Choptank Community Health System’s Denton and Federalsburg Health Centers recently welcomed dentist Chanel Farmer, DDS, to the dental care team.

Dr. Farmer’s comprehensive expertise spans diagnostics and treatment planning, restorative dentistry, endodontics, and prosthodontics. She also provides advanced care in oral surgery, implant placement, digital dentistry, and both pediatric and geriatric services, including emergency and pain management.

Dr. Farmer received her Advanced Education in General Dentistry from NYU Langone Health, where she continues as an attending faculty dentist with its Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University College of Dentistry and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hampton University.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health’s pediatric and adult dental services include dental examinations, cleanings, x-rays, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery extractions, root canals, dentures, and coordination of hospital-based programs. Choptank Health’s school-based health care program also includes dental services for registered students in all five of Maryland’s Mid-Shore counties.

New and existing Choptank Health dental patients can call the Denton Health Center at 410-479-2650 or the Federalsburg Health Center at 410-754-9580 to schedule an appointment, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

The University of Maryland Shore Medical Group (UM SMG) is proud to announce the opening of UM SMG – Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, a new specialty practice offering advanced cosmetic and reconstructive services. The practice, led by Joshua Harrison, MD, will begin seeing patients on September 1, 2025, at 5 Martin Court in Easton, Maryland. UM SMG encompasses the medical practices affiliated with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

A board-eligible plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Harrison specializes in both aesthetic procedures and complex reconstruction. He will work closely with the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) to provide breast reconstruction services for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and other breast conditions.

“Dr. Harrison’s expertise enhances our ability to offer seamless, compassionate care for breast cancer patients and others in need of reconstructive or plastic surgery,” said Timothy Shanahan, MD, Medical Director, UM SMG. “We are excited to bring this new level of specialized care to the community.”

Since 2000, the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center has provided women with timely access to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and support. The Center is staffed by a fellowship-trained breast surgeon and a multidisciplinary team that offers diagnostic imaging, genetic testing, counseling and treatment services—all designed to empower women to make informed, positive decisions about their health.

Dr. Harrison also offers a wide range of aesthetic services, including facial cosmetic surgery, body contouring, scar revision and non-surgical treatments such as injectables and dermal fillers. His approach is grounded in precision, compassion and a commitment to helping patients feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.

Dr. Harrison earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He also received advanced microsurgical training at two world-renowned institutions: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He holds a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering and has published extensively in the fields of reconstructive and regenerative medicine.

Appointments are now being scheduled. To book a consultation, please call 667-343-1087.

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

For All Seasons will host its annual School Supplies Giveaway and Resource Fair on Wednesday, August 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Idlewild Park in Easton. Talbot County Department of Social Services is a key partner, contributing to the purchase of hundreds of backpacks pre-stuffed with supplies for community children in need. In addition to the backpacks and school supplies, the event will offer health and wellness resources, snow cones, raffles, games, and more.

“For All Seasons recognizes the needs that exist in our community. In addition to getting our students ready to return to school with school supplies, the event connects the community to important health and wellness resources, including mental health resources, which can help families get the school year off to a great start,” states Katie Theeke, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at For All Seasons.

Among the vendors to date who will participate are Anchor Church, CarePacks, Easton Elementary School, Rivers Crossing Wellness Community (Crossroads Community), State of MD Office of Oral Health, Seedco/MD Health Connection, Eastpoint Church, Talbot County Department of Social Services, SHORE UP, Inc., The Village Maternal Holistic Wellness Center, Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, Talbot County Free Library, Choptank Community Health, Talbot Humane, Santé, AFSP – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Talbot County Parks & Recreation, Partners in Care, Talbot County Health Department, Appleseed Books, CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield, University of Maryland Shore Regional Cancer Center, Shore Legal Access, and Charlie Health.

Additional sponsors for the event include the Talbot County Health Department, the Easton Lions Club, Anchor Church, and the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the event, reach out to Kelsey Trumbull-Meyers at [email protected].

For All Seasons Behavioral Health & Rape Crisis Center offers mental health services, victim and crisis support, and education & outreach on Maryland’s Mid-Shore and throughout the state. The agency’s unique model of care ensures anyone can receive the highest-quality, trauma-certified mental health care when they need it, regardless of language or ability to pay. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

“Saving Lives Together: Adult CPR Basics for Community Heroes” is set for August 11,1 to 3 p.m. One of many classes offered by University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Rural Health Education program, this non-certification class will be offered in-person at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, 100 Brown St. There is no charge for the course, but registration is required. 

