Choptank Community Health System’s dental practice recently welcomed pediatric dentist Wayne Stephens, DDS to its Denton Health Center.

Dr. Stephens has more than 10 years of experience, including working with vulnerable populations as a pediatric dentist. He served as a pediatric dentist and as director of pediatric dental health and wellness at the Jessie Trice Community Health System in Miami, Florida. He completed his pediatric dental residency at Miami Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Stephens earned his doctorate in dental surgery from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He also holds a master of public administration degree from Harvard Kennedy School; a master of public health degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School; and a master of business administration degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Business.

He is a former Joe L. Henry Oral Health Fellow at Harvard Medical School and served as the Samuel D. Harris Fellow in Research and Policy with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Stephens was elected national president of the American Student Dental Association and served on the boards of the Florida Health Justice Project and Foundation for New Education Initiatives, non-profit organizations in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

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Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children—including school-based health in all five counties—with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Health patients can schedule a dental appointment by calling 410-479-2650, with more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System President and CEO Sara Rich, MPA, has been named Maryland’s 2024 Community Star by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

The national Community Stars program helps to recognize individual contributors as it honors remarkable individuals and organizations going above and beyond for rural health. They exemplify the true spirit of collaboration, turning challenges into opportunities, ensuring access to quality care, and fostering a sense of unity and support within our rural communities.

Each year, Maryland puts forth a slate of Community Star nominations, with one being recognized on the national level. Previous honorees include Adelaide “Addie” Eckardt, Eastern Shore Hospital Center; Beth Anne Dorman, For All Seasons, Inc.; the St. Mary’s County Health Department; and John Corbin, Garrett County Health Department.

Rich brings more than 25 years of experience across local, state, and national healthcare settings, with a dedicated focus on enhancing the health and well-being of children, families, and communities. Under her visionary leadership, Choptank Health has expanded access to health care while creating employment opportunities and raising standards of care. Her commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through her active involvement in regional health initiatives and her advocacy at state and national levels, championing the mission of community health centers nationwide.

“I always wanted a career in which I could make a difference in the lives of others,” says Rich. “In rural health, the relationships we have in our communities, with our colleagues, and with those we serve inspire us all to make that difference every day.”

Rich says her most rewarding experiences during her time as CEO and president of Choptank Health include those shared through strong partnerships with non-profits, businesses, school systems, health departments, and others.

“Seeing the impact that can be made when organizations come together, such as during the pandemic, makes this work rewarding,” Rich says. “Choptank Health has added and expanded our behavioral health services—something I’m very proud of—and that helps address a huge need for our patients and the rural communities we serve across Maryland’s Mid-Shore.”

Rich says Choptank Health recognized that some communities could not easily access health care through its networks of locations spanning five counties. Choptank Health responded by leveraging its long history of providing medical services through a robust school-based health program.

“We are partnering with some of our local schools to utilize our school health centers for residents, many living in underserved areas and in need of care and increased access to healthcare,” says Rich. “Additionally, we have three mobile health units that provide care at schools, homeless shelters, and other community locations, allowing us to reach people where they are and connect them with vital health services.”

Choptank Health additionally reaches into the farthest rural regions through the utilization of school-based health, mobile health, telehealth, and office visits to address medical, dental, behavioral health, and more.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic health management, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is the membership association of the nation’s 50 State Offices of Rural Health and the founder of National Rural Health Day. More about its Community Stars program and recipients is at https://powerofrural.org/2024-community-stars/.

 

Choptank Community Health System is proud to join communities across America to celebrate National Rural Health Day on November 21, 2024. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health leads rural-focused organizations throughout the United States to set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate the power of rural and honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

“Of utmost importance is that we ensure all rural communities on Maryland’s Mid-Shore have the opportunity to be healthy and have access to affordable, quality health care regardless of where they call home,” said Choptank Health CEO and President Sara Rich. “Choptank Community Health System is proud to recognize the incredible work of health professionals and volunteers in our community on National Rural Health Day and throughout the year.”

