Emile Bendit, MD, Makes Bequest

When psychiatrist Emile A. Bendit, MD, recalls working at Sheppard Pratt, he thoughtfully describes that time as both progressive and distinctive. And when he recalls serving on the Board of Trustees, he’s equally complimentary and pleased, knowing that during both tenures, he helped people with mental health conditions thrive.

Still, Dr. Bendit wants to do more. His respect and dedication to Sheppard Pratt’s mission motivated him to bequeath a planned gift to the nation’s largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, special education, developmental disability, and social services. His planned gift makes him a member of the 1853 Society—a group of individuals who have included Sheppard Pratt in their estate plans.

“The pursuit of excellence and diversification here is so special,” says Dr. Bendit. “No other institution does exactly what Sheppard Pratt does. Very sophisticated thinking leads to new program development that meets the needs of the community.”

A passion for clinical excellence at Sheppard Pratt

Now retired from private practice, Dr. Bendit—a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association—specialized in conflict resolution and was on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry. 

In 1978, he was hired at Sheppard Pratt as a consultant on quality assurance programs and issues. From 1980 to 1992, he took on responsibility for all ambulatory programs and outpatient treatment options at the hospital. 

Those included two partial hospital programs: structured programs of outpatient psychiatric services serving as an alternative to inpatient psychiatric care. 

“During the day, patients came in and went home at night, with one clinic for adults and another for older adults,” says Dr. Bendit. He also oversaw an outpatient clinic located in the community health center, as well as an outpatient drug abuse program. The two partial hospitalization programs Dr. Bendit oversaw were the beginnings of Sheppard Pratt’s robust day hospital programming, which includes several day hospitals across two hospital campuses.

Meeting the need beyond hospital walls

“The partial hospitalization and outpatient programs were all unique projects—Sheppard Pratt had been exclusively an inpatient hospital,” he says. “The need for expanded outpatient programs continued to grow as the opportunity and need to treat people outside of the hospital continued to expand.”

He attributes that need to President John F. Kennedy’s Community Mental Health Act of 1963, which established a system of community-based care instead of traditional institutional care. “It was a different way of treating psychiatric patients, instead of in massive inpatient hospitals where they stayed for long periods of time without much follow-up care,” he shares. Sheppard Pratt was a leader in the movement to expand care beyond hospital walls—and today has more than 160 programs across 380 sites of service in Maryland.

Dr. Bendit left Sheppard Pratt in 1992. “I have very positive memories of my time at Sheppard Pratt, and it was a great privilege to be there for 17 years,” Dr. Bendit says. 

Continuing his legacy

He was pleasantly surprised in 2004 when he was asked to join the hospital’s Board of Trustees as the only clinician. He came with the advantage of extensive knowledge of the organization’s history, which benefited the group when board members were newer, he says.

“On the board, I represented the psychiatric perspective and bolstered the impact that board decisions would have on clinical care and offerings,” he says. True to his role on Sheppard Pratt’s clinical staff, Dr. Bendit continued to oversee quality assurance matters in his board position.

Dr. Bendit served until 2021, during which time he was delighted to witness the notable expansion of services geographically distant from the flagship campus in Towson. And he was inspired to see mental health services being specially developed for children.

While participating in board decisions, he saw firsthand how philanthropy supported the construction of new buildings and services—including Sheppard Pratt’s award-winning Baltimore/Washington Campus, bringing comprehensive inpatient and day hospital services to the Washington, D.C. region. 

His inherent admiration for the storied history and the accomplishments of Sheppard Pratt manifested in a planned gift that can support future advancements. “Although not everyone is in a position to help, if they have the opportunity, this is a worthy cause,” says Dr. Bendit.

A worthy cause, indeed. Contributions made to Sheppard Pratt support patient care, transformational research, and community initiatives. With more than 160 programs that touch the lives of 80,000 individuals each year, Sheppard Pratt inspires hope and helps people live their fullest, most satisfying lives. 

100% of gifts made to Sheppard Pratt support those we serve.