The Orthopedic Center has welcomed orthopedic surgeon Rowan Michael, MD, to its provider team. The Orthopedic Center is an affiliate medical practice of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System. 

Dr. Michael is board certified in orthopedic surgery, with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery, by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. He completed a hand and upper extremity fellowship at University of Florida – Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida and his residency at Dartmouth Orthopaedic Surgery in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Dr. Michael has earned numerous accolades, including ‘Top Doc’ recognition from Main Line Today and the prestigious Bruce Fisher Award, presented to the top two graduating medical students in each class.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Michael to our practice starting July 1,” said Thomas Stauch, MD, principal provider at the Orthopedic Center. “His specialized expertise in hand and upper extremity conditions will be a tremendous asset to our community.”

To make an appointment with Dr. Michael, call The Orthopedic Center at 410-820-8226.

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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.

 

 Kent Island residents Juliet Taylor and Tim Abeska have partnered with Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) to host an intimate backyard fundraiser benefiting the ALS-focused foundation Hop On A Cure on Kent Island on July 26 from 6-9 p.m. local time. Donation to attend the event, which will feature a concert and special performance by Hop On A Cure co-founder and founding member of GRAMMY® Award-winning group Zac Brown Band, John Driskell Hopkins, is $500, and includes dinner and an open bar. The evening will also host a live auction, which includes a trip to Atlanta for the October 18 Harmony for Hope Hop On A Cure Gala. 

“We are honored to be working with Juliet and Tim on this wonderful backyard benefit for Hop On A Cure.  Their dedication and enthusiasm is very meaningful to everyone involved with this important cause,” commented Paul “Bo” Bollinger, President & CEO, of CRAB.

The event was inspired by Taylor and Abeska’s late spouses – both of whom passed from ALS in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Hopkins himself was diagnosed with the terminal illness in December of 2021 and, shortly after his diagnosis, co-founded Hop On A Cure with his wife, Jen, in an effort to spread awareness, educate the public, and raise funding for ALS research programs. To-date, Hop On A Cure has given over $4.2 million in grants to research programs at notable hospitals across the country, including Houston Methodist Medical Center, Duke University Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as several independent programs, like The Packard Center. 

“Finding a cure for ALS isn’t an ‘if’ – it’s a ‘when,’” said Nic Shefrin, CEO of Hop On A Cure. “I don’t think people realize that a diagnosis of ALS is a terminal diagnosis. Events like the one Juliet and Tim are so graciously hosting help drive home the importance of educating others on ALS, and raising money for the hard-working researchers on the hunt for a cure.”

Those interested in attending the event can purchase tickets at HopOnACure.org. 

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About Hop On A Cure Foundation:

Hop On A Cure started in 2022 after John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band was diagnosed with ALS. ALS is consistently one of the most underfunded diseases for research. Because of that, not much significant progress has been made since Lou Gehrig passed away from the disease in 1941. The mission of the foundation is to support research to prevent, reverse, and cure ALS while raising awareness, building a compassionate community, and unleashing the healing power of hope. For more information about Hop On A Cure, visit www.hoponacure.org.

In a strategic move to make mental health care more accessible and visible, For All Seasons is taking its mission straight to the heart of the community—Main Street.

For nearly four decades, this nonprofit behavioral health and rape crisis center has served residents across Maryland’s Mid-Shore region. Although federal and state budget challenges are looming large, For All Seasons is still moving forward with its comprehensive plan to expand, relocate, and renovate its spaces to better serve the growing needs of the community.

The initiative, aptly named “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street,” is not just about geography—it is about visibility, dignity, and meeting people where they are.

Beginning July 1, For All Seasons will launch a significant renovation of its central office at 300 Talbot Street in Easton, one of its busiest and most historic locations. The renovation will modernize and expand the space, allowing the organization to consolidate its Talbot County clinical services and rape crisis response under one roof. This redesign also supports a more welcoming, trauma-informed experience for clients. In tandem, some administrative teams will relocate to 111 E. Dover Street in downtown Easton, a newly secured space that will also house the agency’s Center for Learning. This program offers professional workshops, community classes, and prevention education—critical tools in addressing the root causes of mental health struggles and violence.

