Ellen M. Bendel-Stenzel, M.D.

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SUMMARY

Ellen M. Bendel-Stenzel, M.D. is a neonatologist who has research interests in the areas of fetal intervention therapy, postnatal care of infants after complex prenatal diagnoses, the adaption of emerging neonatal technologies and rapid genetic testing.

Focus areas

• Fetal therapy. Dr. Bendel-Stenzel founded and co-leads the Fetal Therapy Focus Group of the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium and is active in the North American Fetal Therapy Network. Her research leverages the collective volume of large fetal centers to better understand the impact of in utero interventions on infant outcomes to promote evidence-based practices.
• Genomics. Dr. Bendel-Stenzel was instrumental in developing a program for universal ultra-rapid whole-genome screening in the Mayo Clinic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This has resulted in earlier diagnoses allowing targeted therapies or a change in clinical care for neonatal patients.
• Emerging technologies. Dr. Bendel-Stenzel is actively involved in the multicenter, NIH-funded Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy (RAFT) trial, which facilitated the introduction of the Cardio-Renal Pediatric Dialysis Emergency Machine (Carpediem), the first FDA-approved neonatal dialysis machine, to the Mayo NICU. She is leading efforts to create a neonatal hemodynamic team to improve functional echocardiography support in critically ill neonates.

Significance to patient care

Progressive and innovative care is essential to advancing the field of neonatology and improving infant outcomes. Dr. Bendel-Stenzel is passionate about clinical care and finding new opportunities to optimize patient management and improve neonatal outcomes through multicenter collaboration that facilitates both research opportunities and sharing of clinical experience.

Professional highlights

• Principal investigator, multicenter collaborative trials, Mayo Clinic.
  • NIH-funded Myelomeningocele and Sleep Disordered Breathing study, 2019-present.
  • Industry-sponsored AeroFact trial of inhaled surfactant therapy, 2019-present.
• Founder and co-lead, Fetal Therapy Focus Group, Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium, 2020-present.
• Member, North American Fetal Therapy Network and International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society, 2012-present.
• Co-leader, Mayo Clinic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
• Member, Mayo Clinic Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2020-present.
• Perennial Top Doc for Minnesota Monthly magazine since 2005.