The Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center announces the appointment of 2 new board members.

Joining the board are Lyndsey Scott and Robert A. Freeman, PhD.

“Both appointees embody the spirit of community and bring talent, expertise and fresh perspectives. We welcome Lyndsey and Dr. Freeman and look forward to working together as we continue pursuit of our vision of making the Eastern Shore one the healthiest rural communities in America,” states Jacob Frego, Executive Director.

Since 2011, Lyndsey Scott has worked for the Cecil County Health Department as a Coordinator of Special Programs in the Division of Health Promotion. In this role, she has worked on several initiatives related to chronic disease prevention and management; many of which focus on sustainable systems changes and quality improvement work with local health care providers.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Promotion from Frostburg State University.

In her free time, she enjoys being active outdoors doing things like kayaking, hiking, camping and snowboarding.

Robert A. Freeman is a noted healthcare economics and public policy leader and expert in the global pharmaceutical industry and academia. He was previously vice-chair for research and professor of Social &Administrative Science in the Department of Pharmacy Practice & Administration at the University of Maryland- Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy.

He has over 20 years’ experience in the global pharmaceutical industry having served as a leader of public policy and health economics functions for AstraZeneca and Sanofi, among others.

He is the author of over 85 research and professional publications in the areas of health technology assessment, pharmaceutical public policy, health economics and science and trade policy. His current research focuses on policy initiatives to incentivize pharmaceutical R&D.

He earned his BS in Pharmacy and his MS and PhD degrees from the University of Mississippi.

The Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (ESAHEC) is a private, non-profit organization. Our mission is to improve healthcare access and outcomes for all residents on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

For more information about ESAHEC, call 410-221-2600 or visit www.esahec.org.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has appointed Gary Jones as the first director of the newly established Heart and Vascular Center at UM SRH. The alignment of Shore’s cardiology and vascular service lines as the Heart and Vascular Center reflects a standard practice across University of Maryland Medical System, and reflects Shore Regional Health’s comprehensive list of cardiovascular services.

Jones most recently served as regional director, Cardiovascular Services. UM Shore Regional Heath has a history of establishing a number of specialty services in cardiovascular care over the years, including a non-invasive Vascular Lab, Sleep Disorders Centers at all three hospitals, a diagnostic Cardiac Cath Lab, cardiac rhythm device implantation services, Atlantic C-PORT Trial, cardiac rehab services at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown and Dorchester, expanded cardiovascular services in Easton and Queenstown, and emergency PCI research. In 2016, cardiacelectrophysiology and interventional cardiology — including primary and elective angioplasty — were added, and in 2017, the Cardiac Interventional Center (CIC) at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton was established.

Of the Heart and Vascular Center, Jones says, “We recognized that there has been a great deal of growth in the Cardiology Department. Recent growth has enabled the department to offer pre- and post-cardiovascular procedures, which required additional staff and additional training needed to establish three call teams for the Cardiac Cath Lab.”

As a result of this growth in services and staffing, Jones and the Cardiology Governance Committee, which includes members of senior leadership and cardiology medical directors, conducted extensive research to ascertain how these services were structured at other UMMS facilities. After review, the Heart and Vascular Center was established to provide a more standardized structure for the delivery of comprehensive heart and vascular services.

Photo: From left are several Heart and Vascular Center team members, including Dr. Gabriel Sardi; Joyce Collier, nurse and Cath Lab manager; Tina Blalock, nurse and clinical nurse coordinator; Dr. Jeffrey Etherton; Heart and Vascular Center Director Gary Jones; Vicki Roe, nurse; Anne Marie Conteh, registered cardiovascular invasive specialist; Dr. Benjamin Remo; Dr. Timothy Shanahan; and Vanessa Gore, nurse.

Heart and Vascular Center offerings include Cardiac Cath Lab procedures such as cardiac electrophysiology to treat patients whose heart rhythms need correction, including installing device implants such as pacemakers and defibrillators that help regulate arrhythmias, and diagnostic catheterization, which can assess the presence of blocked heart vessels or arteries.  The Cath Lab also offers percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, formerly referred to as angioplasty with stent), which is used to treat coronary artery disease.

Also included under the Heart and Vascular Center umbrella are UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology, cardiovascular diagnostics, vascular laboratories at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton, five diagnostic centers and Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation at all three hospitals.

