Karen Barbosa, DO

UM Shore Medical Group – Oncology recently welcomed Karen Barbosa, DO to its provider team at the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.

Dr. Barbosa joins Breast Center providers Roberta Lilly, MD, and Brittany Krautheim, CRNP, after five years as in private practice with Alaska Breast Care Specialists, PC, in Anchorage, Alaska. As Alaska’s first Fellowship-trained breast surgeon, Dr. Barbosa had served with the Alaska Institute of Surgical and Medical Specialties, and previously with NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York and Top Tier Breast Specialists, PC and St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, both in Smithtown, New York. She completed a breast oncology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and was chief surgical resident at Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, New York.

Dr. Barbosa also has taught oncoplastic reconstruction surgery, which is the fusion of cancer surgery with attention to optimizing cosmetic outcomes, for the TME Foundation, the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Board-certified in General Surgery, Dr. Barbosa holds multiple specialized certifications and has published widely in the field of breast oncology. She earned her undergraduate degree from Fordham University and her medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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John T. Moon, M.D.

John T. Moon, MD joined University of Maryland Shore Medical Group – Surgery as medical director for the practice in April, 2020. He joins William Bair, MD, Dabanjan Bandyopadhyay, DO, Edward DiNapoli, Jr., MD, and Amanda Hahn, MD, in providing surgical consultations, procedures and post-operative care.

Dr. Moon came to UM SMG – Surgery after serving three years as a robotic and advanced laparoscopic minimally invasive general surgeon at Advent Health Medical Group in Merriam, Kansas.

He previously performed general and advanced laparoscopic surgery at Southern California Permanente Medical Group and Mission Surgical Clinic, Inc., and was a clinical associate professor at the University of California at Irvine. He also held general surgeon and trauma attending positions at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Moon completed his General Surgery Residency at State University of New York/Suny in Brooklyn, New York and his Bariatric/Advanced Laparoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. Moon’s academic credentials include MD and PhD degrees from Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Louisiana; and MS and DDS degrees from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Board certified in General Surgery, Dr. Moon holds multiple specialized certifications, including da Vinci® Surgical System Console Surgeon Certification. He has published widely on the topic of robotic surgeries, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

“We are grateful to have Dr. Moon leading our surgical team. His skill and talent, particularly with regard to laparascopic and robotic surgery is a great asset to our community,” said Timothy Shanahan, DO, medical director, UM Shore Medical Group.

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

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Expansion of The Orthopedic Center – a partner of UM Shore Regional Health – is now in progress as construction of a 15,000-square foot, two-story addition to its location at 510 Idlewild Avenue in Easton is on track for completion in March 2021. The addition was designed by Fisher Architecture, LLC and is being built by Willow Construction.

The new addition’s first floor will double the size of the facility for therapy services. UM Shore Rehabilitation at Easton, currently located in the Diagnostic and Imaging Center on Martin Court in Easton, will relocate its outpatient physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy services to the new addition at The Orthopedic Center.

The second floor will be dedicated to orthopedic provider services, offering 14 exam rooms and an x-ray room. Providers with the Center include: physicians Thomas Stauch, MD, president, Nicholas Anastasio, MD, Glenn R. Hardy, MD, Jason J. Jancosko, MD, MPT, Richard J. Mason, Kevin McCoy, MD, William L. Montague, MD, James W. Palumbo, MD and Myron Szczukowski, Jr., MD; nurse practitioner Glenda McCarter; and physician assistants Jason A. Burton, Caryn F. Caulka, Benjamin A. Flowers, Karen J. Luethy and Richard A. Turney.

Construction is well in progress on the addition to The Orthopedic Center on Idlewild Avenue in Easton.

“The expansion will improve patient access to care and improve operational efficiency, particularly with regard to physical therapy services,” said Dr. Szczukowski. “The additional space will allow us to grow our therapy staff and increase our operation from 42 hours per week to as many as 57 hours per week.”

The Orthopedic Center offers a multi-specialty approach to patients needing care for conditions related to the neck, spine, hands, feet and joints, including hips, knees and shoulders. This includes specialized physical therapy and sports medicine services in conjunction with medical surgical specialists in bone and joint surgery, and physical rehabilitation medicine. The specialized professional therapy team works in close collaboration with the physicians to assure the most personalized and appropriate therapy plan of care to help patients avoid re-injury or setbacks.

