Due to recurring staffing challenges, UM Shore Regional Health is temporarily closing the Laboratory at Roundtop, 6602 Church Hill Rd., Suite 450, Chestertown, effective Monday, November 13, 2023, to address these issues. UM SRH plans to reopen this location as soon as possible following the recruitment and onboarding of phlebotomists and additional team members.

While the Roundtop location (one of two lab locations available to patients in Chestertown) is closed, patients can utilize other UM SRH facilities in Chestertown, Denton and Queenstown for lab and diagnostic services. 

Additional walk-in laboratory locations for blood draw and specimen collection are available at:

• UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown St., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EKG and imaging services are also available at this location. (Please note: Patients with standing lab orders who were fulfilling those orders at the Roundtop location should visit UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown to fulfill their order, where the records will be on file.) 
• UM Shore Regional Health Diagnostics and Imaging at Denton, 1140 Blades Farm Rd., Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phlebotomy is available at this location, as well as EKG from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and imaging services are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

UM Shore Regional Health Diagnostics and Imaging at Queenstown, 125 Shoreway Drive, Suite 130, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EKG and imaging services are also available at this location.

Lisa Rizia, Clinical and Outreach Educator for Talbot Hospice will be speaking at the St. Michaels Branch on Thursday, November 16th at noon. 

She will explain what Hospice care truly is designed to be; and look at the benefits of Hospice when it is received earlier versus later when someone has a life-limiting disease. 

“Our goal is to present the fact that individuals who take advantage of Hospice care actually live longer with an improved quality and comfort of life,” Rizia said.

The Palliative care program will be explained as well, with an explanation of the difference between the two services. Information about the support groups and services that are ongoing at Talbot Hospice will also be available. 

Rizia has been a RN for 40 years, starting as a hospital nurse and moving on to Community Home Health and Hospice after 13.5 years. Hospice became her main passion early in that transition. 

She was a visiting bedside Hospice RN until she came to Talbot Hospice 10 years ago. She began as the Pathways nurse, then the Clinical Manager for 7.5 years before her current role as Clinical and Outreach Educator. 

Under the leadership of Kathy Deoudes, Chair, the UM Shore Regional Health Board of Directors recently welcomed four new members: LuAnn Brady, Marlene Feldman, Wayne Hockmeyer and Valerie Overton. The Board’s composition includes representatives from the five counties served by UM SRH, the regional physician community and UMMS.

Serving as Secretary of the Board, LuAnn Brady, MSPH, joined UM Shore Regional Health as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2023. Previously, she spent more than 10 years with University of Pennsylvania Health System, first as Chief Administrative Officer for Penn Medicine’s Heart Vascular service line, and later as Vice President of Service Line Operations at Penn Medicine. She also worked for nearly 20 years for Bon Secours Health System, Inc. in Baltimore, first as Director of Planning and later as Vice President of Professional and Support Services. Most recently, she served nearly five years as Chief Operating Officer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Brady holds a Master of Science in Public Health with a focus on Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics Management from Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C. She is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives and was selected as one of the Top 100 Chief Operating Officers of 2022 by C-Suite Spotlight, which provides news and information on today’s leading C-Level executives.

Marlene Feldman is a former member of the UM SRH Shore Regional Health Board of Directors (2005-2022) who served on the Executive, Ethics and Governance Committees and as chair of the Quality, Safety and Experience Committee, 2021-2022. A current member of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees, previously she served on the boards of the University’s Terrapin Club, the Chesapeake College Foundation, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, the Dorchester Family YMCA and the Dorchester County Public Library. She also has served as Government Liaison for the Dorchester Arts Council and as a member of the Dorchester County Board of Education and the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.

A resident of Trappe, Md., Feldman is a member of Feldman, LLC, a real estate holding company, and previously served nine years on the Board of Directors, ISG International, Inc. Her early career included teaching at the elementary school level in Baltimore and Cambridge, and varied administrative and policy projects in the field of public education. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Maryland.

Wayne T. Hockmeyer, PhD, is a retired U.S. Army Officer and former Chief of the Department of Immunology at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Following his retirement from active duty in 1986, he served as Vice President of Laboratory Research and Product Development at Praxis Biologics. He later founded Medimmune, Inc., a company focused on oncology, infectious and inflammatory diseases, which he served as Chairman and/or Chief Executive Officer for 20 years until it was purchased by Astra Zeneca in 2007.

