Choptank Health’s Sara Rich receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Choptank Community Health System President and CEO Sara Rich, MPA, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Assembly of School-Based Health Care. Rich was nominated by MASBHC Board President Patryce Toye, MD, on behalf of all Board members.

Rich received the award at the MASBHC’s Annual Awards dinner on May 14, 2025, held at The Meeting House in Columbia, Maryland. MASBHC Board Member and Choptank Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz, PA-C, presented her with the award.

MASBHC’s Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have devoted their careers to enhancing the well-being of Maryland’s youth through unwavering support of school-based health care.

This honor celebrates those whose steadfast leadership and advocacy have significantly advanced access to comprehensive health services for children, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive both academically and personally.

“Sara’s contributions to school-based health are far-reaching and enduring,” remarked Bartz while presenting the award to Rich. “Her work has not only changed systems but has impacted thousands of individual lives—students, families, and communities who are healthier today because of her tireless efforts.”

Rich has dedicated more than 25 years to public health, holding leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. She earned her Master’s in Public Administration from Western Michigan University and has devoted her career to ensuring children and families have access to the care and services they need to thrive.

Rich joined Choptank Health in 2007 as Manager of Community-Based Programs. Under her leadership, the School-Based Health Centers expanded from four to 18 Maryland Department of Health-approved sites across five counties, offering medical, dental, and behavioral health services in schools, via telehealth, and through mobile units. In addition, dental-only services are now provided in 19 schools.

“It has been my absolute pleasure to see our program continue to grow under the leadership of our wonderful Director, Chrissy Bartz,” said Rich during her award acceptance. “A special thank you to Chrissy and our incredible Choptank Health team—your daily commitment inspires me.”

Since becoming CEO in 2017, Rich has led Choptank Health through a period of transformative growth, including opening new health centers with pediatric dental and integrated behavioral health services, and implementing a new electronic health record system to better support patients and care teams.

Rich has also made a lasting impact on school-based health care beyond the Eastern Shore. She served as president of the Maryland Assembly on School-Based Health Care (MASBHC), presented at national conferences, and advocated for children’s dental care during a congressional briefing with the late Senator Elijah Cummings, facilitated by the Pew Foundation—underscoring her unwavering commitment to health equity and access for all.

“Tonight’s recognition is a celebration of all of us and of what’s possible, even when the path is difficult,” said Rich. “We must keep moving forward together—focused on health care access, embracing innovation, and staying committed to our mission.”

MASBHC is an advocacy organization that promotes school-based health care to advance the belief that all Maryland children and youth have a basic fundamental right to access and receive comprehensive, quality health care. More is at www.masbhc.org.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, and school-based health services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, pediatric dental, behavioral health, chronic condition support, lab services, and care navigation, with new medical patients welcomed in all Mid-Shore locations. More is at www.choptankhealth.org.

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PHOTOS/CUTLINES:

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MASBHC Board Member and Choptank Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz, PA-C, left, recently presented Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich, MPA, with the Maryland Assembly of School-Based Health Care’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Rich’s noted achievements include expanding Choptank’s school-based health centers from four sites to 18 sites across five counties, with care services including medical, dental, behavioral health, and more.

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Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich was joined on stage to celebrate her MASBHC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Choptank Health’s community-based team members included, from left, Natalie Lewis, CRNP; Kim Fitzgerald, CRNP; Sara Rich, and MASBHC Board Member and Choptank Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz, PA-C.

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Choptank Health President and CEO Sara Rich recently received the Maryland Assembly of School-Based Health Care’s Lifetime Achievement Award, shown here. The award honors individuals who have devoted their careers to enhancing the well-being of Maryland’s youth through unwavering support of school-based health care.