Meet the Staff: Maria Friend

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Maria Friend is the Director of Early Care Programs at the Garrett County Health Department (GCHD). She graduated from Southern Garrett High School and then attended Garrett Community College, now Garrett College, to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and study Pre-Nursing. She continued her nursing training and received an RN from Allegany College of Maryland and finally a BSN from University of Maryland School of Nursing.

During nursing school Maria worked for in-home health care and said she loved being in the patient’s home. “Addressing in-home barriers to care that are hard to identify in the hospital setting can lead to better health outcomes for the patient! Returning to the home setting allows the patient more independence and, in many cases, leads to overall improvements in emotional wellness! I had the opportunity to experience this in my work life with patients and in my personal life with my mom, for many years, before she passed away.”

Maria worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant before she became a Registered Nurse and between both professions, worked in many different environments- nursing home, hospital, patient home, clinic, etc. “The home environment is, by far, the place I enjoy working with patients the most.” Maria said.

As Maria progressed through her nursing training, she was able to work at different jobs to increase her work experience, including long-term care at Heartland of Preston County, hospital surgical/trauma care at West Virginia University (WVU), and Home Health Care at GCHD.

Maria started with Early Care in February 2001 and has worked as a Community Health Nurse, Community Health Nurse Supervisor, and now a Community Health Nurse Program Supervisor. She is also a Certified Childbirth Educator.

“Within Early Care Program, I have worked with Nurse Family Partnership, as well as other programs I oversee including Healthy Families Garrett County,  Nurse Case Management for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, and Home Birth Certification,” Maria said. “I also oversee the Maryland Health Connection Insurance Program, Child Fatality Review, Lead Case Management, Kids in Safety Seats program, and Childbirth and Breastfeeding programming.”

“My favorite part of the job is providing support to families and children so they can be the best they can possibly be and knowing they are benefiting from the services they are receiving,” Maria added. “We really never know how much our support means to others “in the moment” of the care we are providing.”

“Learning the positive impact our program has had on others, even if it is years later, is my “Mission Accomplished” in my career!” Maria summed it up.

When she was younger, Maria loved horseback riding. She grew up with 3 sisters on what could be called a “mini farm” with horses and several other animals, as well as lots of gardening and canning fresh produce! In fact, Maria originally wanted to be a veterinarian and was mentored by Dr. Rick Jenkins at Pineview Veterinary for a few years when she was younger.

“Dr. Jenkins provided me with an irreplaceable experience that I am so grateful to have had! I love animals,” Maria said, “but found caring for people to be the ultimate choice for my long-term career!”

Maria’s job keeps her busier than she wants to be on most days, but when she has free time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her newest furry friend, Samson, her 8-month-old Golden Retriever. She also enjoys hanging out indoors with her Goldendoodle, June, who is a rescue and still learning all about life!

Maria’s dad, who passed away a few years ago, frequently said to her husband, son, and her, “If it ain’t fun, don’t do it!”

When Maria thinks about this quote, she adds, “Life is oftentimes too short. I encourage others to –Enjoy the moments you have today as they might not be there tomorrow.”