Octavia Peterson Promoted to Director of Community First Programs

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Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center is excited to announce that Octavia Peterson, MSA, MPH from Prince George’s County has been promoted to Director, Community First Programs (CFP). As CFP Director, Ms. Peterson will provide oversight of The Center’s supports planning services for more than 3,500 Marylanders statewide, enrolled in one of Maryland Medicaid’s Home and Community Based Services Programs (HCBS) and/or Waiver. HCBS enable people with disabilities and older adults to live at home and/or transition from nursing homes to homes in the community.

Previously, Ms. Peterson served as Director, Wellness and Independence for Seniors at Home (WISH) program, which aimed to reduce avoidable hospital use for adults 65+ living in Montgomery and parts of Prince George’s County. The Center was contracted by the Nexus Montgomery Regional Partnership initiative, to provide coaching and care coordination services for WISH participants. The program recently ended in June due to lack of funding.

Ms. Peterson has more than 10 years of Public Health and management experience. Prior to the joining The Center, Ms. Peterson served as the Director of Population and Community Health with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital, Health Educator Manager for Inova Juniper Program with PA/mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center, and held other positions in public health with several agencies, such as the Maryland Department of Health, American Nurses Association, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“Ms. Peterson’s passion for the mission, commitment to person-centered care and proven track record of excellence in community based services will continue to position The Center as a leader in home and community based services” Teresa Titus-Howard, President and CEO.

The Coordinating Center Promotes R. Colby Bearch to Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer Sears to Chief Information Officer, and Renée Dain to Sr. Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs

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Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center, Maryland’s statewide, premier nonprofit care coordination organization for children and adults with disabilities and complex needs, is excited to announce

Mr. R. Colby Bearch, BA, MA-SF, MA-M, RN, CDONA, has been promoted from Senior Vice President, Quality and Outcomes Management to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Mr. Bearch brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare administration and has been with The Coordinating Center since 2011. As COO, Mr. Bearch will continue to oversee The Coordinating Center’s Quality Improvement and Outcomes Management Division and serve as the Corporate Compliance Officer. Mr. Bearch will lead The Center’s Corporate Compliance Program, ensure on-going organizational adherence to contract and regulatory standards, lead the First-Impressions Team, and manage facilities. Mr. Bearch has substantial clinical management experiences in critical care, acute care, subacute care, long-term care and population health arenas in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Mr. Bearch has a Master’s Degree in Management, and is a certified Director of Nursing Administration/Long-term care (CDONA), The National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care.

Ms. Jennifer Sears, MS, has been promoted from Vice President, Project Management & Communications to Chief Information Officer (CIO). Ms. Sears brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofits, healthcare organizations and information technology and has been with The Coordinating Center since 2013. Ms. Sears will continue to direct, manage and execute senior level project management services related to new business, technologies, and infrastructure. As CIO and the Corporate Security Officer, Ms. Sears will oversee The Center’s Information Services (IS) Division, providing oversight of The Center’s information technology and computer systems, as well as manage all related subcontracts. Ms. Sears has her Master’s Degree in Applied Information Technology, and has participated in Georgetown University’s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program.

Ms. Renée Dain, MSW, MA-AS has been promoted from Vice President, Business Development and Social Innovation to Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs. Ms. Dain brings more than 15 years of nonprofit management experience related to health and human services. As the Sr. Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs, Ms. Dain works closely with The Center’s President/CEO on all aspects of The Coordinating Center’s business development and fundraising efforts, and serves as the Board of Directors Liaison. Presently, The Center is expanding care coordination services for people with developmental disabilities, and will soon be a provider of Coordination of Community Services for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. Ms. Dain also leads The Center’s Marketing and Communications Team, and supports The Center’s legislative and public policy agenda. Ms. Dain has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Management of Aging Services.

All three of these highly talented individuals have an exceptional record at succeeding in whatever they are asked to do. I know they will do just as exceptionally well in their new roles. I am so pleased and fortunate to work with such a strong leadership team at TCC that is committed to our mission, vision and values as an organization every day, commented Teresa Titus-Howard, PhD, MHA, MSW, President and CEO of TCC.

 

Teresa Titus-Howard Named President/CEO of The Coordinating Center

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Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center, Maryland’s statewide, premier nonprofit care coordination organization for children and adults with disabilities and complex needs, is excited to announce Teresa Titus-Howard, PhD, MHA, MSW, as its next President/CEO. Dr. Titus-Howard will succeed Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, who retired at the end of May after 35 years with the organization.

