January 03, 2008

News Release

Gama Named Associate Vice President at Adventist HealthCare

Rockville, Md.— Ismael Gama has been named Associate Vice President of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care for Adventist HealthCare in Rockville Gama will oversee Adventist HealthCare’s Pastoral Care Services, Clinical Pastoral Education Program (CPE), Direct Spiritual Care and Parish Nursing program.  These programs enable people of all faiths within the community to participate in spiritual health ministry programs through Adventist HealthCare.  Gama will also work to promote understanding of the mission, vision and values within the faith-based organization to enhance the compassionate care offered to all of its patients.

“Ismael has provided great leadership in the past,” said William G. “Bill” Robertson, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “I am confident that he will have an even greater positive impact on our organization through his expanded role as we work to accomplish our mission to demonstrate God's care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing.”

Gama, an Ashton, Md. resident, has been the Director of Mission and Pastoral Care at Washington Adventist Hospital since 2005, and he will continue in this role, serving in a dual capacity with the hospital and Adventist HealthCare.

From 2001 to 2005, he served as a pastor of the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church and, from 1998 to 2001, he served as a staff chaplain at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and Adventist Home Health.  He has a B.A. in Theology and Psychology from Columbia Union College and is working on a M.A. in Spirituality and Pastoral Care at Loyola College in Columbia, Md.

Adventist HealthCare, an integrated health care delivery organization based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland.  The mission of Adventist HealthCare is to demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Adventist HealthCare includes Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist Behavioral Health Services, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland, Adventist Senior Living Services, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Adventist Home Health Services, the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Children and Infants and LifeWork Strategies.