Baltimore County Leader Insight: Laura Riley

Laura Riley, Director, Baltimore County Department of Aging

A Special Interview: February 2023

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Baltimore County Dept. of Aging?

The population is aging. One in four residents of Baltimore County is over the age of 60 and that number continues to grow. Our role becomes more critical than ever to work proactively to help older adults live their best quality of life. Empowering individuals to take control of their health, finances and living environment before they face a crisis is our biggest challenge.

 

How have mental health needs shown up in your work and what are some strategies in place to address it? 

COVID brought its own challenges to what was already an issue of social isolation and loneliness. We have characteristically seen depression and isolation because the aging experience can come with retiring and losing the social network associated with co-workers, deaths of spouses and other relatives, and mobility and health changes. Add to that the times of quarantining and avoiding contact for fear of contracting COVID and we have a major issue.

Our 21 senior centers offer the opportunity for socialization, support groups and educational activities related to life changes and depression. We also offer:

  • Meals served daily at our senior centers and partnering community sites for a chance to dine with friends.
  • Individual counseling services offered through our community partners.
  • A friendly visitor program called HomeTeam, which pairs volunteers of any age with homebound older adults to provide a weekly visit or phone call.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call 410-887-4141.

 

How can leaders support the Department of Aging?

Leaders can support our efforts by collaborating with BCDA to provide programs and services that can enhance the quality of life of our community’s older adults. Additionally, volunteering on our local Senior Center Council Boards or the Commission on Aging to share expertise is invaluable. Leaders can also be sensitive to the needs of their workforce who may be caregiving for an older relative and also offer pre-retirement seminars which focus not just on the financial and benefit elements of retirement but also the future planning of what they will spend their time doing and how to access the Department of Aging programs and services.

Visit our website at baltimorecountymd.gov/aging to see the wealth of opportunities or reach out to me at LRiley@baltimorecountymd.gov.

 

What life experience has most shaped who you are as a leader?

I have worked with many leaders in my 37-year career at Baltimore County. I believe that I gained valuable qualities from each of them. I observed from my many levels in the agency, and developed my own style based on how their leadership made me feel as an employee.

I incorporated what made me feel valued and engaged and avoided what was alienating and disingenuous.  Ultimately, this developed into my servant leadership style.

 

In your opinion, what personal trait is most important to being a good leader and why?

Openness. Openness to different viewpoints, opinions, experiences, traditions and cultures. A good leader has to acknowledge that they are not the smartest or the most creative because they will miss the vast contributions others bring to the table.

Baltimore Area Nonprofits Led by LBC Alumni

Baltimore Area Nonprofits Led by LBC Alumni

During LBC’s 40 year history, many leaders have launched or grown careers in nonprofit organizations. Just as the individuals in the LBC alumni network come from diverse backgrounds, the organizations they represent serve diverse missions. Whether you are passionate about food access, education equity, housing or any number of issues, you are likely to find an LBC alum supporting that mission. The list below includes organizations where LBC alumni work. Please reach out to support them. If you would like an introduction, reach out to LBC staff at info@leadbaltimore.org.
A Step Forward
Aetna
Alzheimer’s Association
American Red Cross, Greater Chesapeake Region
Ascension
AYA Wellness Services LLC
Baltimore Humane Society
Baltimore Hunger Project
Baltimore Medical Systems
Beulah Baptist Institutional Church
BI Inc.
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
Board of Child Care
Building STEPS
Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation
CareFirst
Caroline Freiss Center – Gibbons Commons
CASA of Baltimore County
Catholic Charities
Catholic Relief Services
Center for Eating Disorders
Chesapeake Urology
Cigna
Community Assistance Network (CAN)
Credit Union Foundation Of Maryland & The District of Columbia
Empower4Life
Erickson Senior Living
Fair Havens African Methodist Episcopal Church
Financial Planning Association of Maryland
Generations Family Services
Gilchrist
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc.
Govanstowne Business Association
Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC)
Horizon Day Camp
House of Ruth
Howard Community College
HSI Counseling Services
Humanim
Hunt Valley Church
INNterim Housing Corporation
Integrace Fairhaven
International Association of Black Triathletes
Irvine Nature Center
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
Johns Hopkins Health System
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Junior League of Baltimore
Kaiser Permanente
KRB
LifeBridge – Northwest Hospital
LifeBridge – Sinai Hospital
LifeBridge Health
Maryland Family Network
Maryland Food Bank
Maryland State Education Association
MedStar Family Choice
MedStar Franklin Square Hospital Center
MedStar Health
MetaCoastal
Morgan State University
Mosaic Community Services
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
NAMI-Metropolitan Baltimore
National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland and Delaware
Nativity Cedarcroft
New Covenant Community United Church of Christ
New Pathways
Oldfields School
Opportunity Builder, Inc. (OBI)
Penn-Mar Human Services
Sheppard Pratt Health System
St. Agnes Foundation
St. Elizabeth School
St. James’ Academy
St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center
Stella Maris
The Arc Baltimore
The Best is Ahead Foundation
The Children’s Guild
The Coordinating Center
The Family Tree
The IMAGE Center of Maryland
The Jack and Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center, Inc.
The League for People with Disabilities
The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland
The Mentor Network
The Robert Deutsch Foundation
The Washington Center
Towson University
TurnAround
United Way of Central Maryland
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Choice Program
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)
University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
Urban Teachers
Village Learning Place
Y in Central Maryland
Spectrum Support

