UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology celebrated its 10th anniversary with two open house events, one on Friday, November 16 in the Health Education Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, and a second on Tuesday, November 27 in the Conference Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.
In Easton, the event featured a timeline display highlighting the Center’s growth and development since its founding in 2008, a brief program featuring remarks by Ken Kozel, president and CEO, Bayan Mesmar, MD, the Center’s medical director; Tamra Sanders, a longtime patient of the Center; and Trish Rosenberry, regional director, Specialty Clinics, Rosenberry offered special recognition for staff members Michelle Gomez and Carolyn Crist, both of whom have been with the Center since its inception.
Those in attendance, including a host of present and former patients of the Center, enjoyed a food preparation demonstration by Michelle Gomez and Karen Hollis, nurse diabetes educator.
Kozel noted that each year, the Center now provides care to more than 5700 patients and offers 48 three-session Diabetes Self Management programs in Chestertown and Easton. In addition, diabetes nurse educators provide one-on-one nutritional counseling and treatment support, lead monthly support groups in Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton and Easton, and participate in various community health events around the five county region.
“The Center’s 10th Anniversary is certainly an occasion to celebrate – and on behalf of Senior Leadership and our Board members, I thank all of
you who have helped it grow and develop over the past decade and those more recently arrived who are now part of the team,” Kozel said. “Your expertise and dedication are helping UM Shore Regional Health achieve our Vision to Be the Region’s Leader in Patient Centered Care.”
In Chestertown, the Diabetes Support Group welcomed guests for a Wellness open house that featured representatives from local health-related businesses and services. Krista Lamoreaux, of Herbal Alchemy, offered a presentation on holistic approaches to managing Type 2 Diabetes, and representatives of Chestertown Natural Foods, Melaleuca and Fit Flock were on hand to provide information about their wellness services. Figg’s Ordinary Bakery and Cafe provided food samples.
“There was a lot of really useful information presented to the group,” says Chrissy Nelson diabetes nurse educator who leads the support group. “The group appreciated hearing new concepts and strategies for maintaining their best health.”