Jack and Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center, Inc. (DWD), a national healthcare workforce development nonprofit, is proud to announce The Daily Record has selected Maria Darby, DWD Chief Operating Officer as a 2025 Health Care Hero in its annual awards. Darby was selected as a winner in the Community Outreach (Individual) category.
As home to several renowned medical and federal institutions, Maryland is a national leader in healthcare research and development. The Daily Record’s Health Care Heroes Awards honors those individuals and organizations who have made an impact on the quality of healthcare within the state. The winners were selected by the publishers and editors of The Daily Record.
“I am thrilled that Maria was recognized as a 2025 Health Care Hero by The Daily Record,” said DWD CEO, Barb Clapp. “Maria brings heart, strategy, and deep purpose to everything she does, and her passion for healthcare and workforce development has made a long-lasting difference in communities across Maryland and beyond. Her leadership at DWD continues to open doors and create meaningful career paths for over 6,000 Dwyer Scholars—and counting. We’re proud to have her on our team and are excited to celebrate this incredible recognition with her.”
“The 2025 Health Care Heroes go above and beyond to improve the quality of healthcare in Maryland. They work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others and demonstrate strong empathy, compassion and listening skills,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “The accomplishments of this year’s honorees are incredibly noteworthy, and we at The Daily Record are honored to celebrate these outstanding healthcare leaders.”
As a catalyst for change, Maria has championed healthcare education, workforce development, and community empowerment across Maryland. Under Maria’s leadership, DWD has and continues to scale rapidly, breaking down barriers, and creating life-changing career opportunities for thousands of individuals who lack opportunity—in Maryland and throughout the country. Since inception, DWD has served over 6,000 Dwyer Scholars, with the majority based in Maryland, all now actively contributing to the healthcare workforce.
Beyond her professional role at DWD, Maria serves on the boards of Service Coordination, Inc., Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Lifespan Network Beacon Institute, and Notre Dame University of Maryland’s School of Nursing. She has also co-led Executive Alliance’s mentoring program to uplift women leaders, served as President of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center board of directors and was on the Leadership Baltimore County Board—among many others.
Winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the June 20 issue of The Daily Record and will be available online at www.TheDailyRecord.com. View the full list of honorees below and at www.thedailyrecord.com/event/health-care-heroes/.
2025 Health Care Heroes
Lifetime Achievement
Michael Brooks, CalvertHealth
Paul Gurbel, Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research and Drug Development
Dawn Jacobs, Baltimore Medical System Inc.
Sherry Perkins, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
Advancements and Innovation in Health Care
CalvertHealth, Center for Digestive Diseases & Weight Management
Kaiser Permanente, Center for Healthy Weight and Lifestyle Medicine
LifeBridge Health, Stop The Iron Pipeline
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, AvaSure Visual Remote Modeling and Aceso Interactive
University of Maryland Medical System, NEST Remote Fetal Monitoring
Community Outreach (Individual)
Christina Burke-Poland, Student Health Center
Maria Darby, Dwyer Workforce Development
Jessica Lee, University of Maryland Medical Center
Teri White, University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
Community Outreach (Organization)
HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM)
Junior League Prince George’s County, SLK Annual Test for a Turkey
Maryland Public Television, Maryland State Ad Agency and the Maryland Department of Health, “Flex Your Protection” Vaccination Campaign
Sheppard Pratt, Sheppard Pratt Mental Health Training Camp
Mental Health Hero (Individual)
Scott Aaronson, Sheppard Pratt
Crimson Barocca, The Jill Fox Center for Hope
Christina Darwin, Ashley Addiction Treatment – Ashley Behavioral Health and Wellness
Sarah Gardner, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kerry Graves, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore
Christina Lee, Kaiser Permanente
Jacob Swartz, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
Mental Health Hero (Organization)
Baltimore Medical System, Baltimore Medical System’s School-Based Behavioral Health Program
K&I Healthcare Services, Mental Health & SUD Treatment
Nurse of the Year
Lou Bartolo, Maryland Nurses Association
Nebiat Habtegabir, Luminis Health Doctors Community Hospital
John Lankford, CalvertHealth Medical Center
Caroline Mwangi, Tuerk House
Shellee Stine, University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
Alma Ta’Asan, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
Nurse Practitioner of the Year
Kimberly Davis, Northwest Hospital
Ashley Fenton, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing & The Collective NP Clinic
Jennifer Fisher, LifeBridge Health Heart Failure Clinic
Kelvinda Kamara, NP On Call
Agatha Ukaegbu, Tuerk House
Physician of the Year
Ajoke Ajayi-Akintade, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, M.D., M.O.H., F.A.A.P.
Kwame Akoto, Kaiser Permanente
Ramzi Alami, CalvertHealth
Marlene Mahipat, Mediquest LLC
Baltej Singh, ChristianaCare Union Hospital
Maurice Smith, Frederick Health
Carolyn Thangawng, Recovery Centers of America (Capital Region and Bracebridge Hall)
Hisham Valiuddin, Rohm AI
Vincent Van Acht, Northwest Hospital
Kate Viola, M.D., M.H.S., F.A.A.D., Dermatology Partners
Volunteer of the Year
Margaret Alexander, Luminus Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
Dawn Goldberg, Sinai Children’s Hospital
Valerie Nicholas, Luminis Health
Workplace Wellness Program of the Year
Roland Park Place, Roland Park Place Associate Wellness Program
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About Dwyer Workforce Development (www.dwyerworkforcedev.org)
Dwyer Workforce Development is a unique 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to provide comprehensive support to individuals who lack opportunity and aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, alleviate a severe healthcare workforce shortage, and improve the lives of seniors and the community at large. Dwyer Workforce Development provides program participants – Dwyer Scholars – Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, job placement support in healthcare facilities, need-based wraparound services, and person-centered case management to foster successful outcomes. Founded by businessman and entrepreneur, Jack Dwyer and his family, in 2021, DWD’s unique model is redefining what it means to give back by creating career opportunities for those who lack opportunity, reducing healthcare staff shortages, and improving patient care. Handpicked by Jack Dwyer to lead the organization, Barb Clapp serves as CEO, bringing visionary leadership and a deep commitment to equity and impact. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, DWD has grown exponentially since inception with a national footprint encompassing Maryland, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. For more information, visit www.dwyerworkforcedev.org and follow DWD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
About The Daily Record (www.thedailyrecord.com)
The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government and business at TheDailyRecord.com. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year in a variety of industries including Power Lists. The Daily Record hosts 11 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. These events include Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders, Health Care Heroes, Icon Honors and more. The Daily Record’s Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting and email marketing among other services. The Daily Record, with 137 years of editorial excellence, is part of BridgeTower Media, the authoritative voice for insights and marketing solutions across 40+ brands in five key sectors across the United States.