She is also the director of the palliative care track of the Chronic Care Clerkship for 4th year medical students at UWSOM. Dr. Bender earned a bachelor's degree from Hanover College and her M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine. She is board certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. Dr. Bender's clinical interests include pain and symptom management. Dr. Bender especially likes to find out what is important to patients and their families and help determine how to incorporate this into their medical care.