Rich says Choptank Health can reach into the farthest rural regions of the five-county area it serves through the utilization of school-based health, mobile health, telehealth, and office visits to address medical, dental, behavioral health, and more.

“Through technology and other advances, we are more and more able to meet our patients where they are,” said Rich. “And in a rural environment like ours, that is critical in delivering on our mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all.”

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic health management, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Additional information about National Rural Health Day, including resources and tools, can be found at www.powerofrural.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s dental practice recently welcomed Andrés Álvarez-Deal, DMD, and Megan Patterson Poteat, DDS to its Cambridge Dental Center and David Martin, DDS to its Federalsburg Dental Center.

Dr. Álvarez-Deal received his certification through the NYU Langone Advance Education in General Dentistry program at Choptank Health and his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from the University of Puerto Rico, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in general sciences.

He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Education Association, specializing in treating Spanish and English-speaking patients in rural settings.

Dr. Patterson Poteat received her certification for advanced training in General Dentistry from the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at Choptank Community Health. She is a proud graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Before practicing dentistry, Dr. Patterson Poteat was a science teacher in both Maryland and the District of Columbia Public Schools. During that time, she completed a Master of Arts degree in teaching from American University in Washington D.C.

She is an active member of the Maryland Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, and maintains membership in the American Dental Association, American Association of Women Dentists, American Dental Education Association, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Martin earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hampton University. His experience includes providing oral health care in underserved environments, with diagnostic and clinical skills including prevention, periodontal, oral surgery, restorative, emergency, and pediatric dentistry. He is a member of the American Dental Association; Maryland Academy of General Dentistry; Academy of General Dentistry.

The AEGD residency program at Choptank Health is part of NYU Langone Dental Medicine’s training program and provides academic and clinical interactions between the preceptees and the AEGD residents.

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Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all, with more at www.choptankhealth.org

Choptank Community Health System’s Denton Health Center recently welcomed Pediatrician Erin Harvey, MD to the medical practice.

Dr. Harvey is a Hurlock native and North Dorchester High School alumni. She specializes in the comprehensive assessment and treatment of pediatric patients working in rural communities.

She completed a three-year pediatric residency program at INOVA Children’s Hospital after receiving her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she placed on the Dean’s List each semester, and served as a Junior and Senior Saint Mary’s Scholar.

Dr. Harvey is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, and the Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honor Society.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Health also provides school-based medical, dental, nutrition, and behavioral health services for enrolled students in all five Mid-Shore counties.

Choptank Community Health’s medical services include pediatrics, primary health care, women’s health, prenatal care, behavioral health, chronic health management, care navigation, and laboratory services, with new medical patients welcome in all locations.

New and existing Choptank Health medical patients can call Denton Health Center at 410-479-2650 to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is celebrating National Health Center Week 2024 this August 4-10 to highlight Community Health Centers’ essential role in improving public health and advancing health equity. Health centers represent the nation’s largest primary care network, serving 31.5 million patients nationwide and powered by a workforce of nearly 300,000 dedicated professionals.

This year’s National Association of Community Health Centers celebration focuses on “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections”.

Health centers like Choptank Health work on the front lines of our nation’s most pressing public health challenges with a mission to make high-quality, affordable care available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, nearly 1,500 health centers nationwide serve as the healthcare home to one in five uninsured people; one in three people living in poverty; one in seven rural residents; nearly nine million children; and 400,000 veterans.

“Choptank Health and other Community Health Centers like us are integral to our rural and national primary healthcare system,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “We design innovative, integrated primary care based on what services communities need most, ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for more than 31.5 million people, especially for our most vulnerable families and individuals.”

Rich continued, “Choptank Health’s dedicated professionals reach beyond the walls of the exam room to not only prevent illness but also address the social drivers, including homelessness, substance use disorders, food insecurity, behavioral health, and much more.”

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic health management, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

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To learn more about the mission and accomplishments of health centers, visit www.nachc.org. You can learn more about NHCW and view a listing of events at www.healthcenterweek.org

Choptank Community Health System is encouraging parents to keep their children’s immunizations up to date to ensure their readiness for the new school year.

