Dr. Rachel M. Bond, MD, FACC

What’s in a mother Everything. Although it’s been a year since I’ve been physically in her presence, it doesn’t seem like more than a minute has gone by.... Despite the distance, she has remained so intimately involved in my life; supporting me through both the ups and downs of this crazy year. I am SO lucky and fortunate to have her as not only my mother, but most importantly my best friend So today, I want to celebrate her, and ask you to help me to do the same on her special day of birth. Someone so kind, loving and oh-so supporting. Case in point, this photo is of a happier time when my mom and I went to Israel. Even amongst what you’d think would be the most simplistic task of riding a camel (FYI it is NOT ), she was my biggest cheerleader So here is to you mommy (Anne Gershkowitz), the reason why I’m who I am today. I love you and can’t wait to see you soon enough & go on more adventures #mymomisthebest #israel #ilovemymom

Black-led, community-level outreach targeting Black is to thecrisis. I’m proud to work with Association of Black Cardiologists where we’ve partnered with Black Women's Health Imperative 4Kira4Moms Black Mamas Matter Alliance WomenHeart The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease on these efforts. out my thoughts via Everyday Health

With yesterday’s FDA approval, the vaccine has been positioned as everyone's savior yet #covid_19 isn't killing everyone. Black people are dying at nearly 3X the rate of White people, accounting for nearly 20% of deaths in the U.S. while only making up 13% of the population. And when asked if they will sign up for the vaccine once offered, many remain skeptical. ... Why The Black community has a VERY significant & historic reason- racism, segregation, & experimentation- leading to mistrust. Black clinicians & scientists, normally trusted messengers, are significantly underrepresented in the medical field. And fixing this mistrust starts with the government: Including transparent & targeted community education centered on the vaccine's development with review of safety protocols coupled with acknowledgement of this historical and ongoing harm. Providing strategic plans that centers the experiences of these marginalized folks & places them in the early round of distribution. We know right now that health care workers and staff at long-term care facilities will be the first prioritized, but little information is know about a plan for communities of color despite knowing they are a high risk group. And if you’d like to know if I- a Black female physician who agrees we should hold our medical system accountable- plans to take the vaccine Heck yes. I will 100%, once offered to me The fact is, the success of mitigating this depends greatly on the majority of people receiving the vaccine, to build a sort of herd immunity that protects the vaccinated people as well as those who could not be inoculated. So until this info is provided to the masses, I encourage you to ask these important questions & continue to weigh risks vs benefits. But I also challenge you to think that when a virus appears to be more dangerous than the vaccine itself in the short term, perhaps a new found #trustinscience should prevail This decision is yours, but please choose wisely & hopefully soon enough ur concerns will be addressed- I know I’m willing to help in anyway I can #covidvacccine #hcw4science #blacklivesmatter #safeholidays2020 #doctorsofinstagram

"I would say that it is much easier to play chess without the burden of an Adam’s Apple." - Beth Harmon Witty response from Beth Harmon, the protagonist of #thequeensgambit, to a question asking what she would say to those who think she’s too glamorous to be a serious chess player. Um sexism much... Despite Beth being a remarkable chess player at master level, many weren’t interested in that but more the mere fact she was a female doing well at a "male" profession. This is a reflection of a prevailing cultural attitude of the 60's where it was expected for the woman's place to be at the home, cooking and cleaning and raising children. The interest was only predicated upon her gender, not so much her skills and accomplishments. She, like many woman, wanted to be treated the same, and as an equal. To be respected. Fast forward to 2020 and unfortunately the same can still be said. And although we can’t change the opinions of everyone, these simple minded thoughts that we succumb to even to this day-the thoughts that have us ladies have extreme imposter syndrome-shouldn’t suppress us in our missions. In the words of Vice President-elect @kamalaharris : While I may be the first, I won’t be the last. Be it the first female chess grandmaster, first female VP, or even more locally the first Black female cardiologist to have a leadership position within her health system. Representation matters and these firsts should be celebrated as a way to be normalized #representationmatters #womenincardiology #ilooklikeacardiologist #ladyboss #womenempowerment #womeninmedicine #tuesdaythoughts

