THOMAS BOND

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Thomas Bond was an American doctor and surgeon who founded the first hospital in America in 1751. With Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Bond founded Pennsylvania Hospital "for the reception and cure of the sick poor... free of charge.”

 

Along with being the first established public hospital in the American colonies, Pennsylvania Hospital also housed the first surgical theater and medical library in America. Dr. Bond volunteered as a surgeon at the hospital for nearly three decades, from its founding until his death.

 

Pennsylvania Hospital started as a teaching hospital and quickly gained a reputation as a center of innovation and medical advancement. The hospital’s patient care reflected Dr. Bond’s faith as a follower of Christ in treating those often ignored or neglected. The hospital was one of the first to establish a maternity department to provide superior care for women. At the time most births were done at home and medical care for women was considered unimportant. Also, the hospital was known for its advanced and humane treatment of mental illness, a poorly understood area of medicine at the time that often resulted in mistreatment of people with mental health issues. The hospital also treated soldiers wounded in war, including the Revolutionary War and Civil War.

 

The seal of Pennsylvania Hospital includes the phrase “Take Care of Him and I will repay Thee,” referencing the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.