Students at The Forbush School at Westminster are still celebrating the holiday and Santa is making another visit—he’ll be the emcee for this year’s annual holiday production, “A Cool Yule: A North Pole Rock ‘N’ Roll Spectacular.”

The school is run by Sheppard Pratt Health System and provides special education and mental health services to elementary and middle school students in Carroll County with a disability of autism or emotional disturbance.

The school’s 17 elementary and middle school students are working on this year’s musical production, which incorporates the State’s music and art curriculum while working on each student’s unique social and behavioral objectives. Students from the Emotional Disturbance program and the Autism program are working together, which helps students get a better understanding of other people’s variety of needs and to foster acceptance.

“This is a great way for us to bring all of our students together in a fun activity that’s tailored to their educational needs and abilities,” said Principal Cathy Brust. “Our students and staff have been working so hard on “Cool Yule” and take great pride in what they’ve been able to accomplish together. We are very proud of the students.”

Following the musical program, there will be a special visit from Santa Claus and presentation of a Christmas stocking to each student from the Grand Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brunswick location.

Sheppard Pratt Health System welcomed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today, as she spoke with members of Maryland’s mental health care community about the impact of health care reform on mental health care delivery and financing.

Secretary Sebelius also joined Sheppard Pratt in recognizing Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene Secretary John Colmers for his years of health care leadership.

“Health care coverage is on everyone’s minds right now, especially as the Congress works to finish legislation,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “At Sheppard Pratt, we are following the debates with a watchful eye, eager to see how the outcome will affect mental health care.

“We are so pleased that Secretary Sebelius was able to join us to speak about the impact health care reform will have on mental health care and to help us honor Secretary Colmers for making Maryland a leader in public mental health.”

This marked Secretary Sebelius’ first event in Baltimore.

“Strengthening mental health programs and policies as part of the Department’s work to ensure all Americans get the care they need is a top priority at the Department of Health and Human Services,” Secretary Sebelius said. “I look forward to discussing this critical issue with many of the expert providers who care for individuals with mental illness every day.”

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is pleased to present internationally known, best selling author and speaker, Jenni Schaefer, author of Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life, a book that inspires hope for recovery and freedom from eating disorders.

During The Center’s annual fall community awareness event, Schaefer will speak about life after recovery from an eating disorder. She will refer to personal experience and touch on topics such as personifying an eating disorder in order to detach oneself from it and liberating oneself after recovery. Members of the public are invited to join Schaefer for her keynote address, question and answer session, and book signing.

Representatives from The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will hold a special “Love Your Tree” event at The Bryn Mawr School Thursday, October 15th . The “Love Your Tree” workshop challenges students to create posters that confront society’s narrow ideals about beauty and educates participants on body diversity and acceptance.

“Love Your Tree” is a body image campaign based on the work of Eve Ensler, author of the award winning play “The Good Body.” All works of art created as part of this workshop will be submitted to the 2009 “Love Your Tree” poster campaign, now in its fourth year. Each year, one poster from the campaign is selected for reproduction, and select works are displayed at Sheppard Pratt as part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

The ultimate goal of “Love Your Tree” is to promote body diversity and self acceptance in individuals to reduce the development of serious eating disorders in the larger community.

The Center for Eating Disorders treats adults, adolescents and children with complex eating disorders. We call eating disorders “complex” because each disorder—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating—has its own unique set of causes, symptoms and health risks.

Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to open the discussion of social isolation in America at its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 28th, focusing on an issue that is making headlines as people become increasingly more connected through technology.

“As a nation and a community, we are continuously online—texting, twittering, glued to our computers at home and at work,” said President and CEO Dr. Steven Sharfstein. “We are a connected society, but are we really?”

This is the topic of the book The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the Twenty-First Century by psychiatrists Jacqueline Olds and Richard Schwartz, who make the case that we have become increasingly socially disconnected despite the technology, and this loss of social connectedness can accurately be characterized as a kind of national malaise.

The Annual Meeting is a gathering of individuals interested in Sheppard Pratt Health System and the delivery of mental health services in our community. Sheppard Pratt Health System is a nationally renowned mental health and special education system for treatment, professional training and research. It is consistently ranked among the top mental health hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report. With its outstanding psychiatric residency training program, the Health System is a proven leader in mental health education. Sheppard Pratt continues to expand its continuum of care for children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, introducing new treatment modalities in locations throughout the Baltimore region and the state.

Sheppard Pratt Health System is grateful for a generous donation to the Forbush School at Hunt Valley from the 16th Annual Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes, Inc. (RCM&D) Regatta at the Downtown Sailing Center. The event, held Friday, October 2nd, raised funds through sponsorship and donations from RCM&D and its affiliates.