A graduate of Purdue University, Dr. Hockmeyer earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida, which later honored him as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1988. He also has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Purdue University and multiple honors and awards, including the Paul A. Siple Award, the Tech Council of Maryland’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young. His civic and community contributions include serving on multiple boards, including Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Baxter International, Inc., Baxalta, Inc., and the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, which he chaired for six years. A resident of Trappe, Md., he presently served as Vice Chair of the Board of Saints Peter and Paul School in Easton.

Valerie Overton has served as a Principal Health Policy Analyst and Health Policy Department Manager at The Mitre Corporation since 2015. During two decades prior to her role at Mitre, she held progressively responsible positions in health care policy, including Associate Director of Policy Analysis, Research & Methodology for the Health Services Cost Review Commission; Director of Government Affairs for the Anne Arundel Health System (now Luminis Health); and Senior Vice President of Governmental Policy & Advocacy for the Maryland Hospital Association. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore in Baltimore, Md., and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. 

A resident of Chestertown, Md., Overton has been an active member of the community, serving as a member and ultimately secretary, vice president and president of the Kent County Public Library Board of Trustees (2018-2022), and as treasurer for the Chestertown Tea Party (2003-2012). She also is a founding member of the Washington College Masters Swim Team and has served as swim instructor for Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s summer program since 2016. 

For All Seasons has recently welcomed three interns, Meghan E. McPherson, Brianna Mench, and Kevin Nugent, who come from various clinical settings to participate in its intern program. Undergraduate and graduate schools utilize For All Seasons for students who need clinical experiences in social work to meet the requirements of their programs. These hands-on experiences are preparing the next generation of social workers.

Intern Meghan E. McPherson is currently the Family Services Case Manager and Truancy Reduction Court Program Intern at the Maryland Judiciary in Cambridge and a Care Associate in health information management at PinnacleCare. She is pursuing her master’s degree in social work at George Mason University and is a graduate of Washington College in Chestertown.

Brianna Mench joined the For All Seasons Medical team as a Preceptor supervised by Kristen Gordy, RN, MSN, CRNP, Psych Nurse Practitioner. Brianna is working as a registered nurse with the Christiana Care Health System and is currently working towards becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) while attending Walden University.

Kevin Nugent was a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Professional at Channel Marker in Cambridge before becoming a graduate student in the Counselor Education Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Rachel Lange, CPNP-AC, recently joined UM Shore Medical Group – Pediatrics at Cambridge. Lange joins Ahmed Saad Gawad, MD, and Gina Exantus-Bernard, MD, in the Cambridge-based practice. 

Most recently, Lange was a traveling nurse with the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Wellington Regional Center in Wellington, Fla. She also was a NICU nurse at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla., where she provided care to critically ill newborns.

Prior to becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care, Lange worked in Pediatrics at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, providing acute and ambulatory nursing care to newborns, infants, children and adolescents ranging from treatment for acute illnesses, chronic illnesses, injuries and life-threatening conditions.

Lange holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. She also holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

UM Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) recently hosted a community presentation at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton on orthopedic and rehabilitative services offered at The Orthopedic Center (TOC). Providers from TOC, a partner of UM SRH, presented information on surgery, pain relief, prehabilitation, and rehabilitation services, as follows: 

• Jason Jancosko, DO, and Kevin McCoy, MD, spoke about the latest surgical techniques for shoulder and hip surgeries.
• Myron Szczukowski, MD, described a new innovative cold therapy (cryoneurolysis) that can relieve about 50% of patient knee pain.
• Sheila Taylor, DO, explained additional non-surgical pain relief options including shock wave therapy, platelet rich plasma, and ultrasound guided needling techniques for tendon pain relief.
• Jennifer Baima, MD, addressed prehabilitation strategies, such as specific exercise programs, prior to surgeries, radiation therapy and other procedures.
• Chris Jobeck, PT at Shore Rehabilitation as Easton, provided videos of the Rehab Center’s state-of-the art equipment, including the Guldman Lift and Lokomat.

“The event was an excellent forum to discuss everything The Orthopedic Center and our Shore Rehab team have to offer patients undergoing orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation,” said event organizer Khalid Kurtom, MD, FACS, Regional Chair, Department of Surgery, and Medical Director, UM Shore Medical Group – Neurosurgery. “These teams work closely together to give our patients state of the art orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation care that promotes the experience and outcomes possible. We are fortunate to have their expertise here on the Shore.”

For more information about TOC, visit theorthopediccenter.net or call 410-820-8226.

