University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) recently installed a new, state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the UM Shore Regional Health Diagnostic and Imaging Center at Easton. MRI scanning uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. These images are used to diagnose and monitor a number of diseases and health concerns, as well as to plan a patient’s course of treatment. MRIs can be used to examine most parts of the body, including the brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, breasts, heart, blood vessels, and internal organs such as the liver, pancreas and kidneys.

The new MRI machine was purchased with capital funds secured by UM SRH.

“This new MRI equipment is a phenomenal addition to our Diagnostic and Imaging Center,” says Penny Olivi, director, Diagnostic Imaging, UM SRH. “It is identical to the one used in the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, which speaks to the level of quality in medical imaging implemented throughout the University of Maryland Medical System. Having this new MRI, and bringing together the best of the best in skilled and highly trained medical imaging providers — this is how we continue to offer the high quality of care people have come to expect from Shore Regional Health.”

Lead MRI Technician Herman Higgins stands next to the new MRI machine at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Diagnostic and Imaging Center in Easton.

Olivi says another unique feature of the MRI equipment is how comfortable it is. She says many MRIs tend to make people feel claustrophobic, but the new machine at the Diagnostic and Imaging Center at Easton allows patients the ability to see outside the “bore,” which is the size of the opening in which the patient lies within the machine.

“We have done everything we can to ensure our patients are comfortable, from ensuring there is a wide bore to reduce claustrophobia, to making sure the MRI room is calming. We want our patients to have as pleasant an experience as possible,” Olivi says.

Another recent and important purchase accompanying the acquisition of this new MRI is the new MRI breast coil. The breast coil is a signal receiver that works with the MRI to produce more detailed images of the breast for patients and is part of UM SRH’s full complement of breast imaging technologies. Purchase of the breast coil for the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center was made possible by funds raised through UM Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 2019 Sporting Clays Classic.

“The Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center and the UM Sporting Clays Classic Committee greatly appreciate the support of our local communities,” says F. Graham Lee, vice president, Philanthropy, UM SRH. “In 2019, the Sporting Clays Classic had 226 shooters and over 60 sponsors who helped net $84,749 to purchase the MRI breast coil. The Memorial Hospital Foundation raises charitable donations to help ensure we have state-of-the-art equipment that provides the best possible care for our patients.”

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.

Patricia G. Milburn, DNP, CRNP

Patricia G. Milburn, DNP, CRNP, joined UM Shore Medical Group-Surgery last month, after spending the last six years as the clinical program manager for the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore. She joins medical director John Moon, MD, William Bair, MD, Dabanjan Bandyopadhyay, DO, Edward DiNapoli, Jr., MD, Amanda Hahn, MD, Kyle Maio, PA, Kelsey Rosen, CRNP, and Lisa Marshall, CRNP, in the practice, with a focus on wound care.

Dr. Milburn served 10 years as the clinical program manager of the soft tissue surgery team at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at UMMC. In addition, she has held a variety of positions as a clinical mentor/educator, nurse practitioner preceptor, clinical instructor and adjunct faculty at University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins and Anne Arundel Community College schools of nursing.

Through a unique opportunity with Human Resources for Health and University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), Dr. Milburn spent a year as a clinical mentor and educator for health care providers in Rwanda, East Africa.  She returns periodically offering ongoing clinical support and assistance with research endeavors.  She has also participated as a volunteer for Costa Rica Humanitarian Mission, Haiti Humanitarian Mission, Haiti Earthquake Relief Missions and Surgical Mission, a Dominican Republic relief mission. Her significant global health field experience culminated in completion of a Global Health Certificate from UMSON in 2017.

Dr. Milburn completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice at the UMSON.  Licensed by the state of Maryland as a certified registered nurse practitioner, Milburn also holds multiple specialized certifications and has presented widely on the topic of wound care, management of necrotizing acute soft tissue infections, perioperative wound healing and surgical site infections.

“We are grateful to have Ms. Milburn join our team. Her skill and talent, particularly with regard to wound care, is an asset to our community,” said Dr. Moon, 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.

Chika Logie, MD

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) recently welcomed Chika Logie, MD, to Shore Radiology, an independent medical practice in partnership with UM SRH for more than four decades.

Dr. Logie is board certified by the American Board of Radiology and is a fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist. Her focus is on MRI of joints, bone oncology and imaging the entire musculoskeletal system.

A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park, Dr. Logie received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and completed additional training at the Department of Radiology at Washington Hospital Center (formerly the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology), where she focused on musculoskeletal intervention and biopsies, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where the core of her work centered around musculoskeletal radiology diagnostics.