Baltimore County Leader Insight: John Hayden

A Special Interview: November 2022

During LBC’s 30th anniversary, I had the pleasure of chairing its Board of Directors. As I reflect on that experience 10 years later, I appreciate how participating in LBC’s signature and alumni programs fostered my enthusiasm for service. In particular, it helped me pursue my philanthropic passion: education.  
 
Over time, I became a school board member, chair of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, and a member of foundation boards at CCBC, Stevenson University and Towson University. These experiences added to my understanding of and dedication to civic leadership as I saw what a tremendous impact volunteers can make in our community. The challenges of each organization are different, but the enthusiasm of those around each cause and organization is refreshing and inspiring.
 
It is a joy to witness LBC alumni living out their philanthropic mission and supporting each other in their civic roles.  Elayne Hettleman, founding President of LBC, embodied that joy in service. She inspired alumni to give their best, and as a classmate once said she could “light a candle from across the room.” That same spark carries on today through 1300+ LBC alumni supporting each other and making a positive impact on our community every day.

Baltimore County Leader Insight: Jeff Morgan

A Special Interview: October 2022

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Baltimore County?

Baltimore County is such a diverse place to live with so much culture and history.  This county has everything you need from entertainment, waterfront attractions, businesses, and sports.  The pandemic has really taken a toll on the economic growth within the county, as it has everywhere, and hindered the ability to effectively attract talent, business growth, and keep people motivated to live here.  A challenge for Baltimore County is keeping our local businesses (both large and small) healthy as well as ensuring that as a county, we can gain momentum despite the increase in inflation and cost of living expenses. Those are factors that can negatively impact the economy here in Baltimore County. We need to utilize Leadership Baltimore County to enhance the partnership and connections with our county leaders to get all voices heard and develop a unified strategy to weather this storm.

Becton Dickinson is the largest medical device manufacturing company in Baltimore County with our Life Sciences business segment headquarters right here in Sparks, Maryland. Leadership Baltimore County has helped connect Becton Dickinson with the community to attract talent for employment, and develop partnerships with local colleges and STEM/PTECH programs to prepare our youth for future employment in an engineering/manufacturing field.  People and talent are the key assets to Becton Dickinson and that foundation starts right here in Baltimore County.  The work that we do in helping people live healthy lives with our Medical Diagnostic Equipment (i.e. our COVID Test kits) brings me great joy knowing that it is all manufactured right here in Baltimore County!

Seeing the success and longevity of this outstanding organization is extremely important to me.  The work that Leadership Baltimore County does to develop leaders, and strategically connect leaders throughout the county all to further improve the lifestyle within the county is nothing short of amazing. I am looking forward to celebrating 40 years of leadership while rolling up my sleeves to ensure many more years to come with a lot more work to do! I am excited to get our LBC alumni together to reconnect, regroup and get them recharged to help make a difference within Baltimore County.  We are living thru unprecedented times and we need to all get-together and rekindle those lost relationships and networks to foster a better Baltimore County.

Starting out in the workforce as a waiter and bartender in multiple high-volume restaurants and bars in New York, I have learned a lot about humility, hard work, and grit in a fast-paced, unforgiving environment.  That service experience, along with my African American and Asian (Filipino) background, makes me the poster child for growing up with diversity in a multicultural background. I was told my background would be a setback growing up, but I have used it to my advantage while working overseas in Asia.  I was able to embrace my Asian culture by setting up multiple manufacturing sites in Asia and using that rich diverse culture and understanding, along with my African American culture, to truly appreciate and respect multiple perspectives and use it as a tool to help motivate and successfully develop cohesive diverse teams. Having the ability to understand and relate to my diverse workforce has helped me become an effective leader globally.

