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December 6, 2025

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

00 Post to Chestertown Spy Health Health Notes

UM Shore Medical Group-Pulmonary Care Welcomes New Providers

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University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Pulmonary Care team and UM Shore Medical Group-Pulmonary Care (UM SMG) are pleased to announce the addition of physician Andrew Pajak, DO, and nurse practitioner Melissa Eigenbrode, MSN, RN, CRNP, to the team. Dr. Pajak will also be providing critical care services to the Intensive Care Unit at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. UM SRH is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

Dr. Pajak and Eigenbrode will provide specialized care for patients with pulmonary and respiratory conditions, working closely with primary care providers and specialists to manage chronic lung disease, critical illness, and other respiratory concerns. Eigenbrode will also manage UM Shore Regional Health’s Lung Cancer Screening Program.

UM Shore Regional Health’s Lung Cancer Screening Program offers early detection and comprehensive support for individuals at high risk for lung cancer, including current and former smokers. The program uses low-dose CT scans to identify lung changes before symptoms appear and provides follow-up care, education, and coordination with specialists as needed. Under the leadership of Eigenbrode, the program emphasizes personalized care, patient education, and proactive management, helping patients take charge of their lung health while improving outcomes through early intervention.

“We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Eigenbrode and Dr. Andrew Pajak to our Pulmonary Care team,” said Timothy Shanahan, DO, medical director of UM Shore Medical Group. “Their exceptional expertise in pulmonary and critical care medicine, combined with their compassion and dedication to patients, will strengthen our ability to provide advanced, personalized care across the Eastern Shore. Melissa and Dr. Pajak are committed to guiding patients through every stage of their pulmonary health journey, improving outcomes, and helping our community breathe easier and live healthier lives.”

Dr. Pajak completed his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Tower Health Reading Hospital in Reading, Pa., and an internal medicine residency at ChristianaCare-Sidney Kimmel Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Newark, Del. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and Bachelor of Science in microbiology from University of Maryland in College Park. He has conducted research in areas including asthma biologic therapy, vaping-related lung injury, and severe COVID-19 respiratory failure, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. He is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine. He has an interest in interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis, asthma and critical care medicine.

Eigenbrode is a certified registered nurse practitioner with extensive experience in pulmonary, cardiac, and gastroenterology care. She has worked as a respiratory therapist, in emergency and urgent care facilities, as well as in hospital-based specialty clinics such as cardiopulmonary fitness and wellness, and in community wellness programs as a transitional nurse navigator. She most recently served as a clinical preceptor for University of Maryland nursing students and a nurse practitioner with UM Shore Medical Group-Gastroenterology. 

She received her post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Wilmington University in New Castle, Del., her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Clinical Nurse Specialist in Health Promotion and Wellness from Wesley College, in Dover, Del., her associate degree in Nursing from Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, and her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care from Salisbury State University.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with UM Shore Medical Group–Pulmonary Care, call 410-822-0110 or visit umshoreregional.org/pulmonarycare.

 

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.

 

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Lets Talk about It with Beth Anne Dorman: Making Sure Our Veterans Get the Help They Need

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For many veterans, coming home means facing a different kind of battle, one that unfolds quietly, within families and communities.  And on the Mid-Shore, one in five veterans experiences post-traumatic stress or related challenges, and acknowledging that truth has become the first step toward real support.

That support now looks broader and more coordinated than ever. Mental health teams are partnering with the Veterans Administration, VAMSA in Stevensville, and state agencies to ensure access to care without long waits. They’re focusing not just on veterans themselves, but on spouses, children, and caregivers—everyone affected by the transition from service to civilian life.

This conversation for The Spy features Beth Anne Dorman, the CEO of For All Seasons, discussing how that network is being built, the progress made in understanding post-traumatic stress, and what it takes to help veterans feel seen again.

remedy and an essential building block in bringing joy back into our lives.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. 

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Task Force Endorses Move Toward Natural Psychedelics for Clinical, Recreational Use

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A state task force studying the pros and cons of natural psychedelics recommended that state lawmakers take steps toward decriminalizing natural psychedelics for medical and recreational use in the near future.

The Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances, in a report released last week, says that with interest in the medicinal and therapeutic use of natural psychedelics on the rise, Maryland is “well positioned to be among the first states to expand access to psychedelic substances.”

