He eventually succeeded Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902) as prosector of the hospital, the post which he held until his death in 1852, at the age of 32 from tuberculosis of the lung.Benno Reinhardt specialized in the field of pathological anatomy.
In 1847 with Rudolf Virchow, he founded the Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie, und für klinische Medizin (Archives for Pathological Anatomy & Physiology & Clinical Medicine), which was later shortened to Virchows Archiv.
After Reinhardt's death, his studies on pathological anatomy were compiled and edited by Rudolf Leubuscher (1822–1861).