During a special virtual meeting of JABA’s Board of Directors today, Dr. Denise Bonds, director of the Blue Ridge Health District, was honored for what she has done for the community in general, and seniors in particular. Board members presented Dr. Bonds with a Jefferson Cup and a Certificate of Appreciation.

Through the Blue Ridge Health District’s leading role in the MAPP2Health initiative, Dr. Bonds has ensured that seniors’ health and aging needs are priorities in our community’s goals for improved health outcomes. 

When COVID hit, Dr. Bonds were given the Herculean task of addressing so many community needs that were constantly evolving, often with limited resources.

She has guided the community and advocated for our health district.

We particularly appreciate:

• Dr. Bonds’ guidance for our CEO, Marta Keane, when COVID became a factor in our health district.  She weighed the risk of isolation, from closing too soon, with the risk of infection, from closing too late, and provided information for Marta to use to make the decision, and it worked.  We avoided infections in our centers.

• Dr. Bonds assisted in placing JABA in the related health care provider group, so that staff were eligible for vaccines in February, allowing us protection in working with the vulnerable group of seniors.

• Dr. Bonds collaborated with us to reach homebound and at risk seniors.

Dr. Bonds and her team also helped our community achieve high vaccination rates and stay as healthy as possible.  And we thank her.