Maryland’s largest comprehensive community cancer program is growing. In recent months, two more oncologists have joined the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, drawn by GBMC’s reputation for excellent clinical care that puts patients first. Dr. David Gottlieb has joined the medical oncology staff and Dr. Rebecca M. Dodson is the newest surgeon in the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center. Dr. Gottlieb specializes in hematology, and he began seeing patients of the Berman Cancer Institute in September. “GBMC is the place for oncology,” he said. "The program has a reputation for quality, not just for patient outcomes and clinical trials, but overall patient care.” He also appreciates the organization’s track record for keeping oncologists on board and the "range of career depth." Among his new colleagues, some new to the field, as he is, and others have been treating patients for years. Beyond what he can learn from established oncologists, it’s good to know others have spent their careers at the Berman Cancer Institute. As confident as Dr. Gottlieb is that he has “found his people” here, he wasn’t always certain he would dedicate his career to cancer. His first step into the field was tentative and one he took to face his fears of working with patients with such a daunting diagnosis. When, as a third-year medical student, he worked in a small oncology practice in Saratoga Springs, he was surprised to find the work “uplifting, hopeful." "The relationship with patients is different,” he said. “We’re on the same team, fighting a common enemy. I tell my patients, ‘You’re the captain of your own ship,’” likening his own role to that of a navigator, presenting patients with treatment options and discussing their goals. For Dr. Gottlieb, medical oncology offers both the rewards of patient care and the challenges of rapidly evolving science. Treatment options that have reduced side effects and a better range of supportive care are turning some cancer cases into something akin to chronic disease. At the Berman Cancer Institute, he has found a professional home that provides challenge and reward. Dr. Dodson has been a surgical oncologist elsewhere in the region. Having worked with the director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, Sara P. Fogarty, DO, FACS, before, Dr. Dodson knew when she arrived in January that she was joining a successful practice. “I think this team is very strong,” she said. The design of the Center was also appealing. “It’s nice to have radiology support, same-day ultrasound and mammogram,” she added. “Just walking down the hall, getting to talk to the radiologist right away, is amazing.” Before she was aware of the position opening at GBMC, she referred a patient with a mass in the breast to GBMC because the treatment he needed would begin within days, rather than weeks. Now she’s in a position to deliver that care herself. Dr. Dodson began her career planning to work in medical research. She found she wasn’t happy working in a lab, so during the year between college and medical school, she volunteered at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. It inspired her to pursue surgery. “I realized I could handle other people’s blood,” she laughed, “just not my own.” Since then, she has seen cancer care from just about every perspective. Halfway through her first year of medical school, she was treated for a tumor. “That’s why I decided to do oncology and surgery,” she said. She missed one final exam, recovered during the break and was back in the classroom for her second semester. Her turn as a patient caregiver came when Dr. Dodson’s mother was treated for Crohn’s disease at GBMC. The surgical and recovery care she received was everything they hoped for. Dr. Dodson doesn’t necessarily tell her patients or their families she has been through these experiences, recognizing a cancer diagnosis—and the response to it—is highly individual. “I understand that you’re like a normal person one day and they next, you’re like, ‘Oh my God! My body is plotting against itself.’” If she thinks it can help her patient, she’ll let them know. Like her new colleagues, Dr. Dodson is guided by science and what’s best for her patients.
Ron Freeman Ron Freeman spent 40 years of his professional career in IT but was serving his fourth year as regional director of Special Olympics Maryland when the pandemic hit. He retired but knew he needed something to fill his days. GBMC wasn’t accepting volunteers at the time, but he was dogged, checking back every few days to see when applications would become available. “I have a good friend who is a longtime volunteer at GBMC, and she always raved about how wonderful an experience it was,” Ron said. “As soon as I was able, I jumped on it. At the same time I began at GBMC, I also started another volunteer gig somewhere else. I did not get the same level of satisfaction from that job as I was receiving at GBMC, so I asked for an additional assignment.” You can find Ron in the Infusion Center one day a week and serving as a patient ambassador in the inpatient units another day. He enjoys feeling like he is providing a positive experience for the people he interacts with. Let’s get to know Ron! What makes you laugh? Stephen Colbert when he fakes vomiting. What is the last gift you gave? A scarf at the GBMC Gift Shop. It was an anniversary gift for my wife, and she hasn’t returned it, but she hasn’t taken the tag off either so not sure how that will turn out. What is your go-to song you could play over and over? The Beatles’ “In My Life” Is there any clothing or tend you wish would come back into fashion? The trend of wearing sweatpants all day every day, which really hit its peak in the early months of COVID. Charles and Sandra Wilson After decades-long careers in government, Charles and Sandra Wilson looked at service in a different way. They felt called by God to deepen their understanding of their faith and began taking classes at the Institute of Christian and Jewish Studies. “When we heard others talking about their beliefs, we realized we didn’t know enough of our own beliefs and we decided to go to seminary,” Charles said. Both graduated from Faith Theological