Each year, RCM&D picks local nonprofits to benefit from the Regatta. This year, The Forbush School at Hunt Valley was selected to receive half of the $50,000 raised by the organization.

“We are thrilled that RCM&D has picked the Forbush School at Hunt Valley School to be one of this year’s charities,” said Paul Livelli, director of autism educational services for Sheppard Pratt. “The money will be put to use at our school, going toward program enrichments and staff training.”

The Forbush School at Hunt Valley provides special education and related services for children ages five to 21 with autism, pervasive developmental disorder, developmental delays in one or more areas, severe behavioral problems, multiple learning problems and other related disorders. Forbush at Hunt Valley is one of 12 therapeutic schools operated by Sheppard Pratt throughout the state of Maryland.

August 26, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to announce that The Forbush School at Glyndon has been selected to receive a $20,000 grant from The Verizon Foundation to fund a major teacher training initiative at the school—revamping its K-12 curriculum to help students achieve higher levels of literacy, complex critical thinking and problem solving skills. Forbush at Glyndon serves students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 who have been diagnosed with emotional disabilities.

The Forbush School at Glyndon will use this funding to support two different teacher training programs; Project Read by Language Circle (administered by trainers from Jemicy Outreach) and Problem Based Learning (administered by The Buck Institute for Education), both of which support The Verizon Foundation’s interest in education and literacy.

Project Read equips teachers with the tools to significantly improve students’ abilities to comprehend, conduct research and write papers, and promotes the organizational skills critical to complex problem solving. Once students develop a stronger foundation in written expression and reading comprehension, teachers will employ their training in Problem Based Learning to challenge students’ development of the digital-age skills (teamwork, problem solving, research gathering, time management, information synthesizing and utilization of high tech tools) essential to surviving in today’s world.

All of Glyndon’s teachers and teaching assistants will participate in the cutting-edge training which will be completed by next summer. Theresa Petrungaro, elementary principal at Glyndon, will administer the grant.

The Forbush School at Glyndon is accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education as a Type I General and Special Education Nonpublic School to provide educational and therapeutic services to students referred by local school systems. It is one of 12 therapeutic schools operated by Sheppard Pratt Health System throughout Maryland.

August 26, 2009- It’s the typical start of another school year for the students of The Forbush School at Hunt Valley, but this year recess will be a little different—and a lot more fun.

Ms. Mildred Kern, a 101 year-old resident of the North Oaks retirement community in Pikesville, decided it was time students at the school have access to a state-of-the-art playground facility. With Ms. Kern’s guidance, and a generous donation, the school’s parent organization, Sheppard Pratt, built an extensive playground system for the school.

“We are so grateful for Ms. Kern’s donation for this incredible playground,” said Paul Livelli, director of autism educational services for Sheppard Pratt. “Our students are so excited to have this and will definitely make good use of it. The playground gives them a chance to get outside and play—which is an important part of their education here.”

The Forbush School at Hunt Valley provides special education and related services for children ages five to 21 with autism, pervasive developmental disorder, developmental delays in one or more areas, severe behavioral problems, multiple learning problems and other related disorders. Forbush at Hunt Valley is one of 12 therapeutic schools operated by Sheppard Pratt throughout the state of Maryland.

July 17, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to welcome Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as a member of its Board of Trustees.

“We are honored that Ms. Townsend will dedicate her extensive knowledge and her time to our organization,” said Board Chariman Dr. W. Byron Forbush II. “Ms. Townsend has such a unique depth of experience, and we are excited about her contributions as we continue to shape the challenging landscape of mental and behavioral health care.”

Ms. Townsend’s two year term is effective July 1st. The 26 member Board of Trustees guides Sheppard Pratt, Maryland's largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health and therapeutic special education services, through a variety of executive, operational and clinical decisions.

Ms. Townsend has a long history of accomplishment in the public arena, and for six years she has worked in the private sector. As the State of Maryland’s first woman Lt. Governor, Ms. Townsend was in charge of a multimillion dollar budget and had oversight of major cabinet departments, including Economic Development and Transportation, State Police, Public Safety and Correction, and Juvenile Justice. Prior to being elected Lt. Governor, Ms. Townsend served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States.

In addition to her new role at Sheppard Pratt, Ms. Townsend is Chair of the Institute of Human Virology founded by Dr. Robert Gallo, and serves on the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the Robert Kennedy Memorial, The Center for American Progress, the Brady Campaign, and the YMCA of New York City. She is the Vice Chair of the annual Future of Science conference held in Venice, Italy, and is on the Advisory Board of the Wiedenfeld Scholarship at Oxford University.