“The Heart and Vascular Center aligns with where we are headed in the future, which will include an increase in vascular services offerings for our communities as well as continuing to provide life-saving emergency cardiac care services to our five-county region,” Jones says. “Our patients have convenient access to very comprehensive cardiovascular care, close to home.”

Jones says establishment of the Heart and Vascular Center would not have been possible without the support of Shore Regional Health’s medical staff, board of directors, senior leadership, Department of Nursing and critical care units, departmental leadership and also a strong working relationship with the five-county Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region IV emergency service agencies.

The UM Memorial Hospital Foundation recently announced an annual year-end appeal goal of $200,000 for the purchase of a new cardiac ultrasound machine and two other pieces of equipment for the Heart and Vascular Center at UM SRH.

The ultrasound machine, the GE E90, is a state-of-the-art non-invasive technology that will help physicians examine the heart’s chambers, walls, valves and vessels by using breakthrough software to enhance image quality, gain reproducible results and enhance workflows. To make a donation, please visit ummhfoundation.org/19yeappeal or mail your check to UM Memorial Hospital Foundation, 219 S. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601.

Eleven providers are affiliated with the Heart and Vascular Center at UM SRH, including: Drs. Jeffrey Etherton, S. Robert Hanna Jr., R. Bruce Helmly Jr., John Condit Jr., M. Christadoss Rajasingh, Benjamin Remo, Gabriel Sardi, Timothy Shanahan and Ivan Pena; and nurse practitioners Patricia Lancaster and Clare Ross.

About UM 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 2,600 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

As the holiday season approaches, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) extends an invitation to members of the community who have a family member with a serious mental illness to participate in an ongoing Family Support Group. NAMI offers its Family Support Program on the first Tuesday of the month in Centreville and the third Tuesday of the month in Chestertown, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.  For more information contact:  443-480-0565 or namikentandqueenannes@gmail.com

The Chester River Hospital Auxiliary today announced that it has offered a $25,000 matching gift fundraising challenge to the community as in incentive to encourage far-and-wide charitable support of the Chester River Health Foundation’s recently announced capital campaign, Health Care Excellence: Close to Home. Close to Your Heart. The campaign is raising funds to purchase two essential pieces of equipment for UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown: a 128-slice CT scanner for radiology and a chemistry analyzer for laboratory services.

“For every two dollars donated to the campaign, the Auxiliary will donate one dollar, up to $25,000,” said Jane Hukill, one of the campaign’s co-chairs and a Foundation board member. This will help raise $75,000, but we need to get there by December 31, 2019.”

“The diagnostic testing these two pieces of equipment provide are indispensable tools for our physicians and support staff providing care at the hospital,” said Sue Edson, Auxiliary president. “The Auxiliary donated $30,000 toward the Foundation’s goal and we wanted to provide an incentive to get the entire community involved by offering the $25,000 challenge.”

“We are so grateful for everything the Auxiliary does for the hospital,” Hukill continued. “This challenge just makes me burst with pride as a member.”

Donations may be mailed to the Foundation at 100 Brown Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620 or gifts can be made online at https://umcrhf.org.

For more information, please contact Maryann Ruehrmund, Foundation executive director, (410) 810-5660.

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.

Five members of the UM Shore Medical Group – Neurosurgery team will fly to Honduras in January 2020 to work with One World Surgery to perform 30 life-changing neurosurgical procedures at the Holy Family Surgery Center in Honduras.  Team members participating in the mission to Honduras include: Khalid H. Kurtom, MD, FAANS, FACS, Wendy S. Towers, CRNP, first assist, Tyler Gogoll, RN, neurosurgical team lead, Thomas Busch, RN, surgical nurse and Robert Brault, surgical technologist. Surgical equipment specialist Steve Lykudis will also travel with the team.

The purpose of the week-long medical mission is to provide minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures to Honduras residents who would otherwise not have access to quality surgical care. The team will use minimally invasive procedures to treat certain types of spinal conditions including degenerative or herniated disc disorders, lumbar spinal stenosis, instability of the spine and compression fractures of the spine.

In 2017, neurosurgery team members led by Dr. Kurtom traveled to Amman, Jordan to perform life-changing surgeries at the Istishari Hospital on patients who were suffering from a range of debilitating conditions, including injuries related to the conflict in Syria, advanced and untreated spinal disease, and previous unsuccessful surgeries.

