Rena Sukhdeo-Singh, MD, has been named Medical Director of the Primary Stroke Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

A member of the UM Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) medical staff since August 2021, Dr. Sukhdeo- Singh sees patients at UM Shore Medical Group-Neurology and Sleep Medicine as well as in the Primary Stroke Center at Easton.

“I am excited to lead the outstanding care and treatment offered in our Primary Stroke Center,” Dr. Sukhdeo-Singh said. “Our community is fortunate that our Stroke Center has an outstanding team of physicians, nurses, therapists and techs who achieved the level of excellence required for Primary Stroke Center designation and who work so well with our hospitalists, emergency department physicians, staff, stroke coordinator and rehabilitation specialists. I am passionate about acute stroke care, outcomes and rehabilitation. I am looking forward to continuing to advance quality stroke care for our region.”

M. Walid Kamsheh, MD, the center’s former medical director, left in late October to focus on his work as Medical Director at UM Shore Medical Group-Neurology and Sleep Medicine.

A board-certified neurologist, Dr. Sukhdeo-Singh most recently completed a Fellowship in Vascular Neurology (Stroke) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. She previously served as Chief Neurology Resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and was an Associate Investigator for the Natural History Study and White Matter Study at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Stroke Branch. She also has co-authored multiple articles and presentations in the field of neurology and stroke, with a recent book chapter publication on post stroke depression.

“I feel my training as a Vascular Neurology Fellow at the NIH has prepared me well for this opportunity,” she said. “Our hospital’s designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems shows that we are committed to a higher level of stroke care. It demonstrates that we are following standardized practices to deliver the best outcomes for our patients and are dedicated to their continued care.”

Often the first line of defense during a stroke are the emergency department teams, Dr. Sukhdeo-Singh said. “UM Shore Regional Health at UM Shore Medical Center at Cambridge, Chestertown and Easton, and UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown are excellent at triaging acute strokes.”

Besides ensuring UM Shore Regional Health continues to meet national benchmarks for brain imaging and reaching goal treatment times, Dr. Sukhdeo-Singh said she is committed to following patients’ recovery periods.

“After the acute phase, there is usually a long recovery period that takes a lot of patience and adjustments,” she said. “I always want my patients to feel like they are being heard and are getting the best possible care.”

The Primary Stroke Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton has received multiple awards from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Recognition program, which recognizes hospitals for providing the most effective stroke treatment according to nationally acknowledged, research-based guidelines.

Most recently, University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton’s Primary Stroke Center was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) by receiving the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award with Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

According to the ASA, hospitals earning the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award have reached an aggressive goal of treating patients with 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and have achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

“We follow each treatment case to look for opportunities for improvement,” Dr. Sukhdeo-Singh said. “As Medical Director, I also plan to engage in public education about strokes, collaborate with our local emergency medical services and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems counterparts, and ensure that from the first 911 call to discharge, patients are getting the best care for their stroke.”

Dr. Kamsheh has been the Primary Stroke Center’s Medical Director since 2017, and has been practicing medicine as a neurologist on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for more than 30 years. This year, he celebrated 10 years with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).

“For the past few years I have had the honor and privilege to be the Medical Director of the Stroke Center,” Dr. Kamsheh said. “We should be proud, as such a small hospital, to be certified as a Primary Stroke Center. To achieve recognition, it takes a special, dedicated team on the ground that includes the ER staff, physicians, nurses, techs and support from UMMS, as well as the support of local emergency crews. Now it is time for me to pass this directorship to another great physician. She is stroke-trained at NIH and will lead us into the future of stroke care.”

Dr. Kamsheh continues to see patients at UM SMG-Neurology and Sleep Medicine’s Easton office. This growing practice specializes in the study and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nerve disorders, as well as sleep-related disorders.

UM Shore Regional Health also offers a Stroke Support Group, facilitated by Nicole Leonard, UM SRH’s Stroke Coordinator. This virtual group takes place on the first Thursday of each month, from noon to 1 p.m. Patients, caregivers and loved ones are invited to participate. For more information or to receive login credentials for the Zoom group, please call Leonard at 410-822-1000, extension 5068.

