Women in Medicine: Nicole Bentze, DO, FAAFP, FAMWA

By Lauren Byrd
FMA VP of Communications and Strategic Partnerships 

Long before Nicole Bentze, DO, FAAFP, FAMWA, became a physician, educator, and organized medicine leader, she was a little girl caring for stuffed animals with her Fisher-Price Doctor Kit. 

Today, Dr. Bentze has turned that childhood calling into a career defined by caring for patients, educating future physicians, advocating for her colleagues, and creating opportunities for other women entering the medical profession.

“Being a woman in medicine means honoring the women who paved the way before me while using my voice, experiences, and leadership to create opportunities for those who follow,” said Dr. Bentze, a board-certified family medicine physician who serves as Dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Sarasota Regional Campus.

Dr. Bentze’s mother, a radiation therapist in an oncology unit, gave her an early appreciation for the impact healthcare professionals can have on patients and families during difficult moments. Her father, a teacher and college administrator, instilled a lifelong love of learning. Together, they gave her a foundation of curiosity, compassion, and service that continues to guide her as a physician and medical educator.

'Lifting others as we climb'

For Dr. Bentze, being a woman in medicine comes with gratitude and responsibility. As President of the Sarasota County Medical Society, a delegate to the FMA, a member of the FMA’s Women in Medicine Committee, and a member of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Board of Directors, Dr. Bentze advocates for patients and physicians while championing issues important to women in medicine.

She has expanded student outreach, supported physician well-being, and supported initiatives that empower women throughout their careers. At the FSU College of Medicine’s campus in Sarasota, she also helps medical students develop their professional identities and discover their own voices as future physicians.

That commitment reflects the mentorship Dr. Bentze received from others. Suzanne Harrison, MD, Director of Clinical Programs at the FSU College of Medicine, welcomed her into the AMWA, opening doors to leadership, advocacy, and lifelong mentorship. FSU College of Medicine Dean and FMA President Alma Littles, MD, modeled the strong, compassionate physician leadership she continues to admire and emulate.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to be supported by remarkable women at every stage of my life,” Dr. Bentze said. “Each of these women helped me build confidence, navigate challenges, and recognize the importance of lifting others as we climb. I strive to provide the same encouragement and guidance that so many women have generously provided to me.”

When the physician becomes the patient

One of the most profound lessons of Dr. Bentze’s career came from being a patient herself. In Oct. 2019, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and began what she describes as a “gauntlet” of testing, surgeries, and aggressive chemotherapy. Just months later, the COVID-19 pandemic created another layer of uncertainty as she continued supporting medical students through their clinical education.

“While I initially tried to maintain a sense of normalcy and mask my own fears, this experience ultimately taught me profound resilience and reinforced the importance of reflection and self-care,” she said. “Most importantly, it reshaped my understanding of leadership. I learned that effective physician leadership is not defined by the absence of vulnerability, but by the courage to navigate uncertainty with authenticity, compassion, and transparency.”

Keeping humanity at the heart of medicine

Dr. Bentze’s advice to young women entering medicine is rooted in one essential principle: Never lose sight of the humanity at the heart of the profession.

“Embrace both the science and the art of medicine, recognizing that while medical knowledge and technology are essential, it is compassion, empathy, and human connection that patients value most,” she said.

She also challenges future physicians to remember the aspirations that first brought them to medicine.

“Throughout your career, strive to become the physician you described in your medical school personal statement.”

For the next generation of physicians, Dr. Bentze envisions a profession where women have every opportunity to lead, innovate, and thrive within a culture that values well-being, equity, and service. Through her own work, she is helping to build that future.

From the young girl treating her stuffed animals to the physician educator empowering the doctors who will come after her, the threads running through Dr. Bentze’s story have remained remarkably consistent: curiosity, compassion, and a desire to serve. 

Her journey is also reminder that advancing women in medicine is not only about opening doors but also holding them open, reaching back, and helping others walk through.