McCall “Mickey” Breuer, CNM, WHNP-BC, recently joined UM Shore Medical Group – Women’s Health. Formerly a provider with WomanWise Midwifery in Blue Bell, Pa., her midwifery experience includes providing general benign gynecology, prenatal, OB triage, contraceptive and intrapartum and postpartum care. In outpatient and inpatient settings, she has managed patients with gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.

Prior to earning her degree as a certified nurse midwife (CNM), Breuer worked as a registered nurse in maternity care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., and Virtua Voorhees Hospital in Voorhees Township, N.J. She also has 10 years of experience as a birth and post-partum doula in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

Breuer holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in Boston, and Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Her specialty certifications include Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC), Neonatal Resuscitation Protocol (NRP) and AWHONN Basic Fetal Monitoring. She is fluent in Spanish.

 

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to learn about risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of this all-too-common cancer affecting men.

A free screening event is offered by The Cancer Center at UM Shore Regional Health on Tuesday, September 25. As part of a clinical trial, this screening is open to men ages 45 or older who have never been screened for prostate cancer, men 40 and older who are either African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer, and men ages 55 to 69 for yearly screening. Uninsured and underinsured individuals are welcome to participate. Register by calling Nina Weisenborn, 410-822-1000, ext. 2300 before September 26, 2023.

In the meantime, learn more from prostate cancer survivor Jon Peterson, of Chestertown, who describes his experience with diagnosis and treatment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkjXIQhDaXk

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) vascular access nurse Terri Coleman, RN, daughter of the late Chris Mullikin, MSN, BSN, RN, recently donated a painting to the Pain Management Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton in her mother’s memory.

Mullikin, who retired from UM SRH in 2014 after working at the Easton hospital for 42 years, died in January. During her career, Mullikin managed the obstetrics, dialysis, and medical-surgical units, but was most proud of her leadership role in the establishment and operation of the Pain Management Center. 

The oil painting, which depicts an angel-shaped cloud above a rural landscape, was originally commissioned by retired UM Shore Regional Health anesthesiologists John Snell, MD and Rob Middleton, MD as a gift to Mullikin honoring her career at the time of her retirement.

“I really felt that the best place for the painting is the Pain Management Center,” said Coleman. “I know my mom would be pleased that patients and staff would be able to view and appreciate the painting as she did.”

Located in the Outpatient Center of the Easton hospital, the Pain Management Center integrates a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Patients are accepted into the program through referrals from primary care providers, orthopedists, neurosurgeons, neurologists and other medical specialists.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services recently welcomed Mikayla Mountain, MS, CCC-SLP, to its outpatient rehab teams in UM Shore Medical Pavilions at Denton and Queenstown.

Mountain joins UM Shore Regional Health from Key Healthcare -The Pines in Easton, where she had served as speech language pathologist/lead therapist since July 2022. During that time, she also worked part-time at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, providing therapy to patients in acute care units as well as the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation.

Mountain’s experience also includes working for Chesapeake Speech Therapy Services, LLC, where she provided therapy to children ages 6 to 12 with speech/language disorders enrolled in Queen Anne’s County public schools as well as to adult inpatients and outpatients referred by providers at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.

Mountain earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education Transition Programming from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa., after which she completed a Hearing and Speech Science Post-Baccalaureate Program at University of Maryland in College Park, Md. She earned her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University of Maryland in Baltimore, Md. Prior to earning her SLP degree, Mountain worked for Queen Anne’s County Department of Health in Centreville, Md., and The Benedictine School in Ridgely, Md.

“We are excited to have Mikayla join our rehab teams at Denton and Queenstown,” said Frank Rath, Manager, Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. “Her experience will be of great benefit to children and adults in Caroline and Queen Anne’s counties who need speech-language therapy.”

For more information about rehabilitation services provided by UM Shore Regional Health, please visit https://www.umshoreregional/rehabilitation/.

CUTLINE: 

Mikayla Mountain, MS, CC-SLP (Mountain, Mikayla.jpg)

 
About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men in the United States aside from non-melanoma skin cancer. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and about six cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older.

To promote early detection of prostate cancer, the Cancer Program at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has scheduled a screening event on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cancer Center, 509 Idlewild Avenue in Easton. Provided at no cost to participants, this screening is part of a clinical trial.

