Leadership that Protects: Introducing the Circle of Advocates

When a patient arrives for care from GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence (SAFE & DV) and Child Protection team, they are met by a nurse prepared to treat their traumatic injuries at every level. The team is built on a foundation that runs deep and wide, supported not only by clinicians and leaders at GBMC, but also by state and local law enforcement, education and prevention programs that stretch across the country, and a compassionate community of philanthropists.   

To honor these partners whose efforts have created a network of support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and child abuse, GBMC has launched an annual recognition program called the Circle of Advocates. “This initiative shines a light on individuals whose leadership and quiet courage have changed lives,” said Carville Collins, Esq., chair of the Circle of Advocates Committee. “Their efforts – through advocacy, philanthropy, or public service – remind us that healing is a community effort.”  

The first honoree was Lifetime Advocate Dr. Rudiger Breitenecker. Fifty years ago, when Dr. Breitenecker founded GBMC’s Rape Care Center, it was Maryland’s first hospital-based rape treatment program. Not only did his approach to sexual assault cases transform the treatment of victims, his preservation of forensic evidence – years before DNA was clearly understood – helped bring justice for survivors decades later. (More about Dr. Breitenecker on pg. 6)    

Building a Network of Support for Survivors  

Just as GBMC’s SAFE & DV and Child Protection Program has quietly grown since those early days, a network of advocacy for survivors has expanded across the country. Today, thanks to these individuals, there are laws to protect victims’ rights in court, and professional training in trauma-informed care for law enforcement and healthcare workers.   

School resource officers are taught to recognize and respond to signs of child harm. The SAFE & DV and Child Protection team’s partnership with law enforcement now serves as a national model for care and investigation centered on the victim and informed by the neurobiology of trauma.     

With Gratitude for Thoughtful Advocacy  

At the inaugural Circle of Advocates gathering, GBMC honored those who have been building a better future for survivors in all of these ways, beginning with Dr. Breitenecker, whose lifetime of advocacy revolutionized the field. The Friends of GBMC, an anonymous philanthropic group, was honored as Cornerstone Advocates for their transformational support that has expanded outreach, education, and comprehensive survivor care at no cost to victims.  

Nine Community Advocates were also recognized for their impact across law enforcement, philanthropy, and public policy: Sandra Caldwell; Lisa Fox Dever, Esq.; Major Brian Edwards; Nancy Hackerman and The Hackerman Foundation; Maryland Senator Shelly Hettleman; Former Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne Jones; Detective Scott Kilpatrick; Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller; and Jerry’s Auto Group & the Stautberg Family. Each honoree has advanced Maryland’s commitment to survivor-centered care, through legislation, innovation, and hands-on leadership.    

Bearing Witness  

Lieutenant Governor Miller said to those gathered, “As Co-Chair of the Governor’s Family Violence Council, I’ve seen firsthand how collaboration across agencies from healthcare to law enforcement to advocacy saves lives.  

“When survivors are believed, protected, and supported, we’re not only providing care; we’re restoring trust and hope,” she added. “That’s what this work is about.”   

Further, as GBMC President and CEO Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD, MBA, told the group, it is what GBMC is about. “What makes GBMC extraordinary isn’t just our clinical excellence, it’s our commitment to caring for the most vulnerable members of our community with dignity, compassion, and respect.  The Circle of Advocates reflects our deep gratitude for the extraordinary individuals who share this mission.” 

2025 Circle of Advocate Honorees

 Lifetime Advocate 

Dr. Rudiger Breitenecker, Founder, GBMC’s Rape Care Center 

Cornerstone Advocates 

Friends of GBMC 

Community Advocates

Sandra Caldwell, School Safety Analyst, Maryland Center for School Safety 

Lisa Dever, Esq., Deputy State’s Attorney, Baltimore County 

Major Brian Edwards, Baltimore County Police Department 

Nancy Hackerman, President, The Hackerman Foundation 

The Honorable Shelly L. Hettleman, Maryland State Senate (D-11) 

The Honorable Adrienne Jones, Former Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates (D-10) 

Detective Scott Kilpatrick, Crimes Against Children Unit, Baltimore County Police Department 

The Honorable Aruna Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland 

Jerry’s Auto Group & The Stautberg Family