Edison Bond, Jr., MPH, MDiv, DMin, CPXP
As a teenager I knew that I wanted to be a healthcare professional. I wanted to help reduce the pain and suffering for my family and the community as a whole. I remember accompanying my family to visit one of my uncles in the hospital who was dying of cancer. I witnessed the anguish that my family had to endure and realized in that moment that I wanted to make a difference and become a medical doctor. My biggest challenge to my dream was organic chemistry. After speaking with my college advisor, I realized that I would be able to make a difference, as a hospital administrator.
Dr. Edison Bond, Jr. is currently the Director, Patient Relations at Baystate Health System, a not-for-profit integrated health system headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, serving Western Massachusetts and the Knowledge Corridor Region of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The system has four hospitals, over 80 medical practices, and 25 reference laboratories.
Dr. Bond has held the previous leadership positions: Chief Patient Experience Officer at Arnot Health System in Elmira, New York; Senior Director, Office of Patient Experience at MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio; and Director of Patient & Guest Relations at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Dr. Bond has over 30 years of health care experience working in public and private academic medical centers and acute care hospitals. He has a proven track record in leading the successful cultural transformation for enhancing the patient experience and employee engagement. In 2014, SUNY Downstate Medical Center was the only academic medical center that was recognized in the Commitment to Excellence category. Under his leadership, SUNY Downstate received the 2014 Press Ganey Commitment to Excellence Award for Continuous Improvement in Patient Experience.
Dr. Bond is a true advocate and servant leader. His tireless dedication to helping others secure the best medical care available is unsurpassed. He is committed to ensuring that the delivery of quality and culturally competent health care services is available. Dr. Bond has received numerous awards and recognition for his leadership, commitment to advocacy, and organizing for social justice.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University where he majored in Psychology and Afro-American studies, coupled with a minor in Biology. He received his Master of Public Health from Brooklyn College. Dr. Bond’s thesis paper was titled “Barriers to Participation in Clinical Trials: The Case of African American Women & HIV/AIDS.” This paper researched the plight of African-American women and the systemic discrimination that reinforces racial inequality in HIV/AIDS clinical research. In addition, he earned a Master of Divinity degree and received his Doctor of Ministry, both from New York Theological Seminary. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the EdD program at Grand Canyon University.
His doctoral demonstration project was titled “More than a Living Wage: Faith-Rooted Organizing to Empower Minority Communities for Social Justice.” This work examined the successful journey and movement of mobilizing communities of faith-based organizations, labor unions and community groups to support the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act (better known as the Living Wage Bill) for New York City. (The City Council overrode Mayor Bloomberg’s veto and the bill became law effective June, 2012.) This work modeled the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s paradigm for civil rights and social justice for economic equality.
He is currently a doctoral candidate in the EdD program at Grand Canyon University.
Dr. Bond is a past president of the New York Regional Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) and is a member and Fellow candidate of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). He is life member of his beloved fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Psi Lambda Lambda Chapter and serves as Vice Chair, Omega Trailblazers Foundation, Inc. He is an ordained elder and serves as the Executive Administrator for Citadel Cathedral of Praise and Worship.
Dr. Bond is married to Portia Hawkins-Bond and is the father of two sons. He enjoys the simple “beach life” and spending time with his family.