As construction on the new addition proceeds, The Orthopedic Center providers continue to see patients at the Center and at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown. Surgical procedures are offered at the Surgery Center of Easton and UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

Learn more by visiting theorthopediccenter.net. To schedule an appointment, call 410-820-8226.

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The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Nursing team organized a food drive this month to help children, seniors and all those suffering from the economic impact of Covid-19. The drive was planned as a response to the generous outpouring of community support during the pandemic, and especially during Health Care Heroes Week, which took place in early May.

Over the past few months, UM Shore Regional Health hospitals have received countless donations of meals, face masks, hand sanitizer, care packages, encouraging signs, and more so the Nursing and Patient Care Services team wanted to do something special for the community in return, explained Rita Holley, director of Shore Home Care Services.

April Sharp, Gladys Peeples, Rita Johnson and Lakeshia Frazier help sort some of the donations from UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.

“So many people are hurting right now, and collecting healthy food for vulnerable community members is another way that we can help,” said Holley.

Through the efforts of nursing leadership, UM Shore Home Care and UM Chester River Home Care, an abundance of non-perishable food items, as well as pet food and supplies, were collected and distributed to food pantries and animal shelters across the Mid Shore region.

“We are so thankful to our community for standing with us, supporting us and boosting our spirits, as we care for people during this pandemic,” said Pat Thompson, director, UM Shore Behavioral Health, and co-organizer of the event. “We are all grateful to have found a way to give back.”

Rita Holley, left, is shown dropping off donations with Neighborhood Service Center staff Alicia Parker and Janie Foster.

UM Chester River Home Care social worker, April Sharp, and UM Shore Home Care social worker, Alice Ofano, completed much of the leg work, helping collect donations from multiple UM SRH hospitals and outpatient facilities across the region.

The donations were distributed to the Lutheran Mission Society and the Humane Society of Dorchester County in Cambridge, Samaritan House in Denton, Neighborhood Service Center in Easton, Caroline County Humane Society in Ridgely, Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville and Queen Anne’s County Animal Services in Queenstown.

In addition to the food drive, UM Shore Regional Health recently made a donation of $5,000 to the Maryland Food Bank-Eastern Shore that benefited communities in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties. To make a donation to the Maryland Food Bank, visit mdfoodbank.org.

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

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Fallon Bauer, PA

University of Maryland Shore Medical Group – Neurology and Sleep Medicine recently welcomed Fallon Bauer, physician assistant, to its practice based in UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Easton. Bauer has joined Walid Kamsheh, MD, medical director, Neurology and Sleep Medicine, and nurse practitioners Trish Lemay and Rahel Alemu in the evaluation, diagnosis, medical management and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nerve disorders, and sleep disorders. In addition to the Easton location, Neurology and Sleep disorders see patients at Shore Medical Pavilion at Cambridge.

Bauer comes to Shore Medical Group from Shore Bayy, LLC, the hospitalist team serving UM SRH hospitals since 2012. In that capacity, she worked with an integrated team of physicians and other advance practice practitioners providing care to patients in acute care, telemetry, medical-surgical and units.

Prior to becoming a physician assistant, Bauer was a member of the nursing team in UM Shore Medical Center at Easton’s Emergency Department for three years.

Bauer earned her undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, after which she earned her nursing degree from McQueen Gibbs Willis School of Nursing. In 2012, she completed her Certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Anne Arundel Community College and her Master’s degree in Medical Studies from St. Francis University in Loretta, Pennsylvania. Certified by the National Commission of Certifying Physician Assistants since 2012, she also is certified in basic and advanced life support.

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.

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University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centers at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton, at Shore Medical Pavilion at Easton and at Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown, have earned renewed Echocardiography Reaccreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). UM SRH has been accredited through the IAC since 1991.

According to Melissa Svehla, manager, Cardiovascular Services, “This accreditation is constantly monitored and reassessed. We are proud to have been a part of this program for the past 21 years.”

Echocardiography is used to assess different areas of the heart and can detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed closely by stroke, the fourth highest cause of death. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease — approximately one every 40 seconds.

“This accreditation takes dedication and a lot of work outside of normal hours,” says Dr. Bruce Helmly, Medical Director, Cardiology. “I am proud of the hard work and commitment of this team, and their constant vigilance in maintaining this accreditation.”

