- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) has partnered with Sheppard Pratt Health System to lead the expansion of AAMC’s behavioral health services and address the growing need for accessible, high-quality mental health and addiction services in Anne Arundel County and its surrounding communities. Sheppard Pratt and AAMC have selected Rod L. Kornrumpf, FACHE, to serve as vice president of behavioral health at AAMC to help lead the management of the new 16-bed mental health hospital, partial hospitalization program, and Pathways business operations. Kornrumpf will also help oversee the associated clinics, facilities, and staff. He previously served as the regional executive director for behavioral health for the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health/Union Hospital joint partnership. “The partnership with Sheppard Pratt reflects our commitment to bringing the best resources to our community,” said Sherry B. Perkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of AAMC. “Sheppard Pratt has been a trusted resource of ours for many years, and we look forward to partnering with them to meet the growing behavioral health needs in our community.” “The mental health needs in our communities continue to grow with each passing year. Ensuring greater access to mental health and addiction services is a priority for our health system,” said Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System. “We are pleased to collaborate with Anne Arundel Medical Center to oversee the expansion of their behavioral health services and provide the necessary expertise and resources to meet the unique needs of those in the community and deliver quality care.” “Few health care needs are more misunderstood than those involving mental health,” said Kornrumpf. “Through the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, we are not only increasing critically needed mental health services in the region, but we are signaling a new era in which mental health is recognized as essential to overall health and is a true health care priority. I’m honored to be a part of this legacy.” The behavioral health services offered in the new mental health hospital will include: inpatient mental health care, a psychiatric partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient programs, residential and outpatient substance use services, and referral and care coordination to community-based treatment and support services.0
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogEating has a big impact on your heart health. In fact, eating healthier can improve several of your heart risks at once. For instance, it helps you manage weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. Getting to know your fats is a great first step toward heart healthy eating. Did you know that there are numerous types of fat? Your body makes its own fat from taking in excess calories. Some fats are found in foods from plants and animals and are referred to as dietary fat. Dietary fat is a macronutrient that provides energy for your body – basically, it’s necessary for you. Fat is essential to your health because it supports a number of body functions. Some vitamins – A, D, E and K, for example – must have fat to dissolve so your body can absorb them. However, fat is high in calories. Too much fat can lead to excess calories and ultimately, weight gain. Excess weight is linked to poor health. Additionally, some types of dietary fat can play a role in cardiovascular disease. Research about dietary fat is always evolving. A growing body of research suggests that when it comes to dietary fat, you should focus on eating healthy fats and avoiding unhealthy fats. Learn your risk for heart disease with our free online heart health profiler at askAAMC.org/HeartHealth and take the first step toward having a healthy heart for life. The harmful fats Trans fats and saturated fats are the ones you should limit or stay away from. Trans fats can occur naturally in some foods in small amounts, but most are made from oils through a food processing method called partial hydrogenation. These can increase unhealthy low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and lower healthy high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, which increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. Trans fats also create inflammation, which experts link to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic conditions. They contribute to insulin resistance, which increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Saturated fat is common in the American diet. This type of fat is also associated with your risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. It comes mainly from animal source foods, such as red meat, bacon, cheeses, coconut oil and full-fat dairy products. Saturated fat raises total blood cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol levels. READ MORE: Coconut oil: Is it healthy or not? The good fats Healthier dietary fats are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats. Foods made up of mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature – olive oil, peanut oil and safflower oil, for example. Foods high in omega-fatty acids include: flaxseed; oils, such as canola, flaxseed, soybean and nuts; and other seeds, such as walnuts, butternuts and sunflower. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans offers the following recommendations about fat intake: Avoid trans fat. Limit saturated fat to less than 10 percent of total calories a day. Replace saturated fat with healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Roughly speaking, 1 tablespoon of all oils are about 125 calories. So next time keep in mind, though not all fats are equal in composition, too much of even the ‘good’ type of fat can be too much. As with everything in life, you need a balance. Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published Feb. 4, 2019. Last updated Feb. 7, 2020.0