“Here, we are all fortunate to have the health care resources we do and sometimes it is easy to take that for granted — most places in the world have limited access to advanced health care, and most have no access to neurosurgical care,” says Dr. Kurtom. “Traveling on a mission to one of those places in dire need and providing neurosurgical care is considered a miracle for the people we help.  As with our prior mission trip where we helped Syrian refugees in Jordan, our trip to Honduras will be life altering to those we help — and to our team it will be spiritually rewarding.”

The anticipated total cost of the medical mission trip to Honduras is $40,000 and fundraising efforts are now in progress to raise $20,000 to help defray the costs of the trip. Non-tax deductible donations can be made to Chesapeake Neurological Surgery, Inc., 4346 Southside Lane, Trappe, MD 21673.

“Nothing can describe the sense of personal reward that I and my team members gain by doing these mission trips,” says Dr. Kurtom, who is now reviewing the Honduran surgical cases in anticipation of the trip. “We hope our mission will inspire all to give of themselves for the benefit of others.”

For more information, contact Dr. Kurtom, cnseaston@gmail.com

The Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary held its general meeting and annual awards luncheon on November 12, 2019. The event celebrated a total of 13,265 hours contributed to the Auxiliary and its programs that benefit UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester.

Members of the Auxiliary recognized for achieving service milestones are:

• For 250 Hours: Halyna Pagano and Chris Paisley
• For 500 hours: Michelle Mitchell and Clara Mae Stephens
• For 250 and 500 hours: Fran Strohmer
• For 1000 hours: Becki Herbert, Suzette Stitely and Peggy Warner
• For 2000 hours: Patti Blankley, Joy Loeffler and Barbara Weiss
• For 3000 hours: Lucy Phillips and Laura Schultz
• For 7000 hours: Nancy Duvall and Mildred Lewis
• For 8000 hours: Barbara Lipe

Becki Herbert was also honored as Robin Hood Shop’s “Volunteer of the Year” for the work that she does for the Robin Hood Shop and the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary Board of Directors.

“Becki comes in whenever she gets the call from The Robin Hood Shop that we are short on volunteers, need help in the back of the shop, or just simply answers the phone for help,” says Catherine Gullion, manager of the Robin Hood Shop. “She has stepped up in several ways and we can rely on her as a go-to-person for us to bounce ideas.”

Photo: Shown at the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary annual awards luncheon are UM SMC at Dorchester executive director Penny Pink (fourth from left) and Auxiliary members honored for achieving service milestones: Lucy Phillips, Michelle Mitchell, Barbara Weiss, Nancy Duvall (Dorchester Auxiliary president), Barbara Lipe, Fran Strohmer, Suzette Stitely, Clara Mae Stephens, Laura Schultz, Halyna Pagano, Becki Herbert, Patti Blankley and Joy Loeffler (Auxiliary 2nd vice President. 

“The Auxiliary continues to be a strong force in the advancement of health care for Dorchester County residents through the hard work of its volunteers,” says Penny Pink, executive director, UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester. “Through the Robin Hood Shop and the Hospital Gift Shop, they raise funds that help purchase equipment and advanced health care technology, which directly benefits patient care.”

The Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary raises funds to support programs, services, equipment and patient care at UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester. Fundraising efforts include sales from the Robin Hood Shop, located at 416 High Street in Cambridge, and the Hospitality Shop, located on the first floor of the hospital. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Auxiliary or additional ways to support the organization, call 410-228-0091.

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.

Compass Regional Hospice’s Festival of Trees will be hosted December 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th at Bill and Gail Towers’ Towers Family Historical Museum, 26299 Sennett Road, Denton. The museum began as display of their collection of John Deere tractors, but has grown to showcase the agricultural history in Caroline County, and the past businessmen in the area.All proceeds will benefit hospice and grief support services in Caroline County provided by Compass Regional Hospice, the sole provider in Caroline County.

“This will be our third year hosting the Festival of Trees,” said Bill Towers, owner of the Towers Family Historical Museum in Denton. “We got involved in 2015 when our church held a bluegrass festival to benefit Caroline Hospice. Hospice is a very vital part of our community, not only for our loved ones in their final days, but also as a support for the family after their loss.The Festival of Trees is a great way to show your support by either sponsoring a tree, by bidding on one of the trees, or by just coming and enjoying the beauty of this season.”

The event will kick off with the Preview Party, a ticketed event, on December 6^th from 6 to 9 p.m. $40 per person includes beer, wine, and heavy hors d’oeurves provided by Joann Redden, formerly of The Lily Pad Café. Guests will have first access to the tree bidding opportunities, and hear agency updates including exciting plans for Caroline County.