So honored to help lead this initiative. Please check it out below via Dignity Health Foundation East Valley #GivingTuesday

Grown-ups were once children but only few of them remember it. - #thelittleprince I almost forgot the essence of this important fact, until I was blissfully reminded of it last week when I followed some good advice, and happily chose my sanity over the piles of work and responsibilities I’ve placed on myself and took a much-needed break. And although the Monday back from vacation was as hectic as you can imagine, I feel so much more accomplished today- on the first day of ...the last month of this crazy year The fact is, in order for us to succeed in life and achieve what we set out to do, we need to let our inner child out whenever we can. Children have such pure creativity and courage, but we quickly forget how we are ALL born with this. While adapting to all scenarios of the life we think we should live, we gradually forget about this inborne way of free thinking. So how can we change this Well, we MUST remember to: sing when we feel like dance like no one is watching laugh til our face hurts & love without thinking about tomorrow. We must continue to be spontaneous, believe in the fairytales, and open up. We should NEVER forget about that at the expense of becoming or thriving as an adult. So let’s start today on #givingtuesday by listening to some important advise: We MUST take care of the well of goodness in us, so our journey- with all its ups and downs- will not only be okay but flourish and shine bright like a diamond #thelittleprince #hebroughtmebacktothelight #dissrmb #everyonewasonceachild #laughlikeyoumeanit #dancelikenooneiswatching #motivationalquotes #lapetitprince #theprinceandthefox #childhoodmemories #shinebrightlikeadiamond

Random fact: I LOVE discussing lipids With high cholesterol a key culprit in the development of disease, we know that cholesterol helps prevent attacks & strokes. But an unanswered question remains: How low should you go? Answerthe lower, the better.... We know that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the greatest culprit in this risk. When there is too much LDL in circulation, some of the cholesterol it carries gets deposited in artery walls. These deposits, called plaques, can lead to a attack or stroke. Keeping your LDL level low is central to maintaining your health. The mainstays for controlling LDL are lifestyle through a healthy plant-predominant diet and exercise. When these lifestyle changes aren’t enough, we may prescribe statins. Statins lower the amount of LDL in the bloodstream by the liver’s production of LDL. Some people can’t tolerate statins. For others, a statin alone may not be effective in controlling LDL, even when taken in high doses. Under these circumstances, alternatives to statins are needed to control LDL. These nonstatin lipid lowering agents may fundamentally change how LDL is lowered in individuals with disease or at risk for it. To date, we have Ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, Bempedoic Acid and hopefully soon in the pipeline Inclisiran a small interfering RNA. Unfortunately, these management options are not universally provided to all patients. In fact, African-Americans have: CV prevalence & mortality. And are: Less likely to be treated with statins. Less likely to achieve LDL goal. Less likely to trust statin safety. We can do better & ensure these health disparities are eliminated I’m honored to have presented on this topic on behalf of Association of Black Cardiologists this morning via NACECME #ilooklikeacardiologist #womeninmedicine #healthdisparities #racialdisparities #femalepresenter #bossmode #ladyboss #evidencebasedmedicine #blackwomeninmedicine #blackwomenincardiology #saturdaymorningvibes #weekendwork #ilovelipids #cardiology #cardiologyconference

