Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH) will be hosting the 10^th Annual Across the Lifespan Conference in a free, virtual format on June 18^th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s conference will be Hope Rising: Mindfulness in a Changing World, and will focus on the fundamentals of hope and developing skills in mindfulness to survive and thrive in the face of challenging times.

This year’s 10^th Annual Across the Lifespan Conference marks a decade-long tradition of bringing the community together to address topics related to intergenerational behavioral health. The conference will feature seven distinguished speakers sharing expertise and passion on the theme of maintaining mindfulness through all phases of life, including childhood and adolescence, transitional aged youth, adults, and older adults. Conference registrants can expect engaging workshops and presentations that will leave attendees with practical tools for mindfulness that can be implemented into everyday life.

The keynote speaker for this year’s conference will be Sherita Sparrow, ADC, EDU, CDP, CAP, who will commence the event by facilitating an interactive art therapy activity. Local behavioral health clinician Emily Moody, MSW, LCSW-C, specializes in trauma, abuse, and addiction, and will share mindfulness skills specific to the child and adolescent population. Dorchester High School sophomore and International Motivational Speaker Rip Cornish will speak to holding onto hope during the transitional age years, and Peer Recovery Specialist James Carter will share insights relating to mindfulness in the adult population. Bonnie Scott, founder of Rising Above Addiction (RAD) recovery house, will lead a special segment on conserving hope during times of grief, a sentiment many are facing in light of current events. Certified Mental Health Therapist Barbie Glenn , LCPC, NCC, CPRP, and author Kim Burton, formerly of Maryland Mental Health Association, will culminate the Across the Lifespan conference by addressing the importance of hope for aging populations. A special musical interlude offered by Music Therapist Tom Gerni will close out the event.

“This year will mark the 10^th Anniversary of Mid Shore Behavioral Health’s Across the Lifespan Conference” said MSBH’s Executive Director Katie Dilley. “Each year of the conference has allowed MSBH to highlight topics that are relevant to the behavioral health field and supportive of ever-changing and evolving best practices to enrich our mid-shore community. This year, the team at MSBH is so excited to bring Hope Rising: Mindfulness in a Changing World. The conference has a robust group of presenters that will be using creative ways to connect with the participants, ranging from art inspired techniques to music therapy; all the while, moving through continuum of the lifespan. The Across the Lifespan Conference is always a wonderful opportunity to honor, connect, and give back to partners, providers, professionals, and community at large.”

The free conference will leave attendees with a deeper understanding of mindfulness and instill hope for the future. Registrants have the option of receiving five continuing education credits (CEUs) upon completion of the training. To register for the 10^th Annual Across the Lifespan Conference, visit https://tinyurl.com/10thAnnualATL.

As the Core Service Agency for the mid-shore, MSBH’s mission is to continually improve the provision of behavioral health services for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties through effective coordination of care in collaboration with consumers, their natural support systems, providers, and the community at large. For more information about MSBH, visit www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org.

Sailing into Oxford one beautiful fall day, Dr. Nick Flagler and Dr. Justin P. Callahan became medical partners with a handshake and a beer onboard their sailboat, “Sweet Alice.” Upon honorable discharge from the United States Navy, Commander Flagler and his family moved to the Eastern Shore in July 1971 to join the obstetrical and gynecological practice of Dr. Callahan, who had started the practice in 1969.

Mid-Shore Women’s Health began to grow in 1979 when Dr. Ronald Sweet joined the practice. During this time, the rising cost of malpractice insurance for obstetricians almost shut down obstetrical services on the Shore. To address this issue, Memorial Hospital at Easton, later Shore Heath System, gathered all the local obstetricians under one umbrella called Easton Obstetrics.  In the 1990s, Easton Obstetrics joined Mid-Shore Women’s Health.

The practice grew to include five doctors and five midwives. Mary Mullikin Adams, LPN, who joined the practice in 1978, comments, “The physicians were respectful and caring to the patients and because of that, the loyalty of our patients made the practice special. We built relationships with our patients. After one of our patients died, her husband brought us flowers on Valentine’s Day. Others would bring us the bounty from their farms. That says it all.”

Dr. Ronald Sweet adds, “We retained good staff by training them and they became a real asset to the practice and many stayed a long time like Mary. She developed special relationships with the patients, many even called her at home and still do.”

Diane Flagler, Dr. Flagler’s wife, who also served as the office manager for a time, commented, “At Nick’s retirement in June 2000, he was privileged to have delivered over 3,000 babies, many of whom were the children of women he had delivered. His gynecological practice spanned generations of women and their families. It was not unusual for him to treat a patient, all her sisters, aunts, nieces, and still have something in common with the husband as well. He stayed involved in the medical community assisting in surgery even after retirement until he died in 2006.”

