A Vision Reaffirmed: Reflections from Our 2025 GBMC Board Retreat

Every great organization takes time to reflect, renew its purpose, and plan for the future. That’s exactly what we did during our recent 2025 GBMC HealthCare Board Retreat. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our Board members for their presence, insights, and commitment during this pivotal gathering.

Fifteen years ago, the members of this Board boldly recognized that being a "good hospital" was not enough. They laid the foundation for transformation, creating a vision for GBMC to become a true community-based health system—one that reaches beyond hospital walls to impact lives throughout our region.

At the retreat, we welcomed Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the Chair of the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) and the Associate Dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of Johns Hopkins University,  and Dr. Jonathan Kromm, the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission. They participated in a panel discussion that was hosted by Jerry Focas, a past Board member, that discussed healthcare policy nationally and in the context of our state. Their validation of our strategy and mission was both energizing and affirming. They highlighted the growing complexities in healthcare nationwide, acknowledged challenges distinct to Maryland, given our unique global budget reimbursement system, and underscored that GBMC is not just prepared for the future – we’re helping to shape it. As we look toward the AHEAD model and other forthcoming changes, we stand as a state leader in high-value care.

In alignment with our strategic plan and our vision phrase – to provide every patient, every time, the care we would want for our own loved ones – we discussed potential policy shifts and identified critical opportunities to continue leading in value-based, equitable healthcare delivery. I'm grateful to our Board, our leaders, staff, and volunteers who are all ensuring we’re not just responding to the future. We are actively designing it.

Honoring Unsung Heroes

This April, we proudly recognize the incredible individuals who make GBMC exceptional. During Volunteer Appreciation Week, we honor over 800 volunteers who generously contribute more than 100,000 hours each year to support our mission. We also celebrate our Medical Laboratory Professionals and Health Information Professionals – whose behind-the-scenes expertise ensures diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and seamless care coordination. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Administrative Professionals for their indispensable contributions to our daily operations. Thank you all for embodying the care we would want for our own loved ones.

Thank You for Making the 10th Annual Walk A Mile in Their Shoes a Remarkable Success!

Thank You for Making the 10th Annual Walk A Mile in Their Shoes a Remarkable Success! 

On behalf of the GBMC Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) & Domestic Violence (DV)
Program, thank you for making the 10th Annual Walk A Mile in Their Shoes an unforgettable event! 

Despite the rainy weather, we were thrilled to welcome a record-breaking crowd this year. Thanks to your energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment, we raised over $280,000—bringing our 10-year total to more than $1 million in support of survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.

With Event Co-Chairs Fred Chan, MD, and Lucky Thompson, Honorary Chair Coach John Harbaugh, and the Ravens Cheerleaders by our side, the day was filled with purpose and community spirit. 

Your generosity helps us provide around-the-clock expert medical and forensic care through the GBMC SAFE & DV Program. This milestone represents a decade of dedication, countless lives impacted, and hope restored. 

Thank you for walking with us, standing with us, and believing in a future free from violence. 

A special thank you goes to Morgan Varley, Director of Annual Funding, and Alissa Smith, Community Relations and Events Manager, for their leadership in coordinating this fabulous walk for our community each year!

Click here to view more pictures from the event!

Nominate a Top Doctor 

Baltimore magazine is now accepting nominations for its annual Top Docs issue—and we encourage all GBMC physicians to participate! 

This is your opportunity to recognize a colleague whose compassion, clinical expertise, and commitment to holistic patient care truly make a difference. 

Your nomination helps shine a spotlight on the remarkable physicians who represent the best of our medical community—and reinforces GBMC’s reputation as a leader in outstanding, patient-centered care. 

Nominate by June 9. 

You’re Invited: EmpowHER Breast Center Celebration 

Celebrate with us! You're invited to the EmpowHER Breast Center Celebration on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion. 

Join us in celebrating the new home of the GBMC Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center. The evening will feature celebration and & self-care, breast health education, light fare, and beverages. Space is limited, so I hope you’ll RSVP by May 9 to reserve your spot! 

And, finally, happy Passover and happy Easter to all those celebrating! 

Take a Step, Change a Life: Join Us Today for Walk A Mile in Their Shoes

Today’s the day! At 4 p.m., we come together for a cause that brings our community to its feet — the 10th Annual Walk A Mile in Their Shoes at GBMC. We’re honored to have Ravens Coach John Harbaugh as this year’s Honorary Chair, joining us in our mission to support those impacted by sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking. 

Since its beginning, this walk has stood as a symbol of solidarity and strength. The funds raised support GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) & Domestic Violence (DV) Program, which provides round-the-clock care every day of the year. This year, as federal funding faces uncertainty, your support is more important than ever. 

Join over 750 walkers already registered! If you can’t attend, there's still an opportunity to support the cause by making a donation or participating in an auction — every dollar makes a difference. 

Let’s come together, step by step, to shine a light on these critical issues and ensure these services remain available to those who need them most. 

Celebrating National Donate Life Month: A Gift That Transforms Lives 

Throughout April, we celebrate National Donate Life Month (NDLM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Established in 2003, this observance serves as a reminder of the countless lives saved and transformed through donation. 