Dr. Bond, I just don’t want to get it... Sobering, but not shocking words expressed by one of my African American patients regarding the #COVID19 vaccine. Distrust regarding vaccinations have been an ongoing topic, especially among people of color with the flu season and talks about an upcoming #covid19 vaccine on everyone’s mind. ... The fact is, low vaccination rates are not unique to Black communities. During 2018-2019, only 39% of Black adults received the influenza vaccination vs. 49% of White adults. This is particularly concerning because Black patients historically suffer worse outcomes. The same is true with the pandemic, where Black individuals are nearly 3 times more likely than their White counterparts to be infected with COVID-19, more likely to wind up with severe infections, & to be hospitalized. To the same point, the death rate from COVID-19 among Black individuals is estimated to be more than 2x as high as among other racial & ethnic groups. Despite this understanding, a nationwide poll shows 49% of Black adults would NOT take a COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available, even if the vaccine is free AND considered safe. Why Perhaps, because we’re asking people who historically have had NO reason to trust our systemically flawed and oppressed healthcare systems to start trusting them. So when a vaccine is one part to our mitigation strategies, hearing such a low acceptance from one of our most vulnerable populations, is devastating. But again, NOT surprising. So how can we as clinicians help We must ensure that when safe & effective COVID-19 vaccines are available, Black patients who already suffer from significant health inequities have access to them. We must include such populations in the trials from the start, & make them the majority, as to ensure acceptance. We must highlight the voices of clinicians and public health advocates of color to improve a degree of trust. We must work with trusted Black community leaders as "gatekeepers & trustworthy messengers And we must help our patients to accept & more importantly #trustscience . #vaccineswork #sciencealwayswins #coviddisparities

Countdown begins... We are JUST 4weeks away. Calling all Clinicians.... Please register NOW for the COMPLIMENTARY 8CME Credited 2nd Annual Women’s Heart & Vascular Symposium With #whvsymposium20 you will get a jam-packed amount of information on #womenshearthealth ranging from prevention to interventions. I’m delighted to be the course director and start the symposium off highlighting #COVID19 and its effects on #womenshearthealth especially in our most at risk patient populations. I’m also excited to be joined by amazing faculty presenters & moderators including: @daniellebelardomd @drsheilasahni @biljana_parapid @yourheartdoc For anyone interested in #evidencebasedmedicine on #womenshealth and #cardiology please register via @whvsymposium link in bio or scan the QR code on postcard #cme #cmemoc #moccme #cardiologyfellow #internalmedicineresidency #medicalstudent #womenincardiology #ilooklikeacardiologist #believescience #hearthealth #plantpredominant #womenshearts #physicianassistant #nursepractitioner #nursingschool #cardiooncology #cardioobstetrics #cardiorheumatology #interventionalcardiology #peripheralvasculardisease

When Sorry is No Longer Enough... We’ve all learned the benefits of forgiveness. In fact, studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of attacks; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression & stress. But what we don’t focus so much on are the effects of what forgiving continuous empty apologies can do to our psyche and overall health.... Yes, saying the words I’m Sorry can be beautiful - but words without actions are empty, soulless, and deceiving. Sometimes in order for ALL to heal, you ACTUALLY have to change. When is the last time your forgiveness came as a response to ones sincerity Or was it an exasperated response to a person whose "sorries" are plentiful and often meaningless I've personally learned a lot about the word "sorry" in my life and how empty it can often be. Looking back it saddens me to think about how many times I may have had the burden of forgiveness that often is not accompanied by action, even from people who you’re expected to love unconditionally: be it family, close friends, a partner. So if you're reading this, I'm asking you to promise yourself things to start this week off right in an effort to be a better & healthier version of you: 1. Stop accepting apologies that aren't accompanied by changed behavior 2. Stop expecting forgiveness you haven't worked for I know I will try my best to do the same #comicbookmood #mondaymood #mondaymotivation #sorrynotsorry #mentalwellnessmatters #yourfeelingsmatter #forgivenesshealstheheart #improvinghearthealth #doctorswhocare #whensorryisntenough #hearthealth #healthylifestyle #doctorsofinstagram #therealdeal

Women on Top of the World Aside from the almost instant feeling of calm and contentment that accompanies time outdoors, hiking in nature can reduce rumination. Many of us often find ourselves consumed by negative thoughts as a result of personal or professional stressors, which takes us out of the enjoyment of the moment at best and leads us down a rabbit hole of depression and anxiety at worst. ... How to mitigate this? Well, we know that spending time in nature these obsessive, negative thoughts by a significant margin and adding hiking to that further reduces that. Boy did I need this power hike more than ever this weekend, with the extra perk of having the amazing @doctor.tarr by my side! Thanks for connecting us @daniellebelardomd Now, I’m able to let my happiness shine on much easier What do you do to remove the negativity/shade someone or something may try to throw ur way? #arizona #outdoorliving #hikingdoctor #hiketorecovery #hiketorelievestress #blackladymagic #blackgirlmagic #bosslady #womenontop #myfeetwillkillmelater #thankful

