Join Me at Walk A Mile!

This Friday, April 17, I’ll be taking part in my first-ever Walk A Mile in Their Shoes at GBMC. My family is joining me, and I’m really looking forward to sharing the experience with them. I’ve got my Walk A Mile gear ready, and yes, the red Converse are ready too.

As a father of four daughters, this event hits close to home. I want them to grow up in a world where they never have to face these kinds of challenges—and if they ever do, I want them to know they will be believed, supported, and never alone. It also makes me proud to share with them that their father works for an organization that places real emphasis on protecting survivors and showing up for families when it matters most.

This event is now in its 11th year, and I think that says something important. For more than a decade, our community has kept showing up for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse. That kind of consistency matters. It reflects a shared commitment to walk alongside survivors not just in the immediate aftermath of trauma, but in the long and often difficult journey that follows.

That is what makes this year’s theme, “The Hardest Mile,” feel especially meaningful. For many survivors, the hardest part is not only the crisis itself. It is everything that comes after: the waiting, the healing, the court dates, the counseling, and the quiet, determined work of rebuilding.

Walk A Mile begins Friday at 4:00 p.m. on our main hospital campus. It is not a marathon. It is one mile. But it carries a message that could not be more important: no one should have to walk that mile alone.

That message is at the heart of GBMC’s SAFE, Domestic Violence, and Child Protection Program. As the only program of its kind in Baltimore County, SAFE provides 24/7 forensic nursing care, crisis support, courtroom advocacy, and long-term therapeutic services at no cost to survivors. When someone comes through our doors in the middle of the night, they may already have walked the hardest mile of their life. Our responsibility is to meet them with skill, compassion, and the reassurance that they do not have to face what comes next by themselves.

That same commitment is reflected in our partnership with the Baltimore County Police Department. Healthcare and law enforcement play different roles, but for survivors, both can have an enormous impact on what happens next. The truth is many resources need to come together when it comes to helping survivors. When clinical expertise, advocacy, investigative support, and victim-centered care combine, that is community leadership at its best.

It is also part of a much longer story at GBMC. Between 1977 and 1997, Dr. Rudiger Breitenecker collected and saved forensic evidence from survivors treated here. What stands out to me is how forward-thinking that was. He preserved that evidence in the hope that one day technology would advance enough to uncover answers that were simply not possible at the time. He was right.

Today, because of advances in forensic science, GBMC and the Baltimore County Police Department are supporting a cold case effort that will include cases from 1977 forward. This work is about honoring survivors, preserving their choices, and making sure that if they want information, support, or advocacy, it is available to them confidentially and compassionately. For some, the hardest mile happened a long time ago, but we are still here to stand with them.

That is why we walk.

I also want to thank this year’s event co-chairs, Lucky Thompson, GBMC HealthCare board member, and Fred Chan, MD, our Chief Medical Information Officer, along with Morgan Varley for her leadership in coordinating this important event.

I hope you’ll join me on April 17. You can register, form a team, donate, or participate virtually at gbmc.org/walk. Every act of support matters. 

In case you want to learn more: As we head into tomorrow’s Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event, I hope you’ll take a moment to read this powerful Maryland Matters op-ed by Katie Curran O’Malley and Michelle Daugherty Siri. Sexual violence affects 1 in 5 women and 1 in 6 men, yet fewer than 1 in 3 survivors ever reports it. Those numbers are heartbreaking and a reminder that sexual violence is not only a criminal justice issue, but a public health crisis that demands our attention, compassion, and action. I’m grateful to the authors for helping shine a light on this issue and for challenging all of us to better support survivors and strengthen our communities.

Employee Spotlight

Robyn Everngam, MS, MHA

Human Resources Manager

GBMC Hospital

How long have you been at GBMC HealthCare?

11 years

What is one key way you support a zero harm/safety culture?

One key way I support a zero harm/safety culture is by establishing clear behavioral and employment expectations and consistently enforcing them based on GBMC policy. I ensure we are recognizing and encouraging employees who demonstrate safe practices, while also addressing policy violations with fair disciplinary action. Maintaining consistency is important when employees see that expectations are applied equally across all levels; it strengthens accountability and helps embed safety focused behaviors into everyday practice.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I find it most rewarding to support employees through challenging situations whether that involves navigating workplace concerns, resolving conflict, or guiding them through high stress incidents. Ensuring employees feel heard, treated fairly, and held to clear, consistent standards builds trust and strengthens the overall culture at GBMC. I also value the opportunity to coach and develop leaders. When managers are equipped to address behaviors effectively, enforce policies consistently, and lead with fairness, it creates a ripple effect across their teams, enhancing both the employee experience and patient safety.

Favorite animal?

Zebra