University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Palliative Care Program has named Christina Ball, MS, AGACNP-BC, as the practice’s director. Ball has been a nurse practitioner with the practice since 2020. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

“Christina has been an integral part of our team, demonstrating exceptional clinical expertise, deep compassion for patients and families and an unwavering commitment to improving quality of life for those facing serious illness,” said Timothy Shanahan, DO, Medical Director, UM Shore Medical Group. “In this new leadership role, Christina will guide our palliative care program’s growth, ensuring that our patients continue to receive comprehensive, patient-centered care that reflects our mission and values. We are confident that Christina’s vision, leadership and dedication will strengthen our services and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals and communities we serve.”

Ball has been a nurse practitioner with the UM Shore Regional Palliative Care Program, working collaboratively with patients’ primary care and specialists’ teams to relieve the stress and symptoms of serious or chronic illness, for the past six years. She previously worked as a nurse practitioner at Bayleigh Chase in Easton,and with Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s Neurology Department, was the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center Coordinator in Baltimore and positions as staff nurse, clinical coordinator and neuroscience specialist with UM SRH. In 2012, she was recognized as the recipient of the UM SRH Outstanding Achievement in Professional Nursing Award.   

For more information or to request a palliative care consult, please contact the UM Shore Regional Palliative Care Program at 410-820-4434 or visit umshoreregional.org/palliativecare.

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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.

Compass proudly celebrated another successful year of Camp New Dawn, marking the 31st year of this unique program that helps children, teens, and families navigate grief in a safe, supportive environment. 

Held each summer, Camp New Dawn brings together children and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one, offering them a place to share their stories, build resilience, and find comfort among peers who understand. With the guidance of trained counselors and compassionate volunteers, campers participate in traditional camp activities— arts and crafts, swimming, games, and team challenges—blended with grief support sessions designed to promote healing and hope. 

“Grief can feel isolating for children, but Camp New Dawn reminds them they are not alone,” said Rhonda Knotts, Director of Grief Support Services.“For more than three decades, this camp has provided a safe haven where young people can honor their loved ones, express their emotions, and begin to rediscover joy.” 

Volunteers, too, experience the power of Camp. Longtime volunteer, Jane Anthony, shared: “The only thing I can say is that it was a supercalifragilisticexpealidocious camp! I saw healing. I saw connections being made, both campers and volunteers. I saw one big family 

just loving each other through the tough moments. I saw things that just make me want to come back year after year!” 

This year’s camp welcomed 53 campers, whose strength and openness inspired the entire Compass team. Many campers return year after year, forming lasting friendships and connections that extend well beyond camp. 

Many campers and volunteers spoke about their experiences at Camp New Dawn and the profound impact it had on them, their children, and their families. One family shared,“By the end of family camp, we are all just a little bit lighter. The loss is still there, the heartache is still present, but now we have a number of tools to help us cope with our grief on our own terms and in our own time.” 

Another supporter reflected,“At Camp New Dawn, I met some of the bravest little souls who showed up to heal their hearts from the pain of grief. I witnessed courage in teens and young adults continuing their own healing while walking alongside the younger campers. I saw bravery in the adults who pour their time and love into making this camp a meaningful, successful healing process.” 

Group leader Hayden Rhodes expressed,“Year after year, I have the privilege of witnessing something truly remarkable over three unforgettable days. This is not just a camp—it’s a place where children who have experienced deep loss come together, surrounded by compassion, understanding, and hope. The most beautiful part is watching transformation unfold—by the last day, the same faces that carried such visible grief are glowing with the light of new friendships, deeper understanding, and a renewed sense of hope. Camp New Dawn is a sacred space where healing begins, where hearts mend little by little, and where God’s presence feels close and real.” 

Camp New Dawn is made possible through the generosity of community supporters, donors, and dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to ensure each child feels seen and supported. 

