Stepping into their legacy

By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JUNE 18, 2026 – This Father’s Day carries a profound milestone for two Texas podiatrists as their daughters step into the medical field to follow directly in their footsteps.

Dr. Isabella Strash and Dr. Stephanie Bender, graduates of the inaugural class at the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM), have chosen the exact career paths blazed by their fathers, Dr. Walter Strash and Dr. Joseph F. Bender. In a symbolic passing of the generational torch, both fathers were invited to drape the doctoral hoods over their daughters during the school’s historic commencement ceremony in May.

A LEGACY IN MOTION

For Dr. Walter Strash, participating in UTRGV’s inaugural graduation as both a peer and a proud father was a dream come true.

“It’s wonderful to pass along one’s profession to a son or daughter,” Strash Sr. said. “In my case, Isabella. The legacy, the pride and the love — I’m without words.”

Dr. Isabella Strash was inspired to pursue the same career path as her father, Dr. Walter Strash. After her residency, she looks forward to working in the operating room side-by-side. (Courtesy Photo)

Isabella’s path to medicine began in San Antonio, where she spent her childhood watching her father present at school career days and observing the daily operations of his podiatry clinic. By high school, she was actively shadowing him, learning the foundational values of patient care. 

Now holding her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, Isabella looks forward to expanding that family footprint across South Texas. Her training at the state’s first and only podiatric school equips her to bring specialized, modern surgical techniques back to the family practice, where she will eventually join her father side-by-side in the operating room.

“I can’t believe that now there are two ‘Dr. Strashes’ in the household,” Isabella said.

EXPANDING A FAMILY TRADITION 

The Bender household will soon boast three podiatrists. Stephanie’s younger sister, Victoria, is on track to graduate next year from UTRGV SOPM.

“I am proud of both my daughters for choosing to pursue the same profession that has meant so much to me throughout my life,” said Bender Sr., who practices in Edinburg and McAllen and serves as a clinical assistant professor at SOPM.

Bender Sr. credited founding dean Dr. Lawrence Harkless (who was his own mentor in 1993) and current dean Dr. Javier La Fontaine for their visionary leadership in establishing the school. Because of their efforts, Stephanie was accepted into the UTRGV Podiatric Residency Program, allowing her to advance her career without leaving the Rio Grande Valley, said Bender Sr.

INSPIRED BY A FATHER’S BLUEPRINT 

Victoria and Stephanie remember being introduced to their father’s work when they were just 9 and 11 years old. 

Dr. Stephanie Bender said she and her sister, Victoria, were impressed by their dad helping patients in his clinic since they were children. As teenagers, they started shadowing him to get a closer look at the field. (Courtesy Photo)

“We would pop in for career days at his office,” Stephanie said. “We saw how a doctor is bestowed with the power to impact, and even save, people’s lives.”

As they grew, so did their admiration for his round-the-clock dedication, including late-night emergency room calls. Stephanie vividly recalls an 85-year-old patient who gifted her father a hand-knit tablecloth out of deep gratitude for his care. Seeing the emotional impact of that gesture cemented her own aspirations.

“He has instilled in both of us the importance of patient care, humility and a strong work ethic,” Stephanie said. “Being a physician is an honor.”

STEPPING INTO REGIONAL CARE

The transition from curious children to serious medical shadows solidified the sisters' passion for the field.

“The second we started getting our feet wet in the profession, we instantly fell in love with the hands-on aspect,” Victoria said.

While initially drawn to the diverse pathologies of podiatric medicine, Stephanie has developed a fierce focus on preventative healthcare, a critical need in South Texas.

“More than 85 percent of diabetic amputations could be prevented with adequate care,” Stephanie noted. “Prevention and education could change the whole dynamic of the region’s diseases.”

Driven to continue their father's legacy in the community where they were raised, the sisters are ready to join forces to serve the more than 70,000 diabetic adults living in South Texas.

“We’ll be a dynamic trio of podiatrists,” Stephanie said. “Together, we can get more people on a path to recovery and reroute their health journeys.” 

To learn more about the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, visit www.utrgv.edu/school-of-podiatric-medicine.