EASTON — Diane Walbridge, director, Acute Care and Emergency Services, Shore Medical Centers at Dorchester and Easton, recently retired from UM Shore Regional Health after more than 43 years of service in the organization’s Nursing and Patient Care Services.

Senior leaders and scores of nurses, nursing assistants, techs, managers and team members from several departments turned out for Ms. Walbridge’s retirement celebration on March 28.

Ruth Ann Jones, senior vice president, Patient Care Services and CNO, and Ken Kozel, president and CEO, led an informal program that provided reminiscences and gratitude for Walbridge’s many contributions to UMSRH.

Describing Ms. Walbridge as a leader who “always had the answer and made herself available to provide it at any hour of the day or night,” many team members expressed their appreciation for her leadership, mentorship, high standards and unconditional support for their efforts in providing quality patient care.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.