Organ donation is often the only hope for those facing end-stage organ failure — offering not just treatment, but a second chance at life. Yet, despite its life-saving potential, access to transplantation remains limited due to the ongoing shortage of available organs. Nearly 100,000 people are currently on the national transplant waiting list, and tragically, 17 people die every day waiting for an organ that never comes. 

Reflecting on my time as national co-chair of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative in the early 2000s, I saw firsthand the complexities and challenges of organ procurement and transplantation. And while GBMC is not a transplant center, our voice — and yours — is essential in spreading awareness and encouraging individuals to register as donors. 

Just one donor can save multiple lives by donating the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. There is no age limit to becoming a donor, and active cancer is the only automatic exclusion. Most importantly, organ donation transcends cultural and religious boundaries — with all major Western religions supporting it as a selfless act of compassion and humanity. 

As we commemorate National Donate Life Month, we honor those who have given the ultimate gift and hold space for those still waiting. 

Click here to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor in Maryland.

Your decision to register could be the lifeline someone is desperately waiting for. 

Also Happening This Week at GBMC: 

Occupational Health Nurses Week 

Thank you to our occupational health nursing team for their unwavering commitment to keeping our workforce safe, healthy, and supported every single day. 

National Public Health Week
We proudly join the American Public Health Association in promoting community-wide access to the tools, education, and advocacy needed to live healthier lives. 

National Cancer Registrars Week 
A heartfelt thanks to our cancer registry professionals whose vital work helps advance cancer research, improve patient care, and guide future treatments. 

April is a powerful reminder that awareness leads to action — and that action saves lives. Whether you’re walking with us today, registering as a donor, or thanking a colleague, your impact is real. 

We’ll see you at 4 p.m. — ready to walk, support, and stand together.

A Global Exchange of Ideas, A Local Commitment to Excellence

As part of our journey toward Baldrige Excellence, GBMC HealthCare continues to open our doors—and our minds—to learn from and share with others committed to high-quality, patient-centered care. 

This week, as part of the Quest for Excellence Conference, we had the distinct honor of hosting leaders from Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) in Ames, Iowa—2019 Baldrige Award recipients. I was especially proud to see Brian Dieter, President & CEO of MGMC, receive the Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award—an honor I was fortunate to receive in 2022. 

Our teams shared best practices, including how our Pediatrics team, led by Sarae Baum, is improving access for our sickest patients, and how Interventional Radiology, under the leadership of Leticia Armstrong, has helped to reduce the number of late case starts. The MGMC team joined our Executive Lean Management System (LMS) walk and saw firsthand how our commitment to improvement is making a real difference for patients. 

Later in the week, we had the privilege of welcoming delegates from the China Association for Quality. I was happy to introduce our guests through the GBMC Leadership System and joined our Performance Improvement and Innovation team, led by Michele Patchett, as we showcased our work on hospital flow and system design. 

These conversations—spanning states and continents—reinforce that while we may operate in different contexts, our commitment to delivering better care transcends borders. 

A heartfelt thank you to our GBMC team members who helped us host these visits: 

• Michele Patchett, Director of Process Improvement/Innovation 
• Lisa Groff Reuschling, Senior Clinical Nursing Director - Labor and Delivery 
• Jason Cole, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer 
• Erlene Washington, Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partner 
• Jack Flowers, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer 
• Eve Bowmaster, Senior Director Quality and Patient Safety - Ambulatory Services 
• Sarah Muslim Lefebvre, Senior Program Manager for System Improvement 

From Mary Greeley Medical Center: 

• Brian Dieter, President & Chief Executive Officer 
• Karen Kiel Rosser, Vice President & Quality Improvement Officer 
• Amber Deardorff, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer

From the China Association for Quality: 

• Dr. Duan Yonggang (Tony), Executive Vice President & Secretary-General 
• Dr. Chen Shilin, President of the Chinese Medicine Branch and Professor at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
• Mr. Hou Jinfeng (Jeremy), Deputy Secretary-General and Leader of the China Quality Award Program 
• Mr. Li Tiegang, Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Legal Branch 
• Mr. Lin Hai (Danny), Chief Strategic Branding Consultant 
• Ms. Wang Shengqi (Cherlyn), Deputy Director, International Exchange Department 
• Mr. Paul Grizzell, President of Core Values Partners, Inc., Foreign Evaluation Expert and Academic Committee Member for CAQ 

As we reflect on these meaningful visits, let’s also recognize the incredible work happening across GBMC this week in honor of several national observances: 

• Anesthesia Tech Week (March 31–April 4): Our anesthesia technologists and technicians ensure safe, seamless surgical care. Thank you for your critical role in every procedure. 
• National Donate Life Month (April): Organ, eye, and tissue donation offers life and hope. Learn more or register at infinitelegacy.org. 
• Occupational Therapy Month (April): From NICU infants to elderly patients regaining independence, our OTs help our patients thrive. 
• Patient Access Week (March 30–April 5): You are the first touchpoint for many of our patients, setting the tone with accuracy, compassion, and professionalism.  

Each of these observances—and the global collaborations we’ve hosted—showcase who we are at our core: a health system committed to doing better for every patient, every time. I am grateful for your dedication.