Don McPherson

Don McPherson, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, activist and feminist, spoke at For All Seasons’ recent Donor Reception on the topic, “You Throw Like a Girl: A Conversation to End Sexual Violence.” His presentation focused on men and women having a conversation nurturing positive language and a healthy understanding of masculinity. For All Seasons will continue working with Don McPherson to create a community-based program to address men’s violence again women. McPherson will be engaging men to address the culture of unhealthy masculinity at the core of all forms of men’s violence against women. He will work with For All Seasons’ trauma-certified staff to create healthy relationship groups to support victims of crime, while deconstructing rape culture to enable points of engagement with men and women across the Mid Shore.

For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples’ counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines, and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons, call 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

Ron Lewis has joined UM Shore Regional Health as security director, Brian Leutner,  executive director, UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester and UM Shore Regional Health Oncology Services, has announced.

Lewis comes to UM Shore Regional Health from Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS), where he had served since August 2017 as associate regional manager for Region IV (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester counties). Prior to joining MIEMSS, he spent 28 years in progressively responsible positions with Maryland State Police, including commander, Traffic Safety Division (2006-2007); commander, Special Operations Division (2007-2011); commander, Eastern Troop (2011-2015) and ultimately major-commander, Maryland State Police Southern Command (2015-2017).

A subject matter expert for medical emergency training programs, Lewis has vast experience working as a nationally registered paramedic program instructor He also over 20 years of flight paramedic experience in two separate Medevac programs and is a subject matter expert for medical emergency training programs.

Currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in homeland security from Liberty University, Lewis holds a B.S. degree in management studies and criminal justice from University of Maryland University College and an A.A. degree in criminal justice from Wor-Wic Community College.

“Ron Lewis is an experienced leader in law enforcement,” says Leutner. “His resume includes a full complement of law enforcement work including oversight of SWAT, K-9, incident command and control, search and rescue, major event emergency management and tactical medical unit management. We are very fortunate to have him at the helm of our security programs here at Shore Regional Health.”

As part of 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 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members, and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Nineteen individuals recently completed orientation and comprehensive volunteer training at Talbot Hospice. This specialized training provides in-depth understanding of the special needs of hospice patients and their families at end of life focusing on the hospice philosophy, listening skills, family dynamics, grief and loss,patient safety, and more.

Photo: Nineteen individuals recently completed comprehensive volunteer training at Talbot Hospice.
Seated (l-r): Rima Parkhurst, Patti Lister, Martha Sullivan, Alexandra Jackson, Jeanette Barnes, Debbie Potter, Mike Potter, Elizabeth McKay, and Cecelia Laufert; Standing (l-r): Talbot Hospice Director of Volunteer Services Lori Miller, Dajahree Change, Kayleigh Hope, Deb Swann, Ginger Held, Ricka Robinson, Jackie Mantua, Esther Montgomery, DareenDeremer, Sherry Burke, and Janet Larson.

According to Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge, volunteers are an integral part of Talbot Hospice, and they enrich the lives of patients, families, and staff each day in a multitude of ways. “Their dedication, compassion, and expertise are priceless, and we thank them for joining our organization. We treasure volunteers as valuable members of our hospice team,” said Dodge.

Talbot Hospice has more than 200 volunteers who contribute an average of 15,000 hours annually doing a variety of jobs such as hands on patient care in Hospice House, cooking meals, gardening, transporting patients to appointments, serving as companions in patients’ homes, answering phones, and greeting visitors, to name a few.

Volunteer training occurs twice annually, and the next session will take place in March 2019. For more information, visit TalbotHospice.org/Volunteer or contact Director of Volunteer Services Lori Miller at 410-822-6681 or lmiller@talbothospice.org. Talbot Hospice has been providing hospice and grief support services since 1981.

