Celebrating Black History Month

On Tuesday, we hosted our annual Black History Month celebration titled “Black Excellence: The Past, The Present and The Future.” We hold this event to recognize the immeasurable contributions that Black people have made across our society. 

Since we are still battling COVID, the event was a hybrid (in-person and virtual) and included a keynote presentation by WBAL-TV News anchor Stan Stovall. Mr. Stovall talked about his life, and the obstacles and bigotry he and his family faced growing up during his formative years in Arizona, where, at the time, only 2 percent of the state’s population was Black. He reflected on the progress that has been made since then and the racism that still exists in our country. 

I am grateful to Lisa Walker, Chief Diversity & Learning Officer at GBMC and all my colleagues on the Diversity and Inclusion Council for hosting this event and helping to bring us closer together. I also want to thank our Black History Month committee that put together the outstanding program. If you would like to watch the event, please click here. 

To commemorate Black History Month, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of a few members of our staff whose dedicated leadership and talents have greatly enriched GBMC’s place in the community. 

Ericka V. Easley, MHA, Primary Care Service Line Administrator

Ericka has been leading many efforts in the community bringing awareness about primary care resources and access to care. She has led several innovative collaborations with groups such as Live Chair. Many of these events are outside of regular work hours and on weekends.

Diane Wilkins, GNA Aide, GilchristDiane is a Certified Life Coach and a certified palliative care nursing assistant who serves as a hospice aide and scheduler for Gilchrist. She founded the non-profit, Emerge Like an Eagle, where she currently serves as CEO. Emerge Like an Eagle has a mission to educate, empower and motivate the next generation through mentoring and leadership development. The organization teaches youth to give back to the community through volunteer opportunities and leadership training. This important group provides service opportunities for youth to volunteer in nursing homes and residential care communities. 

Diane’s non-profit teaches sensitivity and caring to both boys and girls and supports education by organizing school supply drives through the mayor’s office. Diane started Emerge to give back to the youth and the community.

Rev. Dr. Earl Woodard, Social Worker at Gilchrist
Rev. Dr. Earl Woodard serves as a social worker on the Gilchrist Howard County team in Maple Lawn. Earl is pastor of New David Baptist Church of Christ, where he has served for 40 years. He began his ministry there at a young age and has served as a chaplain at Providence Hospital, an African American-owned medical center, for four years. After seeing the mental health needs in the community, Earl became a social worker to expand his focus to the psychosocial field. He has been member of the Minister Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity for 14 years and he has been a member of the Baptist convention of Maryland and Delaware for 30 years.

As a pastor for the last 12 years, he has served in Angels Helping Angels, which provides food and job support along with substance use treatment referrals for members of the community. In December, Earl presented at a hospice learning forum for the African American community which was sponsored by both the Hospice Palliative Care Network of Maryland and the Horizon Foundation. 

Thank you!!

Today has been designated as “Thank A Resident Day,” so please take the time to thank our resident physicians for their hard work and dedication in helping us move toward our vision. 

In 2018, the Gold Humanism Honor Society decided to bring to light the importance of the resident staff and encouraged medical students at chapters throughout the nation to show their gratitude and appreciation. 

Post-graduate training can be grueling. I remember the long hours, increased responsibilities, and stress. And residency training has been particularly stressful during the pandemic. 

I would like to thank all our residents, and their faculty, who work hard every day to provide every patient, every time the care that we would want for our own loved ones. 

They Do More Than Draw Blood
I neglected to highlight the recent Phlebotomists Recognition Week. Phlebotomists have a crucial role in maintaining patient health and promoting lab efficiency and effectiveness. Their job entails more than just drawing blood. They help to keep patients calm and make sure that specimens are of the best quality to help our physicians make accurate diagnoses. 

Please join me in thanking our phlebotomists for their perseverance and hard work.

Two Incidents on our campus
Earlier this week, tires on multiple vehicles were damaged in one of our parking garages on two consecutive nights. These incidents were tied to a domestic dispute between an individual and a former employee and not a direct attack against GBMC. As a result of these events and out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, patients and visitors, we have taken the following actions: 

• GBMC Security surveillance has been increased on campus. 

• Masada Tactical guards have been stationed at each entrance of Lily Park and Tulip Park overnight, beginning at 6:30 p.m. each evening, until further notice. 

• GBMC Security is available to escort anyone who feels uncomfortable walking to and from their vehicle at any time. Please contact Security at ext. 2222 to request assistance.

• Until further notice, gates on all garages will be down except during the morning rush.

If you’re an employee and were a victim of this incident, GBMC will reimburse you for your tire damage. Please email bcollera@gbmc.org or call 443-849-2166 to initiate reimbursement. These costs are being covered by the Employee Hardship Fund, which is money donated from community members. 

GBMC is continuing to work with the Baltimore County Police Department to bring those involved to justice. Please remember that if you see something suspicious on campus, say something by contacting our Security department at ext. 2222.

The War in Ukraine 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they have been attacked by Russia.