CUTLINE:  Shown with Dr. Kurtom (back row, third from left) are members of UM SRH’s Orthopedic Center and Shore Rehabilitation at Easton teams. (Kurtom dinner 2023.jpeg)

UM Shore Regional Health’s Senior Leadership team recently hosted post-COVID luncheons for team members in each of the five counties UM SRH serves — Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot and Queen Anne’s — to celebrate the World Health Organization declaring an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency earlier this year and to honor all team members who served during the pandemic as “caregivers.” 

The luncheons also served as a remembrance for those team members who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the pandemic and lost their lives, Calvin Molock, Jr. and Bronte Johnson. Family members of both Molock and Johnson attended the luncheon in Easton. Plaques honoring Molock and Johnson will be placed at UM Shore Medical Centers at Cambridge, Chestertown and Easton, as well as UM Shore Medical Pavilions at Denton and Queenstown. 

“COVID made us here at Shore, and health care teams and community members everywhere, realize very quickly how nimble and course-corrective we had to be as new information on COVID came to light,” said William Huffner, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, UM SRH. “There were a lot of unsung heroes during COVID, but especially infection prevention teams everywhere, who helped us address the changes as they came,” added Dr. Huffner, who served as Incident Commander for UM SRH during the COVID-19 pandemic and gave opening remarks at some post-COVID celebration luncheons. “We all are just so appreciative of everyone who stepped up to help our caregivers and communities during this challenging time and these luncheons are just a small token of our appreciation for our team’s dedication.”

Artwork honoring “health care heroes” also was unveiled during the post-COVID luncheons in Cambridge, Chestertown, Easton and Queenstown.

During fall 2022, Kelly Strannahan, Patient Experience Manager at UM SRH, reached out to the Kent Cultural Alliance with an idea of how to honor the commitment of UM SRH team members and health care workers to the communities UM SRH serves in a meaningful and permanent way. The Kent Cultural Alliance proposed having a competition to create mural-size artwork for each UM SRH facility in each county and collaborated with arts councils in Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties, working with each to select an artist from their county to complete the commission. Each artist was provided with canvasses, made possible with the support of The Finishing Touch in Chestertown, and the result is four stunning original murals celebrating health care heroes throughout our region.

In Dorchester County, the artist is Miriam Moran, for Talbot County, the artist is Kevin Garber, and in Queen Anne’s County, then-high school senior Claire Parker was selected. In Kent County, the honor was given to Paul Santori, who early on in the pandemic had a severe case of COVID and was hospitalized at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. Sadly, Paul succumbed to a non-COVID related health issue in winter 2023. His wife, Inez Santori, made the decision in conversation with Kent Cultural Alliance Director John Schratwieser to transfer the commission to Paul’s dear friend, Ron Akins. Paul had sketched his ideas while lying in the hospital for several weeks before his death. With Inez’s support, Ron was able to realize Paul’s vision for the mural.

UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Denton was recently added to the list of commissioned artwork locations and work is underway to have a local artist, Nicholas Tindall, represented in that space.

Each of the county arts councils provided a stipend of $1,250 for their respective artist, and this stipend was supported in part by Kent County’s Hedgelawn Foundation. The five arts councils receive funding from the Community Arts Development program of the Maryland State Arts Council, which receives financial support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

“It was a great honor to be asked to be involved in honoring our health care heroes at five UM Shore Regional Health facilities on the Eastern Shore,” said Schratwieser. “With the support of the directors of our five county arts councils and The Hedgelawn Foundation, we were able to commission five new murals — from gifted artists — to recognize and celebrate our dedicated health care professionals. The positive impact of the arts in any health care environment is well-documented for patients and their recovery. We believe it can also contribute to the well-being of health care workers. On behalf of our artists and my colleagues across the Shore, we extend our gra

A $5,200 donation used to purchase a new treadmill for patients was recently made by a member of Easton Elks Lodge #1622 in honor of UM Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation nurse Hope Meredith, RN, PCCN. 

Ralph Starkey of Easton (pictured center), a patient at UM SRH’s Easton Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab location and treasurer for the Lodge, said the Elks hosted a “Cash Bash,” or 50/50 raffle, this past spring. Starkey purchased a ticket in Meredith’s honor and the ticket was later chosen for the top prize of $5,000. Starkey donated another $200 of his own winnings from the Cash Bash, as well as the winnings in Meredith’s honor, to the UM SRH Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Department.

A retired postmaster for the Easton Post Office, Starkey has been exercising at UM SRH’s Easton Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab location since recovering from coronary artery bypass surgery in the 1990s. Starkey noted the program is important to his overall health and well-being and he was glad to see the money go to a good cause. “The more I participated in the cardiopulmonary rehab program, the more I really enjoyed being there,” he said.

