Dr. Julia Glade Bender

Dr. Julia Glade Bender, MD, is a pediatric oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center specializing in solid tumors of the bone and soft tissues in children, adolescents, and young adults. Her clinical focus includes osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, germ cell tumors, and other rare pediatric malignancies. As a member of the MSK Kids team, she is dedicated to guiding patients and their families through some of the most challenging experiences of their lives, with the goal of returning young patients to the lives they were meant to lead. Her approach to care is deeply individualized, recognizing that how families communicate, how patients cope, and what each person needs are as important as the medical treatment itself. With an understanding that 80 percent of pediatric cancer patients survive, she places strong emphasis on supporting young people through the developmental challenges that arise during cancer treatment, including issues of independence, relationships, body image, and future planning.

Dr. Glade Bender is equally committed to scientific discovery and translating advances in tumor biology into better therapies for children. At MSK Kids, every child's tumor is analyzed using MSK-IMPACT, a genomic testing platform that identifies whether newer targeted drugs can supplement or replace standard therapies. She develops and leads national first-in-child clinical trials, with a strong belief that children should have early access to drugs designed to target the specific molecular drivers of their tumors. Her research is conducted at the bedside and in the clinic, and she collaborates closely with colleagues in adult oncology to bring the newest therapies, including immunotherapies, to pediatric patients as quickly as possible. For cases where standard chemotherapy remains the best approach, she applies the same rigorous individualized thinking to optimize outcomes.

Her overarching mission is to improve care for all young people with cancer through the combined force of research, clinical expertise, and compassionate practice. She works toward a future where more effective therapies carry fewer side effects, and she views every patient as an opportunity to learn and share knowledge that benefits the broader pediatric oncology community. Known for her warmth, dedication, and tireless advocacy for her patients, Dr. Glade Bender brings both heart and scientific rigor to her work each day, aiming to advance the field one patient at a time.