About
Personal Statement
As a child, I was fascinated watching my grandmother create intricate needlepoint – marveling at how each individual stitch eventually came together to form large, detailed scenes on the canvas. My passion for neuropsychology requires a similar level of intense focus and appreciation for detail, requiring me to be a keen observer at both granular and broad levels simultaneously in order to holistically conceptualizing a patient’s case. In doing so, multiple threads of information, including medical history, observed behavior, life circumstances, and neuropsychological test data are woven together to create a complex, richly colored diagnostic fabric unique to each patient. Though a time-intensive and intricate process for both myself and my patients, this neuropsychological ‘tapestry’ is often critical in supporting correct neuromedical decision-making, yielding targeted academic recommendations, and facilitating functional/occupational successes.
Specialties and Expertise
Specialties
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Expertise
- Cognitive Remediation After Brain Surgery
- Cognitive Remediation After Traumatic Brain Injury
- Epilepsy
- Cognitive Dysfunction
- Age-Related Cognitive Decline
- Chemo Brain
- Cognitive Remediation After Brain Tumor Resection
- Cognitive Remediation After Cardiovascular Event
- Cognitive Remediation After Chemotherapy
- Cognitive Remediation After Radiation
- Cognitive Remediation After Stroke
- Cognitive Remediation After Surgery
- Cognitive Remediation For Chronic Cardiovascular Disorders
- Cognitive Remediation For Movement Disorders
- Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Dysfunction
- Concussion Management
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive and Behavioral Changes
- Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
- Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)
- Emotional and Behavioral Changes After Stroke
- Cognitive Changes After Stroke
- Cognitive Deficit As Late Effect of Cerebral Aneurysm
- Cognitive Deficit As Late Effect of Traumatic Brain Injury
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Multiple Subcortical Infarcts
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Cerebral Infarction
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Embolic Stroke
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Head Injury
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Head Trauma
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Lacunar Stroke
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Old Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Cognitive Deficit Due to Parkinson's Disease
- Cognitive Deficits
- Cognitive Deficits, Late Effect of Cerebrovascular Disease
- Cognitive Impairment
- Stroke After Effects
- Memory Problems
- Cognitive Impairment, Mild, So Stated
- MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
- Mild Cognitive Disorder
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Mild Cognitive Impairment With Memory Loss
- Cognitive Changes
- Dementia
- Dementia Due to Head Trauma
- Dementia Following Traumatic Brain Injury
- Dementia With Parkinsonism
- Dementia Due to Head Trauma With Behavioral Disturbance
- Dementia Due to Medical Condition With Behavioral Disturbance
- Dementia Due to Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Stroke Behavorial Changes
- Cognitive Decline
- Memory and Aging
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury Screen
- Concussion Syndrome
Biography
Dr. Heidi Bender is an award-winning, board-certified neuropsychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of patients of all ages with a wide range of neurological and cognitive disorders. She has expertise in evaluating patients to determine if they are candidates for epilepsy surgery, in special procedures such as the intraoperative testing of patients during awake craniotomies, and in cognitive remediation therapies appropriate for patients with a wide variety of cognitive challenges (i.e., after neurological surgery, cerebrovascular accidents, and other events). Dr. Bender has a special interest in the neuropsychological needs of non-native English speakers and patients born outside of the United States, and is active in professional groups working to reduce disparities in healthcare. To facilitate this, Dr. Bender holds a leadership roles in multiple neuropsychological organizations committed to equity for all, including the New York Neuropsychology Group’s Bilingual Task Force (co-Chair) and the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society (Member-At-Large). As Director of Neuropsychological Services at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center, Dr. Bender is pleased to provide a full spectrum of care to patients before, during, and after neurosurgical treatment.
Research
Credentials
Board Certifications
- American Board of Professional Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)
Clinical and Academic Positions
- Associate Attending Psychologist - NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Associate Professor of Neuropsychology in Neurological Surgery - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Education and Training
- Ph.D., The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2007
- M.Phil., The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2006
- M.A., Queens College, City University of New York, 2003
- M.A., New York University, 2001
- B.A., New York University, 2000
Insurance
Insurance Plans Accepted
The following represents most of the managed care plans accepted by this doctor. If your insurance carrier does not appear here please contact the doctor’s office as they may have individual contracts not included on this site.
* indicates this doctor is no longer accepting new patients with this insurance plan.
- AETNA - HMO
- AETNA - Medicare
- AETNA - PPO
- Aetna Weill Cornell Employee Managed Care Plan
- Aetna Weill Cornell Employee PPO Plan
- Aetna-NYP - EPO/POS
- AgeWell New York
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - PPO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Mediblue (Senior)
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - HMO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Connection
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - EPO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Access
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus - CHP
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Fidelis Care
- Health First
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Rockefeller University - Trustmark
- WellCare of NY
Locations and Appointments
External Relationships
External Relationships
Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.
No External Relationships Reported