In order to not only be a good leader, but an effectively great leader, you need to take the time to understand your team, the work environment, the community, and how they all interact with each other.  Doing your due diligence to truly understand and listen to your personnel, you will be able to set clear expectations and act as that servant leader to guide and motivate your team to meet the goals. A great leader develops and motivates their team to work together to achieve their goals, and not to direct and dictate what should be done.  Having the ability to get your team motivated to want to serve starts out with ensuring the team is set up with the foundation to be successful.  This is all done by taking the time to enhance your team’s strengths, along with developing a plan to improve on those areas that need work while always being open to learn as a leader yourself.

 

Baltimore County Leader Insight: John Hoey

Baltimore County Leader Insight: John Hoey, The Y in Central Maryland

A Special Interview: August 2022

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Baltimore County?

The challenges facing Baltimore County, and in fact, the whole region, are many, but if I had to pick one, I’d say that it’s the growing income gap and the shrinking middle class. Baltimore County is a wonderfully diverse place, but it’s like so many communities across the state and country. Healthy and thriving communities rely on strong connectivity between neighborhoods, great public schools, and a general sense of well-being across the entirety of the population. That’s becoming more and more of a challenge as so many socio-economic factors are squeezing middle and lower income families out of the American dream that we all grew up believing in and benefiting from. We need to work harder to create a fairer, more equitable and more connected Baltimore County.

 

How does The Y in Central Maryland address the needs of our community?

In short, in so many ways. We focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, and we do that at scale. As such, we work in the areas of early childhood development, community schools, afterschool enrichment, summer camp and enrichment, health and wellness, mentoring and so much more. In the past several years, we have also jumped into the food access arena, working hard to provide access to healthy food for those who are struggling. In all this work, we focus on building an inclusive community and breaking down the barriers that have historically prevented too many people and families from accessing these essential opportunities. To learn more about our mission and work, follow this link: The Y’s Case for Support.

 

How can the community support your work?

Thanks for asking! There are many ways that someone can support the work of the Y.  One way is to become a member of the Y, which I guarantee will be a positive for you and your family. A second way to support our work is to volunteer.  We have many types of volunteer opportunities and many ways to do that, whether it’s through one’s company or individually. For more information, follow this link: https://ymaryland.org/volunteer. Finally, one can donate to support our work. With financial support from the community, we can make anything we do happen. To learn more, follow this link.

 

What life experience has most shaped who you are as a leader?

When I reflect on growing up and going to college, I would say the fact that I needed to be very independent and work early in my life, and the fact that I had to pay for my college tuition myself as our family had a lot of kids and not a lot of extra cash laying around. That made me understand the value of hard work, and the fact that grit is often more important than whether someone went to a “brand-name” school. As I think about my career, the fact that I’ve worked in multiple industries and in both the private sector and in the not-for-profit sector has given me a wider perspective as both a leader and an innovator.

 

In your opinion, what personal trait is most important to being a good leader and why?

There’s undoubtedly more than one important personal trait needed to be a good leader, but in my experience I believe that a great leader is someone who can attract, develop and get the most out of a diverse set of people. Great leaders surround themselves with people who look and think differently than them, and who bring different experiences to bear. As such, one has to realize that there is no one way to lead when one has a diverse team. I think it makes leadership more interesting and gratifying.

Baltimore County Leader Insight: Sam Novey

Baltimore County Leader Insight: Sam Novey, Co-Founder, Baltimore Votes

A Special Interview: July 2022

What is uniquely important about this state primary election?

It’s extraordinarily important that every voter vote in every election they are eligible to vote in. Even if you don’t like the candidates or the race is not super competitive. Politicians and parties use the voter file – the publicly available list of all the registered voters and which elections they’ve voted in – to figure out which voters and communities to prioritize and which folks to ignore. When only some voters and communities show up to vote, it makes our whole community weaker. It leads politicians to overemphasize some issues and ignore others and makes it harder for us to govern ourselves together in a way that respects and benefits everyone. So this election is obviously extremely important because of the many tight races and influential offices on the ballot. But it’s also important just because it’s an election and because everyone’s participation is essential.