As Compass reflects on 31 years of Camp New Dawn, one thing remains constant: the power of community to bring light into even the darkest seasons of grief. With the support of volunteers, donors, and families, Camp New Dawn will continue to provide a safe, compassionate space where children and families can find healing, hope, and connection. 

Compass 

Since 1985, Compass has empowered patients to spend their final months as they choose, guiding loved ones through life-limiting diagnoses and teaching healthy ways to manage grief. 

Today, Compass is a regional provider of hospice care, supportive care, and grief services in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Whether serving patients in private residences, skilled nursing facilities, or Compass’ residential center in Centreville, our staff and volunteers are dedicated to ensuring that individuals facing the end of life can live their days fully and meaningfully. 

Media Contact: 

Hayley Greenwood, Media and Communications Coordinator 

443-262-4100, ext. 177 

[email protected]

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Palliative Care Program recently announced the addition of nurse practitioner Megan Morrison, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, ACHPN, and Teresa “Terry” Rudman, LCSW-C, a licensed clinical social worker, to the team. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System. 

Morrison and Rudman will provide support for patients in the UM SRH Palliative Care Program, which works collaboratively with a patient’s primary care and specialists’ team to relieve the stress and symptoms of serious or chronic illness.

“Megan brings a breadth of experience and knowledge in the palliative care specialty and Terry brings incredibly valuable experience to serve our patients,” said Christina Ball, director, UM Shore Regional Health’s Palliative Care Program. “I have confidence that both will continue to complement our existing team and work diligently to serve our community in a positive way.”

Morrison is board certified as a family nurse practitioner and an advanced certified hospice and palliative nurse. She joined UM SRH from Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va., where she was a nurse practitioner. She has also worked as a nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente in Renton, Wash. Her clinical background includes critical care nursing, cardiac and hospice care, as well as in hospital, office and home-based palliative care. She has held teaching positions at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, Md.; Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash, and Seattle University in Seattle, Wash. She has been a part of extensive research into improving end-of-life care as well as research that focuses on patients with advanced heart failure who are living with left ventricular assist devices and has published many peer-reviewed journal articles. Morrison completed her post-master’s certificate in advance palliative nursing at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora, Colo., and her PhD at the University of Washington and the Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence in Seattle, Wash.   

Rudman, who recently relocated to the Eastern Shore, has extensive experience in addressing complex psychosocial issues with individuals and families. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., and her Master of Social Work from New York University in New York, N.Y.  She will provide support for the psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and families.

For more information or to request a palliative care consult, please contact the UM Shore Regional Palliative Care Program at 410-820-4434 or visit umshoreregional.org/palliativecare.

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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.

 

As our children transition from summer to the new school year, For All Seasons – the region’s behavioral health and rape crisis center – wants parents to know ways that they can build their child’s coping toolbox for some of the stressors that come with going back to school.

Mental Health America says that changing friendships, getting your brain back into “learning mode,” and balancing school with other responsibilities are just some of the ways that starting a new school year can be stressful. The coping toolbox is a collection of skills, techniques, items, and other suggestions that your child can turn to as soon as they start to feel anxious or distressed.

Creating your toolbox can be as simple as writing a list of what helps, like breathing exercises or playing with a pet – this way, when children are struggling with their mental health they don’t have to remember what to do or search for tips – they know what works best for them. Physical toolboxes could include such items as a stress ball, written notes of encouragement, or even photos that make them feel happy. This could be kept in a child’s bookbag or locker for access when they need reassurance.

Other ideas for coping with stress as school resumes could include mood boosters, such as:

• Watching a funny YouTube video
• Reorganizing your room
• Playing a game outside
• Watching a movie you loved when you were younger
• Repeating affirmations like: I believe in myself. Fear doesn’t control me. I let go of my sadness. I am safe.

According to the Child Mind Institute, the biggest changes are those starting kindergarten, middle school, and high school. These transitions involve new schools, new routines, and lots of unfamiliar faces. It’s understandable for kids (and parents) to be a bit anxious, but these new beginnings are opportunities for them to develop important academic and social skills and a stronger sense of self.