But even as new research shows promising results for use of natural psychedelics to treat challenging mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, public health advocates urge caution as state lawmakers consider future decriminalization efforts and health policy.

“It’s a big deal and we need to take it seriously,” said Gene Ransom, CEO for MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society.

“We’re not saying we shouldn’t learn about it and learn new things … But we need to make sure that we first do no harm,” he said. “We need to be very careful and very thoughtful”

The task force was created by 2024 legislation sponsored by Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery) and Del. Pam Lanman Guzzone (D-Howard) to study and make recommendations for “safe, equitable, and evidence-informed statewide approach to natural psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline excluding peyote” according to the report.

“I was really interested in it particularly for the research that’s out there on its effectiveness … for a good number of people, on things like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, treatment-resistance depression,” Lanman Guzzone said.

She also noted that nearby areas like Washington, D.C., have a “gray market” on natural psychedelics, meaning Marylanders may still access them even if there are not currently legal avenues to acquire it in the state.

“If we’re going to have this out there, we need to be safe and really understand it,” Lanman Guzzone said.

The report released last week recommended that Maryland lawmakers first build regulations focusing on psilocybin, the substance found in “magic mushrooms,” before moving on to other natural psychedelics.

The topic of natural psychedelics is an evolving research and legislative field. Twelve other states have enacted legislation to study psychedelics or create a task force similar to the one in Maryland to recommend policies. A couple of states have already moved to decriminalize the substance for recreational use and therapeutic uses.

And even though the federal Food and Drug Administration currently classifies psilocybin as a Schedule 1 drug, the FDA gave it a “breakthrough therapy designation” in recent years for conditions like treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder.

That said, the state task force recognizes potential health and safety challenges in this newer landscape of public health.

“In this rapidly evolving landscape, policy choices carry real consequences: they can open access to potentially life-saving treatments, or inadvertently create public health risks,” the report says. “They can protect Indigenous and religious traditions, or unintentionally erode them. Effective policy requires not only scientific rigor, but cultural humility, ethical foresight, and a commitment to public safety.”

Phased approach

The task force recommends multi-step approach that would start with greater access to psilocybin for medical and therapeutic uses, later expanding to possible recreational use and commercial sales.

The first phase would build a regulatory framework around psilocybin, which would include creating safety protocols, data monitoring, public education campaigns, law enforcement training and “immediate” restorative justice measures.

“There will be a lot of work to do, and I don’t think anyone needs to panic that come the end of session we’re suddenly going to have full-blown psilocybin availability. My guess is that this will take several years.” – Del. Pam Lanman Guzzone (D-Howard)

The policy recommendation would include “deprioritization with civil penalties with expungement,” meaning that law enforcement would “would treat personal possession and cultivation as lowest priority.” The task force also encourages expungement for those previously convicted for simple possession.

Phase two would launch the introduction of psilocybin with medical oversight in clinical settings. Phase three  would usher in “full operation and expansion” of psilocybin, which would activate commercial sales and evaluate readiness to expand out to other natural psychedelic substances outside of psilocybin.

An independent report conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers included in the task force’s study noted while research for therapeutic uses have been promising, there are still potential harms that come with use of natural psychedelics if not handled properly.

This is especially the case when natural psychedelics are used without professional guidance, which can result in adverse psychological reactions, dangerous substance interactions, or acute toxicity, according to the Hopkins report.

“Even though serotonergic psychedelics appear to have low abuse potential, their risks outside carefully controlled trials are not well understood,” it says. “As recreational use has increased, adult emergency department visits related to psychedelic use and poison control centers related to psychedelic use by both adolescents and adults have also increased.”

The state task force also acknowledges those challenges, but called research on natural psychedelics “one of the most rapidly evolving areas of modern medicine.”

“Results are highly promising, but still preliminary, with a strong focus on addressing conditions that are resistant to conventional treatments,” it says.

But even supporters like Lanman Guzzone believe that recreational use of psilocybin and other natural psychedelics is a long ways off. Even creating policy around medical and therapeutic use will take time and it’s important to “not jump the gun.”

The state must “Make sure everybody is on board in a bunch of different ways, including with regard to education, of the public establishment of procedures and guidelines on the sort of more standard medical side,” she said. “But also be respectful of traditional uses of this, because from a Native American point, these substances have been used for hundreds of years.

