What’s Next for GBMC? New Board Chair Jerry Focas Shares His Vision

As GBMC Healthcare embarks on a new chapter of leadership and innovation, longtime Towson attorney Jerry Focas is stepping into a critical role as Chair of the Board of Directors. With over three decades of experience in estate and trust law and deep roots in the community, Focas brings not only a legal mind to the position but a personal passion for community-based healthcare.

Focas takes on the role during a pivotal moment for GBMC. The healthcare system is preparing to bring on a new CEO, following the 15-year tenure of Dr. John Chessare. “I’m most excited about working with the board through the CEO transition,” Focas says. “We’re looking for someone who can take Dr. Chessare’s legacy and push it even further.”

In this time of transition, Focas isn’t shying away from the challenges ahead, particularly those tied to Maryland’s unique healthcare financing model. Under the state’s Medicare waiver and global budget system, hospitals receive a fixed sum each year to deliver care to the community. The model rewards prevention and efficiency, but also creates financial pressure in times of inflation and rising labor and supply costs.

“Hospitals can’t simply raise prices like other industries,” Focas explains. “We have to manage population health within the budget we’re given and that creates real challenges.”

Despite the complexities, Focas believes GBMC is uniquely positioned for success. “We’ve built a system, not just a hospital,” he says. In addition to its Towson-based hospital, GBMC operates more than ten primary care offices across Baltimore County, a robust cancer center, the Gilchrist hospice and home care system, and even physical therapy and anesthesiology ventures. These service lines generate what Focas calls “unregulated revenue,” helping the system remain financially stable while staying true to its mission.

GBMC’s goal is clear: keep patients healthy and out of the hospital whenever possible. “Hospital care is the most expensive care,” Focas says. “If we can manage diabetes in the primary care setting, we avoid emergency admissions later.”

This approach to integrated, patient-centered care is exemplified in GBMC’s new facilities. The recently completed Sandra R. Berman Pavillion consolidates oncology services under one roof, while the new Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building is designed to promote collaboration and use the latest healthcare technologies.

One of GBMC’s biggest advantages, Focas notes, is its culture. “It’s the only hospital in Maryland to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award,” he points out. “Everyone from leadership to nursing to physicians embraces the mission: to provide the same care you would want for your loved ones.” He also credits the leadership and commitment of Carolyn Candiello, GBMC’s Senior Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety, as instrumental in achieving the prestigious award.

Maintaining this standard requires strong talent across the board, especially in today’s competitive hiring environment. Focas credits leaders like Chief Nursing Officer Angie Feurer and VP of HR Anna Maria Palmer for building strong pipelines for nursing and advanced practice roles. GBMC also invests in a residency program and research opportunities, helping recruit and retain top physicians.

More than just a medical center, GBMC is woven into the fabric of Towson and Baltimore County. It’s home to the only dedicated pediatric emergency department in the county, a rarity since many others have closed. It runs a domestic violence intervention program funded through philanthropy and operates a primary care practice in underserved Jonestown.

These initiatives aren’t always profitable, but they reflect GBMC’s deep commitment to health equity and community care. “We do a lot of things because they’re the right thing to do,” Focas says. “That’s part of what makes us different.”

While many hospital boards are composed mostly of medical professionals, GBMC’s 28-member board is intentionally diverse. In addition to three senior physicians, the board includes lawyers, accountants, IT professionals, investment advisors, and retired healthcare executives, all volunteers.

“It’s an extraordinary group of people rowing in the same direction,” Focas says. “The board brings governance, financial stewardship, and a wide range of expertise to guide the system forward.”

As a 35-year resident and practitioner in Towson, Focas has a message for the community: get involved.

“Take some time to learn what GBMC really does,” he urges. “Come walk in the Father's Day 5K, support our fundraisers, or volunteer your time. GBMC is your hospital, and it thrives when the community is engaged.”

With the challenges of healthcare reform, workforce shortages, and economic uncertainty on the horizon, GBMC is fortunate to have a board leader like Jerry Focas—someone who brings not only strategic leadership, but a deep sense of service.