Together
We Grow Dear Friends, As 2026 draws to a close, we are filled with gratitude for all we have accomplished together. Thanks to you, this has been an extraordinary year for Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and the patients and families served by the hospital. Throughout this newsletter, you’ll read about the ways your support has made a difference, from helping bring our Horizon Tower to life to advancing innovative programs and technology that make exceptional patient care possible across the community. You’ll also read stories of how life-saving care inspired transformational gifts to the Tower. We’ll also share the many honors Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center has recently earned for excellence in patient care across our services. You have made a remarkable difference for the community and the level of care they receive. This year marks the successful conclusion of the capital campaign for the Tower. While we celebrate all that has been achieved, our work is far from over. Looking ahead to 2027, we remain committed to meeting our community’s evolving healthcare needs and ensuring every patient receives compassionate, high-quality care. Thank you for your partnership, generosity and belief in our Mission. We are proud to share the impact of your giving and excited for all that lies ahead. With gratitude,
Daniel Cochran President Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center
Horizon Tower Now Serving Patients Early on June 14, Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center welcomed our first emergency and critical care patients into the Horizon Tower. Its enhanced spaces are an investment years in the making and a powerful symbol of modern, compassionate and community-centered healthcare for Montgomery County. A week earlier, at a ribbon-cutting on June 5, hospital leaders, physicians, nurses, community partners and donors gathered to dedicate the long-anticipated six-story building, designed to elevate both the patient and caregiver experience. The event celebrated not only the completion of major enhancements to our hospital campus, but the realization of a vision: to deliver next-level care in spaces shaped by evidence, innovation and the voices of those who give and receive care every day. “Behind us is more than steel and glass. The Horizon Tower represents years of planning, partnership and dedication, all centered around one goal: caring for this community for generations to come,” said Dan Cochran, president of Shady Grove Medical Center, at the ceremony. More than an architectural addition, the new tower shifts care delivery at our hospital. It brings advanced medical services closer together in a setting designed to reduce stress, support healing and foster connection. Every major decision, from private rooms to gardens and light-filled corridors, reflects a century-long hallmark of the Adventist HealthCare system: Patients and caregivers do better in spaces that care for the whole person.
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Together We Grow Philanthropy-Fueled Innovation Completion of the Horizon Tower would not have been possible without the many gifts from neighbors, patients and their families and business and community leaders who gave in support of Adventist HealthCare’s Mission. In the weeks leading up to the tower’s opening, the hospital recognized three transformational donors and celebrated their generosity by unveiling spaces named in their honor.
On May 17, Larry and Fern Bensignor gathered with friends, family and hospital leadership to unveil the Larry & Fern Bensignor Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology Laboratory. Their gift was inspired by the life-saving care he received at Shady Grove Medical Center during a “widow maker” heart attack. The Bensignors’ legacy bequest was to ensure that others who arrive at the hospital will have access to the advanced life-saving technology and treatments. Larry is forever grateful for more time with his family, particularly his grandson, the apple of his eye.
Sunday, May 31 was the day Ron and Joy Paul, surrounded by loved ones, witnessed the unveiling of the Ron & Joy Paul Family Intensive Care Unit. For the Pauls, the dedication marked a deeply personal milestone rooted in gratitude and community connection. Ron, a two-time kidney transplant recipient, has long been an advocate for healthcare access and innovation. “We are proud that our family can help ensure county residents can count on state-of-the-art intensive care when they need it most,” he said. “This community has given us so much, and we see this as a way to give back in a meaningful and lasting way.”
Conrad V. Aschenbach and his family celebrated with hospital leadership on Thursday, June 4 for the dedication of the Lois K. Aschenbach Family Lounge in Shady Grove Medical Center’s Robert V. Aschenbach Emergency Department, now in the Horizon Tower. “The Aschenbach family has lived and thrived in the Gaithersburg area for decades. As president of the King Automotive Group, Conrad is a highly regarded business leader,” explains a family spokesperson. “It’s important to him that we give back to the community. Contributing to a state-of-the-art patient tower means our gift will keep giving well into the future.”
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Award-Winning Care
Exceptional Cardiac & Stroke Care Recognized by American Heart Association Shady Grove Medical Center has earned the American Heart Association’s 2026 Commitment to Quality award, which recognizes the hospital’s comprehensive, systemwide approach to quality improvement. Shady Grove Medical Center is one of just 222 hospitals in the U.S. to earn the recognition. The honor followed news this summer that Shady Grove Medical Center and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center received several specialty awards from the American Heart Association for delivering high-quality, evidencebased care for patients experiencing stroke and heart attack emergencies. Both hospitals earned the 2026 Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll in recognition of their commitment to following the latest treatment guidelines and improving outcomes for stroke patients. Stroke occurs when blood flow to part of
the brain is interrupted, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to reducing disability and improving recovery. In addition, Shady Grove Medical Center received Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus designation, recognizing the hospital’s achievement in providing advanced stroke care and meeting rigorous quality measures. Both hospitals were also recognized for their dedication to evidence-based treatment of patients experiencing non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), a serious type of heart attack caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Prompt diagnosis and treatment help prevent further heart damage and improve patient outcomes. Shady Grove Medical Center and White Oak Medical Center earned the Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Silver Award with Target: Type 2 Diabetes, highlighting their commitment to delivering high quality, research driven cardiac care and improving the health of patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Also, both hospitals earned the Get With The Guidelines® – Resuscitation awards for dedication to delivering guideline-based care for in-hospital cardiac arrest, ultimately helping to improve survival rates.
