MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Administrative team
-
Mimi Novello, MD, MBA, FACEP
President and Chief Medical Officer, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
-
John Greely, FACHE
Vice President, Operations
-
Michael Meisel, MBA, CHFP
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer,
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital -
Dawn Yeitrakis, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEN
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital is a volunteer body dedicated to fulfilling the mission, vision, and values of the hospital. The board consists of community members, MedStar Health leaders, and representation from our Medical Staff.
Board members have experience on other boards or public committees, many related to the healthcare industry. They also have extensive professional and business achievements, as well as strong leadership skills. Their objectivity, commitment of time, and dedication to the community all play an important role in the success of the Board of Directors and MedStar St. Mary’s as a whole.
Since its inception, the board has guided the hospital toward many important goals. At the recommendation of its members, the hospital has expanded the array of medical specialties on staff and directed the hospital toward the acquisition of many cutting-edge technologies, such as our fully integrated electronic medical record system.
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors
Jennifer Blake
Chair of the Board of Directors
Jennifer Blake is the Director of the Digital Department for Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers at the U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command. A graduate of Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, Blake holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and Spanish literature as well as a master’s degree in business administration from The George Washington University. She is a graduate of both the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for Democratic Society and the Naval Air Systems Command Senior Executive Management Development Program. Blake has been a member and chair of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, as well as a member and current chair of the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors.Bonnie Bowes
Bonnie Bowes is a managing director in the SAP Public Sector practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. She is responsible for and involved in a wide range of consulting assignments covering business strategies; stakeholder relationship management, business process improvements; and enterprise resource planning implementation and sustainment. She has held positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Navy as the SAP Center of Excellence (CoE) subject matter expert responsible for leading efforts to standardize support processes enabling those agencies to receive CoE certification. She is a certified Project Management Professional with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Anna H. Choi, MD
Dr. Anna Choi is Director of Breast Imaging at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. A graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, Dr. Choi completed her internship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, followed by a residency and fellowship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Center. She is board certified in diagnostic radiology.
James Damalouji, MD
Dr. James Damalouji is an emergency medicine physician and chair of the Department of the Emergency Medicine at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Dr. Damalouji holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a lifelong resident of Southern Maryland and has been a member of the hospital’s Medical Staff since 1987.
Karen Garner
Karen Garner is chair of the Philanthropy Committee, a member of the Quality and Safety Professional Affairs Committee (QSPAC), and serves on the Board of Directors of MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. She was previously president of Rational HealthCare, which focuses on improving the integration of humans and technology to reduce health care costs and increase safety, until retirement in 2016. Garner co-founded Research and Engineering Development, Inc., a defense company specializing in industrial engineering and was president of RED-INC for 18 years. She retired as an engineering psychologist after 25 years supporting the U.S. Navy. Garner holds an associate degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Tracy Harris, PhD
Dr. Tracy Harris is vice president of student equity and success for the College of Southern Maryland, overseeing admissions, recruitment, registration, transfer and articulation services, financial aid services, disability support services, Title IX administration, and veteran affairs, among many roles. Dr. Harris has served and presented on leadership, enrollment management, student assessment, and stress management on state and national levels, and published peer-reviewed research articles on the persistence of first-year college students, among other topics. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Community College Leadership from Walden University; a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh with certification in personnel and labor relations; and a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from The Pennsylvania State University.
John Harvey, MD
Board-certified Vascular Surgeon and General Surgeon with MedStar Shah Medical Group, also serving as Vice Chief of Staff at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
Dr. John Harvey is a board-certified vascular surgeon and general surgeon with MedStar Shah Medical Group, also serving as chief of the medical staff at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. After earning his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Dr. Harvey completed his residency in general surgery at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. His fellowship in vascular surgery was completed at Englewood Hospital & Medical Center in New Jersey.Glen Ives
Glen Ives currently serves as chief operating officer of Castellum, Inc. and chief executive officer of Corvus Consulting, LLC, a subsidiary of Castellum. He formerly served as president and chief executive officer of Sabre Systems, Inc. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and United States Army War College, he served as a naval officer and naval aviator deployed globally and nationally prior to joining Sabre. His last Navy assignment was in Southern Maryland as commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. In addition to his role on the Board of Directors at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, Ives serves on the Board of Directors of the Professional Services Council, the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and the Advisory Board for the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland. He is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and previously served as president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance.
Mimi Novello, MD, MBA, FACEP
President and Chief Medical Officer, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
Dr. Mimi Novello is president and chief medical officer of MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Prior to her arrival at MedStar St. Mary’s in 2022, Dr. Novello served in numerous leadership positions at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, most recently as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer from 2017 to 2021. During her 22-year tenure at MedStar Franklin Square, Dr. Novello oversaw quality, safety and risk management, clinical process improvement, programmatic growth, physician strategic development, Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education, and medical staff relations for the hospital. As the Chief Medical Information Officer, she managed the implementation of Information Technology (IT) applications, including MedConnect, MedStar Health’s electronic health record. Board certified in emergency medicine, Dr. Novello was also an attending physician in the hospital’s Emergency Department. She is a graduate of Washington University School of Medicine, completing her internship at Rhode Island Hospital and her residency at Medical College of Pennsylvania.Sonya Pollock
Sonya Pollock is a supervisory human resources specialist for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. She holds a Master of Science in human resources development from Towson University, and a bachelor's degree in public policy analysis from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Michael Sachtleben
Michael Sachtleben is senior vice president and chief operating officer, Washington Region, for MedStar Health, as well as president of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Sachtleben serves as strategic market lead for the Washington Region, coordinating execution of MedStar Health strategic objectives while supporting day-to-day operations to deliver patient care across the region’s six hospitals and rehabilitation services systemwide. A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, he earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Sachtleben also holds a certificate in leadership from Georgetown University Center for Professional Development and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Leadership Greater Washington.
