2020 is the Year of the Woman in Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed 2020 to be the Year of the Woman in Maryland.
#MarylandYOW
MDVA will be highlighting the dedicated women in Maryland who volunteer to serve on state commissions which support Maryland Veterans in this and future editions of the e-newsletter.
To continue this series, Commissioner Cynthia Macri who serves on the Maryland Veterans Commission is featured. Cynthia provided the following information:
Dr. Macri grew up as an American expatriate in Egypt, Pakistan and Mexico before returning to the US for college. Inspired by the US Embassy Marine Security Guard detachment in Islamabad, she was commissioned in 1979 and attended Temple University School of Medicine on a Navy Scholarship and graduated with an M.D. degree in 1983. After completing training as a gynecologic oncologist, she served in a variety of academic and executive leadership roles at the National Naval Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Naval Medical Education and Training Command, and the Uniformed Services University. She held the position of Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Diversity from April 2009 until her retirement in June 2013. On July 1, 2013 she was recalled to active duty as the Chief Strategist for the 21st Century Sailor Office under the Chief of Naval Personnel.
Dr. Macri devoted her entire military career to education at the pre-college, undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. She is a nationally recognized speaker on health, gender and educational disparities in college and career preparation, cultural intelligence, leveraging cultural differences, professional development, health literacy, race and economic prosperity, and technology in the context of cultural preservation. She is the author or co-author of over 20 scientific papers, 3 book chapters, and over 200 invited presentations. In addition, she has received numerous community service awards for her innovative youth outreach programs to inspire middle and high school students from educationally, economically, and experientially diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in science, medicine, and technology. Dr. Macri is now the Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer for EagleForce Health, a big data analytics company in northern Virginia.
In addition, she serves as the District 8 Representative to the Maryland State Veterans Commission, a veteran member of the Montgomery County Veterans Commission, and as the Asian American Community representative on the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention. Dr. Macri also volunteers as a primary care physician in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, and is a competitive adult soccer player in Howard, Montgomery, Arlington, and Fairfax Counties in the Washington, DC area.
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In the last edition of the MDVA e-newsletter it should have been noted that Commissioner Wanda Colon-Canales was an active duty spouse, and her work on the military bases described was as a civilian employee.
In Memorium: Gordon B. Browning, PhD
It is with sadness we report the passing of Dr. Gordon Browning who served on two of the MDVA Commissions, as well as being a very active advocate for Maryland veterans, including holding Post, District, State and National positions in the American Legion. Dr. Browning at one time served as Chair of the Maryland Veterans Commission and later in his career, he joined the Maryland Veterans Home Commission as a Commissioner.
You may read more about Dr. Browning and his dedicated career and commitment to his family here is his Obituary.
Thank you for your service, Dr. Browning to MDVA and beyond. You will be missed.
Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs are taking proactive steps to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland. For updates on MDVA Operations Status, please check the MDVA website:
 The photo above shows the sewing/work room of Katie Sonntag, the Executive Assistant to Secretary George Owings. When Katie is not working at her MDVA job, she has been making face masks and she has completed more than 100 of them since mid-March. Katie has given these masks to her family, her MDVA co-workers and has donated them to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home for the staff and residents there. Katie, we really appreciate your kindness and thank you for supplying staff and Charlotte Hall residents with a gift we all appreciate.
 MDVA staff are committed to working for our veterans during this time. However, we know that it's important to allow time for self care. Secretary George Owings, Deputy Secretary Bob Finn, and Directors Dana Burl, Pete Pantzer, Sharon Murphy and Phil Munley wanted to share with our readers what they are doing to reduce stress and re-energize.
We are cooking new recipes, taking walks, relaxing with pets and enjoying the mild temperatures. We are practicing good hygiene and wearing our PPE. The entire staff of the MDVA encourages our veterans, family members and community to practice self care, too.
The CDC provides some ideas: eat healthy, exercise regularly, connect with others, take breaks from watching the news, play board games, or read a good book. Learn more by visiting these websites:
CDC: Stress and Coping
US Department of Veterans Affairs: Resources for Managing Stress
What will you do this week to practice self care? Share what you're doing here!
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