The Heart of GBMC HealthCare

Tonight, I’ll have the honor of attending my first GBMC HealthCare Employee Recognition Dinner. It’s a special night to celebrate milestone work anniversaries and the people whose loyalty and dedication make GBMC the extraordinary place it is.

But I didn’t want to wait until dinner to say something important: thank you.

Although I still have many more people to meet (and I can’t wait!), the people I’ve met so far are confirming what I hoped would be true: this team is deeply connected by a shared sense of purpose.

Here’s one moment that stood out. I was walking through the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion when I met Aristeven Deminds, one of our amazing environmental services associates. The second he saw me, he rushed over, excited to introduce himself. His energy was contagious. Naturally, I assumed he’d been here for decades. But when I asked how long he’d been with us, he smiled and said, “Just about two years.” He told me he came to GBMC because so many people he knew had worked here for 20 or 30 years, and he wanted to be part of that. That speaks volumes.

Another moment came while I was boarding a flight to visit my son. I happened to be wearing a GBMC shirt, and a woman stopped me. “I just love GBMC,” she said. “I don’t go anywhere else.” She didn’t know me, but she knew us. That kind of unsolicited trust doesn’t just happen. It’s earned, every day, by people like you.

Your work, your warmth, and your commitment are the things that make GBMC more than a healthcare provider. They make us a partner. They make others want to join this team.

At last week’s monthly leadership meeting, our Chief Nursing Officer Angie Feurer shared some remarkable updates. While hospitals across the country continue to struggle with staff shortages and agency reliance, we’re heading in a different direction. Nursing turnover is down. Engagement is up. And in our med/surg units, agency nurse usage is down 18 percent.

That success comes from smart, people-first strategies. Our team is using staffing analytics to anticipate hiring needs, offering flexible roles, and building a strong supplemental program that brings great nurses into full-time roles.

There’s a concept I believe in deeply: unreasonable hospitality. We shouldn’t just meet expectations; we should exceed them. And I see that spirit across our health system. In hallway greetings. In helping a lost patient find their way. In how we treat each other and those we serve.

Will Guidara, who wrote the book Unreasonable Hospitality, said, "The way you do one thing is the way you do everything." This concept and culture is alive and well at GBMC, and I’m so proud to be part of this team.

Looking forward to celebrating with many of you tonight at the recognition event!

P.S. I love hearing your stories! Whether you’re with the hospital, an outpatient or specialty practice, or Gilchrist, what’s made your time with us meaningful? 

**Kim Grooms commented on 10/3/25 at 11:38:**
I love hearing wonderful moments that are so positive and true. I always loved this quote: "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success" Henry Ford
I enjoy my daily hugs every morning, which helps me get a good day started.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    That is one of my favorit Henry Ford quotes.  I also like his quote, " If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." Thanks Kim.

**Francisco Santana commented on 10/2/25 at 2:13:**
Welcome to GBMC and Baltimore once again Doctor G. It was really nice meeting you at the blowing of the shofar ceremony yesterday I believe that you will fit in perfectly with our GBMC family. Yes it does get better with time and practice with crab eating, you will develop your own technique and eventually you'll be a pro at it. 😊
Just a little warning,as much as we may love you we are very passionate about our Ravens football team which I am sure you have already seen so whenever we play against the cowboys or any other team you support all gloves are off. 😊
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thanks for the warm welcome Francisco.  Patriots vs Ravens on December 21st!!  I will be ready to take the jabs, but to bad for me that the Pats kind of stink.

**Shawn Unger commented on 9/30/25 at 3:40:**
Good afternoon and welcome to the GBMC team. We are all very excited to meet you. I have only worked here for 6 years, but being a lifelong patient at GBMC, it is the experiences I had with staff that made me want to work here and cause me to hesitate to be seen elsewhere. 
One of the experiences that are truly meaningful to me is when you can help someone that starts off totally frustrated and mean, and by the end they are thanking you for being patient and doing what you can to help them. I truly feel you do not choose a career in healthcare if the center of that reason is not that you want to help people. You are going to encounter patients that do not feel well, are frustrated, sad, lonely, you name it. They are just a few moments of your day, but you can deeply impact them and turn their whole day around, sometimes just by listening. No one likes to answer the call and have someone yelling at you, but if by the end you have done everything in your power to deescalate and help them to the best of your ability and that appreciate what you have done, that is truly meaningful.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    agree with you. The way you do one thing is the way you do everything! Thank you for your approach to caring for our community.

**Madonna Nunez commented on 9/30/25 at 10:10:**
Good morning, Sir,

Thank you for sharing your Week One story. It's heartwarming to hear that you already feel welcomed and at home-your openness and positive energy truly enrich our team.

Coming from the Philippines and having lived in the U.S.-particularly here in Maryland-for over 20 years, I've come to appreciate the local tradition of enjoying blue crabs. I learned the crab-picking technique through hands-on experience, and over time, it becomes second nature. Like solving a puzzle, it begins slow and messy, but with practice, you develop precision, rhythm, and efficiency.

Interestingly, crab picking shares many parallels with nursing. Both require fine motor skills, patience, and attention to detail. Just as we use tools and techniques to deliver safe, effective care, crab picking involves clean handling and thoughtful execution. It also fosters mindfulness and teamwork-values deeply rooted in healthcare.

As you continue settling in, I hope you always feel the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team that supports and grows together. As Henry Ford beautifully said: "Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success."

Thank you again for your warm spirit and for helping create a space where everyone feels valued and at home. We're truly glad to have you with us.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thank you Madonna. I love the comparison. The Henry Ford quote is so true in healthcare. We must all work togetehr with our patients in mind!

**leslie goldvarg commented on 9/30/25 at 10:10:**
"The Authentic Commitment" in practice, attitude and non-verbal mannerism!
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thanks for sharing Leslie. As Michael Jordan has said, "earn your leadership." I hope to do just that over the next few years.

**Anne Clash commented on 9/30/25 at 9:11:**
Welcome to GBMC Dr. G! 
Thank you for the intentionality you've already shown to so many staff here at GBMC. I have only been here a few years (hired in 2021), but that short time has already been so meaningful. When I finished school in 2020 many hospitals would not allow for student rotations. Therefore, my lab experience was limited when entering the workforce. When GBMC hired me, they not only hired a brand-new tech but also built in a rotation as part of my training. They made sure I was equipped to do my job well. I am forever grateful for the care taken in my training. I would not be the tech I am today without GBMC investing in me.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thank you for sharing your experience. It makes me proud to join an organization with this focus.

**Suzanne Auer commented on 9/30/25 at 8:41:**
I have been with GBMC for 14 years.  I work at Health Partners as a manager of 2 primary are sites but when I visit the GBMC main campus, I always see other employees I know and they know my name and who I am.  That means something.  I have worked at other larger hospital systems in Baltimore and I can go an entire day without seeing anyone who knows me.  GBMC feels more like a family than anywhere else I have worked in my career. It gives you the feeling of "community", making every day more enjoyable.
    **Dr. Gopalakrishnan replied:**
    Thank you Suzanne. .What you describe is palpable as I walk around.