Seminary in May 2016 and began looking for places to minister. They came to GBMC to support Chaplain Joe Hart and because Charles was a grateful patient of Drs. Ron Tutrone and Rob Brookland. Today, they make pastoral care visits to inpatients, providing a judgment-free zone and a ministry of presence. They also minister beyond the walls of GBMC at placements throughout Baltimore City such as homeless shelters through Volunteers of America. “We are blessed by what we do here. A lot of times we go into rooms looking to encourage uplift and bless them and they do that for us,” Sandra said. Let’s meet Charles and Sandra! What is one word that would describe what volunteering means to you? Sandra: Caring and sharing Charles: An appreciation for God delivering me from a serious health crisis What is your favorite book? S: The Bible C: The Screwtape Letters because it reminds us we are constantly under spiritual attack What is the last gift you gave? S & C: The head contractor working on our house was having a baby, so we bought his wife a gift. The baby was born at GBMC, and part of the gift was from the GBMC Corner Shop! What was your favorite subject in school? S: Math C: Music and was taught by Mr. William Griggsby, and I still stay in contact with him. I talked to him this week! What do you do to decompress? S: The mountains or the beach and listen to music C: I play the piano. I love fishing and a glass of red wine works, too. Margaret "Marge" Thompson Margaret “Marge” Thompson worked for a vascular surgeon at then St. Joseph’s Hospital for 20 years before retiring in 2003. She started volunteering to give herself a sense of purpose and enrich her life, which has certainly been the outcome. In 20 years with the Volunteer Services Office at GBMC, Marge has served on the: GBMC Volunteer Auxiliary Board GBMC’s Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) GBMC Health Partners PFAC GBMC Health Partners Quality Council Art of Nursing committee Prayer Shawl Ministries Nearly New Sale Marge has given GBMC so much of her time and talent, and she feels she has gotten just as much in return—lifelong friends and learning opportunities. For Marge, volunteering is mentally rewarding, gives her the ability to help others and feel appreciated. “GBMC shows appreciation to their volunteers,” she said. “I thank GBMC for all it has given me.” Let’s get to know Marge! What motivates you? Being with friends or colleagues What is your go-to song you could play over and over? My favorite song is Celine Dion’s “The Prayer.” I traveled to Vegas to see her. What is a treasured family recipe? My favorite special occasions meal was my mom’s sour beef. What is your favorite book? I love to read. “Genius on the Edge” was a favorite of mine. It’s a story of doctors starting Johns Hopkins.
The Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) at GBMC is one of many across the country facing a crisis. There are too many patients, and not enough beds. “There are 22 emergency departments in Baltimore County, and GBMC is the only fully dedicated community pediatric Emergency Department,” said Theresa T. Nguyen, MD, Chair of Pediatrics at GBMC. “The closure of the pediatric ED at Franklin Square in 2018 and UMMS—Upper Chesapeake in 2022 reduced the numbers of beds in the county significantly.” Dr. Nguyen said decisions to close pediatric units are usually made with the hospital’s bottom line in mind, but it’s the patients who suffer the most. “Pediatric departments are very seasonal, and sometimes, throughout the year, you could have an empty ward. Hospitals get rid of line items that lose them money,” Dr. Nguyen said. A combination of several factors has many pediatric emergency departments struggling to keep up with the patient load, and GBMC is no exception. “During the peak of illnesses in fall 2022, we had patients being evaluated in the hallway,” Dr. Nguyen explained. “There aren’t enough beds in the state, plus the ongoing nursing shortage, which leads to a congested ED.” She said the problem isn’t helped by the number of behavioral health patients who need to be boarded in the pediatric ED. “These are kids who may be suicidal or dangerous to their families. They’re waiting to get into an inpatient psychiatric program, and we are the last pediatric ED in Baltimore County, so they come here. If they need hospitalization, they stay with us while we look for beds for a psych inpatient unit,” Dr. Nguyen said. The problem is those beds are hard to come by. “We have 6 to 12 boarders at any time, and they’re usually here for at least a week or two,” Dr. Nguyen said. Sometimes, these young patients must stay a lot longer. One 14-year-old patient was in the GBMC Pediatric Emergency Department for 79 days. She suffers from severe depression and has tried to commit suicide on several occasions. But a complicating issue was a severe eating disorder, which exacerbated attempts to get her the help she needed. “We contacted 40 to 50 ped/psych units across the country, and she was turned down almost everywhere,” Dr. Nguyen said. “She hasn’t eaten food by mouth in over a year, and centers couldn’t take her in because she’s fed through a nasogastric tube.” To make room for this patient and others like her, Dr. Nguyen says they’ve had to get creative about where to house pediatric patients. “Boarding these kids is a need we’re meeting in our community, since there’s no one to take care of them but us, but we need money to keep the pediatric ED afloat,” Dr. Nguyen said. Dr. Nguyen is grateful for the generous donations from foundations and fundraising campaigns, but she said there is still a growing need to expand and better serve the children of Baltimore County. “We need solutions at a national level,” she pleaded. “Can we do something about this before we have a death here and people start to pay attention? Can we get some help for our kids?” To support the pediatric emergency department at GBMC, please visit GBMC.org/supportpediatrics.
Wayman Scott, MS, MTS, LGPC, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion at Gilchrist in Baltimore, uses his art and passions to share the history, prosperity and growth of the Black and African American history in Baltimore for Black History Month.