From left are Dr. Bruce Helmly, Medical Director, Cardiology; Cilica Nita, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS); Kristin Thompson, RDCS; Tessa Arnie, RDCS; and Cardiovascular Services Manager Melissa Svehla, RDCS.

Several factors contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography: the training and experience of the sonographer performing the procedure, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics each facility is required to measure. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a dedication to continuous improvement.

This reaccreditation signifies that all five facilities have undergone an intensive application and review process and were found to be in compliance with published standards, thus demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography.

IAC provides accreditation programs for vascular testing, echocardiography, nuclear/PET, MRI, diagnostic CT, dental CT, carotid stenting, vein treatment and management and cardiac electrophysiology. IAC accreditation programs are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting health care, and all support the mission of improving health care through accreditation.

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.

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Kim McGlaughlin is shown taking an arriving patient’s information at the entrance before directing him to the parking lot.

As University of Maryland Shore Regional Health resumes routine, non-emergency testing, the Diagnostic and Imaging Center (DIC) and Clark Comprehensive Breast Center at Easton are getting busier. “We’ve resumed imaging up to 50 percent of normal-capacity scheduling, and many patients also are catching up on their blood work that they may have been putting off as part of the emphasis on staying home and social distancing,” says Pam Addy, senior vice president, Ambulatory and Clinical Services.

This posed new challenges for those working at the DIC and Breast Center. Waiting rooms in the building, while spacious, could not accommodate a growing complement of patients with the requirement to maintain a distance of 12 feet apart. So, the Ambulatory Services team came up with a new process to help patients get the testing they need while minimizing the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19.

When patients drive up, they are stopped by a “greeter” who directs them to continue on to the circle in front of the entrance rather than going right to the parking lot. At the entrance, patients are greeted by screeners with walkie-talkies who ascertain what testing or provider visit they have come for, ask questions regarding any possible symptoms and take their temperatures, get their phone number, and then direct them to the parking lot. The screeners keep in touch with staff inside the building so that as soon as either their provider is ready to see the patient or there is space for them to be inside for testing with appropriate social distance, they are called to come into the building.

“Patients are very appreciative,” says Addy. “They are understandably nervous to be coming into a medical facility but they understand that this new system is designed for their comfort, convenience and safety. The screeners are there to answer their questions and provide reassurance about the measures in place.”

The new system also enables DIC and Breast Center staff to keep their waiting rooms clear for use by patients who arrive by bus or taxi, and for those with disabilities or any mobility issue.

Tiffany Plummer, Matthew Lockerman and Kim McGaughlan staff the screener station at the entrance to the DIC/Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.

“We really want everyone to get their testing or their appointments taken care of as quickly and safely as possible,” Addy says. “The only hitch so far is that we have very high volumes in the early morning, so I would say that if you are coming in for blood work and you did not have to fast overnight, try to come later in the day.”

To schedule an appointment for testing at the Diagnostic and Imaging Center or the Clarke Comprehensive Breast Center, call 410-822-2600.

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.

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The exciting vision of a new, state- of-the-art freestanding medical facility in Cambridge, Maryland, is now taking shape. University of Maryland Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge is under construction with anticipated completion by fall 2021. Located in the new Cambridge Marketplace on Route 50/Ocean Gateway, the project was designed by the Baltimore-based architectural firm Marshall Craft Associates and is being built by Chesapeake Contracting Group of Annapolis.

The campus will include a two-story freestanding medical facility (FMF) with a full 24/7 Emergency Department, a second-story medical services pavilion, a helipad and ample parking.

“The Cambridge Marketplace site is perfect—it offers convenient access to public transportation and emergency vehicles and efficient access to the helipad,” says Ken Kozel, president and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health. “We are excited that our medical campus will be conveniently located among other services at the Marketplace that benefit local residents.”

Architects’ rendering shows the entrance of the UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge, now under construction at Cambridge Marketplace.

The first floor of the new building will house the state-of-the-art, 39,000-square-foot Emergency Department including 18 private treatment rooms, six private observation rooms and a separate, three-bed unit for the assessment and treatment of patients needing emergency care for behavioral health issues. As is now the case, the new Dorchester ED will have telemedicine capabilities that enable physicians and other care providers to consult with specialists at Shore Regional Health’s other facilities, at University of Maryland Medical Center and around the globe.

“Like our Shore Emergency Center in Queenstown, nearly 20,000 people come to the Emergency Department in Dorchester each year. We are looking forward to having a top-notch facility where our outstanding emergency care teams can continue to provide the best care possible,” says William Huffner, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, UM SRH.