Trees will again be available for viewing from 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 7^th, with music from the Sonshine Band, and a special appearance from Santa. The viewing continues December 8^th from 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday, and bidding concludes at 5 p.m.

Compass Regional Hospice is looking for sponsors for the event, as well as tree decorators and bidders. For tickets or more information visit https://26662.thankyou4caring.org/festival-of-trees2020 or contact Kenda Leagerat 443-262-4106 or kleager@compassregionalhospice.org.

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a life-limiting illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of palliative care, hospice care, and grief support in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to all children and adults in the community through grief groups, one-on-one counseling, and in-school support. As a Level 4 partner of the We Honor Veterans program, they also offer veteran-centric care that meets the unique needs of men and women who have served our country. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.

On Friday, January 31, 2020, Compass Regional Hospice will host its annual Gala at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club in Stevensville. The Compass Regional Hospice Gala is the nonprofit organization’s premier fundraiser, and will be celebrating their 35^th year providing hospice care and grief support services in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties.

This will be the first year hosting at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, which was chosen for its expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay and award-winning farm-to-table cuisine. The 2020 Gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. and features cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated dinner. Compass will announce exciting agency updates, and reflect on the milestones from the last 35 years. After dinner, the dance band Retrospect will entertain guests with a playlist that range from today’s hits to memorable Big Band era tunes. Gala guests will have the opportunity to support Compass Regional Hospice’s mission by bidding on premier silent and live auction items, which have been generously donated by local businesses. Items will include experience packages, themed baskets, and many other items celebrating Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties.

Photo: The Gala Committee members are, from left to right, back row: Kathy Deoudes, board chair; Martha Baker; Janice Feeley, board member; Paula Warner, board secretary; Jessica Ruff; front row: Joyce Davis, board member; Heather Guerieri, Chief Executive Officer; Kenda Leager, Development Officer.

This is a black-tie optional event, and tickets are $225 per person and must be purchased in advance. To purchase Gala ticket, or for more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Kenda Leager at kleager@compassregionalhospice.org or 443‐262‐4106.

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a serious illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of palliative care, hospice care, and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Caroline counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to children and adults in the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.

On November 14^th, Compass Regional Hospice was recognized as Nonprofit of the Year at Chesapeake Charities’annual Celebration of Charity Luncheon. They were nominated and chosen for providing exemplary hospice care and grief support services in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties, and for their visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.

Staff, board members, and supporters of Compass Regional Hospice attended the award luncheon hosted at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. Chesapeake Charities noted, “through the collective efforts of a core group of dedicated community leaders, Compass Regional Hospice has been able to add facilities, hire staff, and develop new programs to meet the growing needs of the community.”

Photo: From left to right: Mark Freestate, Capital Campaign Committee member; Kathy Deoudes, CRH Board Chair; Heather Guerieri, CEO; Teresa Baumann, CRH Board Vice Chair; Paula Warner, CRH Board Secretary; Janice Feeley, CRH Board member; Tom Helfenbein, CRH Board member.

Mark Freestate, long-time supporter and Capital Campaign Committee member, presented the award. He acknowledged Mildred Barnett, founder of Hospice of Queen Anne’s, and credited her for identifying the need for hospice care in our community, and initiating a program that has continued to serve for nearly 35 years. Chief Executive Officer Heather Guerieri has been with Compass Regional Hospice for over 12 years, and accepted the award on behalf of Compass. Guerieri said “there are so many wonderful causes to support in our region, many of which are made possible with the backing of Chesapeake Charities. We are honored to be singled out and recognized as Nonprofit of the Year, and very grateful for your continued belief in our mission.”

Compass Regional Hospice was formed in 1985 by a group of caring volunteers who recognized the need for compassionate end-of-life care in Queen Anne’s County. It has since evolved to a fully-licensed, community-based nonprofit serving hundreds of patients per year in the Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Guerieri was quoted, “we’re privileged to be considered a valued resource during difficult times—for those coming to terms with a terminal diagnosis, those that have lost a loved one under tragic circumstances, and those struggling to support their ageing parents.”

Compass Regional Hospice

Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages living with a serious illness, and those learning to cope following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of palliative care, hospice care, and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Caroline counties. Whether serving their patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential centers in Centreville and Chestertown, staff and volunteers are guided by their mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Grief support services are offered to families of all patients, as well as to children and adults in the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. It is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, call 443-262-4100 or visit compassregionalhospice.org.