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.

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.

Choptank Community Health System recently welcomed primary pediatric care provider Rachel Lange, PNP, to its school-based health care team at Easton Elementary and Easton High Schools.

She also supports Choptank Health’s pediatric medical practice at Choptank Health’s Denton and Easton Health Centers.

Lange brings extensive expertise in pediatric primary and neonatal intensive care, including specialized experience as a transport nurse for critically ill newborns.

She graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in nursing from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She earned a master of science in nursing as an Advanced Practitioner of Nursing: Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Lange is a licensed nurse practitioner with an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certification in Maryland and is certified through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board.

Choptank Health’s school-based health centers and a mobile health unit reach more than 8,000 students each year, providing dental services in Dorchester County; medical, dental, nutrition, and behavioral health services in Caroline and Talbot Counties; and medical and dental services in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties.

The school-based health centers are a partnership between Choptank Health, Maryland Department of Health, county health departments, and each county’s public school system, with care coordinated with each enrolled student’s primary care provider and/or primary dentist.

Services include in-person, virtual, curbside, well, and urgent care during the school year and over the summer. Students can receive diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health, nutrition, and educational services.

School-based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

Student enrollment forms and more about Choptank Community Health System’s school-based health programs are at www.choptankhealth.org/schoolbased.

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, with more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System is joining the National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month celebration this February to highlight how school-based health centers help improve access to health care for children and adolescents.

School-based health centers bring essential healthcare services directly to schools, where students spend much of their time. By integrating health care with education, the centers ensure students can thrive, grow, and reach their full potential.

“All children and adolescents deserve the opportunity to grow into the young adults we know they can be,” said Choptank Health CEO and President Sara Rich. “But too often, barriers to health care stand in their way. School-based health centers bridge that gap, ensuring students receive the support they need to succeed academically and in life.”

Across the country, states are organizing activities throughout February to raise awareness, including legislative visits, state capitol events, youth advocacy efforts, and special recognitions. These initiatives emphasize the importance of SBHCs in improving health outcomes and making a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

“When health and education come together, great things happen,” says Choptank Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz, PA-C. “Whether it’s through medical, dental, nutrition, or behavioral health services, we see firsthand how school-based health helps change lives for the better.”

Choptank Health’s school-based care journey began in 1999 with four school-based health centers in Caroline County Public Schools. Over the years, Choptank Health’s commitment to the community has expanded, with school-based health centers and programs now spanning all five of Maryland’s Mid-Shore counties.

Today, Choptank Health’s 18 school-based health centers and a mobile health unit reach more than 8,000 students each year, providing dental services in Dorchester County; medical, dental, nutrition, and behavioral health services in Caroline and Talbot Counties; and medical and dental services in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties.

The school-based health centers are a partnership between Choptank Health, Maryland Department of Health, county health departments, and each county’s public school system. Care is coordinated with the student’s primary care provider and/or primary dentist.

Services include in-person, virtual, curbside, well, and urgent care during the school year and over the summer. Students can receive diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, behavioral health services, nutrition services, educational services, and more.

Choptank Health’s school-based dental programs include dental screenings and sealants, polishing/cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatments, and dental emergency referrals.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services to more than 30,000 adults and children across Maryland’s Mid-Shore.

With a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all, Choptank Health’s services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, lab services, care navigation, and more.

Student enrollment forms and more about Choptank Community Health System’s school-based health programs are at www.choptankhealth.org/schoolbased.

Choptank Community Health System’s medical practice recently welcomed primary care provider Taylor Dickel, MSN, FNP-C, RN, CMSRN to its Easton Health Center.

Dickel specializes in the comprehensive assessment and treatment of adult and pediatric patients working in rural communities.

She earned her master of science in nursing with a family nurse practitioner concentration from Frostburg State University, and a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a member of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Dickel is a recipient of a 2023 Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation Nursing Scholarship and Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Shirley A. Wheeler Nursing Scholarship. She is a Luminis Health 2021 Nurse Excellence nominee in transformational leadership and charge nurse and the recipient of five Daisy Award nominations.

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 a medical appointment by calling 410-770-8910, with new patients welcome and more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s dental practice recently welcomed pediatric dentist Wayne Stephens, DDS to its Denton Health Center.

Dr. Stephens has more than 10 years of experience, including working with vulnerable populations as a pediatric dentist. He served as a pediatric dentist and as director of pediatric dental health and wellness at the Jessie Trice Community Health System in Miami, Florida. He completed his pediatric dental residency at Miami Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Stephens earned his doctorate in dental surgery from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He also holds a master of public administration degree from Harvard Kennedy School; a master of public health degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School; and a master of business administration degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Business.

He is a former Joe L. Henry Oral Health Fellow at Harvard Medical School and served as the Samuel D. Harris Fellow in Research and Policy with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Stephens was elected national president of the American Student Dental Association and served on the boards of the Florida Health Justice Project and Foundation for New Education Initiatives, non-profit organizations in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

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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 a dental appointment by calling 410-479-2650, with more at www.choptankhealth.org.

