Dr. Bender completed his undergraduate study at Cornell University, graduating with honors in 2004. Prior to enrolling in medical school, he served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Habitat for Humanity - New York City, building affordable housing in Manhattan and Queens. He graduated from the University Of Rochester School Of Medicine and Dentistry in 2011, with a distinction in community service tied to community impact volunteering he completed while in medical school. Dr. Bender completed residency training in Internal Medicine at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2014, with additional fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2017. Dr. Bender is also focused on patient-centered research, exploring the role of the anti-inflammatory protein annexin A2 in human sepsis. Dr. Bender’s lab has observed key cellular mechanisms modulating protein expression and correlated findings with clinical outcomes, including increased inflammatory signaling and sepsis severity. This work was awarded the 2016 Ralph L. Nachman Fellow's Prize in Research and a training grant from the Stony-Wold Herbert Foundation.