The practice continued, adding several physicians over the years. At the end of 2020, when the practice closed, only Dr. Sharon Liu remained from the original practice.

“I hit the jackpot on my first shot joining the practice,” commented Dr. Liu, who had been with the Mid-Shore Women’s Health for 17 years.

“The practice was built on a solid foundation and as medicine changed, we were able to evolve with the changes as they occurred. We welcomed such innovations as minimally invasive surgery, new approaches to menopause, electronic medical records, and most recently, telemedicine. But, through it all, we were still able to keep our practice personal and patient-focused.”

“The specialty of obstetrics and gynecology is unique as it combines the relationships with patients, surgery, and medicine in its practice,” commented Dr. Ronald Sweet who was a resident when laparoscopy and ultrasound were being introduced and trained other doctors in laparoscopy procedures. Laparoscopic procedures began with gynecology and then spread to other surgical specialties.”

“This was the golden era in the science of medicine and it had great impact on our practice,” he added.

Since 1995, Dr. Fouad Abbas, a gynecological oncologist from Sinai Hospital in Baltimore came to the practice every third Friday of the month to see patients requiring more complicated surgeries for endometrial cancer, vaginal prolapses, and large pelvic masses.

“I have seen as many as 30 patients a day in Easton during our busiest times,” comments Dr. Abbas.

“I loved working with the physicians in the practice assisting them in surgery at Shore Health System in Easton and also collaborating with the local oncologists.  The surgeons were very easy to work with and eager to learn and gain additional expertise so they could keep patients in Easton. I also helped physicians with the surgical robot program when it started on the Shore.”

Dr. James Gieske, a general surgeon with Shore Health System recalls his surgical interactions with Dr. Flagler in particular. “Nick and I enjoyed working together.  He made my work easy because not only was he an unusually “intuitive” surgeon, but he was left-handed and therefore the perfect teammate on the other side of the table.  His natural intuition made him the perfect helper.”

Dr. Gieske’s wife, Dr. Judi Gieske, worked with the physicians of Mid-Shore Women’s Health for years as a pediatrician.

“My favorite story, which would not happen today, involved me going to a premature birth of twins. It was about 4 p.m. on a Saturday in 1974.  I was in Safeway with a cartload of food. Our third son, a nine-month-old, was in my arms when my beeper went off. The woman behind me took my child and told me she would meet me in the lobby of the hospital. The checkout lady told me to go, and hurry.  She would bag and save my order. I made it in time.  Mom and babies did fine and I went back to my baby and my life.  This was the practice in the old days,” Dr. Judi Gieske reflects.

She adds, “The skills of all the physicians in the practice were inspirational. All the doctors were a model for all of us who worked with the practice – they never tired or complained and were always caring for their patients in a very special way.”

Dr. Liu reflects, “Our practice had a great foundation built by talented physicians and staff who wanted to improve the quality of life for the women who lived here. I am proud to have been part of this family for 17 years and appreciate the relationships that developed. It is a special community.”

Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. (MSBH) hosted the 23^rdAnnual Caliber Awards on May 21^st as a virtual celebration. This annual event honors the work of local community champions for their contributions to the behavioral health system in the mid-shore region.  Approximately eighty local community members attended in this year’s ceremony, which recognized 33 individuals and organizations for their honorable work improving the behavioral health and wellness of the mid-shore community.

Katie Dilley, LCSW-C, Executive Director for MSBH, and Dr. Benjamin Kohl Jr., President of the MSBH Board, opened the ceremony with a heartfelt welcome message and thoughtful acknowledgement of the challenges overcome throughout the pandemic. Dilley introduced keynote speaker Senator Adelaide Eckardt, District 37, who discussed the importance of continued safety, structure, support for those experiencing behavioral health challenges through the pandemic and beyond. Senator Eckardt likened the commendable work of regional providers to a tapestry, observing that the unique contributions of each provider weaves a beautiful and supportive behavioral health network of great benefit to the community. The provider network’s enduring perseverance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the strength and uniqueness of the mid-shore region.

Rachel Stoyanov, CFPS and Early Childhood Engagement Lead with Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF), received the Child and Adolescent Award for her leadership in MCF’s new Early Childhood Engagement program. A group of Wellpath Mental Health Coordinators working in mid-shore County Detention Centers received Forensic Mental Health Awards, presented to Bill Rhodes, LCPC; Angela Ricketts-Murray, LCSW-C; Colleen Kennedy, CAC-AD; Jenna Haines, LMSW, and Stephanie Hewitt, LCSW-C. Cindi Boone, Housing Program Administrator for Queen Anne’s County, and Lynn Keckler, M.Ed., Executive Director at His Hope Ministries received the Roundtable on Homelessness Award for their dedication to ending homelessness in the mid-shore region. A moment of special recognition lead by Brandy James, Affiliated Santé Group, was awarded to the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department for their participation in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), a specialized training which educates officers how to appropriately respond to mental health emergency calls.