This is not For All Seasons’ first leap toward a more visible presence. In recent years, the agency has relocated offices in Denton and Chestertown to downtown storefronts, making services more accessible without stigma or confusion. The next step? Cambridge. A new main street location is expected to be announced in September, continuing the trend of neighborhood-based, highly accessible care.

While the agency’s long-term goals remain unchanged, significant reductions in state and federal funding have prompted For All Seasons to adjust the timeline of its Main Street expansion. Rather than halt progress, the organization is launching a comprehensive fundraising campaign to ensure the project’s continued momentum. This pivot allows the agency to proceed with renovations at 300 Talbot Street and relocate some services while giving time to secure the remaining capital needed for future phases of the plan. The shift reflects both flexibility and resilience, ensuring that growth remains steady without compromising care.

“We are pivoting—not pausing,” said Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons. “Our supporters have always believed in the power of accessible mental health care. This moment gives us the opportunity to rally our community and build something even stronger, together.”

To date, the agency has secured critical project support from the Talbot County Council, the State of Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, helping to launch the renovation phase in Easton. The next steps will depend on community fundraising and donor engagement, ensuring that the full vision of “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street” can be realized.

Renovations at 300 Talbot Street will take place between July 2025 and March 2026. To ensure continuity of care, For All Seasons:

• Open Access services will temporarily be relocated to 8221 Teal Drive in Easton.
• Remote appointments will be expanded to reduce disruption.
• Clients are urged to stay informed through email, mail, the On-Call platform, and by contacting For All Seasons Client Services directly at 410-822-1018.

“Our ‘Bringing Mental Health to Main Street’ initiative sends a powerful message to the community: mental health care is not hidden, it’s central. It’s not distant, it’s here. With the community’s support and the agency’s unwavering commitment, help is never far away,” shares Dorman.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. 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.

Choptank Community Health System’s medical and women’s health care team recently welcomed Family Nurse Practitioner Bridget Allison, CRNP, to the Federalsburg Health Center.

Allison is a Federalsburg native and a Colonel Richardson High School alumnus. Allison brings more than a decade of medical experience to Choptank Health’s care team, including work in hospital settings and a focus on pediatrics, maternal, and child health.

She earned a post-master’s certificate from Wilmington University’s family nurse practitioner program and holds a master’s degree in nursing education from Wilmington University.

Allison also earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in health education, community health, from Salisbury University. Her academic achievement, leadership, and character earned her membership in the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society.

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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, including school-based health in all five counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health patients can schedule an appointment by calling the Federalsburg Health Center at 410-754-9021, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

Summer is supposed to be a happy time for children, but sometimes it requires special attention to children’s mental health. Although prioritizing children’s mental health is important every day, the summer months bring several changes that make it one of the most crucial times of the year to monitor how children are adjusting.

Summer Challenges for Children:

• Changes in routine can cause anxiety or difficult adaptation
• Increased free time can lead to social isolation, feelings of rejection, or fear of missing out (FOMO)
• Pressure and expectations of new summer programming and activities can contribute to stress and anxiety
• Feeling disappointed that summer vacation didn’t live up to expectations
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can appear in the summer months and lead to mood, sleep, and appetite changes

Signs of Children’s Depression/Anxiety:

• Persistent sadness or irritability
• Changes in sleep patterns – difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or excessive sleepiness
• Changes in appetite: a significant decrease or increase over time
• Social withdrawal – lack of interest in activities or spending less time with others
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies previously enjoyed
• Decreased energy and fatigue – consistently tired, lack of energy, or decrease in activity level
• Difficulty concentrating
• Physical symptoms – headaches, stomachaches, or other physical discomforts without a medical cause
• Self-critical or negative thoughts – having an overly negative view of themselves

Ways to Help:

• Spending time outdoors doing physical activity has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health
• Connecting daily (even for short periods) to do an activity together, such as going for a walk, or playing a game
• Creating a supportive environment with open communication and where children are encouraged to discuss how they feel
• Have children take a break from social media – setting limits and modeling your own limits on screentime
• If you notice persistent or concerning signs in your child, seek guidance from a qualified mental health professional

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. 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 further information, visit the For All Seasons summer tips page at https://files.constantcontact.com/36143a1c701/cd902690-5ed1-4964-849c-940cef4e13ec.pdf.