What Is Your Daily Challenge To Yourself While reading #TheTruthsWeHold by Kamala Harris, I can’t help but hear her voice echo these words today: My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come. My challenge to you is to join that effort. To stand up for our ideals and our values. Let's not throw up our hands when it's time to roll up our sleeves. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever. ... Years from now, our children and our grandchildren will look up and lock eyes with us. They will ask us where we were when the stakes were so high. They will ask us what it was like. I don't want us to just tell them how we felt. I want us to tell them what we did. Well...what did I do just now with my amazing sidekick #sashabella that led to all this needed love from her after My civil duty. Something my family & ancestors fought hard for me to have the privilege to do I just dropped off my absentee ballot to the @uspostalservice and couldn’t be happier that I voted early & by mail I vow to always be part of the solution and I encourage you all to do the same Please go out and vote - no matter which way- by mail or in-person because our future depends on it Will you join me #november3rd #letsvoteearly #vote2020 #kamalaharris #civilduty #dogsofinstagram #partofthesolution #iamthesolution

#WeStandWithFauci, the @fda & the Scientific Process. We are Healthcare Workers for Vaccines #hcw4vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is our best chance at ending this pandemic. The vaccine is set to release after FDA approval in Nov/Dec for high-risk groups, and in Spring 2021 for the general population. Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends that we get the vaccine as soon as it is available & FDA approved.... Is the vaccine safe? Yes, it is currently being tested on tens of thousands of peopleonce it is FDA approved, it will be deemed safe for the general public. Safety protocols WON’T be rushed or skipped: extensive checks and balances that include independent data analysis and a host of advisory groups staffed with career scientists will likely shield the FDA coronavirus vaccine approval process from political pressure, according to Dr. Fauci. He added each of these vaccines has a data- and safety-monitoring board that is not beholden to the administration or anyone else. Is the vaccine effective? As per Dr. Fauci, if everyone got the vaccine after it is approved, then we would be able to end this pandemic. Unfortunately, polls show that many Americans would NOT get the vaccine even after it is approved@pewresearch shows that only 21% of Americans would definitely get it. With this, just 32% of Black adults say they would definitely or probably get COVID-19 vaccine, compared with 52% of White, 56% of Hispanic and 72% of Asian American adults. These numbers are very concerning! If we want to confidence in the vaccine, we need to start NOW. Thank you @dr.risahoshino for starting this important initiative. Please stand with us healthcare workers, Dr. Fauci, & the FDA. Help spread the word by SHARING this post or writing your own post under the hashtag #hcw4vaccines! Together, we can win this fight against COVID once and for all! #covidvaccine #istandwithfauci #vaccinessavelives #spreadtruth #healthexpert #preventioniskey #fauci #vaccinate #vaccinateyourkids #healthadvocate #covid19usa #scienceisreal #covid19news #healtheducation #flushot #vaccines #vaccine #preventionisbetterthancure #realfacts #covid2020 #sciencefacts #doctorsofinstagram #savelives

Don’t be Ashamed of Your Story. It Will Inspire Others. Thanks @drsonalzhaertnsoul for this amazing quote on #mentalhealthday & @drpurviparwani for tagging me in the #howitstarted and #howitsgoing theme. My name is Dr. Rachel Marie Bond and I am, and will forever be, just a girl from #dabronx... I had a modest upbringing being raised by two hard working parents with a lot of support from my loving grandparents. They all shaped me in to the person I am today and filled me with so much love and support. Were there ever moments of self doubt? A need for self-reflection? Perhaps even self-resentment? Of course, especially as soon as I hit middle school it was so apparent that this interracial girl was growing up in a world that would judge her based solely on her skin tone. This was so shocking and took me time to register as my family raised me and my brother to be color-blind and judge someone solely based on their character. Do I still feel judged today? Do I still have moments of self-doubt? Absolutely. But with the strength of my unique upbringing and new found unapologetic confidence that has slowly evolved as I have gotten older, I know if I do my best, work hard, and continue to follow the values I was taught by my amazing family, this girl forever from #dabronx who is the first MD in her family, and who happens to be a #womenshearthealth specialist dedicated to improving gender and racial disparities in healthcare, will continue to shine and motivate others to do so along her path #ilovemyfamily #mymomismybestfriend #keepyoureyesontheprize #blackgirlmagic #startedfromthebottom #nowwearehere #womenincardiology #ilooklikeacardiologist #womeninmedicine