 

What is the greatest challenge to fulfill your mission of getting every person in every precinct to vote in every election in Baltimore?

The greatest challenge is building a network of local leaders in each voting precinct who are dedicated to including every single voter in their precinct. It’s hard work to identify those leaders, It’s hard work to support them and resource them in developing plans to do great outreach in their neighborhoods. And it’s particularly hard to sustain and grow their leadership from election to election. But it makes a huge difference. So we go to work at the Baltimore Votes Coalition everyday doing that work of growing our network of community leaders and then supporting and resourcing with everything they need in order to eventually include every voter in their community.

 

How are you inspiring the next generation of leaders in your field?

I had an amazing experience this spring working with students from across the region this spring on a “Democracy Data Science Hack-a-thon” to analyze the Baltimore voter file and provide the local leaders we serve with critical information that can help inform their strategies and message to the community. They produced some amazing products like a precinct turnout dashboard to inform party at the polls hostshistograms of various aspects of Baltimore City Voter dataanalysis of how voter turnout connects with other Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance signals, and visualizations of where civic group have strong membership and where they need to grow. It was so valuable for us to work with these students. I hope they go on to continue bringing their data science skills to the work of building a work inclusive democracy and I know that the work they did with us has already inspired some of the existing leaders in our field to try out new ideas and strategies.

 

What life experience has most shaped who you are as a leader?

I co-founded the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition with Clarissa Unger in 2016. The SLSV Coalition is the national hub & largest nonpartisan network in the country dedicated to increasing student voter participation. Our work over the last seven years to grow and cultivate and steward this community to more than 400 coalition partners with a reach of over 2,000 higher education institutions has taught me so much about the persistence and humility and tenacity required to build power with a constituency.

 

In your opinion, what personal trait is most important to being a good leader and why?

The tenacity to try something new paired with the humility to listen to feedback and the tenacity to keep going in spite of opposition. I guess that is three personal traits? I stand by my answer anyway. Leaders need to be multifaceted!

Join the LBC Team! We are hiring!

Join our small, creative, and dynamic team where your contributions matter. Leadership Baltimore County (LBC) is seeking an administrative professional who is organized, driven and an out-of-the-box thinker to join our team on a full-time basis. Together, we direct an annual community leadership program and alumni activities.

Highly motivated, detail-oriented, self-starters who thrive in a team environment are encouraged to apply.

Email resume and cover letter detailing how you are qualified to info@leadbaltimore.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. LBC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Administrative Specialist

BACKGROUND: Leadership Baltimore County, Inc. (LBC) is a federally recognized, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1983. LBC’s mission is to bring high achievers with diverse perspectives together to heighten their civic awareness, enhance their organizational effectiveness and become a driving force for positive change in their workplace and Baltimore County as a whole.

Our mission is achieved through two core programs: Signature and Alumni. Our Signature Program explores the challenges and opportunities facing Baltimore County in monthly day-long sessions from September through June. The hallmarks of our sessions are: (1) engaging dialogues with the movers, shakers, and decision-makers in Baltimore County; and (2) experiential activities in and out of the “classroom.” Topics examined may include economic development, education, public safety, social services, Baltimore County government, Maryland State government, transportation, healthcare, civic engagement, regionalism, diversity, and the environment. Upon graduating from the ten-month program, LBC alumni engage in the community by taking on leadership roles with nonprofit and community organizations, and/or government advisory boards or task forces. Our Alumni Program provides ongoing learning and engaging activities for its alumni of approximately 1,200 individuals.

Position descriptions are a general depiction of assignments. Since LBC has a small staff and an extensive array of tasks, our team is flexible and expects to be called upon in a variety of ways that cannot always be anticipated in the position description.

CULTURE: LBC has a small staff of three full-time employees. We work closely together, collaborating and communicating daily. We value systems thinking (viewing each of our projects as they fit with our current strategies and projects, organizational mission, the needs in our region, and the greater good), critical thinking (challenging the status quo and supporting continual improvement), and courageous authenticity (speaking up for what you believe.)

JOB OBJECTIVE: To ensure that all of LBC’s administrative functions run efficiently, effectively, and accurately using appropriate technology and project management systems.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Directly reports to the President/CEO.

CLASSIFICATION: This is a full-time, non-exempt position.

SCHEDULE: In addition to regular responsibilities, support is required at in-person events including an overnight retreat in September, monthly Retreat Days from October through June, and alumni events which may occur in the mornings or evenings. Some job functions may be performed remotely.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide all administrative support across all aspects of the organization.

