Parenthood Of Maryland

Planned Parenthood of Maryland has a new president and chief executive officer, John Nugent, a former Jesuit priest who holds a master's degree in ethics from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Nugent has been a health care administrator for more than 28 years. His background includes work with programs in five states, and he also was executive director of the Hospice of North Idaho. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges, teaching ethics, philosophy and religion.

Susan S. Swift, a health care consultant and former Brooklandville resident, died March 15 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, at her home in Key Largo, Fla. She was 63. Dr. Swift was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in Washington and Westchester County, N.Y. She was a 1964 graduate of Scarsdale High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. Dr. Swift earned a master's in public health administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and her doctorate from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, where she later taught.

Women's health-care providers and local law enforcement representatives came to Fort Meade yesterday for bomb-threat and security-awareness training from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

State still struggles with infant mortality Frank D. Roylance's article "CDC reports a sudden uptick in births, along with some troubling medical details" (Jan. 18) does point out "some worrisome changes in recent childbirth patterns across the nation." However, the idea that "Maryland women generally scored as well as or better than the national average" may give Maryland health care providers and state legislators an ill-founded sense of complacency. In 2007, 112 babies in Baltimore died before their first birthday.

The high-profile, outspoken president of Planned Parenthood of Maryland announced his resignation yesterday, in response to the organization's move to cope with increasingly complex health care challenges.James Guest, who has been president for 5 1/2 years, said he will step down Jan. 6. The decision came Tuesday at a meeting with Planned Parenthood's executive and finance committees.Ann Gallant, Planned Parenthood's board chair, said a change in leadership will be part of a restructuring by the organization.

In Maryland and elsewhere, Planned Parenthood has served as a lightning rod for reproductive rights. When Jim Guest came to Planned Parenthood of Maryland five years ago, the challenges facing the organization were largely political. On the national scene, there were worries among abortion rights advocates that the Supreme Court might overturn Roe vs. Wade, putting abortion rights in jeopardy. In Maryland, abortion debates tied the legislature in knots virtually every year.Now, as Mr. Guest leaves the organization for new challenges, the political issues have receded and others have taken their place.

The head of Planned Parenthood of Maryland said the organization will give up federal aid rather than comply with the Bush administration's revised "gag rule" on abortion counseling."

When used correctly as a barrier against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, condoms are 98 precent effective.Health-care providers at Planned Parenthood of Maryland recommend using latex condoms manufactured by "respectable brand names" and preferably lubricated with the spermicide nonoxynol-9.While novelty condoms play an important role in "getting people to feel comfortable with the idea of condoms," it is important to inspect them for safety warnings," says Linda A. Geeson, director of public information for Planned Parenthood of Maryland.

State still struggles with infant mortality Frank D. Roylance's article "CDC reports a sudden uptick in births, along with some troubling medical details" (Jan. 18) does point out "some worrisome changes in recent childbirth patterns across the nation." However, the idea that "Maryland women generally scored as well as or better than the national average" may give Maryland health care providers and state legislators an ill-founded sense of complacency. In 2007, 112 babies in Baltimore died before their first birthday.

The head of Planned Parenthood of Maryland said the organization is joining other national affiliates that will give up federal aid rather than comply with the Bush administration's revised "gag rule" on abortion counseling."

FREDERICK - Six weeks after Bruce E. Ivins killed himself, the cremated remains of Ivins, the Army scientist and anthrax suspect, are stored at a funeral home here, awaiting the outcome of an unusual probate court proceeding. In a will he wrote last year, a few months before the FBI focused the anthrax letters investigation on him, Ivins wrote of his wish to be cremated and have his ashes scattered. But fearing that his wife, Diane, and their two children might not honor the request, he came up with a novel way to enforce his demand: threatening to make a bequest to an organization he knew his wife opposed, Planned Parenthood.

Carl E. Speckman, whose convictions led him to fight in the Korean War and also to direct Planned Parenthood of Maryland, died Wednesday at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. The Sparks resident had lung and adrenal cancer. He was 77. Mr. Speckman was born in Kansas City, Mo. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army in 1945. He briefly attended West Point but decided the school wasn't for him and went on, instead, to serve overseas. Later, as a member of the Army Reserve, he fought in the Korean War and retired as a lieutenant in 1953.

Education is key to decline in teen birth rate I am thrilled that the teenage birth rate in Baltimore continued to decline last year, but I am not surprised ("City's teen births decline," Dec. 30). What surprises me once again this year is that little or no mention is made of the many community and faith-based organizations in Baltimore that have played a tremendous role in this success. In school, not only do students have access to contraception, they receive comprehensive health education that promotes healthy, responsible ways to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Planned Parenthood of Maryland has a new president and chief executive officer, John Nugent, a former Jesuit priest who holds a master's degree in ethics from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Nugent has been a health care administrator for more than 28 years. His background includes work with programs in five states, and he also was executive director of the Hospice of North Idaho. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at several colleges, teaching ethics, philosophy and religion.

Condoms can work and teen-agers need to know how In response to the letter "Abstinence is the only real protection for teen-agers" (April 25), we at Planned Parenthood of Maryland understand that condoms are an effective, inexpensive form of birth control, proven as such since the 16th century. Contrary to the figures the letter cited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put condoms' actual breakage rate at a mere two per 100. And a recent study of couples in which one partner was HIV positive yielded only a 2 percent rate of infection, with correct and consistent condom use. A World Health Organization review of 19 studies found no evidence that sexuality education programs, which may include access to contraception, lead to earlier or increased teen-age sexual activity.

Women's health-care providers and local law enforcement representatives came to Fort Meade yesterday for bomb-threat and security-awareness training from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

Carl E. Speckman, whose convictions led him to fight in the Korean War and also to direct Planned Parenthood of Maryland, died Wednesday at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. The Sparks resident had lung and adrenal cancer. He was 77. Mr. Speckman was born in Kansas City, Mo. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army in 1945. He briefly attended West Point but decided the school wasn't for him and went on, instead, to serve overseas. Later, as a member of the Army Reserve, he fought in the Korean War and retired as a lieutenant in 1953.

In an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun, the location of the Baltimore Women's Medical Center was incorrect. It is located on Belair Road in Baltimore County. Also, the story incorrectly characterized the Planned Parenthood of Maryland's women's health centers in Towson and Owings Mills. Those two centers do not perform abortions.The Sun regrets the errors.As federal marshals are being assigned to protect abortion clinics across the nation, officials at some Maryland clinics are concerned about possible violence -- but say they already have security measures to protect patients and employees.

Abraham Bates, the son of fur traders in Mongolia who was inspired to a life as a human rights activist by witnessing the brutal Japanese invasion of China, died of cancer Thursday at his home in Howard County. He was 81.Mr. Bates, born Abraham Bihovsky, of Russian-Jewish ancestry, was studying economics in China at the time of the 1937 invasion. He changed his name and became an accountant after moving to the United States the next year.Locally, he was assistant director of the Maryland Academy of Sciences from 1965 to 1974, and then director of finance for Planned Parenthood of Maryland until retiring in 1986.

Planned Parenthood clinics will soon make nonsurgical abortions available to 3,000 women, including some in Maryland, through a nationwide trial that will use two drugs widely employed to battle cancer and prevent ulcers.The trial will begin by fall in some areas. Planned Parenthood of Maryland plans to start offering the service shortly after the New Year at its Howard Street headquarters and, possibly, at some of its six satellite centers."We don't know what the demand will be because it's new, but what's crucial is that this is a new choice for women," said Sana F. Shtasel, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Maryland.