Fong Liu, MD, MPH, a gynecologic oncologist at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, wants more women to understand how their bodies work. "I think it's very important for women to understand their anatomy and the nuances of cancer diagnosis and treatment," she explains. She says this is especially true with uterine cancers like endometrial cancer, which makes up 90% of uterine cancer cases. "The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. One of the greatest risk factors of endometrial cancer is obesity," says Dr. Liu. "As rates of obesity rise, we've also seen a rise in this type of cancer." Obesity is a major risk factor for endometrial cancer because of how it affects two main hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Dr. Liu uses the analogy of growing grass to explain the role these hormones play in a cancer diagnosis. "I like to think about estrogen as a fertilizer and progesterone as a lawn mower. There is a hormone in our fat cells that increases the level of estrogen in our bodies, which causes the lining of the uterus to grow faster than the progesterone can keep up. This uncontrolled overgrowth then leads to cancer development." She adds that genetic factors are the other major risk factor for endometrial cancer, namely Lynch Syndrome, which is also associated with colon and ovarian cancer. "Endometrial cancer is generally diagnosed in women in their 60s and 70s, but if you have risk factors and experience abnormal uterine bleeding at a younger age, please see your gynecologist for an exam," Dr. Liu says. At this point, there are no general screening guidelines for endometrial cancer in the general population. "A biopsy done in the office can often make the diagnosis, and early diagnosis means we can hopefully remove it before it travels to other parts of the body." "There will always be exceptions, but for most endometrial cancers, minimally invasive surgery is all you need to treat it," Dr. Liu says. She adds that recovery depends on each person's cancer and what is found at the time of surgery, but many patients can go home the same day and recovery is straightforward. "The most common post-surgery symptom is fatigue, and most patients have it for several weeks," Dr. Liu says. Above all, Dr. Liu hopes normalizing conversations around gynecological cancers will encourage more women to take care of themselves before they get to the point of a cancer diagnosis. "When you take care of a woman, you take care of her whole family because they're traditionally the caregivers. But also because of that, they often forget about themselves." Dr. Liu's goal is to always support women by giving them a comfortable space to talk about their bodies. She encourages patients to get a second opinion if they feel like they aren't being heard. By creating space for women to look at and talk about their bodies openly, Dr. Liu says they will feel empowered to take better care of themselves on every level. "It hasn't been made okay to talk about these things. We need to make it okay."
Michael Stein Promoted to GBMC Senior Leadership Michael Stein, MHSA, FACMPE, has been promoted to Vice President, Clinical and Support Operations, effective November 14. In this new role, Mike oversees oncology, radiology, laboratory, volunteers, food and nutrition, environmental services, patient transport, and the Service Response Center (SRC). Prior to this, Mike served as the Executive Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. Dr. Celano Appointed by Gov. Hogan to Council on Cancer Control Dr. Paul Celano, FASC, FASCO, the Herman and Walter Samuelson Medical Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, has been appointed to the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control by Governor Larry Hogan. Dr. Celano joins a 25-member body appointed by the Governor to educate and advise government officials, public and private organizations, and the general public concerning policies, programs, and innovations with the goal of reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer in Maryland. Commission on Cancer Renews Accreditation Through the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) recognizes cancer programs for their commitment to providing comprehensive, high quality, and multidisciplinary patient-centered care. A consortium of professional organization, the CoC is improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality of care. After an intensive site visit in November, the CoC renewed its accreditation of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. This accreditation signifies that the Berman Cancer Institute has invested in systems aimed toward providing high quality, coordinated care to our patients and that we have made efforts to provide supportive services and resources addressing the full continuum of care available in our community. With CoC accreditation comes access to infrastructure and data that impact patient care, as well as opportunities for leadership and programmatic development. Dr. Brookland Honored for Contributions to Oncology Robert Brookland, MD, Chairman of Radiation Oncology at GBMC, received an award from Towson-Catonsville Alumni Chapter (TACS) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity during a Prostate Center Roundtable Event. The panel discussion included a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the treatment and detection of prostate cancer. While membership is open and unrestricted, Kappa Alpha Psi is a historically African American Fraternity, founded at Indiana University in 1911. The fraternity is reported to have more than 700 chapters across the country and around the world. Integrative and Palliative Medicine Team Is Growing Advance Practitioner Suki Parks, PhD, PA-C, has joined the Integrative and Palliative Medicine team of the Berman Cancer Institute. Dr. Parks has experience in treating radiation oncology patients, as well as cardiology patients, in both cases as a physician assistant. She held an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University after earning her doctorate in molecular biology at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Parks will be working alongside Mind Body Therapist Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm. Dance Center Team Member on International Panel Karen Ulmer, MS, RN, CORLN, an Otolaryngology Nurse Specialist at GBMC’s Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head & Neck Center, served as a panelist for a Webinar hosted by The Global Tracheostomy Collaborative (GTC). Her fellow panelists included an ENT physician from the United States and a Clinical Specialist in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) from the United Kingdom. The GTC is a global partnership of physicians, nurses, therapists, caregivers and patients who work together to disseminate best practices and improve outcomes in tracheostomy care. Staff Members Achieve Certification Kathryn Tower, CCRC, has passed the certification exam to become a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator. The credential is overseen by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. Those taking the CCRC exam are required to have provided at least 3,000 hours of work experience involving clinical research coordination. Kim Taylor, RN and Lisa Kight, RN are the first nurses on GBMC’s Radiation Oncology staff to earn their ONS/ONCC Radiation Therapy Certification. The Oncology Nurses Society and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation combine to form an independent accrediting body that has established nationally acknowledged standards and criteria for professional practice. GBMC strives to have all team members achieve appropriate certifications.