Data Management

  • Oversee continual quality improvement of the CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) system (Salesforce) by initiating new procedures, fields, and functions as needed and connecting staff with training resources.
  • Create and monitor monthly dashboards utilizing existing reports and forms
  • Maintain the database and email marketing platform (Salesforce and Mailchimp) with up-to-date information on class members, alumni, dues, events, donors, stakeholders, etc.
  • Research contact information for all various stakeholders
  • Create ad hoc reports, as needed
  • Maintain online member directory

Signature Program

  • Arrange for all candidate interviews upon receiving online applications
  • Schedule alumni to serve as interviewers
  • Prepare and distribute applications and other necessary documents to all interviewers
  • Collect candidate rating sheets after interviews
  • Create and send acceptance packets to new class members
  • Ensure receipt of and maintain all documents new class members must sign and remit
  • Identify and manage the booking of the opening retreat venue
  • Prepare class roster and binders for Opening Retreat
  • Order meals and refreshments for all events as needed (i.e., Information Breakfasts, Retreat Days, Center Stage event, alumni events, etc.)
  • Provide event management support for Retreat Days such as securing space, preparing name tags and signage, packing supplies, supporting health and safety protocols, arranging transportation, creating online evaluations, creating thank you letters for speakers, etc.
  • Attend Retreat Days, manage registration and catering, assist with note taking and photography
  • Select, order, and prepare commencement gifts for class members

Alumni Program

  • Manage alumni and public events as needed, including developing and managing event planning timelines, promoting events through social media, tracking registration, and providing reports to the Alumni Engagement Committee
  • Compile reports on each event and record attendance in Salesforce
  • Coordinate alumni membership campaign
  • Create or update cover letter
  • Create invoices
  • Generate mailing lists
  • Utilize Salesforce to send email reminders
  • Track payments in the database, QuickBooks, and best class ever spreadsheet

Fund Development & Financial

  • Prepare invoices for sponsors, tuition, and board pledges
  • Create thank you letters for donors
  • Enter transactions in QuickBooks, reconcile bank and investment accounts monthly
  • Prepare monthly financial statement reports for President & CEO
  • Assist with sponsorship solicitations for Retreat Days, alumni events, and Commencement/All Class Reunion
  • Assist with recruitment, as needed
  • Provide accounting firm with the documentation needed to prepare year-end financials and 990

Board and Committees

  • Send calendar invitations to all board members each new calendar year
  • Prepare and distribute board packets one week before each meeting
  • Prepare and update electronic board binders annually
  • Schedule new board member orientation meetings
  • Ensure receipt of and maintain all documents board members must sign and remit
  • Schedule Zoom meetings for virtual board meetings and secure location for in-person meetings
  • Order food and provide administrative support for an annual board retreat
  • Provide logistical support for committee meetings, as requested

Other

  • Order office supplies
  • Create weekly staff meeting agendas

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Proven ability in database management / CRM systems, preferably Salesforce
  • Knowledge and experience with bookkeeping and financial management
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
  • Demonstrated flexibility and excellent organizational skills
  • Ability to pay close attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy
  • Effective written, verbal, and listening communications skills
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments, set priorities, meet goals and deadlines, and adapt to changing conditions
  • Ability to set and adhere to high standards
  • Respect and appreciation for diverse perspectives as well as a sensitivity to those who may be “different” than you
  • Ability to find solutions to problems using creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources
  • Ability to work well independently as well as part of a team
  • Ability to exercise initiative, good judgment, and discretion
  • Ability to plan activities and programs such as meetings, orientations, retreats
  • Ability to work a variable schedule on occasion, including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends for scheduled meetings and events

 

Well-rounded leaders understand healthcare trends and effects

Class of 2022 shown in individual screens on ZoomLeadership Baltimore County Class of 2022 examines the health of our community

More than two years into a global pandemic, we have had a crash course in how critically healthcare underpins society and has far-reaching effects on everything from the economy to education. For those working in healthcare or dealing with a personal medical condition, the topic is always front and center. For others, the impact of health care on our daily lives can be more subtle, even hidden.

Leadership Baltimore County regularly asks its classes to take a closer look at healthcare. As leaders in our community, a deeper understanding of healthcare helps shape better public policy, business decisions, social justice and the future of the greater Baltimore region.