“Ms. Townsend’s commitment to the community and to the well-being of Marylanders is unparalleled,” Dr. Forbush said. “With her help, Sheppard Pratt will be able to continue to set- and achieve- our goals of providing even greater care to the members of our community.”

July 16, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to once again be ranked as one of the nation’s top hospitals for psychiatry. The US News and World Report rankings of America’s top hospitals list Sheppard Pratt as #6 on the listing of top psychiatric hospitals. This marks the 19th straight year the hospital has been in the Top 10.

“We are, once again, delighted to be recognized in this fashion,” said Dr. Steve S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “This is a reflection of the hard work our staff puts in each and every day. We thank them for their commitment and for helping us achieve this top honor.”

June 23, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to announce a new partnership with Wicomico County Health Department Behavioral Health Clinic to provide telemedicine services to children and adolescents. Sheppard Pratt has worked to develop a long distance telepsychiatric connection, providing mental health care to patients in regions of Maryland that experience chronic provider shortages and who might not otherwise have access to care.

Beginning June 18th, Sheppard Pratt will provide care to patients at the Behavioral Health Clinic, an outpatient facility which serves the largest child and adolescent population in Wicomico County. The clinic currently provides mental health care to about 310 patients age 3-21, with a range of diagnosis.

“We are excited to join with Behavioral Health Clinic in providing care to children and adolescents in this part of Maryland,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “We have worked hard to develop an exceptional telepsychiatry network, and we are excited to see it expand and give more individuals greater access to the first class mental health care Sheppard Pratt provides.”

“We are delighted to offer expanded child and adolescent services through this agreement with Sheppard Pratt,” said Michelle Bailey, director of the Behavioral Health Program. “We continuously strive to provide quality services to our families and telepsychiatry will assist in providing easier access to a psychiatrist. We are also grateful to Wicomico County Core Service Agency and its director, Cicely McElwain, for her assistance in obtaining the funding for this program.”

The contract was awarded to Sheppard Pratt after a competitive bid process, and will continue through Fiscal Year 2010, with the option to extend the partnership. Sheppard Pratt has been providing similar care to clients in Worcester County for four years, reducing the patient wait time and the need for extensive travel to receive care.

Although it’s not in-person treatment, telepsychiatry services do not diminish the quality of care---In a recent survey, Sheppard Pratt found 96.5 percent of patients receiving the services say they felt they received good care, 92.5 percent of patients report their needs were met, and 94 percent say they’re comfortable using the telecommunications equipment.

June 23, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is excited to celebrate the grand opening of The Forbush School at Glyndon, a non-public therapeutic day school providing special education services to youngsters, through grade 12, who exhibit a wide range of emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders.

The Forbush School is relocating to a beautiful new campus in Glyndon after being housed at Sheppard Pratt’s Towson location for more than 40 years. With the resources to serve more than 160 students, The Forbush School at Glyndon will continue its long standing tradition of providing educational and therapeutic services to students with complex needs from throughout Central Maryland.

An official ribbon cutting and dedication of The Forbush School at Glyndon will be held Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Author and educator Debbie Phelps, mother of swimmer Michael Phelps, will be our special guest for the day’s events.

For media information on The Forbush School at Glyndon, contact Susan Kirkwood: 410/938-3121.

June 15, 2009- The Frost School, a program of Sheppard Pratt Health System that provides therapeutic special education for students in Montgomery County, is celebrating their 34th graduation on Wednesday, June 17th.

The 12-month school program utilizes the therapeutic community for students in grades 1 to 12 who need a supportive and structured environment, combining academic instruction, daily counseling, and weekly family counseling meetings.

This year the school is honoring three graduating seniors and one student who will return to public school as a fully mainstreamed student. Of the graduating class, one student will attend Frostburg State University, one will attend Montgomery College, and the third is entering the workforce.

Additionally, eight students graduated this year from The Lodge Program, facilitated by The Frost School. The Lodge Program serves middle and high school students with emotional difficulties utilizing a more individual psychodynamic model of treatment.

“We are so proud of all of our students at The Frost School and in The Lodge Program, and we celebrate the successes of our recent graduates,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “We wish them the best as they leave our program to pursue their dreams.”

The Frost School is approved as a Special Education School by the Maryland State Department of Education and serves students from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Classes are small and students receive instruction based on their IEP (Individualized Education Program).

In existence since 1976, the Frost School joined the Sheppard Pratt Health System family of services in March, 2003. The Lodge Program came into existence as part of the former Chestnut Lodge Hospital and became part of Sheppard Pratt in 2001.