<p class="article-body"> As a parent, one of the scariest trips you can take with your child is a ride to the Emergency Department (ED).Whether your loved one is 4 months old or 14 years old, you need a place you can trust that is designed to meet children's unique needs. <br> <br> The state of pediatric emergency care has changed significantly in our region. In addition to some hospitals closing their units, staffing shortages have been made worse by the pandemic. This has put incredible pressure on those that have remained open, like GBMC. <br> <br> GBMC runs the only 24/7 pediatrician-staffed, pediatric ED remaining in Baltimore County. But to care for all children in the community, a combined Pediatric ED and Inpatient Unit with eight inpatient beds and five ED beds is not nearly enough. <br> <br> Beginning in the summer months of 2022, staff saw significant surges in respiratory illnesses. Where a typical season for RSV and rhinovirus runs from November to March, the ED was seeing illness peaks much earlier. Both the volume and acuity of cases caused unbearably long wait times for families and shined a bright spotlight on the lack of resources to address the need. <br> <br> “I want people to understand these surges affect us, too,” Laura Scott, MD, FAAP, Director of Pediatric Inpatient and Emergency Medicine at GBMC, said. “It hurts my heart to see kids in the waiting room or the hallway. That’s not the care I want for them. Our team works tirelessly to provide the best care possible for these families despite a lack of resources. We want better for our community and are not satisfied with families having to wait so long to see us.” <br> <br> As other hospitals close their pediatric doors, the depth of need for these services is too big to ignore. GBMC is committed to keeping board-certified pediatricians, pediatric nurses specifically trained to care for children, child life specialists, and on-call sexual assault and domestic violence services available 24/7 for the community. <br> <br> “If we don’t do it, who will?” Dr. Scott said. “I know how much everyone here loves caring for kids, and we know we can do it well. We know we can do it better than a lot of other people. We want to provide amazing care and show it can be done in a community hospital.” <br> <br> K. Sarae Baum, MSN, RN, CPEN, Assistant Nurse Manager for Emergency/Inpatient Pediatrics & Behavioral Health, shared stories of families and visitors taking their frustration out on nurses and staff because wait times were so long. While the frustration, stress, and fear of having a sick child is real, Baum wanted people to know there is a person under that mask, one who really cares about your child and their health. <br> <br> “We care very much about these kids,” Baum said. “We are in this because we want to care for children and families, and it hurts us because we understand how difficult it is to keep a baby comfortable or a toddler entertained. We are doing the best we can.” <br> <br> Oftentimes the stress and concern of caring for a sick child can feel overwhelming and uncertain, especially when sickness peaks outside of normal business hours. <a href="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/2902dc322460ffa17541d9431c6fa3c2.pdf">GBMC's easy Know Before You Go reference guide</a> allays fears and helps direct parents and caregivers to the most appropriate course of action. <br> <br> Download the flyer to post somewhere or share with friends, bookmark <a href="/node/2514">GBMC pediatrics</a> or save the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gbmchealthcare/">@gbmchealthcare</a> Instagram post. <br> <br> The future of Pediatric EDs is uncertain, but what is clear is that there is a future. Having a place to take your child that is accessible, available, timely, and adequately and expertly staffed and supplied is what we want for our loved ones, and GBMC HealthCare is committed to making sure it’s available for yours. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> There was a national nursing shortage prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which only tightened the availability of qualified nurses. Healthcare systems have had to think more creatively about how to fill these gaps and, in the fall of 2020, GBMC looked to other countries for nursing support. <br> <br> Jill Wheeler, MSN, RN, Director of Infection Prevention, Specialty and Inpatient Surgery, Wound/Ostomy/HBO, and Claire Cafirma, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director of Perioperative, Interventional Radiology, Endoscopy, co-lead GBMC’s partnership with Passport USA, which has brought 31 nurses into the workforce to date. <br> <br> “These nurses have superb skills,” Wheeler said. “Once you get them up to speed on the electronic medical records system, they are good to go. Although acclimating to a new working environment can be challenging for international nurses, we’ve had zero failures. It continues to be a top priority for GBMC to broaden our diversity and step outside the box in finding ways to tackle the current nursing shortage.” <br> <br> Nurses are on a three-year contract through the agency and can choose to stay with GBMC after the contract ends. The process to bring a nurse to the U.S. varies but can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months. For example, GBMC has committed to hiring 47 nurses but only 31 are currently here. They pass the same credentialing tests as nurses in the U.S. are required to, and they also must pass an English proficiency exam. <br> <br> The transition to working in the U.S. can be challenging, but new nurses at GBMC have an extra layer of support built into hiring and onboarding in Claire Cafirma. Fifteen years ago, she was in the same position. <br> <br> Cafirma, the eldest of four daughters, was a single nurse working in the Philippines when she applied to work overseas. While waiting for a response, she worked in Saudi Arabia where she met her husband (also from the Philippines). She was pregnant with her first daughter when she got the call a job was open. She returned to the Philippines for two weeks to process her visa and her husband stayed in Saudi Arabia. She arrived in the United States in 2007 to work at another hospital in Baltimore. <br> <br> “It was difficult to come here, pregnant, with no one here. I had a baby by myself. It was very challenging,” Cafirma said. “We receive English instruction from kindergarten in the Philippines, but when I came here, I really couldn’t understand how people talk, even just ordering food. It was a challenge.” <br> <br> For most nurses, the way care is provided is the same as it was in their country of origin. Aside from language, which can be a struggle, the biggest professional barrier is learning the electronic medical records system. Outside of work, going through this transition alone can be scary. Aside from housing provided by the agency, nurses aren’t offered much on arrival. <br> <br> “The whole hospital, including our Board of Directors, have really embraced welcoming the nurses,” Wheeler said. “We have a Welcoming Committee, and the Philanthropy Department gave them gift cards to the GBMC Volunteer Auxiliary’s Nearly New Sale to stock up on essential items. Everybody has been on board in welcoming them to ensure they are successful while they are here and able to provide the same level of patient care we expect from all nurses.” <br> <br> One of GBMC’s recent hires, Blessing Liberty-Echewodoh, RN, has been working in the GBMC PACU for about six months. She agreed learning Epic took a while to master, but the transition overall was good because of her unit. <br> <br> “The transition wasn’t a very easy one, but coming to GBMC, I must tell you, it wasn’t bad,” Liberty-Echewodoh, originally from Nigeria, said. “I told everybody I met it was like coming to a family; everybody tried to help you transition well. They were all there and you could see that these people had your back. They allowed me to make my mistakes so, sincerely, transitioning to GBMC wasn’t a bad one for me.” <br> <br> It also helps to see