It’s a massive topic to tackle in a single day. Sponsored by CareFirst, the LBC Class of 2022 brought in healthcare experts to provide their perspectives, including Dr. Gregory Branch, director of Health and Human Services for Baltimore County, Pothik Chatterjee, AVP Innovation & Operations Support at LifeBridge Health; Emily Durfee, director of Strategy & Portfolio Acceleration at Healthworx, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Sarah Kachur, executive director of Population Health Analytics, Strategy and Solutions at Johns Hopkins Healthcare Solutions; and Jill Degraff, vice president of Regulatory of b.well Connected Health. Their insights were invaluable.

Dr. Branch focused on how effective leadership in times of crisis begins by planning in times of stability, before you get to the crisis like a pandemic.  It means building a skeleton infrastructure in advance, testing organization-wide communication systems and having a strong team that can all adapt to any crisis that arises.

Dr. Branch speaks on Zoom“I really appreciated Dr. Branch’s enthusiasm, knowledge and dedication,” said one class member.

Pothik Chatterjee, talked about the need to explore new ways of getting health care messages to people, sharing an example of partnering with barber shops to deliver health information and leveraging technology to reduce emergency re-admissions. The approach helped LifeBridge clearly imagine how innovation can impact wellness in our community.

Emily Durfee, Jill Degraff and Sarah Kucher all talked about the revolution in data analytics that illuminate new approaches and help people get to care with as little friction as possible. While data creates insights, it is critical that healthcare organizations invest in building trust and transparency with patients and communities.

Class participants were also able to virtually tour the emergency department of the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. In Maryland, there is a unique approach to the economics of healthcare, rewarding hospitals to take a more active role in preventative health measures designed to deliver care that keeps people with recurring conditions out of emergency rooms.

The state’s global hospital budget model sets the prices hospitals can charge, also known as all-payer rate setting. Maryland has also capped how much health spending can grow overall, including hospital revenue.

Four speakers (one man and three women) speak to class in individual Zoom screens.Although unique in the U.S., it is a more common model worldwide. It is designed to contain healthcare costs. Hospitals in Maryland are incentivized by treating the condition, rather than full waiting rooms.

While the model’s effectiveness is still under evaluation, LBC classes are made aware of the unique system in our state — a critical starting point in conversations on rising costs, healthcare workforce development, health insurance policy and treatment innovations.

The class also examined how social factors determine the quality of a person’s health. Social determinants like income level, race, and where you live are all factors.  Poor environmental conditions, access to clean water and nutritious food sources, and proximity to quality health care institutions shape health.

Ryan Mihalic, LBC ’18, of CareFirst said the healthcare insurer is aiming to create fair opportunity for people to be as healthy as possible. They are working more on understanding and addressing social determinants of health.

To examine this topic, LBC ’22 class members adopted personas with different social determinants to better understand challenges they might face in getting treatment for cancer. They looked at differences in access to transportation, distance from healthcare, and access to funds/insurance as factors in treatment.

The LBC health care session was a chance for leaders to build a deeper understanding of this critical topic, hear from local experts, understand how healthcare interconnects with other issues, and even try to experience another person’s journey to better inform their own.

Congratulations to the Heatlh Care Day Planning Team for putting together such an engaging day:

Credit: Guest writer Aaron Koos, LBC ’21, with BGE.

Baltimore County Leader Insight: Pothik Chatterjee

A special interview: February 2022

Pothik Chatterjee serves as the AVP at LifeBridge Health, overseeing the Innovation & Operations Support, which has received multiple awards including Becker’s Top 40 programs and Corporate Innovation of the Year from Technical.Ly Baltimore. His scope includes oversight of operations in digital health, patient access and biomedical research. His team manages digital health and research partnerships with payers, pharmaceuticals and biotech companies. He also manages the LifeBridge Health & CareFirst Innovation Fund and the upcoming Innovation Center in Baltimore.

Before LifeBridge, Pothik co-founded Brigham Innovation Hub at Partners Healthcare where he also supported ambulatory growth and network development for the Brigham Physicians’ Organization in Boston. Pothik completed his MBA at Harvard Business School, his MA from Johns Hopkins University and graduated from Georgetown University with honors. Pothik was selected to the Baltimore Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list in 2019.

 

How is LifeBridge leading innovation in healthcare?

