MedStar St. Mary's Hospital

05/17/2026

Don’t gamble with your heart. 💙 🐎

The smartest bet you can make this season is on your heart health. With our widespread network of expert care close to home, we're here to keep your heart strong to go the distance.

Bet on your best odds—schedule your heart check: http://ms.spr.ly/6189vr2FX.

05/16/2026

Congratulations to Kaitlin Fischer, BSN, RN, our 2026 Nurse of the Year!

Kaitlin is an ICU nurse known for the precision and steadiness she brings to every shift. Her patient rooms are organized, her communication is clear, and her handoffs are thorough, the kind of work that makes the whole care team safer.

But what sets Kaitlin apart is how she meets the hardest moments. She recently cared for an ICU patient who was resistant to essential parts of his treatment. Rather than push, Kaitlin sat down with him, listened to his concerns, and worked to understand the fears keeping him from participating in his care. Through patience and respectful communication, she built trust, and ultimately, the patient agreed to the care he needed. He later shared his appreciation for her kindness and the calm she brought to his bedside.

Kaitlin also supports her colleagues, assisting with the annual skills fair and serving as a preceptor for new ICU nurses.

Thank you, Kaitlin, for the diligence, the patience, and the calm presence you bring to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital every day. This recognition is well earned.

05/15/2026

Your LDL number is a snapshot, but it isn’t the full picture of how lipids can impact your heart health. Dr. Alyssa Zaidi explains why heart health goes beyond a standard cholesterol check.

Discover how advanced biomarkers, and new treatment tools are improving prevention and how you can make changes to prevent a heart attack or stroke before it starts.

Understand heart health beyond LDL. Learn about advanced biomarkers, genetics, and how new treatments can help prevent heart attack and stroke.

05/15/2026

He thought he was walking into a Security staff meeting, but what James Wynn was actually walking into was the announcement that he's our 2026 Associate of the Year!

James is a Security Officer known across our hospital not because of a title, but because of how he shows up. He greets people with a smile, asks how their day is going, and brings positive energy wherever he goes, whether he's supporting the Emergency Department, helping visitors find their way, or stepping in for a teammate who needs a hand.

One patient described James as the unsung hero of the hospital and a breath of fresh air. On her treatment days, James would stop by just to talk, check on her, and encourage her to keep going. Seeing him made her difficult days a little brighter.

That's the kind of impact that doesn't show up in a job description, but it's exactly what makes a hospital feel like a place where people are truly seen.

Congratulations, James, on this well-earned recognition. Thank you for the kindness, the help, and the positivity you bring to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital every single day.

05/15/2026

The mark of a great preceptor is visible in the nurses they precept, and at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, that's a story Liisa Holso, RN, has been writing for years on our Med Surg unit.

Liisa is our 2026 Clinical Preceptor of the Year, recognized for her dedication to teaching the next generation of MSMH nurses. Her nomination came from three colleagues, and they all said the same thing: Liisa is the kind of preceptor every new nurse hopes to have.

She is patient. She allows new grads to adjust at their own speed while gently keeping them moving forward. She offers a safe space to ask questions, and then she offers another one. She actively looks for opportunities to expose her orientees to new experiences, and she stays invested in their growth long after the shift ends.

The result of Liisa's work walks the floor every day: confident, knowledgeable nurses who came off orientation ready for everything that comes next.

Congratulations, Liisa, on this well-earned recognition. The standard of nursing care at MSMH is higher because of the nurses you've helped shape.

05/15/2026

There’s a lot of noise online about perimenopause and menopause. This Women’s Health Month, our Ob/Gyn provider, Dr. Nekia Barrow, shares five facts to help set the record straight.

05/15/2026

Tick bites are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reports they are at their highest level since 2017.

“We have started seeing an uptick in cases in our emergency rooms, with people coming in either with concerns after being bit by a tick or with symptoms that may be concerning for tick-borne illness, such as Lyme disease,” said Emergency Room physician Dr. Chloe McCoy.

Dr. McCoy spoke to WTOP News about what to do if bitten by a tick and whether you should be concerned about contracting a tick-borne illness.

Read the full article in the comments!

05/15/2026

It only takes a few minutes to learn how to save someone’s life. ⏱️

Join our FREE hands-only CPR community training event on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. at the Lexington Park Library.

According to the American Heart Association, CPR performed immediately can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In just a few minutes, you'll learn a skill that could make all the difference for a neighbor, a friend, or a loved one.

Register and see more details using the link in the comments.

05/14/2026

Made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Lynda Carter and the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Foundation, we were pleased to honor Dr. Patrick Jackson as the inaugural endowed chair of surgery. The evening marked a defining investment in the future of surgical innovation and care for our patients—the power of philanthropy at work!

Check out these photos for more highlights from the special event.

Vendors & Partners
Venue: The GeorgeTown Club
Florals: Urban Petals Floral Design
Photography: Gary Landsman
Linens & Rentals: DC Rental

05/14/2026

Meet Kalisha Morgan, our 2026 Cherry Blossom Award recipient!

Kalisha is a CNA on our Med Surg unit, recognized for her excellence in patient care and the meaningful impact she has on the patient experience every shift. Her nomination came from three different colleagues, and they all said the same thing: Kalisha is the one who shows up wherever she's needed.

She assists with patient care across the unit, not just her own assignment. She steps in as unit secretary, sitter, or extra hands for nurse peers. She recognizes patient needs before patients have to ask. And she does it all with the calm, respect, and kindness her colleagues describe seeing every single shift.

Kalisha is also a dedicated mentor, training new staff, participating in councils, and sharing her deep knowledge of the work with new and experienced teammates alike.

Congratulations, Kalisha, on this well-earned recognition. Thank you for the care you bring to every patient and the support you offer every colleague.

05/13/2026

As they approach their 80th birthdays, Margaret and Bert are keeping their aches and pains at bay with expert orthopedic care at MedStar Health Orthopedics at Leonardtown.

Margaret has undergone hip replacement and rotator cuff surgery, while Bert has received nonsurgical care for chronic back pain.

Today, they are grateful for the care they have received and for the support that is helping them feel better and keep doing what they love.

👉 To learn more about their journey, click the link in the comments.