With Dr. Celeste Ziara at the helm as director of dental Sservices, the future gets brighter every day for TLC’s Dental Department. To accommodate more patients and upgrade services, TLC has added several new dentists to the family, and is in the midst of a complete dental facility makeover. The brand-new, state-of-the-art facility is expected to open by early 2010.

Ziara, an Eastern Shore native, is also new to TLC. She earned a degree in respiratory therapy at Salisbury University, then attended dental school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore while working at Shock Trauma. Graduating in 1994, she returned to the Shore, and is married with two children.

After 15 years, she left private practice to go into community health dentistry. Providing urgent dental care at the Holly Center, she had seen “a tremendous need for practitioners on the Eastern Shore. Something has to be done,” she added.

Ziara said the need is particularly pressing among those on medical assistance and the uninsured. In the present economy, “dental needs are usually the last to be taken care of,” she said.

Typical of health care providers at TLC, Ziara wants to make sure patients get quality medical care and plenty of “TLC.”

TLC provides comprehensive treatment, physically and mentally — from pediatrics to adult medicine, OB/GYN to dental and mental — “the best treatment, all in one spot,” said clinical social worker Christine Bozick. By providing a full array of treatment, and even discounted medicines from the pharmacy in some cases, TLC “removes all roadblocks to treatment,” she added.

“We want to create community resources for people in need,” Bozick continued, “and to remove the stigma attached to mental health [treatment].” Bozick shares TLC’s goals of providing outstanding mental health care, involving the patients in their own treatment and educating them about their mental health diagnosis.

A previous member of the TLC family, Bozick returned to TLC this spring, accepting the position of clinical director of TLC’s mental health department. She’s been working in the mental health field since the early 1980s, when she worked at Life Crisis Center, a community hotline for domestic violence and sexual assault. Bozick helped establish a formal program there and stayed 14 years.

While attending graduate school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, she worked at the Worcester County Health Department developing a school-based treatment program and summer “H.O.T. Boards” (Health on the Boards) program, part of the “Play It Safe” Program for teens drawn to the area by the beach. In addition to treating minor illnesses, the clinic provided psychological and substance abuse counseling.

After receiving her graduate degree, Bozick joined TLC as they were developing a behavioral health program. At the time, it was more psychological testing than mental health counseling, she explained. So, she helped develop a mental health program which included a school-based treatment program.

Eight years later, she left to work at Maple Shade, an outpatient mental health and group home. But there she was on duty 24/7, she said, so when Dr. Daniel Eisemann persistently asked her return to TLC, she finally said yes. He wanted her to give direction back to the mental health program there.

TLC has two mental health clinics, each with its own board-certified psychiatrist — Dr. Venkatesh Handratta in Princess Anne and Dr. Joseph Doumit in Salisbury. “They are excellent providers,” Bozick said. “They have a wealth of experience and are a very good resource.”

Another good resource at TLC is Eisemann himself, who came to the Eastern Shore in 1982 after seven years in the military to set up a private OB/GYN practice, Eastern Shore Obstetrics & Gynecology, with Dr. Floyd Gray. Eisemann joined TLC in 2002, giving up his private practice, he said, “because of all the benefits we can offer patients — and because of the increasing demands of running a private practice.”

Eisemann and his wife of 38 years, Ellen, live in Salisbury. Their two children and seven grandchildren all live in the area.

Currently TLC has seven OB/GYN physicians. Recent additions to the OB/GYN team include Dr. Sara Haverty and Dr. Kelli Luttrell.

TLC also wants ensure that patients can obtain needed medication. Both pharmacies are dedicated to making sure patients can afford their prescriptions. Delmarva Pharmacy is SIGIS certified, meaning customers can use HSA or Flexcards that tap into their Flexible Spending Accounts at work. For even more convenience, TLC offers free delivery. A dedicated delivery driver is now available full time out of TLC’s Princess Anne pharmacy for deliveries there and in Crisfield and Pocomoke. Delmarva Pharmacy delivers medications from Salisbury to Quantico, Hebron, Ocean City, Willards and Snow Hill.

For more information, call 410-651-1000 or visit
www.tlccs.org.