Choptank Community Health System President and CEO Sara Rich, MPA, has been named Maryland’s 2024 Community Star by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

The national Community Stars program helps to recognize individual contributors as it honors remarkable individuals and organizations going above and beyond for rural health. They exemplify the true spirit of collaboration, turning challenges into opportunities, ensuring access to quality care, and fostering a sense of unity and support within our rural communities.

Each year, Maryland puts forth a slate of Community Star nominations, with one being recognized on the national level. Previous honorees include Adelaide “Addie” Eckardt, Eastern Shore Hospital Center; Beth Anne Dorman, For All Seasons, Inc.; the St. Mary’s County Health Department; and John Corbin, Garrett County Health Department.

Rich brings more than 25 years of experience across local, state, and national healthcare settings, with a dedicated focus on enhancing the health and well-being of children, families, and communities. Under her visionary leadership, Choptank Health has expanded access to health care while creating employment opportunities and raising standards of care. Her commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through her active involvement in regional health initiatives and her advocacy at state and national levels, championing the mission of community health centers nationwide.

“I always wanted a career in which I could make a difference in the lives of others,” says Rich. “In rural health, the relationships we have in our communities, with our colleagues, and with those we serve inspire us all to make that difference every day.”

Rich says her most rewarding experiences during her time as CEO and president of Choptank Health include those shared through strong partnerships with non-profits, businesses, school systems, health departments, and others.

“Seeing the impact that can be made when organizations come together, such as during the pandemic, makes this work rewarding,” Rich says. “Choptank Health has added and expanded our behavioral health services—something I’m very proud of—and that helps address a huge need for our patients and the rural communities we serve across Maryland’s Mid-Shore.”

Rich says Choptank Health recognized that some communities could not easily access health care through its networks of locations spanning five counties. Choptank Health responded by leveraging its long history of providing medical services through a robust school-based health program.

“We are partnering with some of our local schools to utilize our school health centers for residents, many living in underserved areas and in need of care and increased access to healthcare,” says Rich. “Additionally, we have three mobile health units that provide care at schools, homeless shelters, and other community locations, allowing us to reach people where they are and connect them with vital health services.”

Choptank Health additionally reaches into the farthest rural regions through the utilization of school-based health, mobile health, telehealth, and office visits to address medical, dental, behavioral health, and more.

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 health management, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is the membership association of the nation’s 50 State Offices of Rural Health and the founder of National Rural Health Day. More about its Community Stars program and recipients is at https://powerofrural.org/2024-community-stars/.

 

Choptank Community Health System is proud to join communities across America to celebrate National Rural Health Day on November 21, 2024. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health leads rural-focused organizations throughout the United States to set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate the power of rural and honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

“Of utmost importance is that we ensure all rural communities on Maryland’s Mid-Shore have the opportunity to be healthy and have access to affordable, quality health care regardless of where they call home,” said Choptank Health CEO and President Sara Rich. “Choptank Community Health System is proud to recognize the incredible work of health professionals and volunteers in our community on National Rural Health Day and throughout the year.”

Rich says Choptank Health can reach into the farthest rural regions of the five-county area it serves through the utilization of school-based health, mobile health, telehealth, and office visits to address medical, dental, behavioral health, and more.

“Through technology and other advances, we are more and more able to meet our patients where they are,” said Rich. “And in a rural environment like ours, that is critical in delivering on our mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated health care for all.”

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 health management, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

Additional information about National Rural Health Day, including resources and tools, can be found at www.powerofrural.org.

Choptank Community Health System’s dental practice recently welcomed Andrés Álvarez-Deal, DMD, and Megan Patterson Poteat, DDS to its Cambridge Dental Center and David Martin, DDS to its Federalsburg Dental Center.

Dr. Álvarez-Deal received his certification through the NYU Langone Advance Education in General Dentistry program at Choptank Health and his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from the University of Puerto Rico, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in general sciences.

He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Education Association, specializing in treating Spanish and English-speaking patients in rural settings.

Dr. Patterson Poteat received her certification for advanced training in General Dentistry from the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at Choptank Community Health. She is a proud graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Before practicing dentistry, Dr. Patterson Poteat was a science teacher in both Maryland and the District of Columbia Public Schools. During that time, she completed a Master of Arts degree in teaching from American University in Washington D.C.

She is an active member of the Maryland Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, and maintains membership in the American Dental Association, American Association of Women Dentists, American Dental Education Association, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Martin earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hampton University. His experience includes providing oral health care in underserved environments, with diagnostic and clinical skills including prevention, periodontal, oral surgery, restorative, emergency, and pediatric dentistry. He is a member of the American Dental Association; Maryland Academy of General Dentistry; Academy of General Dentistry.

The AEGD residency program at Choptank Health is part of NYU Langone Dental Medicine’s training program and provides academic and clinical interactions between the preceptees and the AEGD residents.

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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, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all, with more at www.choptankhealth.org