Dr. Rachel M. Bond, MD, FACC

06/11/2026

1999.

Sitting with my parents and my brother in our house in the Bronx, watching the New York Knicks chase a championship and dreaming about what my own future might look like.

Back then, Madison Square Garden felt larger than life. The lights. The noise. The belief that anything was possible.

Today, the Knicks are back on basketball’s biggest stage, and after witnessing a historic 29-point comeback, I’m reminded of a lesson that has followed me far beyond the game itself:

Never give up.

Not when you’re behind.
Not when things look impossible.
Not when everyone thinks it’s over.

The current team has a simple mentality: 0-0. Stay desperate at all times.

That mindset carried me from the Bronx to becoming the first physician in my family.

Every milestone could have been a stopping point. Getting into an accelerated college program. Medical school. Residency. Fellowship. Building a career.

But growth happens when you keep showing up, even when the odds are against you.

Stay humble.
Stay hungry.
Stay grateful.
Stay desperate.

So as I watch the Knicks fight for something generations of true fans, like myself, have waited decades to see, I think about that young girl sitting on the living room floor believing in something bigger than herself.

The dream changed. The mentality never did.

From the Bronx to cardiology.
From Madison Square Garden memories to caring for hearts every day.

One more win.

Bring it home, New York. It’s been more than 50 years since the city celebrated a Knicks championship.

What a time to be alive. 🧡💙🙏🏽

05/09/2026

Grateful to the Arizona Chapter of the Women in Cardiology community for creating space for a truly honest and meaningful conversation during our panel, “No Filter. Just Facts. Women in Cardiology After Hours.”

I was honored to moderate a discussion that moved beyond titles and CVs and into the real experiences many women in medicine continue to navigate daily. What made the evening so impactful was the willingness of the panelists and audience to be vulnerable, candid, and solution-oriented.

Two questions especially sparked powerful discussion:

• “Women are still expected to do more—with less recognition.”
→ Where do you see this most?

• “You cannot be an excellent physician and always be available.”
→ How do you balance access, boundaries, and excellence in patient care?

The responses were raw, honest, and deeply relatable. Conversations touched on the invisible labor many women physicians carry — from inbox management and emotional labor to committee work and mentorship — responsibilities that are often expected but not always recognized or compensated equitably.

We discussed the reality that women advocating firmly for patients or systems change may still be labeled “aggressive,” while the same traits in others are viewed as leadership. Yet despite these challenges, the overwhelming message in the room was one of resilience, community, mentorship, and progress.

Most importantly, the discussion reminded us that transparency matters. Creating environments where women can speak openly about career growth, compensation, burnout, leadership, motherhood, boundaries, and belonging is essential if we truly want to retain and advance women in cardiology and medicine.

Thank you again to everyone who participated, shared their stories, and helped create such an empowering evening. The honesty in that room was powerful — and necessary.

05/01/2026

Honored to be part of the American Heart Association - Arizona Luncheon today ❤️

Sharing the stage with an incredible panel of all female cardiologists was powerful—and necessary ♥️

We talked about something simple, but critical:
👉🏽 Your heart health is not optional—it’s foundational.

Know your numbers.
Know your story.
Stop waiting for symptoms.

Grateful to stand alongside and work with brilliant women using our voices to change the narrative for women’s heart health.

04/25/2026

Continuing the message I shared earlier this week: pregnancy is not just a moment—it is a turning point for lifelong cardiovascular health.

Honored to be featured by the Black Women's Health Imperative discussing why pregnancy complications must lead to long-term follow-up and prevention, especially for Black women who continue to face disproportionate risks.

The postpartum period is a beginning, not an ending.

🔗https://bwhi.org/2026/04/24/pregnancy-is-a-turning-point-the-system-just-hasnt-treated-it-that-way/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=415624638&utm_content=415624638&utm_source=hs_email

Since 1983, our national organization dedicated to health of our nation’s 21 million Black women and girls – physically, emotionally and financially.

04/22/2026

This one is for the women, the families, the support systems ♥️

Pregnancy is more than a moment—it’s a powerful window into your heart health.

In this video, we’re breaking down what every woman and family should know about heart health during pregnancy and after delivery, inspired by the National Academies report:

Protecting Maternal Heart Health

Here’s the truth:
Too many women are told “you’re fine” when something doesn’t feel right.
Too many symptoms are dismissed.
Too many lives could be saved with earlier recognition and advocacy.

Your body is talking—listen to it.
Your voice matters—use it.
And your loved ones play a critical role—advocate, ask questions, speak up.

Because heart health doesn’t end at delivery.
The postpartum period is just as important—and often where we miss the biggest opportunities to protect women.

This is about awareness.
This is about empowerment.
This is about saving lives.

🎥 Watch, share, and tag someone who needs to hear this.

🔗 Learn more:
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/29425/Maternal_Heart_Health_Policy_Brief.pdf

GoRedForWomen BlackMaternalHealth Cardiology

04/22/2026

Honored to share our JAMA Network Open publication accompanying the National Academies report on maternal heart health.

Serving as an author on this work has been incredibly meaningful, as it highlights a critical gap in care—pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease remains a leading and largely preventable cause of maternal mortality, with many deaths occurring beyond the traditional postpartum window .

This article reinforces a key message: pregnancy is a cardiovascular inflection point. Yet our systems have not fully leveraged this window for prevention, risk identification, and long-term care.

Grateful to collaborate with an exceptional multidisciplinary team and the NASEM staff whose work made this possible.

Now the focus must shift from awareness to implementation.

04/22/2026

A landmark moment for women’s heart health ♥️

Proud to share the release of the National Academies report:

Protecting Maternal Heart Health: Prevention and Care Before, During, and After Pregnancy

This work reflects years of collaboration and the incredible dedication of the NASEM team—bringing together science, policy, and clinical care to address one of the most urgent issues in medicine today.

Here’s the reality:
Pregnancy is a cardiovascular stress test—and too often, we miss the opportunity to act. Most maternal cardiovascular deaths are preventable and many occur after delivery, when care has already fallen off .

This report changes the narrative.
It calls for a life-course approach—before, during, and long after pregnancy—to truly protect women’s heart health.

Honored to contribute to this work and to stand alongside so many brilliant leaders pushing this forward.

Now it’s time for action.

🔗 Read the report:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/29425/chapter/1

04/19/2026

Join Research Goes Red with the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women❤️

For far too long, women have been underrepresented in research. And when women aren’t studied, we miss critical answers about how heart disease shows up, how it’s prevented, and how it should be treated.

Research isn’t just data—it’s how we:
✨ Understand sex-specific symptoms
✨ Improve diagnosis and outcomes
✨ Close gaps in care and equity
✨ Shape the future of women’s health across the lifespan

From pregnancy to menopause and beyond—there is still so much we need to study, understand, and get right.

I’m honored to serve as a Clinical Leader on the Research Goes Red advisory committee. This work is personal, and it’s powerful.

Join me. Share your story. Be part of the change.

Scan QRS below or click👉🏽 https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/research-goes-red

healthdisparitiesresearch

04/18/2026

Some days feel heavy.
Some steps feel uncertain.

But growth doesn’t come from standing still.

Behind every step is doubt, strength, and the decision to keep going—especially on the days no one sees.

To every woman finding her way…
keep walking. Your path is yours for a reason. 🤍

04/17/2026

Why Black women in particular should pay attention to blood pressure during pregnancy.