August 30, 2007

Press Release

Pesquera Appointed to Montgomery County Commission on Health

Marcos Pesquera, executive director of Adventist HealthCare’s Center on Health Disparities, has been appointed to serve as a health-care provider representative to the Montgomery County Commission on Health.

The 19-member commission, which consists of both consumer and health- care provider representatives, advises the Council Executive and County Council on public health issues, programs, services and facilities.

“It is an honor to have been nominated for this position by County Executive Isiah Leggett, and I look forward to being of service to the community on this Commission,” Pesquera said.

Health disparities are the differences in mortality and disease rates among specific populations. Adventist HealthCare’s Center on Health Disparities is in the process of compiling a report that will benchmark and monitor progress in eliminating health gaps among the populations of Montgomery County and the surrounding counties of Prince George’s and Frederick.  The report is expected to be completed in late fall of 2007.

“Information gathered from the report can be used by both the Center and the Commission to better target existing services and guide the development of new and preventive health programs,” Pesquera said.

The Center’s other initiatives include program models for a patient advocacy program, a qualified bilingual staff training program and a cultural competency training program for health-care providers.

“We in the health-care field need to connect with our patients at a deeper level to understand what will inspire different individuals to follow a treatment plan, to perceive open access and to believe that we as practitioners truly care,” Pesquera said. “This kind of knowledge and flexibility is what is going to positively impact the health of all our communities.”

Pesquera was appointed to the Commission on Health on July 31, 2007 and will serve a full term ending July 2010.

Adventist HealthCare’s Center on Health Disparities is a member of Adventist HealthCare , an integrated health care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, that is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland.  The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Adventist Home Health Services, the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Children and Infants and LifeWork Strategies.