Dr. Titus-Howard joins The Coordinating Center with more than 25 years of health care delivery experience, with extensive expertise in consumer advocacy, public-private partnerships, policy, payment reform, clinical expertise, and compliance oversight. Recently, Dr. Titus Howard was Vice President, Federal Health Management and Solutions at Telligen, Inc., where she oversaw federal health contracts for the organization.  She is a well-respected leader in the areas of performance measurement and quality improvement, learning and action networks, and healthcare innovation drawing from her prior experience with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) where she co-founded the Learning and Diffusion Group for CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center (CMMI) and led the reorganization of the Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) program for CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality Improvement Group.

“After a comprehensive search process and thorough succession plan, the Board of Directors is pleased to have chosen the best individual to assume leadership of The Coordinating Center,” said Tom H. Hall, chairman of The Coordinating Center’s Board of Directors. “Teresa has a proven track record of advancing the health care delivery experience, with strong leadership in advancing public-private partnership. This combined with her dedication to community, quality and outcomes management make Teresa uniquely qualified to lead The Coordinating Center successfully into the future.”

Photo courtesy of Jason Putsche Photography.

The Coordinating Center Appoints New Board Members

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The Coordinating Center is pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Andrey Ostrovsky, Carole Lowe-Nedab, and Naftali Rabinowitz to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Andrey Ostrovsky is a practicing physician at Children’s National Health System, a health policy leader, and social entrepreneur. Dr. Ostrovsky has held prominent positions including Chief Medical Officer of CMS and CHIP Services, and has led teams at the World Health Organization, United States Senate, and San Francisco Health Department toward strengthening health systems through technology. Dr. Ostrovsky has contributed to legislation at the local and national level to advance care delivery for vulnerable populations. Dr. Ostrovsky is a published researcher in public health informatics, quality improvement, healthcare innovation, social entrepreneurship, and care coordination.

Carole Lowe-Nedab is a Budget Manager in the Office of Management and Budget for Prince George’s County. She serves as the lead for the County’s Enterprise Resource Planning Program implementation. As a parent of two children, one of whom had special healthcare needs, Ms. Lowe-Nedab understands the importance of care coordination services for children and their families.  In memory of her daughter, Kendal Sophia Nedab, she established the KSN Foundation.  Because of her compassion for others, the foundation will provide support to those seeking to develop the character of youth beyond academics.

Naftali Rabinowitz, our consumer representative, is a passionate advocate for children with special healthcare needs. Mr. Rabinowitz currently studies Jewish Rabbinic Law at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore and during his free time volunteers for Kids of Courage, a nonprofit organization that helps children with chronic disabilities to have the opportunity to travel. As a young adult born with Spina Bifida, Naftali is passionate in helping  children achieve their goals.

The Coordinating Center’s board members serve a three-year term.

Benjamin P. Peck Named Program Director of Wellness and Independence for Seniors at Home (WISH)

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The Coordinating Center is excited to announce that Benjamin P. Peck, PhD, is the Program Director for the Wellness and Independence for Seniors at Home (WISH) program.

Mr. Peck brings 18 years of healthcare experience to The Coordinating Center. As the Program Director of WISH, Mr. Peck will oversee a team of health coaches, registered nurses, and coordination specialists. WISH is part of the Nexus Montgomery Regional Partnership and aims to reduce avoidable hospital use by working with individuals age 65 and older, who live independently in Montgomery and parts of Prince George’s counties and are in jeopardy of declining health.

Prior to the joining The Coordinating Center, Mr. Peck was a Project Director for Discern Health in Baltimore and a member of the Executive Committee for the Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County’s Board of Directors. Mr. Peck holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of California, Berkley and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He resides in Rockville with his family.

The Coordinating Center Celebrates 35 Years of Abilities

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In honor of The Coordinating Center’s 35th year anniversary, coworkers will participate in The Center’s Year of Service initiative. Renée Dain, VP, Business Development and Social Innovation and initiative organizer said, “Finding time to give back to the community and to make new connections has been proven to improve not only the lives of others, but your own life as well. By volunteering with coworkers in our local community, we will promote team building and have the opportunity to put The Center’s values into action.”

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The Coordinating Center Helps Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

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Thanks to donations from coworkers and CenterFlix attendees, The Coordinating Center created 183 care bags for individuals experiencing homelessness. Coworkers will be distributing these bags to individuals throughout the state during the winter months.

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