Past President, Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce
Committee: Governance
Member Organization: Weil Foot and Ankle Institute
Contact Mary Ann by email: mbender@weil4feet.com
Bio:
Dr. Mary Ann Bender is a podiatrist with Weil Foot and Ankle Institute at Rush Oak Park. She treats all conditions of the foot and ankle. Her office has convenient, free parking and in-office x-rays, MRI, and physical therapy. Dr. Bender has convenient day and evening hours.
While training as a figure skater for 19 years, Dr. Bender became interested in podiatry, and because this sport is particularly hard on the feet, Dr. Bender has had three surgeries on her feet as a result of the years she spent in figure skates. She truly understands foot pain, trying different treatment options, and recovery times, and this allows her to relate to and understand the needs of her patients.
Dr. Bender has a vast work experience in her field. She worked for JB Jenkins and Associates, a large podiatry group practice on the far South Side of Chicago for 13 years. Additionally, she served as a clinical instructor with Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University for 9 years where she worked with podiatry students to provide foot care to uninsured and homeless patients throughout Cook County. Shortly after the birth of her first daughter in 2008, Dr. Bender decided to open a podiatry practice of her own in her community of Oak Park. She operated her solo podiatry practice for 11 years prior to joining Weil Foot and Ankle Institute. Her practice was awarded the Best Customer Service Spotlight Award by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce in 2016.
Being active in her community and profession is important to Dr. Bender. She is the current President of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the Chamber’s Annual Health and Wellness Fair three times and Economic Luncheon once. In 2016, Dr. Bender received the Ambassador of the Year Award from the OPRF Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Bender is a member of the Rotary Club of Oak Park and River Forest, American Podiatric Medical Association, Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, and American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and she is a former board member of the Horace Mann School PTO, North Avenue Business District, and her local Rotary Club.
Dr. Bender lives with her husband and two young daughters in Oak Park and enjoys traveling, reading, watching her children’s games and practices, and exercising in her free time.