This was the second year that Elks Lodge #1622 has held the Cash Bash. The organization invests in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today’s veterans, and improve the quality of life.

“I’m not sure who is luckier,” said Rebecca Bair, Vice President for Philanthropy, UM SRH. “Ralph, who purchased the winning ticket, Hope, the provider being honored with Ralph’s purchase, or Shore Regional Health as the recipient after Ralph donated the winnings. This is such a thoughtful tribute and gift!”

UM Shore Regional Health’s Centers for Cardio-Pulmonary Fitness & Wellness, located at UM Shore Medical Centers at Cambridge, Chestertown and Easton, provide a safe and supervised setting for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation. Personal exercise programs are designed to help patients meet their specific goals using a wide selection of professional cardiovascular and resistance training equipment with built-in monitoring systems. UM SRH’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab primary staff includes highly-trained registered nurses and clinical exercise physiologists who offer guidance, monitoring, support and a record of superior outcomes.

“We are absolutely filled with gratitude that Ralph was so kind to purchase a ticket on our behalf,” said Meredith. “We were more than pleased when we were notified that we won the grand prize. We are delighted to use the funds to benefit our community’s health and wellness. Thank you very much to the Easton Elks for this opportunity to enhance our program.”

This year’s Festival of Trees Chairman has deep ties to the annual fundraising event, presented by Friends of Hospice. Karla Wieland-Cherry has been involved since 1987 when she was home from college during Thanksgiving break. Over the years, Karla was a fashion show model, a raffle ticket salesman, and a tree decorator. Wherever there was a need for a volunteer, Karla stepped in to help.

Before too many years passed, Karla became a hospice nurse. She said, “I was one of the first nurses to provide patient care in the newly built Talbot Hospice House in 1998.”

Attending the Festival of Trees then became an annual tradition with her own family. She explained, “We all participated in some fashion…including the Fashion Shows. My daughter sang for a number of years with my husband on piano. My son helped me with my Tabletop Trees Chairman work. And now, this year, I am honored to be Chairman for the Festival of Trees.”

Karla admits that it’s a lot of work for the entire Festival of Trees committee but that it’s always rewarding to see the final touches come into focus. She said, “My goal this year is to reach further out into the community to people and groups who are unfamiliar with the Festival of Trees and invite them to come out and see the gorgeous trees and start the holiday season off with a song in their hearts with our theme, Caroling, Caroling Through the Town. We can’t thank the community and businesses enough for their support financially and the volunteer work that takes a year to plan and put together.”

Friends of Hospice was formed in 1984 and began hosting the Festival of Trees in 1986 to raise money for the Talbot Hospice Foundation. To date, more than $3.7 million has been raised by the Festival of Trees to assist with Talbot Hospice’s operating budget.

Festival of Trees Serving Up Holiday Fun

The 38th Festival of Trees will take place in Easton on November 25 through 28. Events include the Festival of Trees, which is held in the Tidewater Inn, as well as Carols by Candlelight, Santa 5K Fun Run, Poinsettia Sale, Santa’s Workshop, and a Holiday House Tour. This year’s theme is “Caroling, Caroling Through the Town,” with a nod to the Victorian era.

Preview Gala

In sync with this year’s Victorian theme, the Preview Gala will return to a more formal affair on Friday, November 24 with the kickoff of the Festival of Trees. From 6 to 8 p.m., guests will have the first opportunity to view 100 exquisitely trimmed trees of varying sizes. Tickets to the Preview Gala are available in advance only for $125 per person or $200 per couple. While the larger trees are sponsored in advance, Preview Gala guests get the first opportunity to purchase the smaller trees, from 12 inches to three feet, in varying price ranges. 

Greeted by snow upon arrival, guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails in the Gold Ballroom at The Tidewater Inn while listening to the piano tunes of the talented Joan Dent. Dale Jafari is Preview Gala Chairman, Ashley Robinson is co-chairman, and Gail Shorter and Reza Jafari are committee members.

Dale said, “We are very excited to elegantly present this year’s Victorian theme of Caroling, Caroling Through the Town. In addition to mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres by The Tidewater Inn, there will be Victorian streetlamps to set the tone as well as a snowy entrance to welcome guests upon their arrival.”

In years past, Dale and her husband, Reza, participated in the Festival of Trees as small tree decorators. Together they feel strongly about helping in any way they can to support Talbot Hospice. When Dale was offered the position of Preview Gala Chairman, she was happy to provide that service. “Hospice was unbelievably helpful to us as we dealt with the loss of my mother in 2019,” she explained. “It is a debt I can never repay.”