June 11, 2009- Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to announce that The Forbush School at Westminster will soon be moving to a new location. The school provides special education and mental health services to elementary and middle school students in Carroll County with a diagnosis of autism or emotional disturbance.The program currently serves 16 students.

On June 17, the facility will move from its current location on Baltimore Boulevard to a larger facility on Business Parkway South. The program operates under the direction of Cathy Brust, principal.

“We are pleased with our growth and look forward our new, larger home in Westminster,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “This will help us continue our strong tradition of providing an exemplary education to students in Carroll County.”

The Forbush School at Westminster is a satellite of the Forbush School's program in Baltimore County. The school operates with the support of Carroll County Public Schools and Maryland State Department of Education, and is a non-public special education day school. As part of its Level V designation, the school provides special education services in combination with individual, group, and family therapy; crisis intervention; and psychiatric medication management services for enrolled students.

April 15, 2009- Sheppard Pratt is celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week by thanking all of its volunteers who provide vital services to the organization. More than 200 volunteers racked up an impressive 71,726 hours of service last year— the equivalent of 34.5 full time employees.

Sheppard Pratt has a wide variety of volunteers, from high school students to retirees. Under the Student Volunteer program, Sheppard Pratt places medical students, graduate-level occupational therapists, and social workers in clinical settings alongside professional staff.

Sheppard Pratt will be honoring its volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, 2009, recognizing them at a special luncheon on Wednesday, April 22nd from 11:30 a.m-1:00 p.m.

“We are so grateful for each and every one of our volunteers,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “I can not stress how much we appreciate their dedication and hard work, and how much both staff and patients alike are touched by their willingness to give.”

In addition, three Sheppard Pratt volunteers will be honored at the Maryland Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Ceremony on Monday, April 20th in Annapolis, which recognizes civic commitment in the state. They were nominated for the awards by the staff at Sheppard Pratt, in recognition of their outstanding service.

• Louise Hager who lives at Broadmead in Cockeysville, was nominated for her pastoral care with Sheppard Pratt’s geriatric inpatients. Ms. Hager has been a volunteer at Sheppard Pratt for nearly 10 years, and provides sincere and heartfelt compassion to elderly patients.


• Pat Byron, a Sheppard Pratt retiree from Bowleys Quarters, has volunteered in the Sheppard Pratt Gift Shop since 2005. Ms. Byron was nominated for her dedicated service, which includes helping more than 200 customers a day find what they need.


• Betty Goldenberg, who lives in Baltimore City, has been giving her time to the Forbush School for students with special needs for the past six years. Ms. Goldenberg was nominated for her work supporting the skills of some of the most disabled readers. Ms. Goldenberg is an avid quilter and makes custom “reading quilts” for her students to earn when they read 500 pages.

Sheppard Pratt Health System is pleased to announce a new treatment for patients with depression: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive therapy that uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate the brain. Starting April 1st, Sheppard Pratt is providing TMS services to patients on both an outpatient and residential basis.

Sheppard Pratt is the only place in Maryland, and one of only a few clinical centers in the United States, to use the Neurostar TMS Therapy System, the first and only device of its kind to be cleared for the treatment of major depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (October 2008).

“This is groundbreaking technology that can change the lives of millions of Americans who suffer from the debilitating effects of depression and who don’t respond well to traditional treatments,” said Dr. Scott Aaronson, director of clinical research programs at Sheppard Pratt. “Despite advances in treating depression, more than 30 percent of patients with the disease do not benefit from, or are intolerant of, antidepressant medications. For them, this is another option.”

Dr. Aaronson, who also serves as associate medial director for the Retreat at Sheppard Pratt, was involved in the national clinical research trials of the Neurostar TMS Therapy System.

“We had a positive experience with the clinical study, finding that many of our patients improved,” Dr. Aaronson said. “We are just beginning to explore the potential of this new treatment modality.”

A typical course of TMS therapy consists of 20 to 30 consecutive sessions, each lasting about 40 minutes. No anesthesia or sedation is needed, and since there are no cognitive side effects, patients can drive to and from their appointments or return to work following treatments. Patients may be eligible for this therapy if antidepressant medicine or other treatments have been ineffective or not well tolerated.

TMS services are offered Monday through Friday by The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt. Individuals wishing to learn more about how they can access services should call 410-938-3737.