nurses like Cafirma who have not only come from other countries and stayed but been successful in their careers. <br> <br> “I’m here and I am one of the international nurses. I know how it feels,” Cafirma said. “You work hard, and you get recognized. It’s a diverse workforce and there’s a lot of opportunity. <br> <br> “I can speak for nurses from the Philippines. We don’t usually feel empowered because normally the doctors are the boss. But here, we can speak up, have a questioning attitude, we have autonomy.” <br> <br> At GBMC, they also feel seen. <br> <br> “One thing that has particularly touched me at GBMC is the team spirit,” Liberty-Echewodoh said. “You could literally touch it. When people ask if they can help, truly they are not just saying it, they mean it. It is overwhelming.” <br> <br> </p> <h3> Meet Blessing Liberty-Echewodoh, RN, PACU </h3> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/130cdade21f862d195f2675979360760.jpg" alt="Blessing Liberty-Echewodoh, RN, PACU"> <figcaption> Blessing Liberty-Echewodoh, RN, PACU </figcaption> </figure> Blessing has been a nurse for 23 years, the last 10 of which have been in critical care and anesthesia care. She came to GBMC about six months ago from Nigeria through GBMC’s relationship with Passport USA with her husband and three children. In just a short time here, she has made a positive impact on patients and her colleagues. <br> <br> <strong><em>What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?</em></strong> <br> I pray. If I have to be on duty, then I have to jump out of bed to get myself ready for work. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress?</em></strong> <br> My family means the world to me, and I just love to spend time with them. I love to listen to music, but I don’t get to do that a lot these days. I try to get my mind off whatever is putting stress on me, and I pray, I tell God about it and most times, by the time I work through my feelings, I feel a lot of relief. <br> <br> <strong><em>What was the last gift you gave someone?</em></strong> <br> I spoke with a patient last week. She had an issue that was bothering her emotionally and she ended up confiding in me. By the time she was ready to go, she said, ‘This is the best gift anybody gave me in recent times. You don’t know what you did by sharing those experiences with me.’ It meant a lot to me. <br> <br> <strong><em>Who are you picturing when you take care of patients? </em></strong> <br> I must tell you something, before I came to the U.S., I knew I was coming to GBMC and that mission statement really touched me. I find myself many times, even when I’m not at work, going over those words. It keeps coming back to me. For example, when patients leave and you have to wipe down and clean everywhere, it comes back. How would you feel if you had to be the one lying on this couch, and it wasn’t clean? How would you feel if your child had to be put on this and it wasn’t clean? <br> <br> Each time I see a patient, if it’s a child, I start picturing my children immediately. If it’s an elderly person, I start seeing my parents. That’s just the way it is. It’s like my father sitting there, my mother sitting there, my husband. That’s the truth. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Years later, patients and colleagues are still passionate about their deep appreciation for Dr. Gary Cohen, former Medical Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC HealthCare. In the six years since his retirement, Dr. Cohen has demonstrated his continued dedication to GBMC and its oncology program on more than one occasion, most recently with a generous gift to the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion campaign. <br> <br> In this new home for cancer care services, virtually every oncology patient will see their oncologist in the oncology clinic. It will house exam rooms, physicians' offices, treatment rooms and more. The welcome area where patients and visitors enter before their appointments will bare a sign commemorating Dr. Cohen’s gift. <br> <br> “I’m fortunate to have been in a place like GBMC where my skills as a clinician and as an administrator were both appreciated,” Dr. Cohen said. <br> <br> Even as he was building a world-class cancer program, Dr. Cohen was devoted to his patients. Expert, compassionate care has been a hallmark of his practice, and of the Berman Cancer Institute, from the start. It’s one of the things Dr. Cohen is most proud of as he looks back on his years at GBMC. Dr. Cohen was also a key driver in establishing the clinical trials program, which has elevated the Berman Cancer Institute and benefited all patients at GBMC. <br> <br> “Clinical trials were what placed us at the cutting edge of cancer care and brought us local and national recognition.” Dr. Cohen said. <br> <br> The program remains robust for a community hospital. It continues to offer patients the same advanced technology and treatments they might expect from an academic center. <br> <br> Dr. Cohen is equally proud of having helped to found Gilchrist which, in the early 1990s, was a patient-centered extension of the cancer program. Cancer diagnosis and treatment have advanced dramatically since then, with better outcomes for patients with cancer. Concurrently, Gilchrist has grown to serve patients with diagnoses other than cancer at the end of life and also with serious illness and elders in need of in-home medical care. <br> <br> Looking back, Dr. Cohen is proud GBMC invested in starting a program knowing it wouldn’t be profitable without ongoing philanthropy. But, as Dr. Cohen says, “It was the right thing to do. <br> <br> “It was important for us, as a community hospital, to have a patient focus.” <br> <br> As the oncology program grew – adding the Sheila K. Riggs Radiation Oncology Center, the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, the Milton J. Dance Jr. Head & Neck Center, state-of-the-art infusion services, the gynecologic oncology program and general surgery – it spread across the hospital. Dr. Cohen has been personally involved with the design of the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion, which will give cancer patients a single destination for care. And his investment in the project philanthropically further cements his belief that this design will improve the care of patients as he strived to do in practice. <br> <br> All of Dr. Cohen’s achievements on behalf of the Berman Cancer Institute, along with the ways those achievements have enhanced GBMC’s reputation and the care it provides the community, inspired his induction as one of GBMC’s Physician Titans of Care, a prestigious honor. His generosity has earned him membership in both the Joseph S. Keelty Society and the Elizabeth Duncan Yaggy Society. <br> <br> For Dr. Cohen, this recent gift is more than an investment. Through it, he will honor the memory of his wife, Charlene M. Cohen, who died in 2018. <br> <br> “She was very committed to GBMC,” he said. “The thought of our names together greeting patients when they first arrive warms my heart. It feels good to be able to support something that was such an important part of my life journey.” </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
