Benjamin Kelley, MD

Benjamin Kelley, MD, is the Director of Mohs Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at Scripps Clinic and a dermatologist, dermatopathologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon. He is among a select group of physicians in the United States fellowship-trained in both Mohs surgery and dermatopathology — a rare combination that offers exceptional expertise in diagnosing and treating melanoma, rare cutaneous tumors and complex skin cancers. 

At Scripps Clinic, Dr. Kelley leads a high-volume cutaneous oncology practice that receives thousands of skin cancer referrals per year as well as over 400 melanoma referrals per year. His dual training allows him to personally interpret tissue during Mohs surgery using advanced immunohistochemical techniques — including SOX10, MART-1, PRAME, and a wide array of special stains for keratinocyte carcinomas — to achieve precise margin control and optimal outcomes for even the most challenging cases.

A dedicated educator and researcher, Dr. Kelley serves as Associate Director of the ACGME-accredited Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology fellowship at Scripps founded by Hubert Greenway, MD. Dr. Kelley has helped train 21 fellows to date, and volunteers as a lecturer for dermatology residents at Loma Linda University. He is the co-director of two long-standing, nationally acclaimed meetings — the Annual Cutaneous Malignancy Update and the Hugh Greenway Superficial Anatomy and Cutaneous Surgery course — and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from melanoma to rare adnexal carcinomas.

Dr. Kelley is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Mohs Surgery and the American Society of Dermatopathology. He served on numerous leadership committees both at Scripps and on the national level with the American College of Mohs Surgery. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Dermatologists list.

When Dr. Kelley is not working, he enjoys surfing and spending time with his wife and four children.