Carol Hanselman Bender W'09
Email: carol@joywellnesspartners.com
What did you study at Penn and when did you graduate?
I graduated in 2009 with a dual degree (Healthcare Management) from The Wharton School and the School of Nursing. In 2013, I received my Master of Science in Nursing from Penn as well.
What were some of your favorite experiences at Penn?
One highlight was studying abroad in Israel through the nursing program. I studied there at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a full semester. I felt fortunate to get this opportunity to travel while also working towards my dual degree. Israel was an incredible experience; I even learned some Hebrew while I was there!
Another favorite was my participation in the Wharton Leadership Ventures. This program allowed students to engage with professors and UPenn employees in team-building activities--such as challenging hikes and white water rafting--in and around Philadelphia. I increased my problem-solving skills as I worked with the others in the group to tackle and overcome the challenges that we faced.
I also enjoyed my time in Wharton Women. I remember one event in particular, when a Goldman Sachs executive said, “I love it when I’m the dumbest person in the room.” That mentality always stuck with me. Wharton was overwhelming at times, but learning to rise to the challenge and remembering that I had something valuable to contribute kept me afloat.
Finally, a Microfinance elective course gave me lasting fulfillment. One of my partners and I turned the start-up we brainstormed into a still-operational and successful nonprofit in Burundi, Africa! The nonprofit we birthed, LifeNet International, currently partners with rural healthcare clinics to improve their efficiency and sustainability, enabling these clinics to better serve their communities.
What do you do now and where are you based?
I’m currently based in San Diego, California, where I own and operate an alternative medicine clinic that I founded in 2016. At Joy Wellness Partners, we focus on regenerative medicine, which is based on the idea that the body can use its own resources to heal itself. We use regenerative options such as stem cell exosomes (instead of pharmaceuticals or typical surgical practices) to treat chronic pain and sports injuries. Our clinic has a variety of additional services, such as aesthetic solutions, hormone balancing, and vitamin infusion therapy. I work as the primary nurse practitioner while managing the clinic. We currently have five rotating medical providers and 10 full-time team members.
What past positions have you held and how did you get the courage to start your own wellness clinic?
After graduating from Penn, I worked as a registered nurse in Princeton for two years. I then became the Medical Director of the non-profit that I co-founded in Africa, LifeNet International. Beginning our own non-profit and watching it succeed in one of the poorest countries in the world inspired me to launch a startup in America. After getting my MSN, I worked as a nurse practitioner for two years in a hospital and in a wellness center in Southern California. I valued the mission of the wellness center, but did not respect the way it was managed. With my background and experiences, I knew I was capable of starting a center where I could lead my own team and provide exceptional care for those who came through my doors.