“Immunizations protect your children from diseases,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “Without immunizations, our children and communities are at greater risk of outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio, whooping cough, and more.

“We want to keep our kids happy, healthy, and protected,” she says. “Choptank Health is here to remind parents to schedule immunizations with your healthcare provider today.”

Rich says Choptank Health has developed an immunization portal at choptankhealth.org/protected to make it easier for Mid-Shore parents to keep their children’s health and immunizations in check.

The site includes Maryland’s back-to-school immunization requirements, the CDC’s child and adolescent immunization schedule by age, and a tool to help find a healthcare provider near you, if necessary. Links are also provided for the childhood immunization programs of all local health departments.

“We’re fortunate to work with partners like our local health departments and schools to help prepare our children for a successful school year,” says Rich. “We’re working together to protect our children with immunizations to make it harder for these serious and sometimes deadly illnesses to spread throughout our communities.”

The promotion is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $330,795. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and School-Based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, lab services, and care navigation. New patients are welcome. More information can be found at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is celebrating 25 years of providing school-based health services to Mid-Shore students. The milestone is being recognized in February as part of the National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month. Choptank Health is celebrating its successes and raising awareness about how school-based health centers improve access to healthcare services for children and adolescents and how they make a difference in their lives today and in the future.

Rooted in Caroline County: A Legacy of Care

Choptank Health’s school-based care journey began in 1999 with the opening of four School-Based Health Centers in Caroline County Public Schools, igniting a legacy of healthcare excellence and helping to enhance students’ well-being during the academic year.

Choptank Health was awarded a Project Healthy Schools’ Healthy Communities Grant to establish school-based primary care services in Caroline County. A partnership with Caroline County Public Schools, the Caroline County Health Department, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing helped establish the School-Based Health Center sites at Greensboro Elementary and Federalsburg Elementary Schools, and Colonel Richardson Middle and Lockerman Middle Schools.

Over the years, Choptank Health’s commitment to the community has flourished, with School-Based Health Centers and programs now spanning Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties. Eighteen school-based health centers and a mobile health unit reach more than 8,000 students each year, providing dental services in Dorchester County; medical, dental, dietetic, and behavioral health services in Caroline and Talbot Counties; and medical and dental services in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties.

President and CEO Sara Rich reflects on the organization’s growth, stating, “We are incredibly proud of our Caroline County roots in school-based health. Our dedicated team, now extending beyond medical providers to include dental hygienists, therapists, and dietitians, continues to make a positive impact on the lives of Mid-Shore students.”

The school-based health centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside, well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment required. Services include diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, dietitian services, and educational services.

Choptank Health’s School-Based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

“We are excited to celebrate 25 years of providing services in our school-based programs,” said Choptank Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz. “I am proud of our team and the tremendous work being done in our schools.”

For more information, visit www.choptankhealth.org/schoolbased.

Choptank Community Health System recently welcomed Family Nurse Practitioners Kristen Farrell, DNP, Natalie Lewis, CRNP, and Registered Dietician Jennifer Runz, MBA, RD, LDN to its Talbot County School-Based Health Center team.

Farrell is providing healthcare to students at Easton Elementary School, Lewis is providing healthcare at Easton Middle School and White Marsh Elementary School, and Runz is providing dietician services to all Talbot County Public School students enrolled in School-Based Health.

“We continue to grow our School-Based team to meet the increasing needs of local area students,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “We’re grateful for the strong partnerships we have with Talbot County Public Schools, Talbot County Health Department, Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, and the Maryland Department of Health to make school-based health in Talbot County possible.”

Kristen Farrell graduated from Salisbury University with a Doctorate of Nurse Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with her scholastics placing her in the Bellavance Honors program.

Before joining Choptank Health, Farrell worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Allergy and Asthma, and as a Registered Nurse, serving in the medical and mother-baby units of healthcare organizations including Anne Arundel Medical Center and Suburban Hospital. She also currently works as a Clinical Nurse Faculty member at Salisbury University.