“There will be a lot of work to do, and I don’t think anyone needs to panic that come the end of session we’re suddenly going to have full blown psilocybin availability,” she said. “My guess is that this will take several years.”

READ REPORT: Maryland Natural Psychedelic Substance Access Program: A Pathway Forward October 2025 Report 

 

by Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters
November 10, 2025

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

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For All Season Cuts Ribbon on New Location in Cambridge

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On October 22, For All Seasons and the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the agency’s new location at 407 Race Street in Cambridge. The event drew a packed crowd of community members, business owners, elected officials, agency staff, and Board members, all celebrating the opening of For All Seasons’ larger, more visible downtown site.

The relocated Cambridge location will allow For All Seasons to better meet the growing mental health needs of residents in Dorchester County and the surrounding Mid-Shore region. This expansion is part of the agency’s Bringing Mental Health to Main Street initiative, which aims to make mental health services visible, accessible, and integrated into daily community life.

In the coming weeks, For All Seasons’ Open Access™ walk-in mental health services will also be added at the Race Street office. More information about these services is available at ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

“We have been in the Cambridge community since the early 90s, but we were tucked away on Cedar Street. With the help of Chuck Kelly, we are now in an amazing new space that is central to the community,” shared Beth Anne Dorman, President and CEO of For All Seasons. “Every single person is touched by mental health – whether it’s you, a family member, or a friend – it affects all of us. Our vision for this initiative is that when people come to these thriving main streets filled with businesses and restaurants, they also see For All Seasons providing mental health and rape crisis services right alongside them. We’re not just here; we are part of the community.”

Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., who attended the event, added, “Mental health is a huge issue nationally – and especially in rural areas. This is exactly the type of facility that’s going to make a difference. Thank you for doing it.”

Several other elected officials joined the celebration, including Maryland State Senator Johnny Mautz, Delegate Tom Hutchinson of District 37B, Council Member Mike Detmer of the Dorchester County Council, District 5, Chief Judge George R. Ames, District 1, Judge Bernie Dryden, Dist. 2, and Judge William Jones of the Dorchester County Circuit Court.

“This is a great day for Dorchester County,” said Judge William Jones. “This organization goes well beyond what people may realize – it’s truly a hidden gem. The legal system, the justice system, and the citizens of this county will all benefit from this expansion.”

Delegate Tom Hutchinson added, “Thank you, Beth Anne, and the entire For All Seasons team. In Annapolis, one of our biggest focuses on the Health and Government Operations Committee is expanding behavioral health services. Seeing the impact of your work here in my district is just remarkable.”

For All Seasons’ expanded work in Dorchester County has been made possible through a grant from Dorchester County’s Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, a grant from the Rural Maryland Council’s Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, and additional donations from For All Seasons supporters. Together, these investments strengthen access to mental health and victim services for residents across Dorchester County.

The Dorchester County Council recently administered its first awards under the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, established under Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act of 2023. This fund supports the agency’s expansion to benefit communities impacted by cannabis-related incarcerations prior to the passing of the Act.

Council Member Mike Detmer remarked, “Our county staff did a great job putting out the request for proposals, evaluating them, and scoring them. For All Seasons, unsurprisingly, scored very well. I’m a big fan of this organization, and I couldn’t think of a better way for these funds to be used.”

Dorman noted that Dorchester County continues to experience some of the highest needs in the region, including the highest rate of sexual assaults among the five Mid-Shore counties.

“We are providing services for the things that people often don’t want to talk about,” Dorman said. “Our services wrap around children, adults, families, the court systems, first responders, and our veterans. There is a tremendous need, and we are honored to be here to help meet it.”

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.

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Senior Nation: Nature’s Multicolored Autumn Farewell by Susan Covey

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Every autumn, we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange, and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the trees as the seasons change from summer to winter, painting the landscape with nature’s autumn palette.  How does this happen you ask?

In the fall, because of the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.  At the same time, other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange.

The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.

The weather also affects color intensity. Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation, producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color, yet rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. 

Enjoy nature’s last fling before settling down for a winter’s sleep!  

