Heidi Bender

Biography

My name is Dr. Heidi Bender, and I am a family nurse practitioner. I have worked in pulmonary and critical care medicine since 2007. I have been a nurse since 1997 and was a staff nurse in both emergency departments and intensive care units in Fargo, Aberdeen, Sioux City, and Minot. I served as the staff educator of the emergency department in Sioux City. As a nurse practitioner, I have actively been involved in reducing hospital readmissions due to COPD exacerbations. I have passionately worked towards the professional development and inclusion of advanced practice providers at our facility. This summer I passed on the reigns to the next advanced practice provider to assume the duties of Chief of Advanced Practice. I am humbled to have had the opportunity to serve as the first Chief. Currently, I serve as the coordinator for the lung cancer screening program at our facility. I have worked in family medicine in western rural ND, and also help out in the urgent care setting in Minot. I have precepted NP students for 14 years and serve as a clinical instructor for the UND Center for Family Medicine residency program for 2nd and 3rd year FM residents. I am a member of the AANP, NDNPA, AACN, SCCM, Catholic Nurses Association and the Catholic Medical Association. My husband of 23 years and I have 3 beautiful children. We enjoy our faith life, family, and spending time at the lake.