For students starting kindergarten:

• Practicing things like opening snacks, using the bathroom solo, and packing a backpack
• Teaching kids strategies they can use to calm down when they’re nervous that are part of their personal toolbox

For students starting middle school:

• Helping students learn time management and study skills for changing classes for the first time and the increased school workload with color-coded folders, calendars, and checklists
• Helping students learn to regulate emotions and handle friendships as they navigate the social and emotional challenges that come with puberty

For students starting high school:

• Helping encourage students’ independence in completing tasks without your reminders and teaching them self-advocacy skills
• Providing proactive guidance to students for how to handle situations involving sex and substances

For further information, visit Building Your Toolbox https://mhanational.org/back-to-school-with-mental-health-in-mind/. If you or your child needs additional support, reach out to a local mental health provider.

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 more information about For All Seasons, please call (410) 822-1018 or visit www.ForAllSeasonsinc.org.

The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) Board of Directors recently welcomed four new members: Aaron Gabrielian, CFP®; Pamela Metz Kasemeyer; Michael Molino and Kevin M. Morgan. The Board’s membership includes representatives from the five counties served by UM SRH, the regional physician community and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), of which UM SRH is a member organization. In addition to these new members, the following members have been elected as new officers on the Board: Steve Satchell has been elected to serve as chair and Marlene Feldman as vice chair.

Gabrielian, of Easton, Md., is Senior Vice President – Branch Director, Senior Portfolio Director of the Coastal Private Wealth Group at RBC Wealth Management in Easton. He began his career as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and prior to joining RBC, worked at a leading independent advisory firm providing family-office style investment advisory services, business succession planning and estate preservation strategies to some of the nation’s most successful business-owning families, institutions and endowments. He has extensive experience managing individual investment portfolios on a discretionary basis and providing multigenerational wealth planning to corporate executives and business owning families. 

Gabrielian graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance where he played baseball and was the recipient of the Towson University Tiger Leadership Award for his efforts on and off the baseball field. He went on to graduate study in financial planning through New York University. He holds active volunteer roles with several local organizations including The Mid-Shore Community Foundation Board of Directors, The Sultana Education Foundation Board of Directors and UM SRH Board of Directors, which he serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.

Kasemeyer, of Easton, Md., and Columbia, Md., currently serves as Director of the Office of Government Affairs for Baltimore County, Md. She was formerly a partner with Schwartz, Metz, Wise and Kauffman, P.A. in Baltimore, Md., representing business, professional and trade associations before Maryland’s legislative and executive branches.

Before joining Schwartz, Metz, Wise and Kauffman, P.A., Kasemeyer held several positions, including associate attorney at the Law Offices of J. William Pitcher, Executive Director of the Maryland Delaware Solid Waste Association and Director at the Maryland Association of Health Maintenance Organizations.

Kasemeyer earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law, a Master of Health Services Administration from George Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Duke University. Her bar admissions include the Maryland Court of Appeals, the United States District Court – District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Kasemeyer is Chairman of the Board for Sisters Circle, a mentoring organization in Baltimore City, and serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA on the Mid Shore.

Molino, of Saint Michaels, Md. is Executive Vice President, Corporate Growth for SeaCorp, an engineering and technology company that builds electronic systems for submarines and related technology solutions, where he oversees corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, business growth and federal government affairs.

Before joining SeaCorp, Molino served in similar positions at ASRC Federal and Leidos, both government contracting firms. Prior to working in the private sector, Molino served in the U.S. Army, handling various logistics roles and leading deployment exercises, natural disaster relief and training programs. He continues his military service by volunteering on the Army Science Board, where he reviews Army projects involving robotics, personnel management, nuclear testing and technology. 

Molino earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University.