UM Shore Regional Health’s 2018 Cancer Program Annual Report is now available for online viewing on the Cancer Center’s homepage, https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/cancer

The report includes an introduction by Christopher Levey, MD, chair of the Cancer Committee, and highlights the following areas of accomplishment in the past year: Accreditations and Recognition, Services, Regional Screenings and Access to Preventive Care, Maintaining Follow-up, Cancer Registry Statistics, Support and Survivorship and Fundraising Highlights, including a list of donors whose gifts were designated to benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center and/or the Cancer Center, July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. The research study, Breast Cancer Time to Treatment, authored by Roberta Lilly, MD, medical director, Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, also is featured in the report.

University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG), announces the addition of Easton-based nurse practitioner Ashley Schmitz, PhD, MS, CRNP, to its Surgical Care practice.

Ashley specializes in general surgery and is seeing patients at 500 Cadmus Lane in Easton, Suite 205. Patients may make an appointment with her by calling 410-822-4553.

UM CMG is a University of Maryland Medical System-owned network of more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists- and advanced practice clinicians. As part of UM CMG, Ashley is affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health.

Ashley is a graduate of Ohio State University, where she received her Master of Science degree with a major of Family Nurse Practitioner, and her PhD in Human Nutrition. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian University.

“We are very pleased Ashley has chosen to join the team at University of Maryland Community Medical Group – Surgical Care practice,” comments Dr. William Huffner, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at UM Shore Regional Health. “Ashley’s compassionate and comprehensive approach will be a great asset to both our practice and patients here on the Eastern Shore.”

UM CMG consists of community-based provider practices affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, UM Charles Regional Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.  A list of UM CMG providers is available at http://docfind.umms.org/cmg.

About the University of Maryland Community Medical Group  

The University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG) is a multi-hospital, multi-specialty, community-based physician-led group, and part of the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians in more than 75 locations across the state, UM CMG offers patients a vast network of highly experienced providers, delivering care right in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.umcmg.org.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain independence, today announced that two new members have been added to its Board,  William C. Hollis III, who is the founding partner in the firm Hollis, Cronan & Fronk, P.A., located in Easton,  and Tim Jones, who serves as Vice President for Administrative Services at Chesapeake College.

“The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is committed to ensure our board has regional diversity in our leadership. We are excited to have the talent of Mr. Hollis and Mr. Jones, both bring a wealth of experience and insights gained from their past and current leadership roles. They will strengthen our board and commitment to Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” commented Jonathon Rondeau, CEO.

William Hollis joins The Arc Central Chesapeake Region Board from his firm Hollis, Cronan & Fronk, where he provides legal counseling and services to individuals, families and business entities.  He has extensive experience as a litigator trying jury and bench trials in the circuit and district courts, and as a court-appointed attorney for children in divorce and custody disputes.  For 18 years he was employed as a health care executive in hospitals and nursing facilities.  Mr. Hollis has held management positions at every level of hospital organizations including Chief Executive Officer.  He rose to Fellowship status in the American College of Healthcare Executives in the shortest time allowed by that organization’s bylaws.  He has been licensed as a nursing facility administrator in New York, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.  Mr. Hollis received his formal education from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont earning his Bachelor of Arts, continuing to Adelphi University in New York where he received his Master of Business Administration, and finally University of Maryland School of Law in Maryland, where he earned his Juris Doctor.  Mr. Hollis is an active member in the community, serving on several boards, including: Mid-Shore Pro Bono, The Hugh Gregory Gallagher Motivational Theatre, Inc., disAbility Coalition of Talbot County, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, and Dallas Safari Club Member.