 Sources: https://www.brylin.com/prioritizing-childrens-mental-health-in-summer/; https://prairie-care.com/resources/type/blog/summer-depression/.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. 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.

New $2.4 million investment in medical training program promises to put more doctors on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, help prevent high rate of premature deaths in region

Those who live in the Eastern Shore of Maryland can expect to live shorter lives: as much as seven years in some rural counties. That’s largely because residents of counties like Caroline and Kent County don’t have easy access to health care to help diagnose and manage chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. In an effort to increase physician density in these rural areas, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) last year launched its Rural-MD Scholars program, to train and place up to 10 students a year in Eastern Shore healthcare practices.

As the first class of three students completed their first year of medical school, the program received a large influx in funding from state ($1.4 million) and an anonymous donor ($1 million) that will provide full scholarships to 9 new students next year. These students all commit to practicing for four years on the Eastern shore after finishing their residency training.

“One in four residents on the Eastern Shore live at least 10 miles from a hospital, which increases the risk of delayed treatment,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean of UMSOM. “Caroline County, for example, has only one physician for every 2,500 residents, which is six times lower than the physician density in other parts of the state. We need to do what we can to fix this problem.”

View full update on the program here: bit.ly/43IvAcU

Take a look at the graphic below to see how efforts to increase physician density on the Eastern shore can lower the rate of preventable deaths from heart disease.

More Doctors, Longer Lives: Preventing Heart Disease Deaths in Rural Maryland

Rates of preventable heart disease deaths were found to be significantly higher in rural areas compared to large central suburban areas throughout Maryland. A major reason cited by federal health researchers for this disparity was lack of access to health care. Increasing physician density in rural areas could reduce the rate of preventable deaths.

Choptank Community Health System’s Easton Health Center recently welcomed Behavioral Health Clinician Carmen Grant, LCSW-C, to its behavioral health care team.

Grant’s experience includes conducting individual therapy, psychosocial assessments, supervision, and behavioral consultation, working with patients in school-based environments, and those with serious mental illnesses.

She earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California. She holds certifications in USC’s military social work specialization and EMDR therapy and speaks fluently in English and Spanish.

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, including school-based health in all five counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health patients can schedule an appointment by calling the Easton Health Center at 410-770-8910, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s leadership team recently welcomed Bill Baxendale as Facilities Director. In this role, Baxendale will lead the maintenance, safety, and operational integrity of Choptank Health’s owned and leased facilities across the region, while overseeing construction and renovation projects, managing vendor contracts, and ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulatory requirements.

He also serves as the organization’s Safety Officer, working closely with senior leadership to support a safe, efficient, and high-quality healthcare environment for patients and staff.

“We’re pleased to have Bill on our leadership team,” said Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “His extensive experience in facilities management and commitment to safety and quality will play a key role in supporting our health centers and ensuring we continue to provide the best possible environment for our patients and staff.”

Baxendale brings more than a decade of facilities management and project leadership experience to his new role. He joined Choptank Health in 2021 as Assistant Director of Facilities and Project Manager, leading multi-million-dollar capital improvements across the organization’s campuses and overseeing projects from design through completion with a focus on safety, quality, and cost-efficiency.

He previously served as Facilities Manager at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, where he managed major construction and renovation efforts while ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. His earlier work with the Center for Creative Works and Talbot County Public Schools further strengthened his expertise in facilities oversight and maintenance. Baxendale holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

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

Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic condition support, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed in all Mid-Shore locations. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Heart to Heart: Coloring Together, a unique new coloring book produced by For All Seasons and created by the agency’s art therapist Jane P. Gordon, LCPAT, ATR-BC, recently debuted at a special tea party for girls and their adult female caregivers. The event held at Brookletts Place in Easton featured a tea party-themed lunch for girls and their parents, mentors, or caregivers.

