About JD

Joseph David (JD) Elder is a graduate of The Swedish Institute College for Health Sciences (1984).  He received a New York State Massage Therapy License (1984).

He received a certification as a Reiki Advanced Practitioner from Memorial Sloan Kettering (2008) and a Therapeutic Yoga Certification (therapeutic positioning training): through Integral Yoga (2008) and a Personal Trainer certification from Marymount College in1997.

Mr. Elder received a Bachelor of Science (2003) and a Master of Arts degree (2010) from the State University of New York, Empire State College, studying issues in community health and the implication of mindfulness and human nature on personal and global health. 

Mr. Elder has been a teacher (and student) of stress reduction and mindfulness-based meditation practices since 1972. His studies and interests revolve around the relationship between mind and body on physical, mental  and environmental health.

JD has been a New York state-licensed massage therapist working in stress reduction, health promotion and healthcare since 1984.

His continuing education training is ongoing and extensive.

Mr. Elder founded the Massage Therapy Program and the Complementary Therapies Program at the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital where for he has been offering seriously ill hospitalized palliative care patients, compassionate comfort-focused massage therapy, positioning and therapeutic mindfulness for symptoms and stress reduction since 2000.

In 2002, Mr. Elder received Mount Sinai’s “Team Service Award” and in 2005, he received a “Recognition of Excellence” Service Award.  

He also received Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine "Spotlight on Excellence" recognitions  (one in 2016 and another in 2023).

He has been a member of American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) since 2011.

For additional information, use contact JD link.