Conducted by John Mastandrea, MD, Chief of Radiology at the Cancer Center, this year’s screenings will involve a blood draw for measuring the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein found in cells of the prostate gland. An elevated PSA count can indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Samples will be sent for laboratory analysis and results shared with participants when made available to the Cancer Program.  

This screening event is open to men ages 45 or older who have never been screened for prostate cancer, men 40 and older who are either African American or have a family history of prostate cancer, and men ages 55 to 69 for yearly screening. Uninsured and underinsured individuals are welcome to participate; those interested in being screened are encouraged to discuss the testing with their primary care providers.

Men with early prostate cancer usually do not experience symptoms. However, symptoms that suggest prompt medical attention is needed include difficulties with urination (increased frequency, interrupted flow, pain/burning, etc.), painful ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen, and pain in the back, hips or pelvis. These symptoms may indicate prostate cancer or some other health problem, such as non-cancerous prostate enlargement.

“Providing community members with access to preventive care and screenings is an important priority for the Shore Regional Health Cancer Program,” said Nina Weisenborn, BSN, RN, Clinical Research Nurse at the Cancer Center. “Early diagnosis makes it possible to begin evaluation and treatment promptly, which increases patients’ chances for survival and reducing the likelihood of complications.”

Due to limited space, advance registration for the free prostate screening is required. To register, or for more information, call 410-820-6800, ext. 2300.

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton was recently named a top hospital in the country for Patient Safety, according to Healthgrades. Healthgrades’ 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award distinction focused on clinical performance and patient outcomes, and reflects the care and compassion of UM Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH’s) care teams.

Healthgrades recognized 864 hospitals with its 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award. Hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were in the top 10 percent of hospitals based on 14 patient safety indicators from inpatient data. An analysis revealed patients treated at a recipient hospital were less likely to experience the following events:

• In-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture
• Collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest
• Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital
• Catheter-related bloodstream infections 

“The safety of the patients in our care is of the utmost importance to UM Shore Regional Health,” said Sherri Hobbs-Messick, MSM, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, Chief Quality, Safety and Experience Officer at UM SRH. “Receiving validation for the safe care we provide, from a top-ranked, external rating agency in the health care industry, helps affirm our efforts and drives us forward in our relentless pursuit of excellence and zero harm. It is because of our amazing care teams, who provide safe and compassionate care every day for our communities, that this recognition was achieved.” 

Healthgrades recognized five hospitals in Maryland with the Patient Safety Excellence Award, two of which (UM Shore Medical Center at Easton and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center) are part of the University of Maryland Medical System.

“UM Shore Regional Health teams strive for excellence every day and patient safety is always top of mind. We are exceedingly proud of this very considerable recognition,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM Shore Regional Health. “This is a significant merit that UM SRH holds with less than 10 percent of hospitals in the United States. This distinction is made possible by our devoted team members and medical staff providers, who are caring and skilled individuals, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication to patient care and safety.”

Healthgrades awards tell medical consumers which hospitals throughout the country deliver superior quality care. Healthgrades objectively evaluates hospital performance using data related to important quality measures such as clinical outcomes and patient safety, as well as patient experience.

###

University of Maryland Shore Medical Group – Nephrology recently welcomed a new provider, Mohamed Ahmed, MD. Dr. Ahmed is seeing patients at UM Shore Medical Pavilion in Denton.

Dr. Ahmed joins the nephrology practice after completing a residency in internal medicine at Rochester Regional Health’s Unity Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. Previously, he completed fellowships in nephrology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Ark.

Dr. Ahmed earned his medical degree from Juba University in Khartoum, Sudan, after which he provided care in multiple settings, including outpatient primary and specialty care, and inpatient intensive care and step-down units. At Khartoum Teaching Hospital, he served two years managing nephrology patients, facilitating dialysis for patients with end-stage renal disease and acute kidney injury. From 2015 to 2017 at NMC ProVita International Medical Center in Al Ain, UAE, he served on a multi-disciplinary team managing critically ill patients with complex conditions. Dr. Ahmed is a member of the American Society of Nephrology and has authored articles in medical publications.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Ahmed to our nephrology team and very excited that his arrival enables us to start seeing patients in Denton as well as Cambridge, Chestertown, Easton and Queenstown,” said Anish Hinduja, MD, Medical Director, SMG-Nephrology. “Providing convenient access to care for Caroline County patients close to their homes is an important step forward for our practice.”

