LEONARDTOWN, Md. – March 3, 2017 – On February 9, 2017, the Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Class of 2017 participated in the fifth of nine educational programs for the 2016-17 LSM class – Healthcare. The one-day event began with the class participants starting their day at one of the three hospitals in the region – Calvert Memorial Hospital, University of Maryland-Charles Regional Medical Center, and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for an in-depth brief of the hospital – its capabilities, specialized types of treatment/service lines offered, and a walking tour of the facility. By mid-morning, the classmates met at Walden Behavioral Health’s Anchor Treatment Center in Charlotte Hall where they were welcomed by Dr. Kathleen O’Brien, received a brief on current health issues by Mike Robbins, Senior Vice President for Rate Setting, Maryland Hospital Association, an overview by Betsy Lenhart-Cooksey, Clinical Services Operator, Walden Behavioral Health, on substance abuse, had a tour of the facility, and heard personal testimonies from folks willing to share their life experiences.

At the conclusion of the testimonies, the participants transitioned to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall where they toured and were provided an overview of the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. They also learned of Melwood’s Operation Tohidu program that is helping veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress. The day concluded with a panel discussion on Public and Community Health Issues. The day concluded with Charles County’s Health Officer, Dr. Dianna Abney LSM’15, conducting a certification course on administering Naloxone, which blocks or reverses the effects of opioids. The class interacted with staff at each site as well as many healthcare professionals, and as leaders living in the Southern Maryland area they had the opportunity to discuss the impact challenges and regional opportunities for providing healthcare in our communities and gained awareness of the impact of recent changes to the Affordable Healthcare Act, the role, responsibility and authority of meeting the healthcare needs of a local community, how to improve the healthcare of the community, and the community cost for healthcare. Overall, the class participants were thrilled to be part of Leadership Southern Maryland and the Healthcare session.

Leadership Southern Maryland is designed and dedicated to educate and inspire a diverse group of current and emerging leaders to create collaborations and partnerships to impact the community needs of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties and incorporates a cross-section of the region to include diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity and gender. The Executive Program is nine months in duration and is a tuition-based program.

For more information, please contact the Helen Mattingly Wernecke, Executive Director Leadership Southern Maryland, 240-725-5469 via email helen@leadershipsomd.org or visit devaney.adminprotools.com.

###

Leadership Southern Maryland is an independent, educational leadership development organization designed to broaden the knowledge base of mid- to senior-level public and private sector executives about the critical issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the region. Leadership Southern Maryland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.