Featured AVLS Staff of the Month (Jun. 2021): Dean Bender

Executive Director and CEO Dean Bender has served the AVLS (previously the ACP) since 2005, when he was selected as the first Treasurer of the ACP Foundation (now the Foundation for Venous & Lymphatic Disease) and worked alongside leadership of the Society and the Foundation in a variety of capacities. When Bruce Sanders retired as the Executive Director of the ACP in 2016, Dean was selected to serve on the search committee to identify his replacement. After several months of working with the Board of Directors, he resigned from the search committee and submitted his name for consideration. Dean's tenure as Executive Director and CEO began in July, 2017. Outside of AVLS, Dean enjoys golfing, fishing, and roasting coffee. 

What led you to choose this career?

I hope not to make a long story long! I had the pleasure to have served the AVLS (previously the ACP) since 2005 when I was asked to be the first Treasurer of the ACP Foundation, which led to a variety of opportunities to work alongside the leadership of the Society and the Foundation in a variety of capacities. Ultimately when Bruce Sanders retired as the Executive Director of the ACP in 2016, I was asked to participate in a search committee to identify his replacement. After several months of working with the Board of Directors I reached the conclusion that my background and experience was what the Society required. Thus, I resigned from the search committee and submitted my name for consideration. And fortunately, I was asked to serve full time as the CEO & Executive Director of the Society starting in July 2017!

What is an accomplishment of yours at AVLS that you’re proud of?

This could take a while as it is a combination of many little things that ultimately has helped us achieve the big accomplishment. In 2015 I worked alongside the leadership of the Society and the Foundation to develop a strategic vision for the Society that basically expanded the mission and vision of the Society from that of medical education to a Society that would advance research in the field and advocate on behalf of our membership to ensure patient access to quality care. So, in 2017 when I accepted the position it was with the sole intention to execute this new strategy. Which now looking back over the past four years we have accomplished so much! We invested in staffing and resources to expand our research capability through the PRO Venous Registry, we invested in staff and have developed a volunteer base that is focused solely on health care policy improving access to quality care for our patients across the country and we embraced the Lymphedema community all while continuing to build on our expertise in providing the highest quality medical education in venous and lymphatic medicine. To be part of bringing the strategic plan to life in a way that will hopefully benefit the membership and our patients for decades to come is something that I will always reflect on as the greatest accomplishment over these first few years.

What energizes you at work? What does a good day at work look like?

While it may not always be what many would consider a “productive” day, the days I appreciate the most are where I can interact with our membership and corporate partners advancing a particular initiative or project. Being able to help guide and support our membership in achieving the goals and objectives of the Society is very exciting for me! 

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success and why? 

I have been blessed to have had a very diverse career over the past 35 years working for some of the world’s largest corporations as well as the smallest. The breadth of my experience enables me today to be prepared for just about every encounter or situation that may arise in guiding the Society. And so, I try to convey a bit is steadfastness in dealing with various situations that arise each day. That said, when I think of personality traits and how they impact my role, passion comes to mind first and foremost. I still get excited today when I talk about the Society and what we are looking to achieve for the future of our membership. I hope that the passion I feel about what we are trying to accomplish conveys to those that I am blessed to be able to work with such an excellent group of people across the country to make a difference in the lives of our members and the patients they serve.

What is the most satisfying thing you get out of your role at AVLS?

I would say watching the staff of the AVLS develop in their respective roles and seeing the impact that they are able to make with the membership. It is most gratifying when a member lets me know about something our staff has done to assist them in one way or another.

Is there anything you’re currently trying to make a habit of at work or at home? 

For the most part no two days are alike for me which makes the development of a “good” habit quite challenging. I know in my mind I should start my day with a good walk or bike ride, but inevitably I find myself with a cup of my home roasted coffee on my computer starting my day at AVLS. I do look forward each week to my men’s Bible study each Tuesday morning meeting with friends from around to country on Zoom. 

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given, and who was it from?

“Just because someone does not do things the way you would do them, it does not make it wrong” - Phil Bowers, one of my early mentors in my career. While I do believe in right and wrong, and that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, I have learned over the years that being open to different approaches often leads to a better result in the end.

What is your favorite movie, band or song?

• Movie: As I love golf there are few movies that I always stop to watch no matter how many times I have seen them – “Caddy Shack,” “Tin Cup,” “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” and of course “Happy Gilmore.”
• Band or Artist: Jimmy Buffet
• Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On by Jimmy Buffet. This is my main ringtone on my phone and reminds me with every phone call that if you can survive a hurricane, you can survive anything this word throws at you! 

Do you have any pets? What are their names and breeds?

We have a dog named Bandit that is part Shih Tzu and Maltese. We got him from a rescue group when he was 14 months old. He is now 7 years old. His bark is well known across the world because of the pandemic as he only seems to bark when I am on a video conference! 

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?

Not sure I would want to trade places as I do not know how to play the guitar, but I would love to spend a day with Jimmy Buffet, chilling out on an island beach somewhere and listening to stories of his life and career. And for those that do not know this, Jimmy is one of the greatest philosophers of our day!