Tickets to the Preview Gala are for sale in advance at www.festival-of-trees.org.

Festival of Trees 

The signature event, the Festival of Trees in the Gold Ballroom, will be a sight to behold with its array of decorated trees and live entertainment. Many talented decorators spend untold hours turning the trees into something magical. Poinsettias and the Hospice tree are lovely additions to the room as well. The public is invited to view the trees for $10 on the following dates:

Saturday, November 25 • 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sunday, November 26 • 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Monday, November 27 • 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 28 • 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Carols by Candlelight

This magical free holiday event for all families returns for a fourth year. Choral groups, bell ringers, and musicians will perform, and all spectators will receive a complimentary candle at Carols by Candlelight on Saturday, November 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. in downtown Easton on Harrison Street between Glenwood Avenue and Dover Street. Hot cocoa and holiday treats will be served as the crowd spreads holiday cheer in song. The celebration begins with a festive holiday marketplace. Twinkling holiday accessories will be sold by Santa’s elves to help celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season in downtown Easton, a small town with a big holiday heart. 

Santa 5K Fun Run

The Santa 5K Fun Run returns this year with running enthusiast Alisha Saulsbury serving as Chairman. A long-time volunteer for Friends of Hospice, Alisha first sold cookies with her oldest child at the Festival of Trees. She co-founded the Mother-Son Dance, which enjoyed a nine-year run with her middle son helping along the way. The Fun Run was a way of supporting Talbot Hospice alongside her youngest child and incorporated a sport she loves. The run begins and ends at Idlewild Park in Easton on November 25 with registration in advance at www.fesival-of-trees.org or on site at 8 a.m. There will be age division awards and T shirts for pre-registrants. Participants are encouraged to dress as elves. Cost is $40 per person. Registration is open now at www.festival-of-trees.org.

House Tour

A Holiday House Tour is always a favorite leading up to the Christmas holidays. Mulberry Manor on Matthewstown Road in Easton will be elegantly decorated for the season and feature 10 Christmas trees. Tours will be available from noon to 8 p.m. on November 25 and from noon to 5 p.m. on November 26. Tickets cost $20 in advance at www.festival-of-trees.org and on site the day of for $25. Homemade Christmas cookies and a festive drink will be provided as guests leave the home. Other features to look forward to will include a visit by Santa, at least a dozen outdoor inflatables, carolers and more.

Santa’s Workshop

The newest Festival of Trees event is being introduced on Sunday, November 26 and is sure to please the younger holiday revelers as Santa makes a visit and his elves offer free activities. For the admittance cost to the Festival of Trees, parents and guardians may enjoy activities together with children of all ages from noon to 4 p.m. in the Tidewater Inn’s Gold Ballroom Garden, in the outdoor rotunda just off the Gold Ballroom. Chairman Kari Diefenderfer and her committee members have been creating props for photo opportunities and preparing activities for months.

To get involved in any capacity, big or small, contact Karla Wieland-Cherry at [email protected] or 410-310-8421. Tickets are available at www.festival-of-trees.org. Visit the Festival of Trees on Facebook and Instagram.

The Talbot Paramedic Foundation is conducting their annual direct mail fund drive appeal in Talbot County.  The foundation is a national leader, along with the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and other partners in placing public access AEDs in area parks and recreational facilities.  The program was recently renamed Talbot CARES- Cardiac Arrest Rescue Emergency Station.

“Talbot CARES continues to expand the number of parks where the units are located.  As one of the largest such projects in the country, the goal is to make public access AEDs available at recreational locations throughout Talbot County.  Placing AEDs in our communities and parks allows for a greater chance of survival in these time-critical emergencies,” stated Talbot Paramedic Foundation President Wayne Dyott.

There are over 200 AEDs located throughout the community in businesses, government facilities, and other locations that are part of the foundation’s efforts to increase access to AEDs in Talbot County.  For example, local law enforcement vehicles carry AEDs and officers are immediately dispatched along with EMS and fire/rescue units to any reported cardiac arrest.

The foundation also sponsors the Sylvia Gannon and Gary Jones Memorial Scholarships supporting local students pursuing classes related to Emergency Services.  In addition, the foundation’s grants have helped the county Department of Emergency Services, as well as Talbot’s volunteer fire departments purchase life-saving EMS equipment such as the LUCAS CPR device and power lift stretchers.
Dyott said it is never easy to ask for donations, but his group carefully works to do good things in the community with the donations.

“The Talbot Paramedic Foundation has a long history of working toward saving lives by increasing awareness, raising funds, and developing life-saving programs, providing training and encouraging paramedic professionalism.”