Brad Bender is an accomplished pediatric healthcare administrator with deep expertise in operations, finance, strategic planning, and program development. He currently serves as the Clinical Department Administrator for Pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern.
Brad’s career spans some of the most respected children’s health institutions in the country. Prior to joining UT Southwestern, he served as a Senior Director at Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he provided administrative leadership across multiple medical specialty and primary care divisions. Earlier roles include Pediatrics Department Administrator at Rush University Children’s Hospital, Administrative Director for NICU Service Line Development at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and Clinical Section Administrator at Comer Children’s Hospital.
Throughout his career, Brad has built a strong track record of driving operational excellence and sustainable program growth within complex pediatric healthcare environments. His proven ability to drive operational excellence and facilitate cross-functional collaboration make him a valuable leader in healthcare administration.
Brad holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in healthcare administration and brings over two decades of leadership and management experience. His dedication to professional development is further demonstrated by his membership in AAAP since 2017, where he recently contributed as part of the Program Planning Committee and site host team for the 2024 national meeting in Chicago. Brad is actively involved with CHA, MGMA, and ACHE, and has served on Truman State University’s Health Education Advisory Board since 2013.
