Mercy Flights Inc is proud to have our own medical director on staff. Dr. Alicia Bond, MD, joined the MFI team in June of 2017 and continues to make a positive impact on the quality of care and service we provide. Here’s what Dr. Bond has to say about being part of the MFI team.
What brought you to Mercy Flights?
After I told MFI CEO Doug Stewart I was NOT looking for a new job, he invited me to Mercy Flights “just to talk.” Tricky! I got here and was so impressed by Mercy Flights’ mission, history, and people that I decided to apply for the Medical Director position. I was an EMT before I became a physician and have always loved working with EMTs and paramedics, so it’s a joy to be involved with this extremely talented bunch of folks.
Where else do you share your medical expertise in the region/state/nation?
I work in the Emergency Departments at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and Providence Medford Medical Center. I have a background in hospice and palliative care, so I have lectured on the intersection of EMS/ED/palliative care at some regional conferences (last year in Oregon and Idaho), and do semi-regular talks for paramedics and students through Rogue Community College.
What makes MFI unique in comparison to other medical transport companies?
Mercy Flights is a true community non-profit from top to bottom. The fact that COO Tim James and CEO Doug Stewart were paramedics first and can’t be diverted from their community service mission means this company always has its heart in the right place.
Do you have a particularly memorable/inspirational experience to share from your first year with MFI?
It’s hard to pick one. I can tell you that every time I look through charts, I see examples of our teams doing amazing things for patients, either prehospital or during interfacility transfers, often without recognition. Why does that patient look so much better than expected? Because my medics did such a great job! They also have tremendous compassion for even our most difficult patients–I can recall sitting aroundon a late night shift while a couple of crews talked about some of our regular customers, not with derision, but with recognition of those people as humans with stories and challenges and feelings. It made me proud.
As medical director for MFI, what are you most looking forward to in 2019?
I would really love to expand our hands-on training opportunities, especially if we can include some of our fire partners.