UM SMG-Neurology and Sleep Medicine offers appointments in-person and via telemedicine. For more information or to schedule an appointment, speak to your primary care physician, call 410-770-5250 or visit umshoreregional.org.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

F. Graham Lee, Vice President of Philanthropy for University of Maryland Memorial Hospital Foundation and University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, is set to retire on January 7, 2022 after serving 45 years as a fundraising professional.

Lee first served at Memorial Hospital Foundation from 1989 to 2002, and then again from 2012 to the present. During his tenure, Lee worked with volunteers to complete two successful capital campaigns — a $7.5 million campaign launched in 1989 for the renovation and expansion of UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, and a $6 million campaign for the establishment of the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center on Martin Court in Easton in 2014, with a grand opening in June 2016.

In addition, Lee engaged hundreds of community members and volunteers to assist in raising vital funds to support the advancement of health care services on the Mid-Shore. Through annual appeals and special events such as the annual golf tournament to benefit hospital services, crab feasts to benefit UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown and clay shoot tournaments to benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, Lee raised several million dollars for community health care during his tenure. He also created planned giving opportunities to meet evolving health care needs, such as the purchase of new medical technologies, facility renovations and support for health care professionals in obtaining specialized education to advance their skills.

“Graham Lee is an icon in our community,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health. “His love for people and his dedication to helping Shore Regional Health secure the financial resources needed to provide comprehensive, accessible health care is remarkable. As a major ambassador for our brand and the loving and compassionate care we provide, Graham will be deeply missed.”

“A good fundraiser must be fearless and aggressive, yet lovable and charming — a ‘friendly pit bull,’” said Charlie Capute, Chair, UM Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. “That describes my good friend Graham Lee. He is a fundraising master. I love visiting with him, on hospital business or personal. Health care philanthropy is a niche profession and Graham does it better than anyone I have ever seen or been associated with. He will be missed in many ways.”

Lee began his fundraising career at Cape Fear Council, Boy Scouts of America, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He also served at Geisinger Medical Center Foundation in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he organized volunteers to help raise funds for the first rural Ronald McDonald House.

Lee’s resume also includes positions at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, Baptist Health System in Knoxville, Tennessee, the MidShore Community Foundation in Easton, UM St. Joseph’s Medical Center Foundation in Towson and the YMCA of the Chesapeake in Easton.

Upon retirement, Lee said he plans to spend more time with his wife, three children and three grandchildren. “I’m a lucky man!” he said.  “I’ve had a great career and was able to share the excitement of life with an awesome community and donors who care about making life better on the Eastern Shore.”

“I’m so grateful to have enjoyed the support of the Foundation Board, senior leadership and hundreds of dedicated volunteers over the years. I hope that going forward, local community members throughout the five-county region served by UM Shore Regional Health will continue to value and support the advancement of health care services that are so important to the overall quality of life we enjoy.”

Individuals interested in making a gift in honor of Lee can send a check to UM Memorial Hospital Foundation, IHO Graham Lee, Post Office Box 1846, Easton, MD 21601.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton has been recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

“There are so many team members who deserve credit for this excellent recognition — our physicians and advanced practice providers, our nursing team and techs, our educators and all those team members that support our new babies and their moms and dads at UM Shore Regional Health Birthing Center at Easton,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health. “On behalf of the Board of UM Shore Regional Health and our senior leadership, I’m very pleased to express our appreciation for the outstanding teamwork that is helping us achieve our vision, to be the region’s leader in patient-centered health care.”

To be recognized among the Best Hospitals for Maternity, hospitals had to excel on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including complication rates, C-sections, whether births were scheduled too early in pregnancy and how successfully each hospital supported breastfeeding. Only one-third of the hospitals evaluated by U.S. News for maternity care earned a ‘High Performing’ rating.

“Even with all of the challenges facing our staff over the past few years, including a global pandemic, I am proud that our staff at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Birthing Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton has maintained such a high standard for maternal care,” said Javier Cajina, MD, Director, Birthing Center, UM Shore Regional Health.“This is a testament to the continued dedication to excellence in health care by our administrators, as well as the commitment and selflessness of all team members.”

Unique to the U.S. News site, participating hospital profiles are a one-stop shop and include a variety of relevant offerings for parents-to-be including key measures of safety, alongside services and amenities, like private rooms, valet parking and availability of child-birthing classes.