Morgan, of Cambridge, Md., currently serves as Regional Health and Wellness Senior Director for Sam’s Club Inc., based in Annapolis, Md. In this role, he oversees a large network of pharmacies, as well as optical and hearing centers, across 12 states. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan played a key role in the vaccine rollout within Walmart, collaborating with Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Neighborhood Markets to deploy immunization services across the various retail platforms supporting all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Morgan served as a commissioner on the Maryland Board of Pharmacy from 2016 to 2024, including 3 terms as board president. He has also represented Maryland as a delegate to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and contributed as a member of multiple NABP committees. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Shenandoah University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University. His professional certifications include APhA immunization delivery, American Board of Opticianry and basic life support.

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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.

The Cancer Center at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) will offer prostate screenings at no cost to eligible participants on Thursday, September 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. The screenings, which will be conducted as part of a clinical research trial, are open to males over age 45 who have never had a prostate cancer screening and to males ages 55 to 69 who are due for an annual prostate cancer screening. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer over the course of his lifetime, according to 2023 data, and in 2025, more than 313,000 new cases of prostate cancer are projected to be diagnosed in the United States. (To learn more about prostate cancer rates and risk factors, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/),

“Prostate screening is an important tool that men in their 40s and beyond should undergo to help maintain their best health,” said Margaret Ferski-Caraballo, MS, BSN, Clinical Trials Nurse at the Cancer Center at UM SRH. “Anyone unsure of whether or not he should be screened is encouraged to ask his health care provider. We look forward to having a strong turnout for this free screening offered during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.”

The Cancer Center at UM SRH is located at 509 Idlewild Avenue in Easton. RSVP for the Prostate Screening event (no later than September 13, 2025) or ask questions, by calling 410-820-6800, ext. 5907. 

To view a patient story video about diagnosis, treatment and survival from prostate cancer, visit: https://www.umms.org/shore/health-services/cancer/services/radiation-oncology 

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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 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].

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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.

In May and June, the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Women and Children’s team strengthened its commitment to women’s and family health by engaging in three high‑impact community events across Caroline, Talbot and surrounding counties.

“University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is committed to supporting community events for women and children throughout our region. We believe these events are crucial to building a foundation of wellness, education and support, addressing the holistic needs of families and fostering a healthier community for generations to come,” said Jessica Genrich, MBA, RNC‑OB, C‑EFM, Director of Women and Children’s Services at UM SRH.

Team members promoted UM SRH resources and services at these local events:

• Women’s Health Fair —May 10, 2025, Easton

Talbot County Health Department provided free blood‑pressure and blood‑glucose screenings, HIV/Hepatitis C testing and counseling on family planning, substance‑use cessation, and maternal‑child health. Fifty‑two women and girls—29 percent identifying as Hispanic and 18 percent as African American—took advantage of the services, with 82 percent completing health screenings. Women and Children’s team members were available to distribute newborn care resources and answer questions about support programs, including free childbirth and parent education classes hosted by UM SRH.  Attendees received wellness toolkits and grocery gift cards, making the inaugural event one of the most successful first‑year health fairs.

• Discovery Day — May 14, 2025, Tuckahoe State Park, Ridgely

At the 13th annual Discovery Day, hosted by Family Support Services of Caroline and Talbot counties, Women and Children’s nurses joined more than 150 participants to connect families of children birth‑to‑age‑five with early‑intervention resources. Team members offered guidance on maternal and newborn care and introduced parents to UM SRH’s prenatal and postpartum support programs.

• Community Baby Shower — June 7, 2025, Easton Elementary School

During this annual celebration of expectant parents, sponsored by the Talbot County Health Department, Women and Children’s team members staffed an educational booth, distributed newborn care resources and answered questions for more than 200 attendees. The team emphasized the importance of early prenatal care and connected families with childbirth classes and lactation support available at UM SRH.

Through these events, Women and Children’s Services reached hundreds of families, extending UM SRH’s mission beyond hospital walls and reinforcing key partnerships with local schools, health departments and community organizations. This outreach underscores UM SRH’s dedication to improving maternal‑child health outcomes across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

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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’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.