Honoring the Legacy of the Late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last Friday, we had the opportunity to come together to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

This year’s theme was “Remembering the Dream, Creating Equity for the Generations to Come,” and
we had the pleasure of hosting guest speaker Chrissy M. Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities. Mrs. Thornton gave a wonderful and thought-provoking talk that contrasted equity versus equality. To sum up the difference, equality means everyone gets the same thing, while equity means everyone gets what they need to be successful, addressing individual differences and promoting fairness. 

We recognize the importance of equity at GBMC HealthCare – one notable example (which I know I’ve discussed many times recently) is our work in Jonestown. We didn’t just physically put a primary care practice in an underserved part of Baltimore City and then say our work was done. Instead, we also looked at social determinants of health and barriers to accessing care at that practice. We worked with local partners to get patients to and from appointments, get healthy groceries, critical medications like insulin, and more. We are providing the additional resources needed to address individual needs and ensure true health equity. It is this approach to equitable care that has helped us reduce our rate of uncontrolled diabetes in our Jonestown practice by 50%. This data really strikes me, as just yesterday I was listening to an NPR report noting that the number of amputations due to uncontrolled diabetes is on the rise nationally. Our work in advanced primary care and health equity is a part of the solution. 

I’m grateful for the work and sacrifices of people like Martin Luther King, Jr., who stood up so boldly for the marginalized people in our society. I feel incredibly fortunate to live in a city as diverse as Baltimore but recognize the harsh reality that there is much work that needs to be done to reach equality (and even more to guarantee equity). We still live in a divisive time, and it so important that we rally around each other as a society, recognizing our differences as strengths, and embracing all people of goodwill. 

Spirit of King Awards 
I would be remiss if I didn’t also recognize our employees and volunteers who were nominated for our annual Spirit of King Award for their service in the local community and for embodying the spirit and life’s work of Dr. King. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Deborah Cole, Gilchrist Chaplain, who was honored for her work with Living Classrooms. And kudos to each of this year’s nominees: 

Martine Bell, Clinical Manager - Advanced Practitioners 
Eyerusalem Hagos, Eligibility Coordinator - Gilchrist 
Devin Hopwood, Quality Assurance Administrator 
William “Bill” Hill, Volunteer - Gilchrist We Care 
Wayman Scott, Associate Director of DEI and Community Relations 

Honoring Dr. Kuldip S. Uberoi 

Last night, we gathered to honor Dr. Kuldip Uberoi, who passed away in November 2022. Dr. Uberoi performed general surgery at GBMC for many years and was highly regarded. Thank you to his colleagues and loved ones who came together in celebration of him, his long career, and the legacy he left through all those he influenced. We are grateful to Dr. Uberoi for the time he dedicated to patients. 

Art of Nursing Awards 
We’re collecting Art of Nursing Award nominations through Tuesday, January 30! I encourage all members of the GBMC HealthCare staff – whether you work in the hospital, GBMC Health Partners, or Gilchrist – to nominate a nursing staff member for one of the awards. It’s a great opportunity to recognize their outstanding skill and commitment to patients. Click here to learn more about each award or to nominate your nursing colleagues.