“For All Seasons wants to share the therapeutic expertise of our staff with the broader community. This book provides a therapy-based activity for parents and caregivers to engage in during their leisure time. The book is universal – whether a family has experienced trauma or just wants to connect – it offers a wonderful exercise for everyone,” states Katie Theeke, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at For All Seasons.

According to Gordon, coloring is a universally loved activity that can be very fun and relaxing for participants.

“Adding the special element of coloring with someone on the same page can promote a beautiful connection. Creating together inspires and reinforces a closer relationship,” states Gordon.

“I originally came up with this concept while working with elementary school clients who, at times, were hesitant to engage in therapy, and had difficulty expressing their concerns and feelings. This activity almost immediately set their minds and hearts at ease. Sharing this positive experience with me sparked communication and began the development of rapport and trust,” she adds.

Heart to Heart: Coloring Together was created for children and families to enjoy a shared activity while building strong connections and relationships, developing healthy attachments, and promoting conversation. It serves as an effective therapeutic process for children and families who have experienced trauma. It provides a fun, relaxing activity that reduces stress and fosters a joint feeling of joy and comfort.

The book can be shared at home to wind down after a long day or reconnect after a conflict; for hospital visits and doctors’ offices to reduce stress and fear; for school celebrations, indoor rainy day activities, and “buddy” programs; in areas affected by natural disaster, helping children feel a sense of normalcy and hope; and anytime, anywhere you want to enjoy coloring with a partner.

Gordon’s first book, Color Me Closer, has been used in multiple settings, including schools, offices, homes, assisted living settings, hospital visits, and in areas of trauma (most recently the California wildfires).

“My granddaughter Winnie says that Color Me Closer is her favorite book, and we color every time we are together. This inspired me to create another separate book, Heart to Heart: Coloring Together, with her character as the hostess,” Gordon shares.

“It truly warms my heart to see and hear about coloring partners in action. We’re excited about launching this book. It is a unique therapeutic tool, an opportunity to develop positive attachment and to simply enjoy the experience with a special person,” she adds.

Gordon is a board-certified, licensed art therapist with a career spanning 40 years. She has been a licensed clinician for For All Seasons for many years, sharing the mission of serving the community by providing mental health services.

Heart to Heart: Coloring Together will be released for sale to the public in the coming weeks. Reach out to Carly Palmer at [email protected] to preorder a copy.

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For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. 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.

Mid-Shore families and individuals in need of a primary care provider are invited to attend a New Patient Welcome Session at Choptank Community Health’s Chestertown Health Center this June.

The events are designed to help individuals and families learn more about available health services, meet providers, and to complete new patient registration information with ease.

The free sessions will be held at the Chestertown Health Center, located at 126 Philosophers Terrace, on Tuesday, June 10 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11 from 12 to 1 p.m., and Thursday, June 12 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Translation services will be available, with walk-ins welcome, or reserved times available by calling 443-215-5353.

Attendees can receive assistance with completing new patient paperwork, explore insurance options and Choptank Health’s sliding fee scale program, and have an opportunity to meet many of Choptank Health’s medical providers and team members.

Guests will also be invited to tour the facilities to gain further familiarity with Choptank Health’s approach to providing access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all.

“These New Patient Welcome Sessions help people connect with our team and learn how we can support their care,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “It’s a meaningful first step that builds trust and makes registration easier.”

To learn more, go to www.choptankhealth.org or call the Chestertown Health Center at 443-215-5353.

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Choptank Community Health System is a private, non-profit Community Health Center providing primary healthcare services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Choptank Health provides comprehensive care for the whole family, including medical, dental, pediatric, school-based, behavioral health, women’s health, chronic condition support, lab services, and care coordination. Choptank Health is a participating provider in Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance plans. A sliding fee scale is also available for any patient without insurance.