- Heart CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogStars in your eyes, butterflies in your stomach, weak in the knees—falling in love is a feeling like no other. But did you know being in love actually has tangible health benefits for both your body and your mind? “We are social creatures and we do best when we have strong social support systems,” explains Baran Kilical, MD, a cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Being in love can affect everything from your stress levels to your heart health.” Here are few of the scientifically backed benefits of being in love: A longer life Research shows a clear link between strong social ties and longevity. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology assessed the relationships of nearly 5,000 adults ages 30 to 69. Those with strong, happy marriages lived longer than unmarried men and women. Unfortunately, the phenomenon goes both ways. In the same study, adults with poor social ties had twice the risk of death compared to others in the study. “Many different studies have replicated these findings, especially in men,” says Dr. Kilical. “Most research shows being married is even more beneficial to men’s health than women’s health.” And there’s a growing amount of research showing a higher risk of illness and death in people with low quantity and low quality of social relationships. “Social isolation is a major risk factor for death from a variety of causes in both genders,” says Dr. Kilical. Learn your risk for heart disease with our free online heart health profiler at askAAMC.org/HeartHealth and take the first step toward having a healthy heart for life. A healthy heart It’s fitting that the symbol for love is a heart, given all the heart health benefits of being in love. Married people experience half the risk of death from heart disease than that of unmarried or divorced men and women. “One theory explains this finding by citing improved function of the autonomic nervous system, which controls bodily functions like heart rate, in people who are married or in love,” says Dr. Kilical. “Our sympathetic nervous system, or our stress “fight-or-flight” response likely plays a role as well.” Being in love tends to decrease our stress response, which can in turn lower blood pressure. Studies show strong love, marriage and social ties improve blood pressure, while isolation and being around strangers increases it. The same holds true for heart rate. And if you do have a heart attack, being happily married helps. In a 2015 study, married people had a 14 percent lower risk of dying in the hospital after a heart attack. They also had shorter hospital stays by an average of two days. Healthy lungs It’s not just your heart that benefits from being in love. Being married can help protect against complications and death from pneumonia. Compared to unmarried men and women, married people are less likely to require ventilator support via a breathing machine, have shorter hospital stays, are less likely to end up in an intensive care unit and have 13 percent lower risk of dying during hospitalization for pneumonia. Less stress Besides the physical health benefits, being in love works wonders for your mental health as well. Love, marriage and overall wellbeing reduce stress, which also strengthens your immune system. But what really goes on in your mind when you’re in love? “Thanks to endocrine research (the study of hormones) and modern functional brain MRIs, we can get a peek behind the scenes,” says Dr. Kilical. “Love causes changes in many of your hormones including oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, serotonin, cortisol and testosterone.” Here’s some of what goes on in your brain: The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin interact with your dopamine reward system. This is the same system that causes people to feel good or happy when positive events happen, such as getting a pay raise or falling in love. Vasopressin helps control blood pressure. Cortisol, the stress hormone, initially rises when you fall in love, but quickly drops in a long-term, stable relationship. Low cortisol levels sustained in a long-term stable relationship contributes to many health benefits. Not in love? How to still reap the benefits If a significant other is lacking in your life, no need to worry. “Some of these health benefits still apply to people who have a strong social support system,” notes Dr. Kilical. “Positive, close relationships with family members and friends can keep you healthier, too.” Even something as simple as a hug can help. Most people know hugs can help you feel connected to other people, but did you know they can actually help prevent sickness? When you feel connected to others, especially through physical touch, you’re less prone to experience sickness caused by stress. In one study of more than 400 adults, researchers found that the more often people hugged, the more their chances of getting sick decreased. Hugging may be an indicator of overall social support in a person’s life, which also promotes good health. In the same study, the adults who said they have a strong social support system had fewer cold symptoms than those who said their support system was lacking. No matter what your relationship status, remember that positive, close relationships are important for your overall health and wellness. Taking the time to invest in family members and friends is also an investment in your personal health. Author Baran Kilical, MD, is a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist with Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published Feb. 13, 2017. Last updated Feb. 7, 2020.0