Natalie Lewis graduated Magna Cum Laude from Walden University with her Master’s Degree in Nursing, specializing in the field of study to become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Notre Dame of Maryland University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Lewis is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and volunteers with CASA of the Mid-Shore. Her experience includes treating children and adults with critical medical care at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

Jennifer Runz received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences from Ohio University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Flint.

Runz’s experience includes working as a Clinical Dietitian with Genesys Health Systems and other area hospitals and as a nutrition consultant with fitness facilities, including the YMCA of the Chesapeake. Her volunteer work includes serving with The Country School in Easton, Maryland on the Board of Trustees, as President of the Parents’ Association, and as Auction Chair.

Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers are located in five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, providing dental services for Dorchester County Public School students and medical and dental services for students in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County Public Schools. A primary care mobile health unit is also used as part of Choptank Health’s school-based health center services.

The School-Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment needed. Services include diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, nutrition, and educational services. Choptank Health’s School-Based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

School-Based Health Center Enrollment forms can be picked up at each school or downloaded in English and Spanish at www.choptankhealth.org/formsinformation.

Behavioral Health Therapists Maura Cavalieri, LGPC, and Fiona Kay, LCSW-C have joined Choptank Health’s Talbot County Public School School-Based Health Center team, and Behavioral Health Therapist Reina Ronquillo, LMSW joins behavioral health provider Lindsay Newcomb, LCSW-C in serving the students at Caroline County Public Schools.

“Choptank Health recognizes the importance of behavioral health as part of the integrated health services we provide to our patients, and that includes students enrolled in our School-Based Health Centers throughout Maryland’s Mid-Shore,” said Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “These three new providers are part of our treating the whole person with medical, dental, and behavioral health services.”

Behavioral Health Therapist Maura Cavalieri, LGPC holds a Master’s of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Justice, Law, and Society from Washington College.

She holds a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification, with counseling experience in school and family environments, including the William Meredith School and Family Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cavalieri sees students at Easton Elementary and the St. Michaels campus of schools.

Behavioral Health Therapist Fiona Kay, LCSW-C holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is an experienced school social worker and clinical mental health therapist in local, and rural settings.

Her experience includes working with Talbot County Public Schools, For All Seasons, Eastern Shore Psychological Services, and the Caroline County Department of Social Services. Kay sees students at Easton Middle School, Easton High School, and White Marsh Elementary School.

Behavioral Health Therapist Reina Ronquillo, LMSW received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Salisbury University and holds a Certificate in Advanced Trauma Treatment Level 1 from the Ferentz Institute.

Before joining Choptank Health, Ronquillo worked for Channel Marker in Easton and Denton, Maryland, most recently serving as an Adult Services Director, and working in crisis and youth services.

Her community involvement includes serving with the Caroline YMCA Mentor Program, Asian Student Social Workers, and the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee. Ronquillo sees students at Preston Elementary, Federalsburg Elementary, and Colonel Richardson Middle and High Schools.

Behavioral Health Provider Lindsay Newcomb, LCSW-C joined Choptank Health as the first school-based behavioral health provider in the summer of 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Salisbury University and completed the Advanced Standing Social Work Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Newcomb’s experience includes working as a Foster Care Caseworker, Parent Education Coordinator, Addictions Therapist, Mental Health Therapist, and Behavioral Health Interventionist. She sees students at Denton Elementary, Goldsboro Elementary, Ridgely Elementary School, Lockerman Middle School, and North Caroline High School.

Choptank Health’s School-Based Health Centers provide medical and dental services for students in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot County Public Schools. Behavioral health and nutrition services are also offered in Caroline and Talbot, and dental services for Dorchester County Public School students. A mobile health unit is also used as part of Choptank Health’s School-Based health center services.

The School-Based Health Centers provide in-person, virtual, and curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment needed. School-based integrated behavioral health services include individual, family, and group therapy for all students who access services in the School-Based Health Centers.Other School-Based services include diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, nutrition, and educational services. Choptank Health’s School-Based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

Parents or guardians can make a behavioral health appointment for their student by calling the Health Center of their student’s school. School-Based Health Center Enrollment forms can be picked up at each school or downloaded in English and Spanish at www.choptankhealth.org/formsinformation.