David Bender, M.D.

David Bender, M.D., serves as an emergency psychiatrist at Dell Seton Medical Center and conducts clinical research at the Charmaine and Gordon McGill Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy. Additionally, he is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School.

Dr. Bender received his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his medical degree from Columbia University. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine, where he participated in the NIH-sponsored R25 research training track with a focus on clinical research. He also pursued advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.

Dr. Bender researches the therapeutic applications of psychedelic compounds, with a particular interest in the evidence-based integration of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ibogaine and other novel therapeutics into clinical care. Specific areas of focus for his research include novel drug combinations, innovation in psychological support strategies, and understanding the relationship between subjective experiences and treatment outcomes. His work in the field has been published in journals including The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Psychopharmacology, The American Journal of Psychotherapy, Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences and Nature.