Kristi Choyce, RN, CHPPN, has been a pediatric hospice nurse with Gilchrist for three years. She is proud to support families through the most challenging times they will ever face. Gilchrist, a part of the GBMC HealthCare system, provides comprehensive and compassionate care to those facing a life-limiting illness. Like GBMC, Gilchrist deeply values the nurse’s role in the entire healthcare continuum. Choyce shared that one of the most fulfilling parts of her job is the bond and trust that is formed with her patients and their families, so much so that they are comfortable bringing their child home for end-of-life care. Recently, the mother of a child with a terminal illness told her, “Had we not gotten to you so soon, and built this relationship, I wouldn’t have trusted myself to care for my child at home. And because of you, I was able to give my child what {he} wanted at the end of his life.” A mother herself, Choyce understands the importance of her job and works with each one of her patients, and their families, with the care and respect that she would want if her own child was terminally ill. Choyce and her fellow pediatric hospice nurses in the Gilchrist Kids Program go above and beyond for their patients and families. They visit each home once a week, sometimes more, and they are always in contact with the families. The nurses can provide certain medical procedures in the home to prevent an uncomfortable trip to the hospital for the child, they ensure that all medications are filled, and confirm the families have all medical supplies they need. “It’s just one less thing that they need to worry about,” she said. Choyce shared how much it means to her and her team to receive recognition from the community. Pediatric hospice is extremely difficult for people to think about, so it’s not a field that is often highlighted. Whether it is a donation or a message of gratitude, it means so much to the nurses for their patients and families to be supported. GBMC HealthCare is proud to partner with Gilchrist to provide these services to families in need. You can be a champion for pediatric hospice nurses like Kristi Choyce by donating to support Kristi and her nursing colleagues. A donation to support GBMC Nursing provides the opportunity for GBMC and Gilchrist to attract and retain the best nurses in our community. Additionally, a gift to Gilchrist Kids will provide medical care and emotional support to improve the quality of life for terminally ill children and their families.
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R6JrPnN08YQ" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> At the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC, each patient is treated as an individual, not just a case on a page. And that approach is felt from the beginning. The team believes survivorship starts at the moment of diagnosis, which to them means they focus on treating your disease while also maintaining your humanity throughout the process. At GBMC, that looks like nationally-recognized clinical trial opportunities, a team approach to analyzing your case with experts from multiple specialty areas, and, in the coming years, a new building where cancer care services will be centralized with the patient in mind. Convenience, comfort and calm for you and your loved ones. </p>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAh7gG54bbE" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> Being diagnosed with breast cancer is emotional and can be overwhelming. At the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, dedicated nurse navigators guide patients through their options, coordinate their care, and counsel them along the way. For Susan Simeon, BSN, RN, OCN, it’s incredibly personal work. In 2020, Simeon was diagnosed with breast cancer. <br> <br> “Suddenly, I was being counseled about chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and all the treatments I had discussed with patients for the last decade,” she said. “I was given the opportunity to go through treatment myself, even though I didn’t want that opportunity.” <br> <br> During her treatment, Simeon was led through the process by GBMC nurse navigator Barb Raksin, RN. After Raksin retired, a full circle moment presented itself when Simeon stepped into the nurse navigator role, using her experience as a patient to help others. <br> <br> “I want to show patients that they can get through their treatment, too. I went through treatment, and it was not easy, but it is doable,” she said. “One thing that gives me a lot of confidence being a nurse navigator here at GBMC is that we stay on top of the best and latest treatments for every patient patient. Each of us in this specialty wants to help people with cancer live longer. <br> <br> “I felt very supported through my treatment at GBMC. From my surgeon, Dr. Sara Fogarty, to my medical oncologist, Dr. Priyanka Mittar, to my radiation oncologist, Dr. Kruti Patel, and the nurses and medical assistants. Along the way, I felt very cared for.” <br> <br> Patients who receive their cancer care at GBMC often feel compelled to donate to support the nurses who were so instrumental to their care. This support is an investment in professional development, continuing education, and support of GBMC nurses. <br> <br> “It really means the world to us as employees when the community gives back in thanks,” Simeon said. Philanthropy is the cornerstone of ensuring GBMC remains a top destination for top nursing talent, and that, once here, nurses can grow in their careers, like Susan did. To support nurses like Susan in flourishing at GBMC as they serve patients and further their education, <a href="https://www.classy.org/give/273237/#!/donation/checkout">donate in their honor today.</a> </p>
Michael W. Stein, MHSA, FACMPE, was named interim Vice President of Support Services in July 2022. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Executive Director of Oncology Services at GBMC, starting in 2014. In this role, Mike expanded the cancer program, adding services such as symptom management, GI Oncology multidisciplinary program, an Owings Mills medical oncology and infusion location, and integrative medicine. He was instrumental in helping to rein in oncology drug costs for both patients and the hospital through a number of tactics, ultimately leading to total deregulation of oncology drug expense. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree in health services administration from the George Washington University School of Public Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives and serves on several boards for community organizations. On Wednesday, October 12, Stein updated viewers of "Ask the Oncology Expert" with details on the new home for cancer care at GBMC: the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion. GBMC has always been known for excellent medical services in the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, but the facilities were in need of improvements to match the level of care our team provides. Below are the key takeaways from this discussion: Stein might have been the leader of this project, but he did not work alone. By partnering with the medical and clinical team, the community and, most importantly, GBMC patients, the new Sandra R. Berman Pavilion design allows staff to be more efficient and provides patients and families an overall better experience. The oncology team traveled around the country to tour cancer centers, large and small, asking what works, but more importantly what is not working. The Sandra R. Berman Pavilion is a 70,000 square foot medical office building designed with to enhance efficiency for medical and clinical teams, as well as patients and their caregivers. There will be elevator access to both Radiation Oncology and the parking garage making it easier for patients and families to attend various appointments. The Berman Pavilion will be located adjacent to the Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building, GBMC’s new three-story inpatient facility. The design of the building matches that of the Friedman building, both of which are focused on a central atrium, allowing ample natural light. Additionally, the team has focused on making it easy for staff to go to and from different sections of the building. For example, the Oncology Support Services team can easily access patient service areas quickly. This is a prime example of how multidisciplinary care teams operate: focusing on the patient as a whole and assisting with both their physical and emotional needs. The community can always support the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Insitute, and there are many ways to do so! The team welcomes help from volunteers, and is always grateful for donations to support important programs like Oncology Support Services, which is 100% donor funded. The Sandra R. Berman Pavilion is at 88% of its fundraising goal. You can support the project by visiting gbmcpromise.org.