Led by Sandra Wilson-Hypes, Health Educator for University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, this course provides training in the life-saving technique of CPR, which can be used to revive someone who has suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. It will be offered again in December.

Other upcoming classes offered through the UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown’s Rural Health Education program include “Organize Your Health” (Thursday, September 18) and “Safeguarding Seniors: Recognizing and Reporting Elder Abuse and Neglect” (October 14). Classes offered each month are “Breathe Again: A Journey to a Smoke Free and Healthier You” (1st Thursday of the month), “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy” (2nd Wednesday of the Month), and “Caring with Compassion and Purpose: Essential Lessons for Adult Caregivers” (4th Tuesday of the month).

Advance registration is required for all rural health education classes. To find out more about course content, locations and times, and to register, visit umshoreregional.org/health-education and click on the date(s) of the course you wish to attend in the calendar provided. 

UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 400 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore. 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

“Welcome to Medicare,” a free and educational presentation that covers how the different parts of Medicare work, will be provided on Monday, August 18, 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Linkwood-Salem Volunteer Fire Company, 3905 Ocean Gateway in Linkwood, Md.

Offered by MAC Inc. Area Agency on Aging’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in partnership with Avery Hall Insurance and the Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team (SCOT), “Welcome to Medicare” covers Medicare timelines, cost and coverage, Advantage and Supplemental plans, how to spot fraud, and your rights as a Medicare recipient. SCOT is a community-based health service of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

“Insurance can be confusing, and Medicare is no exception,” said Rochalla Jones, BSN, RN, Dorchester SCOT Nurse Coordinator. “This presentation is designed to be informative for individuals who are still working as well as those who are retired or on disability – anyone who is getting ready to enroll in Medicare.”

In addition to the August presentation date in Linkwood, “Welcome to Medicare” will be offered in Cambridge on Monday, September 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health at Cambridge (2nd floor conference room), 713 Cambridge Marketplace Blvd.

Space at both events is limited and advance registration is required. To register, call the Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team office at 443-225-7545.

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

 

Choptank Community Health System is recognizing 45 years of serving Maryland’s Mid-Shore communities as part of National Health Center Week, held August 3-9.

This annual observance, led by the National Association of Community Health Centers, acknowledges the vital role community health centers play in enhancing access to care and promoting health equity nationwide.

Founded in 1978 as Caroline Health Services, Inc., Choptank Health began as a private, nonprofit organization with a clear mission: to provide comprehensive primary health care to the residents of Caroline County.

In 1980, the organization’s first health center opened in Goldsboro with two providers. The Goldsboro location continues to serve patients today, a testament to Choptank Health’s longstanding dedication to community health.

Over the years, Choptank Health has expanded both its services and regional footprint. The organization established school-based health centers beginning in 1999. Dental services were added in 2001.

“Today, Choptank Health provides medical, dental, behavioral, and school-based health services to more than 30,000 children and adults in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich.

Most recently, Choptank Health expanded its Easton Health Center to include adult and behavioral health care. A new Federalsburg Health Center opened in 2025, and its Chestertown Health Center opened in 2022. Choptank also has three mobile health units to help meet the needs of patients where they are.

Rich added that Choptank Health’s impact goes far beyond the health center walls. “Our population health services  work to prevent illness while also addressing the social drivers of health,” she said. “That includes helping individuals and families navigate challenges like homelessness, substance use, food insecurity, behavioral health needs, and more.”

“Nationwide, community health centers serve approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population but account for only about 1 percent of total healthcare spending,” she says. “By keeping people healthy, primary care doesn’t just save lives — it saves money.”

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, community health centers are the primary source of care for one in five rural residents and one in five uninsured individuals. They also serve one in three people living in poverty, care for 9.4 million children, and reach 419,000 veterans across the nation.

“Community Health Centers like Choptank Health are integral to our rural and national healthcare systems,” Rich said. “We design innovative, integrated primary care models based on what services communities need most. Health Centers ensure access to affordable, quality care for more than 32.5 million people, particularly our most vulnerable.”

Choptank’s comprehensive services include primary medical care, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic disease management, laboratory services, and care navigation. New medical patients are welcomed at all Choptank locations, ensuring that quality care is available to those who need it most.

For more information about National Health Center Week and the national health center movement, visit www.nachc.org. To learn more about Choptank Health and its local impact, visit www.choptankhealth.org.

The backbone of For All Seasons’ community outreach has always been its volunteers. For All Seasons heavily uses volunteers for its community and educational events. This includes the Hooper’s Island Resource Fair for migrant women, the School Supplies Giveaway Resource Fair, and Frosty’s Holiday Village – our biggest events held throughout the year.