The Special Recognition: Education Award was presented to Omeaka Jackson, LCPC-S, Founder and Director of Harvesting Hope Youth & Family Wellness, Inc. Colleen Kennedy, CAC-AD, received a second nomination, Special Recognition: Integration and Trauma Award, for her work with Caroline County Detention Center. The Special Recognition: Leadership Award recognized The Honorable Savannah Winstonwith Preston Town Council. Community volunteer and business owner Linda Austin accepted the Special Recognition: Transitional Aged Youth, Latino Population, Volunteers, Employment & Education Award for her assiduous work improving the lives of many youth in Queen Anne’s County Public Schools.

Caroline County’s Project AWARE program was nominated for the Special Recognition: Education Awards, recognizing the impactful work of Caroline County Public Schools staff: Dr. Derek Simmons, Interim Superintendent; Nicole Fisher, Supervisor of Alternative Programs and Cara Calloway, LCSW-C, School Mental Health Coordinator. Project AWARE is a grant funded initiative that expands mental health and social emotional support for students in Caroline County schools.

There were several awards given in the Special Recognition: Unsung Heroes category, including Shirelle Brookes, Correctional Officer with Queen Anne’s County Detention Center and Beth Brewster, Supervisor of foods with Caroline County Public Schools and Founder of Chesapeake Culinary Center. Other awardees in the Unsung Hero group included Eric Knapp, Property Maintenance Inspector with Denton Planning and Codes; Katie Theeke, Vice President of Marketing and Communications with For All Seasons; Operations and Training Director Heather Brown, MS, PsyA, with Eastern Shore Psychological Services and Director of A.F. Whitsitt Center Joe Jones, LCADC, RPS.  These nominees have demonstrated laudable work in their respective fields, bringing health and mental wellness support to the mid-shore community.

The Achieving Excellence through Effective Programming Award was presented to Director Tina-Marie Brown, LCSW-C, accepted on behalf of Affiliated Santé’s Child and Adolescent Program. The Achieving Excellence through the Empowerment of Consumers Awards were presented to all five mid-shore School Mental Health Coordinators: Cara Calloway, LCSW-C, in Caroline County; Megan Pinder, LCPC, and Stirling Ward, MS, Queen Anne’s; Kawana Webb, LCSW-C in Dorchester County; Rob Schmidt, Ed.D, in Talbot County, and Vandrick Hamlin, MS, in Kent County.

This year, the Achieving Excellence through Interagency and Community Collaboration Award was presented to the Kent County Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START), with special recognition to the implementation team: Cassandra Richardson; Peer Specialist; Carmelyn Bauchman, Department of Social Services caseworker, and supervisors Mattie Meehan, Kami Morris, and Lindy Schrader. START is an evidence-based intervention program providing peer support to families with a substance exposed newborn. Implemented in 12 counties, the program has been exceptionally successful in Kent County and is a positive example for other counties in Maryland.

The Mary Beth Brennaman Award recognizes an outstanding individual who demonstrates an unconditional commitment to, and passion for, the mission and vision of his or her organization. This year’s recipients were Rosalind Hynson and Kathy Langrell. Hynson is the former Administrative Specialist at Mid Shore Behavioral Health, and is remembered fondly for her sincerity, spirit, and kindness. Langrell serves as the Client Services Supervisor with For All Seasons, bringing positivity and a welcoming presence to the workplace.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Dina Gomes Daley and Dale Oberender, recognized posthumously their indefatigable work within the Caroline County community prior to their recent retirements. Daley served as Director of Caroline County Department of Social Services since 2004 and is now Executive Director of Building African American Minds (BAAM), having co-founded the organization with her husband Derick. Oberender is the former Assistant Director of Caroline County Department of Social Services, serving in this role for 17 years. He continues to serve on the Advisory Board for The Board of Child Care in Denton and remains a passionate advocate for the success of individuals with Autism.

Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. would also like to give a special thanks to James Ransome with Denton-based Awards Engraving Company, who crafted the aesthetic engraved plaques presented to all Caliber Award recipients.

As the Core Service Agency for the mid-shore, MSBH’s mission is to continually improve the provision of behavioral health services for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties through effective coordination of care in collaboration with consumers, their natural support systems, providers, and the community at large. For more pictures from the event, please “like” us on Facebook or to view a recording of the ceremony, visit https://tinyurl.com/MidShoreCaliber2021. For more information about the work of MSBH, visit www.midshorebehavioralhealth.org.