Susan Covey is the Fitness Director of Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton

 

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Choptank Health Marks 20 Years of Women’s Health Care

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From left, Upstream Brand Marketing Senior Specialist Ellen Freeman, Choptank Health Director of Clinical Services Sarah Worm, and videographer Michael Stubben at a recent videotaping about Choptank Health’s expanded women’s health services and its partnership with Upstream. Choptank Health is recognizing two decades of providing women across Maryland’s Mid-Shore with compassionate, comprehensive care, with new medical patients welcome, and more at choptankhealth.org.

This year, Choptank Health is recognizing two decades of providing women across Maryland’s Mid-Shore with compassionate, comprehensive care. This milestone underscores the organization’s growth and commitment to the communities it serves.

 

Choptank Health’s women’s healthcare services are provided by a trusted care team of physicians, physician assistants, certified midwives, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals.

The team of specialists provides preventive screenings, gynecological care, prenatal care, postpartum care, and other essential services, enabling women to access trusted care at every stage of life.

President and CEO Sara Rich said the anniversary highlights how women’s health has long been at the center of Choptank Health’s mission.

“Choptank Health remains committed to ensuring that women in our communities have access to high-quality, affordable, and compassionate care close to home, regardless of their ability to pay,” Rich said. “Our women’s health services are a vital part of how we fulfill our mission and build healthier communities.”

Recent partnerships are helping advance that mission. Through collaboration with Upstream, a national nonprofit that supports health centers in expanding patient-centered care, Choptank Health has strengthened and expanded counseling and women’s health services within primary care visits.

Upstream’s mission is to increase access to person-centered contraceptive care. They cultivate active partnerships across more than 30 states with over 200 healthcare organizations, including Choptank Health.

“Partnering with Upstream helps us bring additional support and resources to the care we provide,” said Sarah Worm, Choptank Health’s Director of Clinical Services. “This work is about giving women more opportunities to have meaningful conversations with their providers and ensuring they feel supported in their health decisions.”Worm says the partnership also enables Choptank Health to equip all exam rooms with patient education materials, which are provided to patients who express a desire to discuss their women’s health concerns during their visit.

Choptank Health serves more than 30,000 adults and children across Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. With medical, dental, and school-based health services, its reach extends across the region. For many women, the most personal connection is with the midwives and nurse practitioners who accompany them through life’s most significant moments.

As Choptank Health celebrates 20 years of women’s health care, its message is clear: this work is about building healthier futures for women and families across Maryland’s Mid-Shore.

New medical patients are welcome at all Choptank Health locations. More information is available at www.choptankhealth.org

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Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team Announces New Team Member and Free Health Screenings in November

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The Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team (SCOT) recently welcomed Connie Coffman to the team as a community health advocate. The Dorchester SCOT is a population health initiative of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, a member organization of University of Maryland Medical System. 

A resident of Dorchester County, Coffman brings more than 23 years of experience in population health services to the team and is fluent in Spanish as well as English. Most recently, she served as a domestic violence case manager for the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence.

Coffman joins nurse coordinator Rochalla Jones, social worker Jessica Wise and community health advocate Courtney Thomas on the Dorchester SCOT team, which visits trusted community sites to provide health screenings and information to Dorchester County residents, free of charge. November screenings are scheduled as follows:

  • Wednesday, November 12, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 303 S. Main St., Hurlock; and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Neck District VFD, 954 Cooks Point Rd., Cambridge 
  • Thursday, November 13, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Dorchester County Public Library, 303 Gay St., Cambridge 
  • Tuesday, November 18, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Shiloh House Apts., 6206 Shiloh Church Hurlock Rd., Hurlock 
  • Thursday, November 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Senior Center/Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Intergenerational Center, 108 Chesapeake St., Cambridge
  • Monday, November 24, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., East New Market Apts., 40 Academy St., East New Market

SCOT members also provide home visits and safety assessments; case management for those with chronic illness; group wellness activities; assistance in connecting patients with their providers via telehealth; and assistance with completing health-related paperwork, including insurance forms and Advance Directives.

To schedule an appointment or visit, or to learn more about the Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team, call 443-225-7545 or email [email protected].

 

 

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.