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Motter-Mast is the Chief of Staff at GBMC HealthCare and the Medical Director of Care Transformation. She also serves as a board-certified Family Medicine Physician at GBMC Health Partners Primary Care – Hunt Manor. Dr. Motter-Mast earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. <br> <br> She began her career with GBMC in 2005, after eight years practicing medicine, and has helped the organization develop and manage one of the largest primary care networks in the Baltimore area. She served as the first female Chair of GBMC’s Family Medicine Department from 2008-2016 and as the Medical Director of Primary Care, Population Health, and Community Benefits at GBMC from 2016-2020. She believes in improving the healthcare system in the United States through intentional care design. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/a71b60ce49ff1128cc0452c20453a848.jpg" alt="Robin Motter-Mast, DO, FAAFP, CPE, Chief of Staff, GBMC"> <figcaption> Robin Motter-Mast, DO, FAAFP, CPE, Chief of Staff, GBMC </figcaption> </figure> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> I was waitlisted for medical school after I graduated from college. I received a call from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine letting me know they wanted me to come to their school, but in a year. It was August, and I was at home with my parents. I was disappointed to have to wait, but so excited to know I was going onto my next steps of becoming a doctor. I knew I wanted to be a doctor since 7th grade. I could not believe that it was going to happen! <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> I knew I wanted to be a physician since 7th grade. I find the ability of the human body to function and heal fascinating. I am also energized by relationships and helping others. It was hard to pick a specialty because so much of medicine excited me. Family medicine was a good choice for me because I enjoy so many aspects of medicine and can form longstanding relationships with my patients. It allows me to oversee many aspects of a patient’s health and guide and direct them. It is really a privilege to work with people and support the health of a community. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> I love supporting my fellow physicians! Working in healthcare is hard but being part of a great team makes it easier. <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> My personality and values are what led me to my leadership style. My leadership style is transformational. I love innovation and rely heavily on teamwork to get things done. <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> My father-in-law suffered a serious stroke at 72. It left him paralyzed on his left side and with some cognitive issues. He is who I often think of when I hear that question. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> Having a strong sense of who I am and knowing my strengths and weaknesses has helped me shape my career. Life is easier and more enjoyable when you follow you passion. Having a support system is very important. My family and colleagues have been that support for me. Finding a coach or mentor is also extremely helpful. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress? </em></strong> <br> Spend time with friends and family. I love an adventure, so finding something new to discover is always fun! <br> <br> <strong><em>What does being a women in medicine mean to you?</em></strong> <br> Being a physician is my dream come true! Finding my way through the profession as a woman has been interesting. In my first week of medical school, it was announced that 40 percent of our class was females, and that this was the largest number of females in any medical school class in the city of Philadelphia. That was eye opening. <br> <br> As I began my journey to become a physician. There would be some challenges, but there are challenges everywhere for all of us. Women bring a unique perspective to medicine. Most of us are innate caregivers. Our intuition helps us connect with our patients and provide healing and comfort in a way that is often different from our male colleagues. We are different, and we should celebrate these differences. The number of women in medicine has come a long way, and I am grateful to be part of the journey. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Dr. Laura Scott has been the Director of the Pediatric Emergency and Inpatient Unit at GBMC since July 2017. She joined GBMC as a pediatric hospitalist in 2015 after finishing her Pediatrics Residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and earning her medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. She serves as an active member on the Pediatrics Peer Review Committee, the Emergency Department Steering Committee, the Pediatric Nursing Practice Council, and the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Collaborative Committee. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/66ed568f2bbcbc94654216947aee1f07.jpg" alt="Laura Scott, MD, Director, Pediatric Inpatient and Emergency Medicine"> <figcaption> Laura Scott, MD, Director, Pediatric Inpatient and Emergency Medicine, GBMC as a child. "I'm still a kid at heart." </figcaption> </figure> <strong><em>Take yourself back. You got your acceptance letter to medical school. Where are you? How are you feeling? What are you most excited about?</em></strong> <br> I remember receiving a call from the Dean of Admissions at my medical school (University of Tennessee) while I was working in a lab at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Nelson Strother, the man on the other end of the phone, had been a great advocate for me and my medical school entry. To hear his voice bring me this life-changing news was something I will always hold dear. This was one of my earliest introductions to the types of people and experiences I would have at UT and made it all the better when I became one of four student members on the UTCOM Admissions Committee as a third-year medical student. It was so fun to be on the other side of the process and to play a part in the start of the medical careers of hundreds of students. <br> <br> As my notification of admission was via phone, and while I was working, I remember trying to contain my excitement (and relief) and then walking out of the lab with tears in my eyes to go outside and simply take a breath. It was a very humbling experience and one of the biggest achievements of my life at that point, and I remember feeling proud of myself. I wasn't sure I would make it into medical school the first time I applied, which made that moment even better. I couldn't wait to tell my mom and my boyfriend (now husband), and to thank them for helping me get to that point. What a cool experience, and nice to think about, now, so many years (14!) after the fact. <br> <br> <strong><em>What led you to a career in healthcare? What led you to your chosen discipline?