerson T (Fall 2014). Suboptimal vaccination rates in rural Ghana despite positive caregiver attitudes towards vaccination. J Vaccines Immun, 10(14312), 7-15.
  26. Williams EA, Ansong D, Alder S, Benson LS, Campbell SJ, MacDonald K, Miya TR, Boakye I, Boaheng JM, Amuzu EaX, Owusu OA, Nyanor I, Arhin B, Dickerson TT (Spring 2014). Silent Crisis: Epidemic Hypertension in Rural West Africa. J Hypertens (Los Angel), 2014(3:3).
  27. Manortey S, Alder S, Crookston B, Dickerson T, VanDerslice J, Benson LS (Spring 2014). Social deterministic factors to participation in the National Health Insurance Scheme in the context of rural Ghanaian setting. J Public Health Afr, 5(1), 51-56.
  28. Manortey S, VanDerslice J, Alder S, Henry KA, Crookston B, Dickerson T, Benson LS (Spring 2014). Spatial analysis of factors associated with household subscription to the National Health Insurance Scheme in rural Ghana. J Public Health Afr, 5(1), 1-8.
  29. Williams EA, Keenan KE, Ansong D, Simpson LM, Boakye I, Boaheng JM, Awuah D, Nkyi CA, Nyannor I, Arhin B, Alder S, Benson LS, Dickerson TT (2013). The burden and correlates of hypertension in rural Ghana: a cross-sectional study. Diabetes Metab Syndr, 7(3), 123-8.
  30. Arnold M, VanDerslice JA, Taylor B, Benson LS, Allen S, Johnson M, Keifer J Boakye I, Arhinn B, Crockston BT, Ansong D (Spring 2013). Drinking water quality and source reliability in rural Ashanti region, Ghana. J Water Health, 11(1), 161-72.

Review

  1. Nelson JR, Ess RH, Dickerson TT, Gren LH, Benson LS, Manortey SO, Alder SC (2022). Strategies to increase rural maternal utilization of skilled health personnel for childbirth delivery in low- and middle-income countries: a narrative review. [Review]. Glob Health Action, 15(1), 2058170.
  2. Frost CJ, Morgan NJ, Allkhenfr H, Dearden S, Ess R, Albalawi WF, Berri A, Benson LS, Gren LH (2018). Determining Physical and Mental Health Conditions Present in Older Adult Refugees: A Mini-Review. [Review]. Gerontology, 65(3), 209-215.

Book

  1. Frost CJ, Carlson M, Benson LS, Gren LH (2023). Global Research Ethics: Case Studies from International Research Contexts. United Kingdom: Routledge.

Abstract

  1. Benson LS, Goulston C, Schlaberg R (2010). Co-Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and HIV: Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Considerations [Abstract].