Other services located on the first floor will include Shore Behavioral Health’s Bridge Clinic and Intensive Outpatient Program, Cardiac Rehabilitation, the Infusion Center, and laboratory and radiology services. An MRI facility will be located adjacent to the building.

Aerial view of the construction site at Cambridge Marketplace.

The second floor will serve as a medical pavilion offering a wide array of services, including an outpatient surgery center, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, rehabilitation services (including the Balance Center), chronic disease management services and a community education room. The Cambridge offices of UM Shore Medical Group pediatric, women’s health and surgery practices will also be located on the second floor, along with a multispecialty suite where patients can see providers from various specialties including diabetes, cardiology, primary care and urology.

Plans for UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge have been in the works since 2015. An important part of the process was a series of community listening sessions, conducted in 2016, in East New Market, Cambridge, Vienna and Madison. Hosted by officials representing University of Maryland Medical System and UM Shore Regional Health, these sessions attracted hundreds of Dorchester residents as well as local physicians, business and civic leaders, elected officials, state and county health care officials, and representatives from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). Those in attendance gained an overview of the changing landscape of health care delivery and the forces driving that change, as well as plans for the new medical campus.

In July 2018, UM SRH held a public information session at Cambridge South Dorchester High School as part of the process of seeking legislative approval for the FMF model to be implemented in Cambridge. Senate Bill 707 passed in the Maryland General Assembly’s 2019 session and was signed by Governor Larry Hogan. In late April 2019, the Maryland Health Care Commission unanimously approved three Certificates of Exemption, which included plans for UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester to be replaced by UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge once the new campus is completed and fully operational.

“From the outset, our goal has been to ensure that quality, accessible and affordable health care is available to all residents of Dorchester County,” says Kozel. “We sought a convenient, visible location that would meet the key health care needs in the region, and also serve as a modern place of employment, a focal point for public transportation, and an attractive draw to physicians and advanced practice providers needed to provide care in the region. It’s exciting and gratifying to see this vision now becoming reality.”

For more information about Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge, visit umshoreregional.org/cambridgecampus.

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.

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In March, when University of Maryland Shore Regional Health suspended elective surgeries to focus on preparations for COVID-positive patients, several care teams from the three hospitals were deployed to other units and tasks where they could be of the greatest help. This was especially true for Perioperative Services, which includes Pre-anesthesia Testing, Same Day Surgery, Operating Room and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, as well as the Sterile Processing Department. Perioperative Services team members – who normally take care of surgical patients from their arrival to discharge – quickly began assisting on COVID inpatient units, in Emergency Departments, and other areas.

In many cases, this not only meant new duties but wider responsibility, as emergency surgeries were still taking place.

“When we started deploying Perioperative team members to our Emergency Department and inpatient units, I saw my whole team step up and really make UM Shore Regional Health proud,” says Peggy Roca, manager, Perioperative Services at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. “I call them our Perioperative Angels because, as the days and weeks progressed, I saw them get pulled in several different directions, shining wherever they went.”

From left are members of the UM SMC at Chestertown Perioperative Services team: Sarah Busick, Dawn Ford, Sissy Demby, Louise Dove, Kristy Moss, Lisa Cleary, Terry Dulin, Suzie Miller, Vicky Downes, Darlene Spencer, Amy Loder, Oriane Bowers, Peggy Roca, Courtney Hessian and Lisa Milton.

Roca said her staff were helpful throughout the hospital, working as “nurse extenders” on inpatient units and Emergency Departments, and assisting with the care of COVID patients and patients on non-COVID units. They also performed COVID-19 testing on patients scheduled for necessary surgeries. Sterile Processing team members also assisted by taking staff temperatures upon arrival for work.

“All 32 of my Perioperative team members have been forced to step out of their comfort zone, which can be challenging for anyone,” Roca said. “But we are in the midst of COVID-19, and we don’t now have a sense of when this pandemic will end and team members can go back to their original duties. So, this has been emotionally challenging for everyone. I call them our Perioperative Services Angels because they step into any department, put on all the recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and support their colleagues to get them and their patients through the day.”

Slowly but surely the angels will return to their home base, as elective surgeries become available again, but Roca said she wants the team to know how proud she is of them and how well they have served hospital patients and their families, as well as their fellow health care team members.

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.

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Talbot Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here