Shore Regional Health

11/17/2025

Congratulations to Lisa Cleary (left) and Michele Eustace (right), on being named Team Members of the Month for September 2025!

Michele Eustace, shown at left, was nominated by Rebecca Lewis under the UMMS Value, Excellence. Lewis wrote:
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"Michele, thank you for your dedication to your patient and family members struggling to deal with a difficult prognosis. Taking the time to really talk to them and meet them where they were at really demonstrated your compassion as a nurse."

Lisa Cleary, shown at right, was nominated by Sandy Prochaska under the UMMS Value, Excellence. Prochaska wrote:

"Thank you, Lisa, for going out of your way to ensure clear communication on processes and ensuring everyone is aware of new contact information."
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Congratulations, Lisa and Michele!

11/14/2025

Join us for our December Childbirth and Parent Education Programs!

11/12/2025

The Dorchester Shore Community Outreach Team (SCOT) recently welcomed Connie Coffman (far right) to the team as a community health advocate.

A resident of Dorchester County, Coffman brings more than 23 years of experience in population health services to the team and is fluent in Spanish as well as English. Most recently, she served as a domestic violence case manager for the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence.

Coffman joins nurse coordinator Rochalla Jones, social worker Jessica Wise and community health advocate Courtney Thomas on the team, which visits community sites to provide health screenings and information to Dorchester County residents. They also provide home visits and safety assessments; case management for those with chronic illness; group wellness activities; assistance in connecting patients with their providers via telehealth; and assistance with completing health-related paperwork.

To schedule an appointment or visit, or to learn more, call 443-225-7545 or email dorchestershorecommunityoutreach@umm.edu.

Welcome, Connie!

11/11/2025

Nov. 9-15 marks Nurse Practitioner Week.

For more than 60 years, nurse practitioners (NPs) have been providing primary, acute and specialty health care to millions of patients across the lifespan. NPs evaluate patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, write prescriptions and bring a comprehensive perspective to health care in nearly 1 billion patient visits each year, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®

Thank you, Shore Regional Health NPs, for everything you do to provide expert, comprehensive care to our community! SRH employs over 60 NPs in 20 specialties: Breast Center, Cardiology, Emergency Department, Endocrinology, ENT, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, OB GYN, Pain Management, Palliative Care, Pediatrics, Primary Care, Psychiatry, Pulmonary Care, Radiation Oncology, Urology, and Wound Care.

“Our NPs are trusted voices in our community – delivering expert care across the five-county region,” said Wendy Towers, NP, UM SMG Neurosurgery and Chair, Advanced Practice Provider Council. “Over the past several decades, NPs have become core to meeting healthcare needs nationwide and at Shore, we are grateful to have such a dedicated group of professionals.”

11/11/2025

Today, we pause to recognize the courage, sacrifice, and service of all who have worn our nation’s uniform. At UM Shore Regional Health, we are grateful for our veteran patients, team members, and community who remind us every day what it means to serve with strength and compassion.

Join us in showing appreciation — share a message of thanks in the comments below and tag a veteran who inspires you.

11/10/2025

Coming up this week! Please join us!

11/07/2025

Congratulations to our July 2025 DAISY nurse, Antoinette (Toni)Jackson, MSN, RN, who was nominated by fellow team member Emily Uyttewaal. The nomination read:

“Toni personifies what it means to be a DAISY nurse. Her remarkable personality shines through every patient, family and coworker interaction. I have worked with Toni for over 15 years, and her embodiment of our core values never wavers.... In the short amount of time that that we have to establish a valued patient/family connection, Toni makes her patients and families’ fears and worries lessen, while making our busy lives as a nurse look easy. ... Her compassion sparkles for her patients and her coworkers ... Her vast knowledge as a senior clinical nurse II, First Assist, global chair, unit-based council representative and board-certified O.R nurse, enables her provide excellent care for our unique patient population.... "

11/06/2025

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH) Pulmonary Care team is pleased to announce the addition of physician Andrew Pajak, DO, and nurse practitioner Melissa Eigenbrode, MSN, RN, CRNP, to the team. Dr. Pajak will also be providing critical care services to the Intensive Care Unit at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

Dr. Pajak and Eigenbrode will provide specialized care for patients with pulmonary and respiratory conditions, working closely with primary care providers and specialists to manage chronic lung disease, critical illness, and other respiratory concerns. Eigenbrode will also manage UM Shore Regional Health’s Lung Cancer Screening Program.

UM Shore Regional Health’s Lung Cancer Screening Program offers early detection and comprehensive support for individuals at high risk for lung cancer, including current and former smokers. The program uses low-dose CT scans to identify lung changes before symptoms appear and provides follow-up care, education, and coordination with specialists as needed. Under the leadership of Eigenbrode, the program emphasizes personalized care, patient education and proactive management, helping patients take charge of their lung health while improving outcomes through early intervention.

"We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Eigenbrode and Dr. Andrew Pajak to our Pulmonary Care team," said Timothy Shanahan, DO, medical director of UM Shore Medical Group. "Their exceptional expertise in pulmonary and critical care medicine, combined with their compassion and dedication to patients, will strengthen our ability to provide advanced, personalized care across the Eastern Shore. Melissa and Dr. Pajak are committed to guiding patients through every stage of their pulmonary health journey, improving outcomes, and helping our community breathe easier and live healthier lives."

