Almost every Thursday evening, Dr. Maria Boria, who turns 80 this year, drives herself to and from a Marydel clinic to provide essential health care to women in the growing Latino community, most of whom have no health insurance. While she took this particular project on only five years ago, Dr. Boria has spent a lifetime working with women in need. After her medical training in England, she moved to India in 1958, and started a hospital that now has 2,000 employees. From there, she started training programs in Latin America and Africa, while also marrying her husband Jim Berna, raising two children, and building her ob/gyn practice in Chestertown.
While Maria is not alone in the area of good deeds, her lifetime commitment to women’s health in some of the most challenging places in the world should make us all the more humble that she calls our community home.
Maria Boria’s 80th Birthday will be celebrated at the Prince as part of the Women Helping Women annual concert on March 10, 2010 at 7:00 PM. For more information go to the Prince Theatre website by clicking here.
Carla Massoni says
Thanks for the story! Without the women performers who so graciously give of their time, energy, and talent – the Women Helping Women Concert would not exist. Kudos to Sue Matthews and Lucia Foster for coordinating the show and to each and every woman who participates both on the stage and off!! And a big thank you to Joe Holt – our musical director!!
Georgina Bliss says
Congratulations Dr. Boria. Your contribution to the global health community is an enormous contribution to the advancement of women’s health everywhere – Chestertown should be honored to have you among our illustrious citizens. It should also be mentioned that you are great naturalist as so noted by the style and manner in which you maintain your home and its natural setting! Thank you Dr. Boria…….hoping to see you in Rock Hall.