In 2019, Dr. Logie was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to the Maryland Board of Physicians. She has published and presented extensively on musculoskeletal radiology, including authorship of two books. She also was an adjunct professor of Radiology and Radiological Services with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

“Shore Radiology is pleased to welcome Dr. Logie,” says Kimberly Oster, MD, president, Shore Radiology. “She is a well-trained general radiologist with dedicated subspecialty training in musculoskeletal MRI. Our skilled radiologists have subspecialty training, and Dr. Logie brings additional expertise in the diagnosis of bone and joint disorders and diseases. Musculoskeletal MRI is quite complex and requires additional knowledge to interpret. She is considered an expert in her field, and our community is so very fortunate to have a radiologist of her caliber at UM Shore Regional Health.”

Shore Radiology provides services for all UM SRH locations, including UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton; the Diagnostic and Imaging Center and Clark Comprehensive Breast Center in Easton; UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown; UM Shore Imaging Center at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown; and UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Denton. Shore Radiology also will provide services at the new UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge that is scheduled for completion in 2021.

At Shore Radiology, Dr. Logie joins Dr. Oster, Dr. Dale B. Johnson, Radiology Department chair; Dr. Brian T. Callahan; Dr. Christopher S. Levey; Dr. Minh Lu; Dr. Stephen T. Sauter; Dr. Mithilesh K. Singh; Dr. Kathleen H. Straub; and Dr. Matthew P. Wagner. All radiologists have fellowship training in at least one of several subspecialties, including women’s imaging, nuclear medicine, body and musculoskeletal MRI, body CT and ultrasound and interventional and angiography.

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.

Melissa Krempasky

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health recently welcomed Melissa Krempasky, speech/language pathologist, to the outpatient rehabilitation services team at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown.

Certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and licensed by the State of Maryland, Krempasky graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She has over 15 years of experience in various settings, including pediatric and adult rehabilitation for communication and swallowing disorders.

In the area of pediatric evaluation and treatment, Krempasky provides rehabilitative care including early intervention, developmental delay, communication related to autism spectrum, apraxia of speech, articulation disorders, expressive/receptive language impairment, pediatric voice disorders, traumatic brain injury and paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction.

Her adult evaluation and treatment practice includes aphasia, dysphagia, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, head/neck cancer, voice disorders, cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury.

More information about outpatient rehabilitation services provided by UM Shore Regional Health, visit https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/rehabilitation/outpatient-services or call (410) 827-3818.

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.

The University of Maryland Medical System has released an internally-produced Public Service Announcement, “Schedule A Mammogram,” urging women to not delay care and schedule their annual screening mammogram now if it has been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PSA was created by the System’s Creative Communications team and is being shared with media outlets across the state and posted on social media accounts for UMMS’ member organizations.

“COVID-19 put plenty of plans on hold,” the PSA states, with a call to action supported by catchy visuals and music. “If your annual mammogram coincided with the pandemic, now is the time to schedule an appointment. It’s as easy as riding a bike, simple as pie, something you can do with your eyes shut. Stop putting it off, because these screenings detect early cancers which can save lives.  Don’t delay getting your annual mammogram, do it now.”

The “Don’t Forget to Get Your Annual Mammogram” PSA can be viewed here on the UMMS You Tube channel and a media download version is available here.

Breast cancer is the second-highest cause of death among women in Maryland, exceeded only by lung cancer. In Maryland in 2020, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 34,710 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed across the state and 10,790 deaths.

“Screening mammograms save lives by detecting breast cancer early when it is more easily treated,” said Katherine H.R. Tkaczuk, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the Breast Evaluation and Treatment Program at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We want to assure women that having a mammogram now is safe and urge them to not delay having their regularly scheduled exams because of their concerns about COVID-19.”

UMMS is also addressing women’s health issues with another installment of the System’s free lunchtime “Let’s Talk About Health” webinars. On Oct 21^st at 12pm,Nakia Renee Ware, CRNP, a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner with University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Group, will be presenting about women’s health topics, including mental and physical health, covering issues including breast cancer and domestic violence. Registration information is available at umms.org/letstalk.

“During the pandemic, many women have put off attending to their medical needs, including regular well-woman exams and management of chronic conditions. This webinar will help you identify the care you need,” said Ware.

Across the United States this year, ACS estimates:

• About 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 48,530 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
• About 42,170 women will die from breast cancer.

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 the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 13 hospitals. UMMS’ flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore is partnered with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and 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. In addition, UMMS operates health insurance plans serving Medicare and Medicaid members. For more information, visit www.umms.org.