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Together We Grow Shady Grove Medical Center Named One of Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals Each year, thousands of families choose Shady Grove Medical Center to welcome their babies. Now, our hospital’s Birth Center has earned national distinction for its care. Newsweek has named Shady Grove Medical Center to its list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2026. Shady Grove Medical Center is the only hospital in Montgomery County and one of just 10 hospitals in Maryland to earn a place on the list. Newsweek and research firm Statista looked at hospital quality data, patient experience scores and survey data from medical professionals for its rankings. The designation reflects Shady Grove Medical Center’s commitment to delivering safe, compassionate, high-quality care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum journey.
For instance, this year, the Birth Center has continued its dedication to extending access to prenatal care at our Maternal Care Center, located next to the hospital. The Maternal Care Center provides family-centered pregnancy and childbirth care for women across our community regardless of their insurance status. The Center recently earned accreditation in Centering Pregnancy®, an innovative program that brings eight to 10 women with similar due dates together for their appointments. After of brief individual checkups, moms spend time with a certified nurse midwife and obstetrician in a group setting. Sessions last 90 minutes to two hours, giving moms time to learn, connect, and actively participate in their care. To read more about the Newsweek honor and explore our maternity services, visit AdventistHealthCare. com/services/pregnancy-birth/.
Your Gifts Make Exceptional Care Possible in Every Community We Serve A Golf Outing Leads to a Lifesaving Discovery When Paul stepped into a clubhouse to escape the 100-degree heat during a golf outing in July 2025, he never imagined it would lead to a lifesaving diagnosis. An active husband, father and golfer, Paul had been managing Type II diabetes since 2022 and routinely received positive health reports. After experiencing symptoms that were initially thought to be heat stroke, he was taken by ambulance to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, where testing revealed severe blockages in two heart arteries. Interventional cardiologist Aloke Finn, MD, placed a stent to open a critical blockage, and Paul began his recovery in the intensive care unit. Throughout
his stay, he was impressed by the speed, expertise and compassion of the care team. “The care was exceptional,” Paul said. He especially appreciated how staff supported both him and his wife, taking time to listen and involve them in every decision. Now living with coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes, Paul continues to enjoy golfing, walking his dogs and spending time with his family while focusing on nutrition and moderation. “From the lady at the front desk to the nurses in the operating room, every single person was extraordinary,” he said.
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Together We Grow Philanthropy Supports the Next Generation of Healers Outstanding Student Volunteers Honored with Scholarships Volunteers and donors, David and Karen Westreich helped launch our Junior Volunteer Scholarship Awards in honor of a family friend. Their continued support, contributions from other volunteers help fund the scholarship. Three exceptional Shady Grove Medical Center junior volunteers, Sonia Rele, Alejandra Unda and David Zaff, are recipients of our 2026 Junior Volunteer Scholarship Awards. Each student received $2,500 to pursue clinical careers in college. Sonia, who volunteered for more than 212 hours on Unit 4D, is attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and majoring in biology. Unit Support Coordinator Aminta Campos said Sonia’s “positive attitude significantly brightened the unit and brought comfort to those around her.”
Alejandra, an aspiring physician who contributed more than 604 hours on Units 4A and 4B, also is attending UMBC, majoring in psychology. Manager Myeisha Cunningham, RN, praised Alejandra’s self-motivation and noted: “Her kindness, empathy, and strong work ethic reflects the values that are essential in healthcare and community service.” David volunteered more than 413 hours on Unit 2B and in the Emergency Department. He is attending George Washington University to study public health, led by interests in infectious diseases and expanding healthcare access. David said he’s learned so much by volunteering at the hospital. “Healthcare is about much more than medicine. It is also about compassion, patience, and making people feel cared for during uncertain moments.”
Thank you As we reflect on the impact made possible through your generosity, I am filled with gratitude for your partnership and commitment to our mission. Your support continues to change lives, strengthen our community and inspire hope for the future. Thank you for sharing the vision. Together, we can accomplish even more in the months and years ahead. We are deeply grateful for your continued support. Warm regards,
Alexis (Lexi) Robbins Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center To contact Lexi: ARobbins@AdventistHealthCare.com
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9901 Medical Center Drive • Rockville, MD 20850
Shady Grove Medical Center Earns National Safety Recognition This spring, Shady Grove Medical Center earned its first Leapfrog “A” Hospital Safety Grade, a milestone that reflects years of commitment to patient safety. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization, assigns letter grades to hospitals across the country based on how well they prevent medical errors, injuries and infections. An “A” is Leapfrog’s highest grade. For our community, the recognition reflects a dedication to minimizing risks and prioritizing patient safety at every step of care. Shady Grove Medical Center’s recognition made Adventist HealthCare the only health system in Maryland with a Leapfrog “A” grade at all of its acute-care hospitals, reflecting a shared focus on safety across the organization. What the Leapfrog “A” Measures Leapfrog’s Safety Grade is based on publicly reported data and national performance
measures. It evaluates how effectively hospitals protect patients from preventable harm. That includes everything from infection prevention and medication safety to surgical protocols, error prevention systems and leadership practices that support a culture of safety. This is not a satisfaction survey or a reputation score. It is a data-driven assessment of how well a hospital safeguards patients. “This recognition reflects the dedication to patient safety,” said Cheri Hahn, director of quality services. “Every role contributes to protecting our patients.” It requires vigilance, collaboration and accountability across every department and every shift. Safety is not a one-time accomplishment – it’s ongoing. Behind every safety measure is a parent, a neighbor, a child. And protecting them is work that never stops.