Dr. Pajak completed his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Tower Health Reading Hospital in Reading, Pa., and an internal medicine residency at ChristianaCare-Sidney Kimmel Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Newark, Del. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and Bachelor of Science in microbiology from University of Maryland in College Park. He has conducted research in areas including asthma biologic therapy, vaping-related lung injury, and severe COVID-19 respiratory failure, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. He is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine. He has an interest in interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis, asthma and critical care medicine.

Eigenbrode is a certified registered nurse practitioner with extensive experience in pulmonary, cardiac, and gastroenterology care. She has worked as a respiratory therapist, in emergency and urgent care facilities, as well as in hospital-based specialty clinics such as cardiopulmonary fitness and wellness, and in community wellness programs as a transitional nurse navigator. She most recently served as a clinical preceptor for University of Maryland nursing students and a nurse practitioner with UM Shore Medical Group-Gastroenterology.

She received her post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Wilmington University in New Castle, Del., her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Clinical Nurse Specialist in Health Promotion and Wellness from Wesley College, in Dover, Del., her Associate degree in Nursing from Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, and her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care from Salisbury State University.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with UM Shore Medical Group–Pulmonary Care, call 410-822-0110 or visit umshoreregional.org/pulmonarycare.

Welcome, Dr. Pajak and Melissa Eigenbrode, NP!

11/05/2025

For the tenth consecutive year, the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton’s Primary Stroke Center has received recognition from the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) with the Get With The Guidelines®- Rural Stroke Gold and Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, which recognize quality achievement.

These achievements highlight UM SRH’s commitment to providing the most effective stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence and its dedication to prioritizing quality care for stroke patients.

"It’s an honor to lead the Primary Stroke Center, where I witness the incredible dedication of our team," said M. Walid Kamsheh, MD, the center’s medical director. "Being recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association highlights the tireless work of everyone involved — from our EMS partners in the community to our Emergency Department, neurology, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, and nursing teams. These awards reflect not only our commitment to providing state-of-the-art, patient-centered stroke care but also inspire us to continue advancing treatment, embracing innovation, and improving outcomes. Together, through collaboration and dedication, we give every patient the best possible chance for survival and recovery, and we are proud to serve our communities in this vital mission."

To honor team members and departments who play a key role in working with the Primary Stroke Center, members of the senior leadership team and other UM SRH stroke care leaders delivered the good news and doughnuts to several departments, including the Intensive Care Unit, Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Telemetry and Emergency Medicine.

UM Shore Medical Center at Easton was designated as a Primary Stroke Center in 2007. A Primary Stroke Center designation is given by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems when standards are met to support better outcomes for stroke care. Certification standards include having a dedicated program staffed 24/7 by specially trained medical professionals who provide fast diagnostic services and optimal stroke care.

According to the American Heart Association, in 2022, there were 453 deaths from stroke each day in the United States, totaling approximately 165,000 deaths for the year, which equates to about one in every six deaths from cardiovascular disease being due to stroke. UM Shore Regional Health continues to provide stroke care to approximately 600 patients annually.

Additional information about the Primary Stroke Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton can be found at UMShoreRegional.org/stroke

Congratulations, team!

11/04/2025

11/03/2025

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) and UM Shore Medical Group-Cardiology (UM SMG) recently announced the addition of interventional cardiologist Bishesh Shrestha, MD, to the team.

Dr. Shrestha will provide advanced interventional cardiology care for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions, working closely with primary care providers and specialists to manage coronary artery disease, structural heart disease, arrhythmia, and other heart-related concerns. He brings expertise in minimally invasive procedures, including pericardiocentesis and complex coronary interventions, with a focus on patient safety, precision and individualized care.

"Dr. Shrestha’s exceptional training, research experience, and compassionate approach to patient care make him a valuable addition to our Cardiology team," said Timothy Shanahan, DO, medical director of UM Shore Medical Group. "His advanced procedural skills and dedication to improving cardiovascular outcomes will strengthen our ability to provide cutting-edge, personalized care to patients across the Eastern Shore."

Dr. Shrestha completed his interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., and a cardiovascular disease fellowship at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. He also completed his internal medicine residency at Bassett Medical Center and earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree (MBBS) from International Medical College in Bangladesh. Dr. Shrestha is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and echocardiography, and is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Shrestha has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles in areas including transcatheter valve interventions, arrhythmia and coronary artery disease. He is also passionate about teaching and mentoring future health care professionals.

Fluent in English, Nepali, Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu, Dr. Shrestha is committed to connecting with patients from diverse backgrounds and providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care.

Welcome, Dr. Shrestha!

10/31/2025

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, meet Dr. Kathryn Kelley, MD, who now serves as Medical Director of the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center at UM SRH.

Now, the new breast surgical oncologist at UM Shore Regional Health’s Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, Dr. Kelley steps into the role formerly held by the beloved Dr. Roberta Lilly for many years.

Leading a team that serves five Eastern Shore counties, she provides a comprehensive range of services, from early detection to reconstructive options.

In this conversation, she reflects on how far breast cancer care has come, why early diagnosis matters more than ever, and what it means to help patients move from fear to recovery—without having to cross the Bridge for world-class care.

Dr. Kathryn Kelley didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in medicine. The daughter of a teacher and a businessman, she found her way to surgery by following her curiosity—first toward science, then toward people. A Philadelphia native and Temple University graduate, she began her career as a colle...