The agency also has volunteers to help host its information tables at the many outreach events held annually throughout the Shore region. Whether it’s a human resources fair, a festival, or another local event, volunteers play a vital role in helping the agency connect the community with our resources. Students seeking community service hours are also encouraged to participate in volunteer work.

“Volunteers also help us with mailing projects and delivering flyers for our School Supplies Giveaway Resource Fair, and other events,” states Mary Wilson, Community Engagement Coordinator at For All Seasons.

“It is important to have volunteers in our community to help support the vital services For All Seasons provides and help us make deeper connections within the community,” she adds.

Soon, For All Seasons will be launching an online volunteer training and orientation program. To volunteer at For All Seasons, visit https://forallseasonsinc.org/get-involved/volunteer/ or contact Mary Wilson at [email protected].

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For All Seasons Center for Learning is offering an introductory online training to equip hospitality professionals with the critical knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to human trafficking in lodging environments. Designed specifically for hotel, motel, and short-term rental staff—including front desk personnel, housekeepers, security staff, and managers—this program demystifies human trafficking and empowers learners to take practical action.

Led by Sean Walker, a nationally recognized safety and security expert with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, the course addresses both the myths and the realities of trafficking. Participants will learn how traffickers exploit the privacy and access provided by hotels and motels, what signs to watch for during check-in and throughout a guest’s stay, and how to act when something doesn’t feel right. Emphasis is placed on real-world scenarios, non-confrontational reporting, and establishing proactive relationships with local law enforcement.

“Human trafficking poses a direct threat to our region’s hospitality industry, by damaging reputations, undermining operational efficiency, and increasing costs. For All Seasons’ Regional Navigator Program is actively addressing this issue by training our business owners to improve customer trust, ensure public safety, and enhance employee satisfaction, ultimately driving long-term economic success in the region,” said Susan Ahlstrom, Regional Navigator at For All Seasons.

The online training program includes:

• A foundational overview of what human trafficking is—and what it is not
• Common behaviors and red flags at check-in and during a guest’s stay
• Best practices in response, including communication, policy development, and law enforcement engagement
• Mental health considerations for frontline workers who may witness or report trafficking
• Resources for further training, awareness, and organizational readiness

Participants will also hear a follow-up conversation between Sean Walker and For All Seasons’ Chief Clinical Officer, Lesa Mulcahy, focusing on the emotional impact of this work and how agencies like For All Seasons can support staff following traumatic incidents.

Whether you work the front desk or manage operations, this course offers the clarity, confidence, and tools needed to play a meaningful role in preventing exploitation. Completing this training signals a commitment to guest safety and community responsibility because every action, no matter how small, has the power to disrupt trafficking and create hope.

For further information, visit https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/human-trafficking-hospitality-training/, and for questions, contact: [email protected].

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

Three nurse managers at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH), a member organization of University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), recently graduated from the Nurse Leadership Institute (NLI), a year-long professional development program hosted by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and funded by a state grant. The NLI was designed to build leadership capacity of Maryland nursing faculty and clinicians, facilitate partnerships for developing strategies that shape effective health care and prepare a nursing workforce to assume roles within systems.

Amy Bradley, BSN, manager, 3E and the Joint Center; Mary Collins, BSN, manager, 2E and Dialysis; and Shawne Davis, BSN, manager, Patient Care Services, completed the intensive program along with over 40 other nurse leaders across the state. 

Quotes from participants:

• “It was reinvigorating,” said Collins, who has served on the UM SRH nursing team for nearly two decades. “When you’ve been doing your job for a long time, it’s easy to think, ‘we’ve got this’—but this program helps you realize there’s always room to grow. This was about learning how to do what we do – better.”
• “The NLI forces you to take a hard look at your strengths and areas of growth,” said Bradley. “It was about self-awareness as much as it was about skill-building.” We’re not just connecting within our organization—the NLI brings together nurse leaders from across Maryland,” said Davis. “That perspective is powerful.”

The program included a one-on-one mentorship, monthly virtual leadership meetings and three in-person sessions, including a two-day intensive leadership training. Participants also completed a collaborative project addressing a specific health care issue or topic.

Danielle Wilson, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, UM SRH, championed the program internally and encouraged her managers to apply.

“Investing in nursing leadership is investing in patient care,” said Wilson. “Nurse leaders have the opportunity and responsibility to continue to innovate and advance standards of care. We are grateful that three of our nurse managers had the opportunity to engage in this transformative initiative.”

For more information on the Nurse Leadership Institute, visit umshoreregional.org/nli.

 

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About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health 

A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.

 

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.