Laurence M. Merlis
Laurence Merlis has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GBMC since July 1999. GBMC HealthCare includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital with a mission of Health, Healing, and Hope; Gilchrist Hospice Care, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; and the GBMC Foundation, which manages fundraising efforts. Located on a beautiful suburban campus, GBMC provides a total of 359 beds for patient care (310 acute care, 25 subacute and 24 for hospice inpatients), handles more than 26,700 inpatient cases annually, and provides approximately 60,000 emergency room visits
Mr. Merlis’ leadership has proven instrumental in the adoption and embodiment of a culture of “GREATER Values” within GBMC HealthCare: Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Teamwork, Ethical Behavior and Results.”
Under Mr. Merlis’ leadership, GBMC continues to serve as a leader in Maryland’s healthcare community: Several of the hospital’s clinical services have received national recognition by U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Hospitals” (Otolaryngology, Oncology/Cancer Care, Digestive Services, GYN and Digestive Disorders); the hospital’s Stroke Center was named a Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems in 2007 and the Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) in 2006, and GBMC's Comprehensive Obesity Management Program was named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery in 2005.
Mr. Merlis serves on the board of the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) as vice chairman, serves as chair of the Greater Baltimore Committee's Health Committee, and is a member of the executive committee of the Board of Visitors of Towson University. He was elected to the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame in 2002.
From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Merlis served as Executive Vice President, Office of the President, for Meridian Health System in New Jersey. In this capacity he was responsible for the operations of the four hospitals in the system. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Merlis served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Riverview Health Care Services Corporation, a holding company consisting of Riverview Medical Center, Riverview Extended Care Residence and Riverview Foundation. From 1986 to 1993 he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of East Orange General Hospital in East Orange, New Jersey.
Mr. Merlis received his Bachelor of Science degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and his Master’s in Business Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