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A Spy Chat with Shore Regional Health’s New Clark Breast Center Director Dr. Kathryn Kelley

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Dr. Kathryn Kelley didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in medicine. The daughter of a teacher and a businessman, she found her way to surgery by following her curiosity—first toward science, then toward people. A Philadelphia native and Temple University graduate, she began her career as a college student exploring the sciences and ended up in an operating room, drawn to the mix of precision, problem-solving, and human connection that defines her work today.

Now, the new breast surgical oncologist at UM Shore Regional Health’s Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, Dr. Kelley, steps into the role formerly held by the beloved Dr. Roberta Lilly for many years. Leading a team that serves five Eastern Shore counties, she provides a comprehensive range of services, from early detection to reconstructive options. In this conversation, she reflects on how far breast cancer care has come, why early diagnosis matters more than ever, and what it means to help patients move from fear to recovery—without having to cross the bridge for world-class care.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For more information about UM Shore Regional Health’s Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, please go here. 

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University of Maryland Children’s Hospital Receives Record $50 Million Gift from Tom Golisano to Advance Pediatric Care in Maryland

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In recognition of transformative gift, will be renamed University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 28, 2025) A landmark $50 million gift from entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader Tom Golisano marks a defining moment for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). As the largest philanthropic contribution in their history, this transformative investment will strengthen the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) as leaders in breakthrough science, education and compassionate care – shaping healthier futures for generations of children.

In tribute to this historic gift, the children’s hospital, located inside UMMC, the flagship hospital of UMMS, becomes the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital (UMGCH). As a new member of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, it joins a growing national coalition of premier children’s hospitals dedicated to transforming pediatric medicine through collaboration, discovery and equitable access to world-class care.

At an event in Rochester, New York, Tom Golisano unveiled new gifts to six hospitals—expanding his Golisano Children’s Alliance to a 10-member national network advancing excellence and innovation in pediatric care. Senior leaders from UMMS, UMMC and UMSOM participated in the announcement. (View recording of the Rochester event here.)

“Children’s health has always been a priority for me, and it’s been deeply rewarding to see how the Golisano Children’s Hospitals are making a profound impact on the communities they serve,” said Golisano. “I am fortunate to be able to help others in this way, and I’m looking forward to seeing what these hospitals can achieve together. Also, I plan to continue making similar transformative gifts that will strengthen this new alliance.”

“For nearly 80 years, our Children’s Hospital has been caring for Maryland’s children and families right here in downtown Baltimore. Tom Golisano’s extraordinary gift will help us create a world-class facility with programs in gene and cell therapy that move us closer to cures once thought out of reach. It will allow us to attract the best pediatric specialists in these fields – the future of pediatric health care – while accelerating the growth of our existing programs in heart care, mental health, and community health. This investment will establish a lasting legacy of healing and excellence for the children of Baltimore and beyond,” said Steven J. Czinn, MD, Director of the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital. Dr. Czinn is also The Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor of Pediatrics and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“This historic and transformational gift comes at a time of urgency and opportunity for pediatric care in Maryland. It will have lasting impact across generations of children and families. We are deeply grateful to Tom Golisano for his vision and generosity, and we are incredibly excited to build on the momentum this gift will bring to Baltimore,” added Heather S. Culp, JD, Senior Vice President for UMMC, Senior Associate Dean for Development at UMSOM, and Chief Philanthropy Officer for University of Maryland Medicine.

Impact of the Gift: Space, Programs, People
Significantly expanding the existing children’s hospital, the gift catalyzes a comprehensive pipeline for innovation in pediatric care, research, workforce development and community health – advancing bold ideas and life-changing discoveries that will benefit children and families across Maryland and beyond. Goals include:

  • A Dedicated Home for the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital
      • Move existing inpatient and outpatient pediatric services currently located in multiple areas of the medical center and downtown into a unified, child-centered space within the new Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine (under construction with completion targeted for 2026).
      • Include new facilities for specialties like oncology, advanced critical care and emerging gene therapies
  • Expansion of Advanced Clinical Programs
      • Increase surgical capacity for complex, high-volume programs in pediatric heart care and rare diseases
      • Enhance care in NICU, PICU and general pediatric units
  • Launch of Gene Therapy Services for Children
      • Establish a comprehensive pediatric gene therapy program, offering FDA-approved, potentially curative treatments for over 20 rare childhood diseases
      • Position the hospital as a regional hub for advanced, personalized pediatric medicine
  • Acceleration of Innovation and Research
      • Expand multi-site studies on rare diseases, CAR T-cell therapy and evidence-based treatments
      • Advance research on social determinants of health and community-driven care
  • Strengthen Community Outreach and Access
      • Support new models of care addressing rising pediatric mental health challenges, obesity and chronic conditions
      • Fund outreach and innovation to reach medically underserved communities
  • Recruiting and Retention of Top Pediatric Talent
    • Attract visionary leaders, specialists and researchers to drive the next era of pediatric medicine