March 18, 2009- Reacting to a critical need for psychiatric services in rural communities, Sheppard Pratt Health System has worked to develop a long distance telepsychiatric connection, providing mental health care to patients in regions of Maryland that experience chronic provider shortages and who might not otherwise have access to care. Currently, the program connects doctors at Sheppard Pratt, the largest mental health treatment resource center in the state, with patients in Worcester County, an area which consistently faces a shortage of mental health care workers.

It’s been four years since Sheppard Pratt Health System first started using state-of-the-art technology to improve access to psychiatric care, using secure IP lines to provide real-time interactions between psychiatrists and patients. In this time, more than 400 patients have been evaluated, more than 1,000 follow up consultations ensued, and SPHS psychiatrists logged another 500 interactions with patients, ranging from phone calls to prescription refills.

“By providing telepsychiatry services, the teamwork that’s been created between SPHS and Worcester County Health Department has given hundreds of individuals greater access to first class mental health evaluations and follow up care,” said Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. “We are pleased with the success of this program and look forward to watching it grow in the future, as it continues to fill a much-needed gap in care for the people of Worcester County.”

In 2005, when the program was created, more than 100 patients in Worcester County were on a list for treatment, waiting an average of six weeks to be evaluated by a psychiatrist. Alternatively, a patient would have to drive long distances for care, a burden of both time and expense. Today, the wait time has been reduced to just two weeks, and the need for extensive travel has been eliminated.

“The partnership with Sheppard Pratt Health System has assisted the Worcester County Health Department in getting timely psychiatric treatment for a wide range of clients,” said Deborah Goeller, health officer for Worcester County. “As a federally designated psychiatric manpower shortage area, the partnership has been an invaluable resource in creating access to psychiatric care for individuals in Worcester County.”

Although it’s “virtual” treatment, it does not diminish the quality of care---96.5 percent of patients receiving telepsychiatry services say they felt they received good care, 92.5 percent of patients report their needs were met, and 94 percent say they’re comfortable using the telecommunications equipment.

February 19, 2009—Sheppard Pratt Health System extends an open invitation to the community to visit the Robert W. and Diane E. Gibson Museum and to view The Collection of Sheppard Pratt. Both exhibits are free and ongoing.

The Robert W. and Diane E. Gibson Museum at Sheppard Pratt Health System
The Gibson Museum houses artifacts associated with the founders of the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, and tells the story of the evolution of the Sheppard Asylum as an exceptional place for healing of the mind and spirit.
Open to the public every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and by appointment. Please Call 410-308-8959 or 443-286-5626 or email: gibsonmuseum@sheppardpratt.org to inquire about an appointment or group tours.

The Collection of Sheppard Pratt
The Collection of Sheppard Pratt adorns the public spaces of the hospital complex with more than 100 works by locally, nationally and internationally renowned artists.
The collection exemplifies the healing aspects of art, both for the creator and the observer, and applauds the capacity for artistic endeavor to transcend and triumph over the challenges of mental illness and addiction.
Self-guided tour maps are available.

http://www.sheppardpratt.org/sp_htmlcode/sp_about/sp_art_collection.aspx
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9a.m.-8p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 9a.m-5p.m.
Contact: 410-938-3000

Sheppard Pratt Health System, Maryland's largest provider of behavioral health and special education services, and the Center for Eating Disorders, P.A., the region's largest private psychiatric practice specializing in the treatment of Eating Disorders, have announced the establishment of the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, effective January 1, 2005. At that time, Sheppard Pratt will begin providing a continuum of Eating Disorders services under the medical direction of Drs. Harry Brandt and Steven Crawford, board certified psychiatrists and principals of the Center for Eating Disorders, P.A.

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will include an inpatient unit, a day hospital and an intensive outpatient program (IOP), all located at Sheppard Pratt's hospital in Towson. The Center for Eating Disorders, P.A., will relocate their offices, which include a large outpatient Eating Disorders practice, to the grounds of Sheppard Pratt in 2005.

"We are gratified to have the opportunity to forge this affiliation between Sheppard Pratt and the Center for Eating Disorders, P.A. and are very pleased to be able to include this program among the Health System's comprehensive array of high quality, nationally recognized specialized treatment services, " explains Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt. "This opportunity arose because both Sheppard Pratt and the Center for Eating Disorders, P.A. are in growth modes. We are in the process of building a new hospital building, and the availability of a location within the four walls of Sheppard Pratt that would allow Drs. Brandt and Crawford to expand their practice was appealing to both entities."

According to Dr. Harry Brandt of the Center for Eating Disorders, P.A., "Relocating to Sheppard Pratt will enable us to expand the inpatient service to 20 beds and to serve a larger number of patients in both day hospital and intensive outpatient programming. We consistently have a waiting list for services, which this expansion will allow us to serve with greater expediency."

