Host Dr. Fox sits down with Obstetrician/Gynecologist Dr. Samuel Bender. Dr. Bender is a Senior Physician at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates. Listen to learn more about Dr. Bender, including his thoughts on treating patients who he delivered, changes over time in maternal fetal medicine, and the Chicago Cubs.
Meet Dr. Sam Bender, an OBGYN and Senior Physician at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, where he has been working since its founding 15 years ago. Dr. Bender was born in California when his college-professor parents were teaching at UC Berkeley, but grew up primarily in South Bend, Indiana when they moved to Notre Dame. There, he became a Chicago Cubs fan, which he describes as “now a blessing, but most of my childhood more of a curse.”
Dr. Bender describes moving to Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates as a “terrifying” experience, primarily because it was so new in many ways. He explains that he and his colleagues had to “rediscover everything” and became the “new guys on the block,” which made them feel as though all eyes were on them. The model of combining OBGYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine practices was also unique at the time, as most private practices focused on only high risk or only low risk patients. Maternal Fetal Medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology, with extra training after residency. However, Dr. Bender explains that they find benefit in being a single practice where patients can receive whatever kind of care they need, and says the private practice is in many ways an easier and more efficient model. Through his career, he has enjoyed building relationships with patients, and talks about seeing obstetrics patients who he delivered years ago.
Dr. Bender studied science and liberal arts as an undergraduate, then took the MCAT exam and applied to medical school at an Indiana state school. He decided to defer acceptance in favor of working in a lab studying invitro fertilization, and ended up staying there for seven years. Once he decided to attend medical school, he moved to New York City to be with his now wife, and went to SUNY-Brooklyn. As a resident, Dr. Bender discovered that he enjoyed obstetrics and, in particular, high-risk obstetrics.
Dr. Bender and Dr. Fox also discuss the benefits as well as the stressors of working in obstetrics and gynecology. Unlike other physicians, they note, OBGYNs have to be available 24/7.
Dr. Samuel Bender is a board certified OBGYN as well as a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and has received several awards, including the Patients’ Choice Award, Compassionate Doctor Recognition, and Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award from Vitals.com.