LifeBridge Health has an illustrious history of innovation, dating back to 1969 when Dr. Morton Mower met Dr. Michel Mirowski at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. Together, they co-invented the Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, now implanted in well over 300,000 patients. The ICD monitors and corrects abnormal heart rhythms and is 99% effective in treating sudden cardiac interest.

Today, LifeBridge is leading innovation in healthcare in several areas – including health technology (with our 1501 Health incubator and investment program for early stage digital health startups), biomedical innovation (our LifeBridge Health BioIncubator at Sinai Hospital) and community health programs like our Community Mobile Clinic that provides Covid vaccines for vulnerable communities in West Baltimore.

 

How do you think technology is changing the relationship between patients and providers?

Technology has progressed at a remarkably rapid pace, with the rise of automation, AI and machine learning, and those developments are transforming healthcare delivery and how patients access care and monitor their healthcare symptoms, medications and treatment plans. The pandemic led to a historic acceleration in telemedicine and in our “new normal” we are seeing a hybrid of in-person and virtual visits, particular for lower acuity and chronic conditions. Patients expect digital services in healthcare, whether it’s for online scheduling, finding providers or communication post-discharge through a mobile app for follow-up appointments and automated reminders.

Now that our electronic medical records are digitized, I see tremendous opportunities through harnessing automation and predictive analytics on data to deliver insights that can lead to earlier detection and diagnosis. At LifeBridge Health, we used RAPID technology to use AI to quickly analyze the CT and MRI scans of patients having acute strokes to optimize patient selection for transfer and thrombectomy, reducing “speed to decision” time to generally less than two minutes.

 

How are you inspiring the next generation of healthcare advocates and front line workers?

Sometimes the best ideas and inspiration for healthcare innovation come from other industries! One example is Even Health, a mental wellness startup in our 1501 Health program, that initially focused on the U.S. military. They developed Cabana, a digital counseling platform designed for anonymous group support in a virtual reality (VR) setting. Over time, they found that mental health and wellness were also major needs for providers on the front lines, particularly as we enter the third year of the global Covid pandemic and increasing levels of provider burnout and mental stress. Cabana was introduced to LifeBridge Health employees in January 2022 and it is truly inspiring to see how Cabana is helping to reduce the stigma of therapy and mental health for providers at a crucial time.

 

What life experience has most shaped who you are as a leader?

The intersection of several life experiences have shaped me as a leader. As an immigrant son of an Indian family that lived across three continents before settling in the United States, I have learned to be adaptable, adventurous and appreciate both cultural differences and the common values that bind us together as human beings like integrity, honesty and teamwork. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, I learned about leadership from my early days at Georgetown University undergrad, marching with the Human Rights Campaign for Pride in Washington D.C. and advocating for equality for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities in a Catholic setting.

I am passionate about healthcare innovation and adopting a mindset where we strive to understand and incorporate the perspective of diverse patients and vulnerable populations that have been underserved historically. The pandemic brought to light some of these longstanding inequities here in the United States, and my hope is that we can help to reduce the digital divide and promote healthcare access and care for all members of our communities.

 

In your opinion, what personal trait is most important to being a good leader and why?

Humility – the wiliness to learn and grow from each experience. I am a strong proponent of the Servant Leader philosophy and I am indebted to our fantastic Innovation team at LifeBridge Health and all our collaborators within the health system and the Baltimore ecosystem that help us tackle complex challenges with a creative mindset, and stay true to our mission to improve care for our patients.

 

Class of 2022’s Behind-the-Scenes Virtual Tour of Emergency Department

Students from the Class of 2022 participate in a virtual tour through Zoom.In preparation for the upcoming Health Care Day on Feb. 9, the LBC Class of 2022 took a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of UM St. Joseph Medical Group’s Emergency Department.

Nurse Manager Beth Nash shared many insights with the class. For example, the ED sees about 130 people each day and that the ED opened a Flex Care Unit in January 2020 to better serve behavioral health needs.

The ED staff is committed and compassionate, but needs the help of our community leaders to meet the ever-growing demand. Some of the ED’s immediate needs include:

  • Support for patients with autism, such as referrals for bed placement and in-home resources
  • Training for hospital security personnel
  • Training for clinical staff on personal safety
  • Psychiatry student rotations
  • Advocate for more pediatric services of all types
  • Child life specialist volunteers
  • Video games, books, puzzles, games, crayons
  • Group and individual counseling for clinical staff

If you or your company can help with any of the ED needs, please contact Beth Nash at bethna@umm.edu.

Let’s see our LBC alumni network in action!