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to marry the region's premiere Eating Disorders practice with the region's premiere psychiatric facility," adds Dr. Steve Crawford. "We anticipate that our patients and referrers will be very pleased with this arrangement."

The Center for Eating Disorders, P.A. was established in 1990 by Drs. Brandt and Crawford and is comprised of more than 20 multi-disciplinary professionals dedicated to the treatment of Eating Disorders. Last year, the practice provided nearly 25,000 outpatient visits to patients with Eating Disorders and is recognized as one of the nation's most well respected services for the treatment of this complex psychiatric condition. Drs. Brandt and Crawford are established leaders not only in the treatment of Eating Disorders, but as participants in federally and industry sponsored research on the causes and clinical responses to the condition.

With the addition of this service, Sheppard Pratt will operate more than 200 acute psychiatric beds on its Towson campus. The Eating Disorders continuum joins other subspecialty inpatient and day hospital programs at Sheppard Pratt, such as Trauma Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Geropsychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry as part of one of the nation's most highly regarded psychiatric training and treatment facilities. In addition to its flagship Towson campus, Sheppard Pratt also operates a second hospital in Howard County and manages the psychiatric services for nine general hospitals throughout the state and in Virginia. The Health System has more than 1800 employees; in FY 2004 Sheppard Pratt and its affiliated agencies had net revenues in excess of $154 million.

Towson, MD - On Tuesday, May 4, 2004 at 1:00 p.m., work crews from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company will hoist a six ton specially built cupola some 80 feet aloft and place it atop the slate roof of the historic "B" hospital building on the grounds of Sheppard Pratt. The cupola was destroyed in a four-alarm fire that resulted from a lightning strike during an electrical storm on the evening of August 27, 2003.

Now, slightly more than eight months later, a carefully reconstructed cupola will be hoisted and replaced on the tower. The replacement cupola was designed by HDR Architecture in consultation with local historic architect Peter Pearre of the firm of Trostel and Pearre, and fabricated over a nine-week period by Jarvis Steel and Lumber. The cupola, which is 25 feet high and has a 15 by 18 foot base, will be lifted by a 70-ton hydraulic crane. Once it is fastened on to the tower, roofers from Roofers, Inc. will affix slate to the exterior slopes of the Victorian style cupola. The total cost to design, construct and replace the cupola is $398,588.

Sheppard Pratt's hospital buildings were designed in the 19th century by renowned architect Calvert Vaux and have been in continuous use since 1891. Last summer's fire forced the short term evacuation of patients from the nationally renowned Sheppard Pratt hospital and precipitated an outpouring of support to the institution from throughout the Baltimore area.

Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital has once again been named one of the nation’s top ten psychiatric institutions as part of the annual survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report. This is the 12th consecutive year that the Towson, MD based hospital has been ranked as one of the best in the country by the magazine. Sheppard Pratt placed as the 10th most highly regarded psychiatric facility in the nation.

U.S. News and World Report began its ranking of psychiatric specialty hospitals in 1991 and surveys psychiatrists across the country as part of its methodology. Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, a private non-profit psychiatric facility that has been in continuous operation since 1891, is one of only two wholly independent, freestanding psychiatric hospitals to be recognized among the leading hospitals in this year’s ranking, which otherwise includes mostly academic medical institutions with psychiatry services. [Menninger Memorial Hospital in Topeka, KS is the other freestanding facility.]

According to Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt Health System, “Sheppard Pratt is a vibrant, high quality leader in the delivery of psychiatric services and we are delighted that Maryland’s treasure continues to receive this national level of recognition. It is a tribute to our compassionate and skilled staff that Sheppard Pratt’s name is so well regarded.”

Sheppard Pratt Hospital is part of the larger Sheppard Pratt Health System, which, in addition to its flagship hospital in Towson and its recently acquired second hospital, Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City, also operates through its Foundation special education schools, day hospital programs, outpatient mental health centers, and community housing and rehabilitation programs, and contract manages psychiatric services for nine general hospitals in Maryland and Virginia.

As of the fall of 2002, Sheppard Pratt will have programs in Baltimore City, 13 Maryland counties and Virginia and is the state’s largest provider of psychiatric services. For fiscal year 02, total net revenues for the Health System and its affiliates were about $119 million.

Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital has once again been named one of the nation’s best psychiatric institutions as part of the annual survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report. This is the 11th consecutive year that the Towson, MD hospital has been ranked as one of the best in the country by the magazine. Sheppard Pratt tied with Stanford University Hospital as the 11th most highly regarded psychiatric facility in the nation.