“I am incredibly proud of our nurses in the Birthing Center,” said Jenny Bowie, Vice President, Patient Care Services, and Chief Nursing Officer. “They love caring for the families in our community and value every life that they touch. It is an incredible moment to welcome a new little one into the world and our team makes every delivery special.”

The evaluation looks at hospital data relating to only uncomplicated pregnancies, not high-risk pregnancies. Participating hospitals responded to a survey from the U.S. News health analysis team in spring 2021, which reflects data from 2019. Participation was voluntary.

“All families deserve to be informed on how hospitals perform on key indicators of quality, which is why U.S. News has compiled and published a trove of maternal health data from hospitals across the country,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report. “The hospitals we’ve recognized as High Performing meet a high standard in caring for patients with uncomplicated pregnancies.”

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Margot Spies, BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Cancer Center at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, retired this month after a 30-year career caring for patients in the Mid-Shore region.

“Margot was an integral part of creating the Cancer Center that we have today,” said Pam Addy, UM Shore Regional Health’s Vice President, Ambulatory Services. “She has been a role model for delivering compassionate care to our patients and her work will live on through her colleagues for many years to come. We are so grateful to Margot and we wish her the best in the next phase of her life.”

Prior to joining the Cancer Program, Spies worked on 2 East at Shore Medical Center at Easton for two years and for the Easton-based Gastroenterology/Endoscopy medical practice for eight years. During that time, the UM Shore Regional Cancer Center had been established and cancer care was rapidly evolving as an outpatient service, so Spies joined the Cancer Program team as a chemotherapy nurse. “Becoming an Oncology Nurse fit like a glove for me,” Spies said. “I have always treasured the ability to maintain relationships with patients throughout the continuum of care and beyond.”

Spies considers developing the Cancer Center’s Survivorship Program a privilege that allowed her to network with numerous cancer programs across the country. “What we know is that treatment is going to cause symptoms at the outset and throughout therapy. Meeting with patients in survivorship counseling recognizes their trajectory and assists with planning for recovery and healing, and for the establishment of their ‘new normal’ following the completion of cancer therapies,” she said.

Spies’ accomplishments in this regard earned her honors as a “Medical Professional Hometown Hero” at the Colors of Cancer Gala in 2019 organized by Eastern Shore volunteers for the American Cancer Society.

The tremendous progress made in treating cancer and improving survival rates in recent decades has been especially gratifying to Spies. “Targeted therapies, immunotherapy, genetic testing and proton therapies all have contributed to amazing changes in oncology care,” she said, adding that new pharmaceuticals to help control treatment symptoms such as nausea, anemia and neutropenia have improved the chemotherapy experience for many patients, enabling them to continue working and taking care of other day-to-day responsibilities.

One of Spies’ achievements was the establishment of a local chapter of the national Oncology Nursing Society. The chapter, which brings together nurses in the five-county area who care for oncology patients, has supported the development of working relationships between oncology nurses and home health and hospice nurses in the region.

Spies also appreciates the bonds formed with her co-workers and generations of patients. “I’m always delighted when people walk up to me and remember our time together around their chemotherapy chair,” she said. “I think the greatest reward is the ability to pass along my experience, things that have worked well and those things that do not.”

In her retirement from nursing, Spies looks forward to enjoying time with her family and working for the family business, Triple Creek Winery in Cordova.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has partnered with the Maryland Food Bank – Eastern Shore Branch to help address food insecurity challenges impacting local residents, providing a donation of $4,000.

The UMSRH donation will provide $800 in funding for food purchases allocated to five distribution centers: Easton Church of God in Easton; Aaron’s Place in Denton; Scott’s United Methodist Church in Trappe; Mt Olive AME Church in Worton; and Eastern Shore Wellness in Cambridge.

“At Shore Regional Health, caring for our communities goes beyond the walls of our hospitals and outpatient facilities,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM SRH. “We know that food insecurity has adverse health effects, especially for children and the elderly as well as individuals with chronic illness. As an anchor institution serving our broad, five-county region, we are happy to partner with the Maryland Food Bank staff and volunteers in their ongoing work to reduce hunger and deprivation in our communities.”