</em></strong> <br> From an early age I had an interest in medicine, biology/science, and the humanities. My love for Pediatrics really evolved while I was in college and had the opportunity to complete internships at both Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and St. Jude. I took a nontraditional route to medical school by taking four years in between, and those years at St. Jude further enhanced my love of Peds and my interest in pediatric-specific medicine. <br> <br> <strong><em>Alongside caring for patients, what is one other thing you love about your role?</em></strong> <br> Kids are hilarious. They can be sick as stink and cracking jokes, making fun of their parents or siblings, or just asking goofy (but also insightful and bright) questions. In addition to clinical care, I love being connected to a network of Pediatric Hospitalists across the country via the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the opportunities this provides for continued learning, commiserating, and celebrating. Peds providers are a loving, compassionate group of people, and this community—in our GBMC group as well as across the country—is constantly teaching me and keeping me up to date on the latest Peds research, evidence-based medicine, trends, etc. Our (all female!) team of Peds providers at GBMC feels like family, and this group is constantly pushing me to be the best physician/clinician that I can be. <br> <br> <strong><em>What informs your leadership style? What one skill would you recommend a future female leader in medicine cultivate?</em></strong> <br> Multiple mentors in my medical career have impressed upon me the importance of leading from the ground up—working shoulder to shoulder with those you are leading and striving to stay in touch with what is happening on the front lines. A willingness to humble yourself, listen more than you talk, and continually focus (and re-focus) on systems issues rather than interpersonal conflict are all things I try to keep in mind as a leader. Specifically for female leaders, I also encourage open and honest conversation about equal pay for equal work, diversity in the workplace, and advocating for oneself and one's group, which can be uncomfortable at times. <br> <br> <strong><em>At GBMC, our vision is to take care of patients as if they were our own loved ones. Who are you picturing when you care for patients?</em></strong> <br> Even though I am a pediatrician, I always think of my mom when I hear the GBMC vision. Whether our patients are two or 102, they deserve to be listened to and cared for with compassion and respect, and they deserve a provider who takes the time to understand their concerns—all things I absolutely want for my sweet mom when she needs to access medical care. <br> <br> <strong><em>What accomplishment are you most proud of in your professional career?</em></strong> <br> I became the Director of the GBMC Pediatric ED/Inpatient Unit only two years out of my Pediatric residency. This was a significant milestone in my medical career, and one I did not expect to happen so soon. However, I have come to realize my non-medical life prepared me just as much (if not more) than my medical experience for this role, because it was my past experiences as a leader in various fields that set me up for success in my current role. <br> <br> Additionally, becoming a <em>Baltimore</em> Magazine Top Doc in 2021 meant a great deal to me because this was something voted on by my peers and colleagues. Pre-GBMC, I would say securing a residency spot at JHH in the Department of Pediatrics (a program steeped in tradition) was a huge accomplishment for me. When I opened my residency match results envelope, I cried the happiest tears. <br> <br> <strong><em>What has helped you navigate challenges or barriers to achieving your success?</em></strong> <br> I have been lucky to have incredible and loving mentors in my medical career, including Dr. Melissa Sparrow, who was previously in my current role as Director of Pediatrics and also held the role of Chief of Staff at GBMC. Dr. Sparrow taught me by example and showed me what a strong, female leader can look like and accomplish. Having mentors to bounce things off of has been invaluable in navigating challenges, and having a non-medical family has also kept me grounded by providing different non-medical perspectives I can apply to my medical life. I am also a huge proponent of mental health care and therapy, as well as physical fitness. Both have allowed me the space and ability to constructively move through barriers and obstacles. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you do to decompress?</em></strong> <br> I love working out at home! I am a big fan of Beachbody programs, especially Barre and HIIT workouts, and I love Peloton Yoga workouts. My dog, Taussig (named after a fierce FEMALE Pediatric Cardiologist who trained and worked at JHH) is one of the loves of my life and he and my husband and I love spending time on our front porch and watching the world go by. <br> <br> <strong><em>What do you think the future of medicine looks like for women?</em></strong> <br> Bright, exciting, difficult, and complex. <br> <br> <strong><em>What does being a women in medicine mean to you?</em></strong> <br> I see it as opportunity. An opportunity to show other females how fun, amazing, challenging, and difficult a life in medicine can be. An opportunity to advocate for equality in medicine and elsewhere. An opportunity to show my young female (and male) patients that they can grow up and be whatever they want to be, including a doctor. An opportunity to lead with compassion, grace, and humility. An opportunity to support and encourage my colleagues. An opportunity to do all the good I can, in all of the ways I can, until I no longer can. <br> <br> I see it as a privilege. And I am grateful it allows me to go to work and to have fun, to share in people's life experiences, to be with them during the worst times and their best times, to use my knowledge and skills and experience to help others, to continue to figure out how to practice the art of medicine, and to keep growing and changing and evolving, as a physician and as a human being. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