Golisano Invests in Maryland’s Flagship for Children’s Health

The University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital, a 90-bed facility with over 3,000 annual admissions and 118,000 outpatient visits, serves as a statewide leader in pediatric care. Supported by the University of Maryland Medical System and guided by the nation’s first public medical school, the hospital’s reach spans the entire state while its proximity to Washington, D.C. helps shape national health policy.

Research initiatives affiliated with the hospital – including the Center for Vaccine Development, the Brain Tissue Bank, Asthma Management, Pediatric HIV research and treatment – are driving breakthroughs in genetics, infectious diseases, and child health outcomes. In a recent example of this research leading to direct benefits for families in Maryland, studies of former neonatal intensive care patients informed the state’s decision to expand eligibility for early intervention services to hundreds more children each year. 

The hospital operates Maryland’s largest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and recently cared for the youngest patient in its history at 22 weeks gestation. It was the first in the state to perform a pediatric double heart-lung transplant, the first to treat a pediatric patient with stem cells, and is home to downtown Baltimore’s dedicated pediatric emergency department. As a regional hub for pediatric intensive care, UMGCH co-operates a statewide transport network to ensure critically ill children receive timely, specialized treatment. Its children’s heart program, founded in 2012, is recognized as one of the top such programs in the nation.

Beyond clinical care, UMGCH fosters community through physician-led camps and annual patient reunions, strengthening connections between families and care teams.

The Heart of Why Funding Pediatrics Matters

As a registered nurse at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Angela Laubach sees miracles happen every day. But she’s also experienced this care in the most personal way, because her daughter Lana is one of those miracles. During Angela’s 20-week anatomy scan, she learned that her daughter Lana had a serious heart defect. 

“As a nurse, I understood the gravity of the diagnosis, but nothing prepares you to hear those words about your own baby. The team at the children’s hospital guided us through every moment – from Lana’s open-heart surgery just six days after birth to her remarkable recovery – with compassion, and constant reassurance. Today, Lana is a joyful 3-year-old who fills our home with laughter and endless ideas. Literally, her favorite thing to say is ‘I have a better idea,’” said Angela. 

Voices Across the Institutions

Mohan Suntha, MD, President and CEO of University of Maryland Medical System:

“A gift of this magnitude to our flagship children’s hospital enables us to expand pediatric expertise, improve access and strengthen care teams across our entire system. As a result, more children in more communities will receive the specialized care they need closer to home.”

Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine: 

“We are so grateful for this profound and intentional gift from Tom Golisano, which comes at a critical time when children’s health in the U.S. is in alarming decline and funding for children’s health is increasingly at risk. Mr. Golisano is truly a remarkable individual who has put children’s health at the heart of his philanthropic mission. His tremendous generosity enables our Children’s Hospital to move forward as a bold leader in pediatric health across Maryland and beyond, enabling us to invest in cutting-edge technology and inspiring innovation among our pediatricians and pediatric surgeons in areas such as congenital heart care, targeted gene therapy, community health, and building new programs for curative therapies for pediatric genetic diseases and cancer.”

Bert W. O’Malley, MD, Executive Vice President for the Academic Health Division at UMMS; President of the University of Maryland Medical Center; and Professor of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

“As part of a statewide academic health system, we have long had the privilege to provide Maryland children with high quality, compassionate care and advanced treatments for some of the most complex pediatric conditions. By joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, we’re now connected to a national network of top children’s hospitals. Together, we can discover and share best practices, align on standards and launch innovative models that reach more children.”

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, UMB President.

 “By joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, University of Maryland, Baltimore faculty, researchers, and clinicians are further empowered to accelerate breakthroughs across all areas of childhood health and well-being. We are immensely grateful for Tom Golisano’s generosity, and we remain deeply committed to transforming the future of pediatric health here in Maryland and beyond.”