Follow Friday I am so honored to be the course director for the 2nd annual Women’s Heart & Vascular Symposium Please follow the symposiums dedicated page @whvsymposium for all recent updates on our amazing faculty presenters & topics. ... This will be a symposium like no other focused on all things #womenshearthealth spanning from prevention to intervention. We are delighted to have all our presenters & moderators involved, including the amazing stars of social media : @daniellebelardomd discussing plant-predominant nutrition and any gender disparities. @drsheilasahni discussing updates on spontaneous coronary artery dissection. @biljana_parapid discussing best diabetes management for the cardiac patient with any associated gender disparities along with moderating our session on sex-focused clinical care. @yourheartdoc moderating our awesome section on sex-specific pathways from arrhythmias, valves, & heart failure to vascular disease. Register now for this complimentary CME (link in bio of @whvsymposium ) and please share with colleagues #whvsymposium20 #followfriday #womenshealth #womenincardiology #womeninmedicine #ilooklikeacardiologist #cardiologycme #cardiotwitter #cardioinstagram

The needle keeps moving YES We are seeing more women and underrepresented minorities working in cardiology, BUT still more progress is clearly needed... #womeninleadership are helping to pave the way by increasing this much needed representation. ... I decided to pursue a position on the leadership committee for @americancollegeofcardiology #ACCWIC because I wanted to ensure the committee made up the standard make-up of the diverse United States. With only 2% of the population of physicians identifying as #blackwomeninmedicine its imperative our voices are heard to not only improve quality of our patients care, but quality of our own workforce and ambitious leadership goals. I am honored to have a seat at the table and play a role in this select group of extraordinary women. I am even more honored to be given the opportunity to address my vision for #womenshearthealth across a larger health system with @biljana_parapid , @gplundberg with moderation by @drsheilasahni tomorrow at our leadership workshop. So for those inspiring to have a career in cardiology and/or #leadership please join us tomorrow as not only will you NOT want to miss it, but we don’t want you too because we need you in our amazing field to keep that needle moving along #faceofcardiology #womenincardiology #ilooklikeacardiologist #womeninleadership #seatatthetable

Woman remain unaware that disease is there > risk, especially young women of color. Thank you American Heart Association via American Heart Association - Arizona for allowing me to speak to @abcnews on this important topic and to highlight many of the female-specific risk factors that place one at a greater risk for disease, including: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy... Gestational diabetes Preterm labor Autoimmune conditions Ladies please get your annual well-woman visit to address your potential risks, as #knowingishalfthebattle. #womenshearthealth #preventativehealth #prevention #ilooklikeacardiologist #womenincardiology

On #WorldHeartDay let’s be sure to get your annual visit, know your risks and remain health

#Bandaidsout it’s Flu Vaccine Time Why am I smiling from ear to ear Because I just got my #fluvaccine & couldn’t be happier, especially as I convinced my colleague to join in with me ... Getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A flu vaccination is especially important for people with certain underlying medical conditions, like asthma, disease, and diabetes. People with these types of conditions are at higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Many of these conditions also increase the risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19. Vaccinations have also been associated with rates of some cardiac events among people with disease, especially among those who had a cardiac event in the past year. So please get yours as soon as possible, especially by the end of October #vaccinessavelives #fluvacccine #covid19 #ilooklikeacardiologist #doctorswhobelieveinscience #scienceisrreal #vaccinesafetyadvocate #fluvaccine2020