To make an appointment with a UM SMG – Nephrology provider, call 410-820-9823.

S. Dale Greenhawk Jafari, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, a provider with UM Shore Medical Group – Women’s Health, has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

This honor has been bestowed on less than one percent of the 355,000 nurse practitioners in the U.S. Jafari was one of 63 NPs to receive the honor this year.

The Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) program was established in 2000 and is dedicated to the advancement of nurse practitioners, commonly referred to as NPs, and the high-quality health care they provide. Recognized as nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to education, policy, clinical practice and research in their field, AANP Fellows volunteer their expertise as reviewers, topical experts, committee members, journal contributors, mentors and more. This year’s induction ceremony was held at AANP’s conference in New Orleans, La.

“I’m grateful to every patient I’ve served in my 45-year career in health care,” said Jafari. “Each one contributed in some way to this honor. I also appreciate the mentoring I’ve received from outstanding Fellows and colleagues throughout my 25 years as a nurse practitioner.”

In 2008, Jafari joined UM SRH’s Wellness for Women program offered by the Breast Center, and has been a member of the UM SMG – Women’s Health team since 2013. She continues to serve her community, including by serving as Medical Director for the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) has welcomed Mary Grace Hensell, MHS, BSN, RN, CNOR, as Director of Perioperative Services, and Tisha Thompson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, as Regional Director of Emergency Services. In their new roles, Hensell and Thompson are responsible for perioperative services and emergency departments and services, respectively, in Cambridge, Chestertown, Easton and Queenstown. 

Hensell brings over 30 years of surgical nursing and nurse management experience from hospitals in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Most recently, she served as Patient Care Manager at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, and previously as Senior Director of Perioperative Services at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, Va.

Hensell earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing with a specialty in Healthcare Administration from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She is a member of the Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) and served as president of the national organization for the 2008-2009 term. She has also served as both a member and trustee for the Baltimore and Pittsburgh chapters of AORN.

Thompson brings over 15 years of nursing leadership and teaching experience from hospitals and schools in New York. Most recently, she served as the Director of Nursing for the Emergency Department/Short Stay Observation/ALERT Team, at NYU Langone Health-Long Island in Mineola, N.Y.

Thompson earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice – Healthcare Systems Leadership from Chamberlain University in St. Louis, Mo.; a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic in Utica, N.Y.; and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in St. Louis, Mo. 

She is a member of the Black Nurses Association, Maryland Eastern Shore Chapter, and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). She served as chapter president of the ENA in 2019 and conference delegate for numerous years.

“We are so pleased to have Mary Grace and Tisha join our leadership team,” said Jenny Bowie, Chief Nursing Officer.  “Their skills and vast experience, along with their dedication to patient safety, will be an asset to Shore Regional Health.”

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is launching an in-person five-session workshop titled “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy,” designed to teach participants how to stay healthy by making healthier and safer choices. The class will be offered once per month, in-person at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown Street, from 1 to 3 p.m., beginning Friday, July 28, with sessions running through November. There is no charge for the course, but registration is required. 

Led by Sandra Wilson-Hypes, Health Educator for University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, this course will offer guidance, information, tools and resources to help participants make behavior changes based on an increased knowledge of home and health prevention. Course topics include: Infection Prevention on July 28, Fire and Burn Prevention on August 16, Medication Safety and Accidental Overdose Prevention on September 19, Diabetes Prevention on October 26 and Fall Prevention on November 14. Attendance in all five sessions of the course is encouraged but not required.

Participants who complete this series of courses can expect:

• Increased awareness and understanding of the importance of maintaining a healthy living environment
• Enhanced awareness of safety measures within your home
• Increased ability to create a safer living environment through implementing practical safety measures
• Empowerment to take responsibility for personal health and well-being
• Reduced risk of injuries, illnesses and avoidable health problems within your home
• Improve overall health outcomes for participants and their households 

“Learning how to maintain a healthy home and prioritize preventive measures is the goal of this home and health prevention series,” said Wilson-Hypes. “This series equips individuals with the knowledge and tools to safeguard their well-being, create a safer living environment and embrace a proactive approach toward long-term health.”

Classes are open to all. Family members and caretakers are encouraged to participate as well. Register online at umshoreregional.org/health-education and click on the date(s) of the course you wish to attend in the calendar provided.