U.S. News and World Report began its ranking of psychiatric specialty hospitals in 1991 and surveys psychiatrists across the country as part of its methodology. Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, a private non-profit psychiatric facility that has been in continuous operation since 1891, is one of only two wholly independent, freestanding psychiatric hospitals to be recognized among the leading hospitals in this year’s ranking, which otherwise includes mostly academic medical institutions with psychiatry services. [The other freestanding psychiatric hospital to make the list, Menninger’s of Kansas, is in the midst of completing an affiliation with Baylor College of Medicine and Methodist Health Care of Texas.]

According to Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and chief executive officer of Sheppard Pratt Health System, “We are delighted to be in this prestigious company again this year. This ranking affirms the rest of the country’s awareness of what Marylanders know well, that the Sheppard Pratt name is synonymous with the best in psychiatric care. ”

Sheppard Pratt Hospital is part of the larger Sheppard Pratt Health System, which, in addition to its flagship hospital in Towson, also operates through its Foundation special education schools, day hospital programs, outpatient mental health centers, and community housing and rehabilitation programs, and contract manages psychiatric services for nine general hospitals in Maryland and Virginia.

With programs in Baltimore City, 11 Maryland counties and Virginia, Sheppard Pratt is the state’s largest provider of psychiatric services. For fiscal year 01, total net revenues for the Health System and its affiliates were about $117 million.

Prince William Health System has selected Sheppard Pratt Health System to manage psychiatric services at Prince William Hospital under a three-year management contract effective June 1. The agreement calls for Sheppard Pratt to manage the day-to-day administrative and clinical management of Prince William Hospital’s 32-bed psychiatric and addiction treatment unit, ambulatory services, as well as internal and external consultation and liaison services.

Prince William Hospital behavioral health care services are available at the Counseling Center which offers a full range of outpatient services for individuals and families, and at the Center for Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment which provides more intensive services, including inpatient hospitalization.

Vikram Khot, M.D., who has served as the hospital’s medical director of behavioral medicine since 1993, will serve as medical director of Sheppard Pratt’s psychiatric services at Prince William Hospital. David J. Carlini has been named administrative director. Prior to joining Sheppard Pratt, Carlini served as CEO of both public and private, free-standing psychiatric hospitals in Virginia, New York, New Hampshire and California.

Sheppard Pratt Health System is the largest provider of behavioral health care services in Maryland. It operates a renowned 322-bed psychiatric hospital near Baltimore and manages psychiatric services for eight other general hospitals in Maryland and Delaware. Prince William Hospital is the first Virginia hospital to contract psychiatric services to Sheppard Pratt.

“Prince William Hospital does an excellent job of providing health care to the people of Prince William County and surrounding communities. We are pleased to be their partner in providing the psychiatric and addiction treatment services that are our specialty,” says Steven S. Sharfstein, M.D., president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System.

“Our new partnership with Sheppard Pratt links Prince William Hospital with an outstanding network of services and mental health professionals unsurpassed in the Mid-Atlantic area,” says Michael J. Swartz, president & CEO of Prince William Health System. “Sheppard Pratt has been providing behavioral health care for more than 100 years so there is no question that the quality of psychiatric care offered at Prince William Hospital will be enhanced by this partnership,” he adds.

Psychiatric management services are also provided by Sheppard Pratt at Upper Chesapeake Health System (Harford County, Md.), Peninsula Regional Medical Center (Salisbury, Md.), Carroll County General Hospital (Westminster, Md.), Frederick Memorial Healthcare System (Frederick, Md.), North Arundel Hospital (Glen Burnie, Md.), St. Agnes Hospital (Baltimore), and Beebe Medical Center (Lewes, Del.)

Sheppard Pratt Health System, head- quartered in Towson, Md., is a private, non-profit provider of behavioral health care. For the 10th consecutive year, the health system’s flagship psychiatric hospital has been ranked one of the nation’s best psychiatric institutions by U.S. News and World Report. Sheppard Pratt Health System also operates special education schools, day hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, housing and rehabilitation programs, social service programs employee assistance programs, and managed behavioral and organizational consulting services.

The Adult Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt now offers help to adults who suffer from a major mental health disorder concurrent with substance abuse or dependence. The specialty program, known as dual diagnosis track, addresses a growing population of patients with co-occurring disorders, and offers a comprehensive, integrated approach to treatment by mental health care and addiction treatment providers.

The treatment of patients with dual disorders can present a challenge for both the patient and the clinician. Patients suffering from psychiatric and substance abuse disorders may be unable to recognize their need for help, or exhibit a diminished ability to ask for help. Even when patients receive professional help, the treatment may be ineffective due to a failure to diagnose the co-occurring disorders, or the treatment addresses only selected aspects of their overall problem.