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe mission: spread kindness throughout our community. Get started: Collect rocks that you would like to paint with your very own messages of kindness or happy artwork. Grab them on your next walk or find them at a local home improvement or craft store. Prep your rocks for maximum beauty: We recommend using a non-toxic acrylic paint on the rocks before you decorate with a paint pen. Inspire and encourage: Let your creative juices flow and write your very own message of kindness. We recommend using a Sharpie Oil Base paint pen or Prismacolor art markers. Don’t let anything dull your sparkle: Once your rock is dry, protect it from outdoor elements by using a sealant, such as Modge Podge or another clear acrylic spray. Keep it going: Help our community keep track of your kindness by writing the hashtag #AAMCRocks on the back of each rock! Not only will these acts of kindness help the finders, but they will also inspire the rest of the community to join #TheKindnessRocksProject movement with AAMC. Throw kindness around like confetti: Make someone else’s day by hiding your kindness rocks on our campus or in your community. If you are planning on hiding it indoors, please be sure to ask for permission first. Learn more about the Kindness Rocks Project and how we’re bringing it to our AAMC community. Originally published Aug. 22, 2017. Last updated Feb. 7, 2020.0
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCancer and pregnancy. Two words many people would not put in the same sentence. But with a growing number of cancer survivors still in their reproductive years, many people are often considering cancer treatment and how it will affect their future ability to have kids. WATCH: Conquering cancer during pregnancy. Thanks to advances in cancer treatment, the rate of survival from childhood and adult cancers has increased steadily over the years. The five-year survival rate is greater than 80 percent for both childhood cancers and adult women of reproductive age. In fact, 1 in 400 adults are cancer survivors. Chemotherapy, radiation or surgery can affect the number and quality of eggs within the ovary. Treatment can also cause damage or loss of reproductive organs. The likelihood of a cancer survivor having a significant decrease or complete loss of fertility through ovarian failure depends on her age, type of cancer and specific treatment plan. Fertility preservation (FP) serves the purpose of preserving, expanding and restoring the reproductive future of cancer patients. Why is it important? Fertility issues are emotionally challenging, no matter the cause. One study found that 55 percent of cancer patients felt having a child was the most important event in their life. In addition, 64 percent said their fertility was the single most concerning issue about their treatment. These concerns are valid and understandable. In fact, the loss of fertility from cancer treatment is associated with depression, increased stress, sexual dysfunction and lower physical quality of life. To add to the burden, research shows that talking about the risk of cancer-related infertility is an important but inadequate part of the discussion at the time of diagnosis. A lack of information at the time of diagnosis and treatment planning are associated with negative mood and increased stress. Sadly, 33 percent of women report dissatisfaction with the quality and length of discussion about cancer-related effects on their reproductive health. And 73 percent of childhood cancer survivors say they received insufficient information when they were diagnosed. What options are available? The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that doctors assess all patients diagnosed with cancer for the risk of infertility. The ASCO also advises that interested patients at risk for treatment-induced infertility see a specialist to discuss their options. Cancer patients should talk openly about these things with their doctor. There are established methods of FP for adult women and adolescents who have undergone puberty. Egg and embryo cryopreservation, or freezing, are two options. For some patients, ovarian transposition and fertility-sparing surgeries may be available. For pre-pubertal children, investigational methods such as ovarian tissue freezing may be an option. For men, sperm preservation is a well-established method for FP and can be done through their local sperm bank or fertility specialist. FP decision-making Learning you have cancer is stressful and overwhelming. This is why making decisions about FP at the same time is challenging. Counseling about FP options is incredibly beneficial, even if women choose not to proceed with preservation before their cancer treatment. Studies show that counseling results in feelings of hope and profound relief while giving many patients a reason to live. Furthermore, those who proceed with FP treatment often feel it helps them cope and stay positive. READ MORE: Tips on supporting a loved one through cancer. There is still a lot to learn about FP and family building after cancer. Ongoing research is offering more information about the effects of cancer treatment and methods of FP. In addition, the cost of some treatments has historically been a barrier for many patients. However, Maryland recently became the third state to enact a fertility preservation law. Many factors affect the chance of becoming pregnant after fertility-sparing surgery or egg/embryo freezing. If you’re a cancer patient facing these decisions, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the FP options that are best for you. Authors Monica B. Jones, MD, MS, FACOG, FACS, is chair of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Women’s and Children’s services. Rebecca J. Chason, MD, specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Originally published June 18, 2018. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.0
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