Jennifer Small, Senior Regional Program Director for the Maryland Food Bank Eastern Shore Branch, said during the COVID-19 pandemic, most food distribution sites across the state continue to see increased demand due to food insecurity numbers. In addition, grocers and retail vendors who donate surplus food to the Maryland Food Bank continue to face their own supply constraints, resulting in less excess product for donation.

“Shore Regional Health’s donation of $4,000 will provide approximately 12,000 nourishing meals,” said Small. “We are very grateful for their support and their commitment to enhancing the overall health of the community.”

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Lara Wilson, Director of Rural Health Care Transformation for University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, was recently honored by the Maryland Rural Health Association as recipient of the organization’s 2021 Outstanding Rural Health Advocate Award.

“Lara Wilson is a key member of our Rural Health Care Transformation team. We are delighted that she has earned this well-deserved recognition for her excellence in advancing rural health care in Maryland and particularly in the region served by Shore Medical Center at Chestertown,” said Ken Kozel, President and Chief Executive Officer, UM Shore Regional Health. “We congratulate her for this exceptional accomplishment and look forward to her continued success.”

The Outstanding Rural Health Advocate Award is presented to an individual who has contributed extensive time, commitment and dedication making an identifiable difference in rural communities, demonstrating outstanding efforts and leadership in advocating and influencing policies/programs that impact the health and well-being of rural citizens.

Specific award criteria include:

• Developed/grown community awareness on rural health issues
• Inspired others to understand the significance rural health care plays in the community
• Demonstrated his/her commitment to rural health through grassroots efforts and/or policy changes
• Positive innovations impacting the community
• Shares her/his knowledge of and passion for advocating health

Wilson joined UM SRH in April 2021 after serving six years as executive director of the Maryland Rural Health Association, based in Centreville. In that capacity, with the goal of improving the health of Maryland’s rural communities, Wilson provided leadership and advocacy, program and strategic planning, financial management and personnel management, communications and marketing, and membership development and services.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown and University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton each received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2021, making this the third consecutive period both hospitals have received the prestigious A grade. This national distinction recognizes the achievements of the hospitals in consistently protecting patients from harm and error.

Fewer than a third of hospitals nationwide earn the “A” grade and even fewer achieve that milestone in consecutive grading periods.

“This is a significant accomplishment, and one which our entire UM Shore Regional Health family should be proud of,” said Ken Kozel, President and Chief Executive Officer of UM Shore Regional Health. “This is the result of our exceptional team members and medical staff providers, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication to patient care and safety, especially as we’ve faced the challenge of navigating through the pandemic these past two years. Earning this distinction for the third consecutive period speaks volumes to progress we are making towards becoming a High Reliability Organization.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigned to more than 2,700 acute care hospitals throughout the U.S., is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, of which this community should be extremely proud,” said Leah Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of UM Shore Regional Health for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times.”

To see the full grade details for UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown and UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

In celebration of November as Diabetes Awareness Month, University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology physician Medha Satyarengga, MD, will host a free online seminar, “Ask the Doctor,” on Tuesday, November 16^th at 5 p.m.

“While COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevent the Center from offering an open house event, we want to give patients the opportunity to get the latest information about diabetes and pre-diabetes, as well as to ask questions about issues of concern to them, such as medication and diabetes care devices, and diet and lifestyle strategies,” said Karen Hollis, Lead Diabetes Educator for the Center. “Even those who don’t have their own questions are encouraged to join the seminar and listen in.”

Dr. Satyarengga spent three years as a primary care physician at Aditya Medical Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West in New York City, and a fellowship in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Satyarengga has published, lectured and presented on diabetes and endocrinology topics, and is a member of several professional associations. He joined the UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in 2019 and sees patients at UM SRH locations in Cambridge, Chestertown and Denton.

The November 16^th seminar is open to anyone with diabetes and/or his or her caregiver. It will be offered via Zoom and can be accessed online or by phone (audio only). For the seminar link, meeting number and password, visit https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/diabetes-endocrinology/education.

The UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology is located in the Freeman Outpatient Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. For information about diabetes care and support offered by the Center, or to make an appointment with a provider, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5757.

About University of Maryland 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 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.