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, from left: 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.

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.

Choptank Community Health System is moving forward with renovations to its Chestertown Health Center at 126 Philosophers Terrace in Chestertown, Maryland with the recent selection of Harper & Sons, Inc. of Easton, Maryland as the general contractor for the project.

Choptank Community Health System opened its Chestertown Health Center in the summer of 2022 within the existing building layout, and quickly began plans for renovating the space. Using the current footprint of the building, the renovated Chestertown Health Center will include new dental services and an expanded number of exam rooms available for Choptank Health’s medical and behavioral health patients.

“Harper & Sons shares our deep commitments to excellence and community,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “We have worked with Harper & Sons on other renovations, including with our new Federalsburg Health Center soon to be under construction. We remain impressed by the number of successful commercial projects they’ve completed throughout the Eastern Shore.”

Harper & Sons, Inc. was founded in 1968 by Howard G. Harper in Easton, MD, and has successfully completed a portfolio of projects for commercial and institutional clients, including many challenging renovations of occupied buildings.

Today, Harper & Sons, Inc. is managed by the third generation of family members, with project experience that includes working with the Town of Easton, University of Maryland, Caroline County, St. Michaels Community Center, Qlarant Inc., Compass Hospice, and more.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this meaningful project for Choptank Community Health and the people of Chestertown,” says Harper & Sons Vice President Benson Harper. “Our hands-on approach to project oversight ensures a high level of responsibility and personal attention to critical details throughout the building process. During each project, our whole team strives to provide unique and valuable solutions to the current challenges the construction industry is facing.”

Choptank Health’s Chestertown Health Center will remain open during renovations which are anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2024. The Center is open Mon. through Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and can be reached at 443-215-5353.

Choptank Community Health System is joining community partners across the Mid-Shore in standing up against substance abuse this September by participating in the Go Purple movement and building awareness around its substance use disorder and behavioral health services for patients.

Choptank Community Health System provides patients facing substance use disorders with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), which is the use of medications in combination with counseling to treat substance use disorders.

The individually tailored program is offered at Choptank Health’s St. Michaels, Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, Goldsboro, and Federalsburg locations and is primarily used for the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders. Patients also have the support of a peer recovery specialist and counseling services, with in-person visits in Federalsburg and telehealth available for all Choptank Health patients.

“You don’t have to face substance use and recovery on your own,” said Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “Choptank’s team of medical providers, nurses, and therapists can help. Recovery is possible, and we will get there together.”

The MAT services are part of Choptank Health’s behavioral health program and are available to all Choptank Health medical and dental patients. The services are provided with a compassionate, integrated approach to each patient’s mental health and well-being, including therapy for individuals, families, and groups, and medication management.

The regional Go Purple movement began in Talbot County, Md. as a month-long awareness and education initiative for preventing substance use among youth. Educational messages from Drug-Free Caroline, Dorchester Goes Purple, Kent Goes Purple, Queen Anne’s Goes Purple, and Talbot Goes Purple are being shared with Choptank Health’s online audiences.

“We encourage you to have conversations with your children, friends, or family members who are struggling with substance abuse,” said Rich. “If you need help starting the conversation or getting the facts, your Choptank Health providers in St. Michaels, Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, Goldsboro, and Federalsburg are here and ready to help.”

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental 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, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcome. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

From left: Chestertown Police Department Chief Ronald M. Dixon, Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich, Chestertown Council Ward 2 Member Thomas A. Herz, Jr., and Chestertown Mayor David Foster.

Choptank Community Health System is bringing its mobile healthcare unit to Chestertown to help serve people in Kent County. The initiative is made possible through a partnership with Choptank Health, the Town of Chestertown, and the Chestertown Police Department. The mobile unit will be used to provide medical, behavioral health, and dental services to communities in Kent County.

The Chestertown Police Department at 601 High St. will house the mobile health unit while not out in Kent County delivering health care to residents. Services will be provided while the unit is out in the community and not from the unit in the parking lot.

“Choptank Health is very thankful for this opportunity to connect healthcare with our communities and local agencies,” said Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “We are especially grateful for Councilman Herz’s help while we were exploring the best places to call home for our mobile unit.”

“The search criteria included having a secure location for overnight parking and accessibility to electricity to recharge the unit’s instrumentations,” said Chestertown Council Ward 2 Member Thomas A. Herz, Jr. “The Chestertown Police Department fits the criteria, and is centrally located, which is an added bonus.”

Rich says this is their third mobile health unit and expands Choptank Health’s capability to truly meet its patients where they are. Other units are used during the school year to provide school-based medical and dental services and as a platform for Choptank Health’s migrant program team to visit various farms, agricultural nurseries, and crab houses across the Shore.

“Choptank Health is an essential community partner in delivering healthcare to people in Chestertown and those living in rural areas of the entire Mid-Shore region,” said Chestertown Mayor David Foster. “We felt it was essential to support the operations of their mobile unit to help break down barriers to healthcare while supporting the health of residents in our community.”

“Helping Choptank Health provide healthcare to people in our rural communities is important,” said Chestertown Police Department Chief Ronald M. Dixon. “We’re glad to have the opportunity to support their work and our community in this meaningful way.”

rom left: Chestertown Police Department Chief Ronald M. Dixon, Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich, Chestertown Council Ward 2 Member Thomas A. Herz, Jr., and Chestertown Mayor David Foster.

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, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcome. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s Denton Health Center recently welcomed Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Samantha Hoffman, CRNP, to the medical practice.

Hoffman specializes in the comprehensive assessment and treatment of pediatric patients working in local, rural communities. She is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

Hoffman received her Post-Master’s Doctorate degree in Nursing Practice and Master of Science degree with a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing, where she also holds a Teaching in Nursing and Healthcare Professions Certificate. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Stevenson University and was on the Dean’s List while at The Catholic University of America, School of Nursing.

She serves as the Secretary and Continuing Education Chair of the Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and is a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation, the National League for Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing 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 Community Health’s medical services include primary health care, women’s health, prenatal care, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, care navigation, and laboratory services, with new medical patients welcomed.

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

Eunice A. Asare, DO

Choptank Community Health System’s Denton Health Center recently welcomed family practice physician Eunice A. Asare, DO to the medical practice.

Dr. Asare specializes in the comprehensive assessment and treatment of prenatal, pediatric, and adult patients working in local, rural communities. She is a Global Health Clinical Elective participant with Christiana Care and the Rhodes Foundation and is a Certified Medical Language Interpreter in Akan/Twi.

Dr. Asare received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology Osteopathic School of Medicine and a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College.

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 Community Health’s medical services include primary health care, women’s health, prenatal care, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, care navigation, and laboratory services, with new medical patients now being welcomed.

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

Morgan Rhodes, DMD

Choptank Community Health System’s Goldsboro Medical and Dental Center recently welcomed dentist Morgan Rhodes, DMD to the dental practice.

Dr. Rhodes specializes in the comprehensive assessment and treatment of pediatric and adult dental patients working in local, rural communities.

Dr. Rhodes received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, where she treated advanced dental patient cases as a clinical honors student. She received a Bachelor of Sciences in Biological Sciences degree with a minor in Business Administration from Clemson University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Her postdoctoral residency was completed at New York University Langone.

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’s pediatric and adult dental services include dental examinations, cleanings, x-rays, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery extractions, root canals, dentures, and coordination of hospital-based programs.

New and existing Choptank Health dental patients can call the Goldsboro Medical and Dental Center at 410-634-2380 to schedule an appointment, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.