B.O.N.D.
Brothers Overcoming, Nurturing & Developing
B.O.N.D. operates as a year-round ecosystem designed to strengthen connection, mentorship, and professional advancement for Black men in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Its structure blends national convenings, regional engagement, virtual learning, and real-time peer support into a cohesive model that meets members where they are academically, geographically, and personally.
B.O.N.D.’s overarching purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of Black male physicians and leaders in digestive health.
To achieve this, the program seeks to:
- Build a national community where Black men in GI and hepatology feel visible, supported, and professionally anchored.
- Increase access to mentorship across academic, clinical, and industry pathways.
- Create leadership pathways and reduce barriers that have historically limited advancement.
- Improve the professional experiences that influence career longevity, promotion, and retention.
- Contribute to more equitable digestive health outcomes by diversifying the workforce that serves Black communities.
B.O.N.D. strengthens ABGH’s mission by providing a dedicated, identity-affirming community for Black men across the GI workforce—a group that remains profoundly underrepresented and often professionally isolated.
While ABGH’s broader programming supports learners and clinicians at every stage, B.O.N.D. fills a specific and persistent gap: a structured space where Black male trainees and physicians can speak openly, access tailored mentorship, and build relationships that sustain them through training and practice.
At its core, the initiative offers a safe forum for shared experience and guidance, supported through vertical mentorship (attending → fellow → resident → student) and horizontal peer networks. Participants connect across clinical practice, academia, research, advocacy, and industry, broadening opportunity and reducing the fragmentation that often limits professional advancement.
B.O.N.D. also serves as a leadership pipeline for ABGH, preparing members to step into committee roles, speaker opportunities, and ambassadorial roles within the organization. Its framework provides a scalable model that ABGH can replicate for other underrepresented groups within gastroenterology and hepatology.
Are you ready to B.O.N.D.?
By expanding representation, deepening engagement, and fostering collaboration across institutions and career stages, B.O.N.D. enhances ABGH’s national influence and accelerates progress toward a more diverse and equitable GI workforce.