For the clinician, the presence of both disorders requires a careful diagnosis that can be difficult because the symptoms of one problem can mimic the symptoms of the other. Moreover, while drugs or alcohol may precipitate or exacerbate mental illness, a significant population of individuals suffering from mental illness turns to alcohol or drugs as a means of self-medication. Sheppard Pratt's dual diagnosis program features a unified case management approach staffed by clinicians cross-trained in both mental health and addiction disorders.

Dr. Sunil Khushalani, the Sheppard Pratt psychiatrist who serves as medical director of the specialty track, says, "This program is structured to provide patients with information about their mental illness, the substances commonly used, the interrelationship between the two, addiction management techniques, on-going support from relapse prevention groups, and an introduction to the self-help programs, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous (NA)."

The Adult Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt, a Medicare-certified program, serves individuals who can benefit from intensive team treatment but do not need round-the-clock nursing care provided in an inpatient setting. Day hospital treatment may also serve as a transitional step between the inpatient hospital and full integration into the community. In addition to the dual diagnosis track, the Adult Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt offers treatment for general mental health and behavioral disorders plus a Senior Day Hospital Track for individuals ages 60 or older, and a Trauma Disorders Day Hospital Track. The day hospital is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Transportation is provided in Baltimore City and most areas of Baltimore County. For more information call Sheppard Pratt's admissions office at 410-938-3800 or the Day Hospital at 410-938-4725.

The Day Hospital at Sheppard Pratt is a service of Sheppard Pratt Health System, the private, non-profit behavioral health system that is the primary operating corporation of the Sheppard Pratt Foundation. For the 10th consecutive year, the health system's flagship hospital has been ranked one of the nation's best psychiatric institutions by U.S. News and World Report. Sheppard Pratt Health System also operates special education schools, day hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, housing and rehabilitation programs, social service programs, plus employee assistance programs, and managed behavioral and organizational consulting services.

The Trustees of Sheppard Pratt Health System, Maryland's largest, private non-profit provider of behavioral health services, recently hosted their annual meeting, featuring keynote speaker Rosalynn Carter. The former First Lady addressed the gathering of approximately 300 friends of the Health System at its Conference Center on its flagship Towson campus.

Mrs. Carter, the author of four books, spoke about her mental health advocacy activities and her most recent book, entitled Helping Someone with Mental Illness. A longtime advocate for mental health issues on statewide, federal and international levels, Mrs. Carter also discussed the activities accomplished through the Atlanta based Carter Center, which strives to improve living conditions and advance human rights issues throughout the world.

Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president, medical director and CEO of Sheppard Pratt and a long time personal associate of Mrs. Carter and her husband, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, introduced Mrs. Carter and delivered brief remarks about the continued growth experienced by Sheppard Pratt. In part through its planned strategy of affiliation and contract management, Sheppard Pratt now operates behavioral health programs in 20 locations throughout ten Maryland counties and the City of Baltimore. In FY'99, The Health System provided a combined total of 280,000 units of service and had net revenues of $93 million. Sheppard Pratt has been in operation since 1891 and was founded as a result of the philanthropic gift of Baltimore Quaker businessman Moses Sheppard and the subsequent bequest of Enoch Pratt.

Also at its annual meeting, Board Chairman Dr. Byron Forbush acknowledged the contributions of two retiring Trustees, Dr. Thaddeus Prout and James O'Conor.

Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, located in Towson, Maryland, has for the ninth consecutive year been named among the top ten hospitals in the country for psychiatric care by U.S. News and World Report.

U.S. News ranks hospitals in 16 specialties. Psychiatry is one of four specialties for which rankings are based solely on reputational surveys. The reputational scores come from an annual survey of 150 board-certified psychiatrists who are randomly selected from a database maintained by the American Medical Association and asked to name the five hospitals they consider best for psychiatric treatment, regardless of location or expense. Sheppard Pratt tied for ninth place in the survey this year.

"We are pleased to have been named in the top ten psychiatric hospitals again this year by U.S. News and World Report. Sheppard Pratt's name is synonymous with quality care for behavioral health," says Steven S. Sharfstein, President, Medical Director and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System. "We have exceptionally talented clinicians and a very dedicated staff to thank for our success." The 108 year old Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital is the cornerstone of what has in recent years grown to be a statewide behavioral health system with hospital programs, outpatient counseling centers, rehabilitation programs, schools and managed behavioral care and employee assistance contracts.