Jonathan D. Bender, MD, MS

As a pediatric oncologist, I specialize in caring for children, adolescents and young adults with cancer – specifically leukemias and lymphomas. Compared to younger children with cancer, teenagers and young adults with cancer have different needs. By completing dual training in internal medicine and pediatrics, I aim to be uniquely qualified to meet the needs of patients with cancer across the pediatric and young adult age spectrum.

After a family member was diagnosed with cancer, I knew from a young age that I wanted to become an oncologist. The field of pediatric oncology combines everything that I love most about medicine – forming long-term relationships with patients and their families, contributing to research to improve cancer outcomes, and working as part of a multidisciplinary team to make sure that each patient receives the very best care.

Having the opportunity to care for a patient and their family during their cancer journey is a privilege. With each patient, I aim to combine state-of-the-art care with compassion and ensure that patients and their families understand their immediate needs and the longer-term road ahead. As an educator at heart, I try to empower patients and their families by teaching them about their cancer and treatments at each visit.

At Cincinnati Children’s, we work as a team to ensure that all our patients and families receive the absolute best care, from cutting-edge cancer therapy and symptom management to psychosocial support and integrative care. We tailor therapy to each patient’s unique situation. We are fortunate to have access to a host of clinical trial opportunities at Cincinnati Children’s and are well-connected to other centers across the globe.

Although necessary for cure, many cancer therapies unfortunately can cause long-term effects on the body. My research focuses on the toxicities associated with newer therapies in children and young adults with cancer, with a special interest in the impact of cancer-related treatments on the heart. I’m also researching whether genetic testing can predict which patients are at the highest risk for developing toxicities associated with their therapies.

I'm honored to have received various honors and awards including:

• J. William Fulbright Research Award – France (2011-2012)
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Skill and Art of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School (2015)
• Dept. of Internal Medicine Senior Scholarship, Univ. of Michigan Medical School (2016)
• Chief Resident, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI (2019-2020)
• Department of Pediatrics, Carol G. Ragsdale Award, University of Michigan Medical School (2020)
• Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, David S. Rosen Award for Humanism, University of Michigan Medical School (2020)
• Chief Fellow, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children’s (2022- 2023)

In my free time, I love to cook. In exchange for my love of cooking (and eating), I also enjoy all types of physical activity, especially outdoor sports like kayaking and hiking.