Originally Posted April 28, 2025
REACH Niagara is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Kim Bender as our new Medical Director. A long-time Niagara resident and respected physician, Dr. Bender brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and leadership to this role. Her skills will help guide REACH’s efforts to provide accessible, low-barrier healthcare to underserved populations across the Niagara Region.
Dr. Bender is a graduate of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. Her extensive background spans family medicine, hospital care, geriatric health, dementia, behavioural health, and long-term care. She has practiced at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Albright Manor in Beamsville, and has held an academic appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster, mentoring the next generation of family physicians.
Most recently, she served as Medical Director for Regina Gardens Long-Term Care in Hamilton and as a physician at Brock University’s Student Wellness Centre. Her first connection with REACH came in 2023, when she stepped in to provide care at our clinics. The experience left a lasting impression.
“I was struck by the incredible impact that REACH is making in the region, especially the way the team works together to provide seamless care,” said Dr. Bender. “REACH is a model of what healthcare can look like when organizations work together toward patient-centered care. I’m honoured to be a part of this amazing team.”
In her new role, Dr. Bender aims to build on REACH Niagara’s foundation with preventative, upstream interventions—helping people stabilize their health, reconnect with traditional care systems, and rebuild their lives with hope and dignity.
We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Karl Stobbe, our Founding Medical Director, for his tireless and transformative work in helping to shape REACH Niagara from its inception. Dr. Stobbe will continue to serve as Medical Director – Substance Use and Addictions Programming, where his expertise and passion will remain vital to our evolving work.
Carolyn Dyer, REACH Niagara’s Executive Director had this to say, “there was a point in time where so very few of our most vulnerable community members could receive healthcare services – Dr. Stobbe changed that. He envisioned a system where everyone regardless of social status received dignified primary care and I am endlessly grateful for his leadership in doing this for our community. I am looking forward to welcoming Dr. Kim Bender to our leadership team. It is a unique role and requires someone who deeply understands our organization’s goals and needs on a fundamental level which Dr. Bender continually has. I am looking forward to what this year will bring for REACH Niagara”.
To mark this exciting new chapter, we are also proud to introduce our new video: “Where Care Meets Need”. The video looks back at REACH Niagara’s founding under Dr. Stobbe while talking about REACH Niagara’s present status, and looking to the future under Dr. Bender’s leadership.
Media Contacts
Joel Hannigan
REACH Niagara Communications Coordinator
joel@reachniagara.com
905-380-1934