Tara Saggar, MD
Dr. Tara Saggar is Assistant Vice President of MedStar Primary Care for MedStar Health, providing clinical leadership oversight of all MedStar Health Internal Medicine and Family Medicine primary care operations. Dr. Saggar earned her Doctor of Medicine from Saba University School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine Residency at West Suburban Medical Center. She holds a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Science from Miami University. In addition to her role on MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s Board of Directors, she is a committee member for the Maryland Primary Care Program Care Transformation Organization. Dr. Saggar holds a Lean Six Sigma green belt certification and is a board-certified diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Kenneth Samet
MedStar Health President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Samet is responsible for a $6.5 billion not-for-profit, healthcare delivery system. Samet provides strategic oversight and management for MedStar Health—the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. Prior to becoming MedStar Health’s president and chief executive officer in 2008, Samet served as the system’s first chief operating officer since MedStar Health’s inception in 1998. Samet has dedicated his career to health care, serving as president of MedStar Washington Hospital Center, one of the nation’s largest tertiary care hospitals, in the District of Columbia from 1990 to 2000. From the mid-1980s to 1990, Samet held a variety of leadership positions with the Medlantic Healthcare Group, which merged with Helix Health in 1998 to create MedStar Health. He holds a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan.
Stephen Schmeiser
CAPT Stephen A. Schmeiser, USN (Retired) has lived and worked in Southern Maryland for many years, retiring from his post as Commanding Officer of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in 2011. During his 27-year career with the U.S. Navy, Schmeiser attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School before studying Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School/ICAF, Washington, D.C. A certified Project Management Professional, he is an operations manager with the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Yahia Tagouri, MD
Dr. Yahia Tagouri is a pathologist and current vice chief of the medical staff at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.
Vince Whittles
Vice chair of the Board of Directors
Vince Whittles is the owner of SERVPRO of St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, a Lexington Park-based cleanup and restoration business serving the community for more than 35 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Whittles previously served as a member of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation and chair of the Philanthropy Committee of the Board of Directors.
Philanthropy Committee of the Board of Directors
The Philanthropy Committee of the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors serves as the fundraising arm of MedStar St. Mary's Hospital. Since 1912, MedStar St. Mary's Hospital has been dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of our community. The hospital is a not-for-profit facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, health education and community outreach The Philanthropy Committee, formerly the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, raises private funds to support capital expansion projects, advanced medical technology and programs. Since 2001, it has awarded scholarships to more than 140 individuals pursuing education in nursing and healthcare fields.
The Philanthropy Committee is comprised of community volunteers who recognize the positive impact of philanthropy on the hospital and our community's health. The committee appreciates your continued support of our hospital and wants you to know that your participation at any level matters. The Philanthropy Committee offers several events and opportunities throughout the year, including the annual MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Gala.
Learn more about ways to give to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital
Philanthropy Committee members include:
- Karen Garner, chair
- Tom Clark
- Pamela Jamieson
- Jeff Jeffries
- Conor Loughran
- Karla Matthews
- Dana McPherson
- Dr. Mimi Novello
- Nick Stellway
- Yahia Tagouri
- Leslie Taylor
- Lea Weaver
Healthcare Scholarships
Since 2001, the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital has been awarding scholarships to Southern Maryland candidates interested in pursuing a healthcare career. The Committee accepts applications from individuals interested not only in nursing, but also in the growing field of allied health. These allied health professionals are involved in many aspects of health care, including but not limited to:
- Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
- Radiology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Ultrasound
- Laboratory Technology
Each of the scholarships awarded cover payment for tuition, books, and fees associated with the degree or certification.
Scholarship Application Requirements:
- Scholarships are only for residents of Southern Maryland: St. Mary's, Charles and Calvert counties
- You must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA if applying within four years of high school graduation
- If it has been more than four years since high school graduation, please submit an ACT score or proof of degree from another school. (This program is not exclusively focusing on high-school aged students; many receive a scholarship as a second career)
- In return for receiving the scholarship, recipients will commit to working at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital for at least one year if a position is available
For more information on the scholarship program, please click here.
Medical staff leadership
John Harvey, MD
Vascular Surgery
Chief of the Medical Staff
Yahia Tagouri, MD
Pathology
Vice Chief of Staff
Tushar Samdani, MD
Colorectal Surgery
Secretary/Treasurer
Department Chiefs
- Anesthesiology: Nyles Burton, MD
- Emergency Medicine: James Damalouji, MD
- Family Medicine: Karen Bauer, MD
- Medicine: Jean Pierre El Khoury, MD
- Obstetrics/Gynecology: Arthur Greenwood, MD
- Pathology: Yahia Tagouri, MD
- Pediatrics: Naveen Minumula, MD
- Psychiatry: Stephen Durrenberger, MD
- Radiology: Alan Ost, MD
- Surgery: Emmanuel Atiemo, MD