Talbot County unveils new health department

EASTON — County leaders, employees and residents celebrated the unveiling of a new and improved Talbot County Health Department facility on Friday afternoon.

Health Officer Maria Maguire spoke to attendees at a ribbon cutting ceremony, detailing the benefits of the 38,000-square-foot site on Cadmus Lane compared to the former health department building, which sits at 100 S. Hanson Street.

“Most notably is the sheer space and size of this building,” Maguire said, “which we are very grateful to occupy, as we have grown in our programming and our staff.”

“ … In this building we have triple the size of our clinical space, so that more health services, such as cancer screenings, comprehensive health assessments, preventive immunizations and health counseling, can be provided.”

Other improvements include increased parking spaces, more exam rooms and a new emergency response operations center. There will also be more conference rooms and meeting rooms to help the department with community outreach.

Gillis Gilkerson handled contracting and construction for the new facility, which is an addition to the company’s Achievement Park, a 14-acre area that also houses UM Shore Medical Pavilion and DaVita Easton Dialysis Center.

Gillis Gilkerson bought Achievement Park in 2011 to transform what was an industrial printing building into a medical complex. Founder Palmer Gillis said “his mind went to work” when he first saw the empty space.

“We recognized an opportunity to consolidate multiple Mid-Shore medical practices onto one campus,” Gillis said during the ceremony. “Our team embarked on a vision to transform the Cadmus Lane printing facility into a high-profile, state-of-the-art medical and professional office park.”

Maguire said the new building will allow the department to house its Women, Infants, and Children program, along with other leadership, onsite instead of offsite.

Residents can still receive services at the South Hanson Street location until the new location opens July 22.

“This council and the past council have done really good work to get to this point,” Talbot County Council President Chuck Callahan said. “I’m glad to be a part of it. I’m glad to have good people behind us.”