ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Berlin, Md. – At its annual Corporation Meeting, Atlantic General Hospital’s Board of Trustees voted in a new Board Chairman, Hugh T. Cropper, IV, who is the former Treasurer of the Board.

Hugh T. Cropper, is a graduate of Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Maryland Law School. Hugh practices as an attorney, and he is a partner in the law firm of Booth, Booth, Cropper & Marriner, PC. Cropper has represented local clients in and around Worcester County for nearly 29 years, including numerous charitable and pro bono clients. Most recently, Cropper represented Diakonia in connection with their new facility in West Ocean City. Cropper is the chairman of the Board of Directors for Bank of Ocean City. He is the chairman of the Board of Directors for the Lower Shore Land Trust. He was formerly a member of the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association, and he is a member of the Judicial Nominating Committee for the First Circuit. Hugh has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Atlantic General Hospital since 2007, and he is currently the chairman of the Quality Committee. He was formerly secretary of the Board of Trustees, and most recently served as treasurer. Cropper lives in the Berlin area with his wife, Jennifer, and his twins, Myra and Hugh Thomas. Cropper was born and raised in Worcester County and his grandfather, Hugh T. Cropper, was the former mayor of Ocean City. He is an active commercial fisherman, and he enjoys the outdoors, hunting, and fishing with his family. He is anxious to serve Atlantic General Hospital and the needs of the community. He will begin his term as board chair in November, 2017.

“We acknowledge Hugh’s dedication and hard work for Atlantic General,” commented Michael Franklin, FACHE, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital. “We are thrilled to welcome Hugh as the board chair. We are likewise especially grateful for the three years Lou Taylor served as our board chair, and the positive impact that he has made.”

Lou Taylor, the outgoing board chair, served in this position from November, 2014 to October, 2017. He started serving on the board in 2006, with his board term ending in 2017. Taylor is the Superintendent of the Worcester County Public Schools. Taylor is a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, sits on the board of directors of Calvin B. Taylor Bank and Hudson Health Services, and is a lifetime member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Berlin. He formerly served the community on the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. He is a graduate of Salisbury University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. “I have a deep concern for good healthcare in Worcester County,” he said. “I am extremely honored to have been asked to serve on the Board of Trustees of Atlantic General Hospital and give back to a community that I am proud of and that has given so much to me during my lifetime.” Taylor’s passion for giving back to Worcester County and for staying active in the community helped him to make a successful and positive impact as Board chair.

About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) counties since May 1993. Built through the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, Atlantic General’s main facility in Berlin, Md., combines the warmth of personalized attention with the reassurance of medical expertise and advanced technology. The not-for-profit hospital provides quality specialty care in oncology, medical and surgical weight loss, orthopedics, and women’s diagnostics among other services. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 40 primary care providers and specialists, cares for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

Caption Photo 1:

Michael Franklin, CEO of Atlantic General Hospital (far right) joins Hugh Cropper (far left) in presenting Lou Taylor (middle) a piece of artwork as a token of appreciation for his years of service.

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