Tim Jones joins The Arc Central Chesapeake Region Board from Chesapeake College where he serves as Vice President for Administrative Services.  Throughout his career, Mr. Jones has continually found innovative ways to combine his passion for community improvement with his expertise in organizational and financial leadership.  During his tenure at Chesapeake College, in addition to serving the educational needs of all its residents the college has constructed its first high efficiency building (LEED Platinum) and built and operationalized a 1.76 MW solar photovoltaic array that provides 50 percent of the college’s electricity.  He also, partnered on a battery-storage and microgrid project, and implemented a series of land management practices on campus, designed to improve the water quality of the Wye East River.  Mr. Jones is the current Chair of the the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Talbot County Economic Development Commission, Talbot County Public Works Advisory Board and Quality Matters. Prior to joining Chesapeake College, Mr. Jones was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Sotera Defense Solutions and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, the first external organization charged with overseeing the quality of services delivered through Florida’s Development Disabilities program.  Mr. Jones received his BS in Economics and an MBA from Virginia Tech.  In addition, he has completed graduate level coursework in organizational leadership at both the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Chicago. Mr. Jones has served on the Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board, the Maryland Patient Safety Center Board of Trustees, as Treasurer for the Board of Trustees for Habitat Maryland, and as Chair of the Finance and Human Resources Committee of the American Healthcare Quality Association.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides comprehensive programs, services, and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the arc of their life. The Arc is committed to providing people with disabilities the opportunity to live, work, play and fully participate in the world around them. The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services in Anne Arundel, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties and employs over 350 staff.

For more information about The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, please visit. http://thearcccr.org/.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), the region’s largest health insurer, will present three organizations with more than $400,000 in grants aimed at improving access to health care for uninsured or underinsured patients – some of whom suffer from substance use disorders such as opioid abuse.

Grant recipients include Chase Brexton Health Care’s Easton Center, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center, and University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation’s Expanding Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment in Rural Areas program for substance use disorder patients.

The program will include remarks from Md. Sen. Adelaide Eckardt, CareFirst executives and representatives of the grant recipients. All participants will be available for interviews after the event.

WHAT: Announcement of three Eastern Shore community health organizations receiving CareFirst funds totaling more than $400,000 to expand access to affordable health care among rural and underserved areas in the Eastern shore region.

WHO: Sen. Adelaide Eckardt, CareFirst executives, and grant recipients.

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center, 814 Chesapeake Dr., Cambridge, Md. 21613.

CONTACT: Reporters interested in covering this event should contact Cierra Colón at cierra.colon@carefirst.com or at mediarelations@carefirst.com.

Beginning after close of business on Monday, December 31, X-Ray services at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Denton Diagnostics, located at 838 S. 5th Avenue, will be unavailable until the practice opens at its new location in the UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Denton. The new Pavilion is slated to open for business on February 5, 2019.

Laboratory services along with all other diagnostic services offered at UM SRH Diagnostic will continue operating under normal business hours, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., during  this time.

For more information and to find other UM SRH diagnostic locations, visit umshoreregional.org/imaging or call 410-479-3510.

About UM 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 2,600 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

The Auxiliary of Dorchester General Hospital recently announced their new officers for 2019. The new officers are:

• President – Nancy Duvall
• 1st Vice President – Alexandria Snell
• 2nd Vice President – Joy Loeffler
• Recording Secretary – Michelle Mitchell
• Treasurer – Catherine Gullion
• Membership Dues Secretary – Karol Redline
• Corresponding Secretary – Nancy Linder
• Members-at-Large – Halyna Pagano, Barbara Weiss, Pat Wood

Back row (L-R): Alexandra Anderson-Snell; Catherine Gullion; Joy Loeffler. Front row (L-R): Karol Redline; Nancy Duvall; Michelle Mitchell; Nancy Linder

“We welcome our new and continuing Auxiliary officers and appreciate the many fundraising efforts they lead to support projects that advance the quality of patient care at Shore Medical Center at Dorchester,” says Brian Leutner, executive director, UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester. “Our volunteers make a wonderful difference in the day to day experience of our patients and also our care providers.”

In addition to their volunteer efforts at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Dorchester, the Auxiliary generates income for programs, services, equipment and patient care at the medical center through the Hospitality Shop and the Robin Hood Shop in Cambridge.

For additional information about Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary projects or to become a volunteer, contact an Auxiliary member or call 410-228-0091.

About UM 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 2,600 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.