Ron V. Cummins, Jr., MBA, Senior Vice President & COO, University of Maryland Medical Center: 

“The Golisano’s historic and generous gift is an enduring investment in Maryland’s children — accelerating access to the most advanced treatments, and nurturing spaces — so that every child and family in our community receives care that honors their hopes and needs. The benefits of this gift will be felt for decades.”

To schedule an interview with one of the leaders above, please contact [email protected] or 410.328.8919. 

About Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. Mr. Golisano’s vision, perseverance, and action have left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives in business, healthcare, education, animal welfare, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His investments are advancing entrepreneurship and driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals—including multiple children’s hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations—exceed $1 billion. 

A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Tom Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano Foundation to make the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding grants to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.

Mr. Golisano formed and financially supports the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, where students receive a high quality business certificate and write their own entrepreneurial success stories, without having to take on enormous debt.He is the author of two Books, “Built Not Born,” a Wall Street Journal best seller and “The Italian Kid Did It!”

Connect with him at Golisanofoundation.org, Facebook: @GolisanoFoundation, X: @GolisanoFdn, Instagram: @golisanofdn, YouTube: @GolisanoFoundation

About University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital (UMGCH)

Located within the University of Maryland Medical Center, the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital is a leading resource for children with critical and chronic illnesses throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic. The hospital combines state-of-the-art medicine with family-centered care, offering more than 190 specialized pediatric physicians. Its services include Maryland’s largest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and comprehensive programs in congenital heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, and gastrointestinal disorders. Visit www.umms.org/childrens for more information.

About University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) 

As an academic private health system, UMMS is 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.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine, established in 1807 as the first public medical school in the U.S., continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world.  The School has nearly $500 million total research funding, 46 departments, centers, and institutes, more than 2,200 student trainees and over 3,000 faculty members, including notable members of the National Academy of Medicine.  As the largest public medical school in the DC/MD/VA region, faculty-physicians are working to help patients manage chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, heart disease and addiction, while also working on cutting-edge research to address the most critical generational health challenges. In 2024, the School ranked #12 among public medical schools and #27 among all medical schools for R&D expenditures by the National Science Foundation. With a $1.3 billion total operating budget, the School partners with the University of Maryland Medical Center to serve nearly 2 million patients annually. The School’s global reach extends around the world with research and treatment facilities in 33 countries. In Maryland, the School of Medicine is spearheading new initiatives in AI and health computing and partnering with the University of Maryland BioPark to develop new medical technologies and bioengineering ventures. For more information, visit medschool.umaryland.edu.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Choptank Health Expands Dental Team in Federalsburg

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Kendrick Lee, DMD, MS, has recently joined the Choptank Community Health System’s dental care team, bringing his expertise in dentistry and oral surgery to Federalsburg Health Center patients.

Dr. Lee’s position is funded through a grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission to increase access to specialty dental care on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“The CHRC is thrilled to support Choptank’s expanded dental program,” commented CHRC Executive Director Mark Luckner. “We welcome Dr. Lee and look forward to working with Choptank as they implement this important program.

“Over the years, the CHRC has awarded 52 dental grants totaling $11.5 million,” he said. “These grants have collectively provided dental services to more than 76,000 residents.”

Dr. Lee’s advanced dental training and clinical skills include expertise in oral surgery, extractions, sedation, digital dentistry, implant restorations, and emergency care. He helps to meet the diverse needs of families while restoring function and confidence for patients facing barriers to dental treatment.

His honors include participation in the TUSDM Honors Periodontology Program, receipt of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, and participation in the Tisch Fellowship Program. He was a co-recipient of the Dr. Chad Anderson Award for Innovative Methodology and Research in June 2022.

Dr. Lee completed his Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) at the Foundry Dental Center and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He received a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Barry University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University.

His continued education includes completing a year-long Comprehensive Implant Residency Program, which focuses on advanced implant techniques. He additionally received an IV Parental Sedation Certification from McCracken Implant Education.

“Many children on Maryland’s Eastern Shore do not have access to oral surgery,” says Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich. “Having Dr. Lee’s expertise here is desperately needed to address the shortage of this specialty service.”

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental care 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. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.