COLUMBIA, Md. — Eleven MedStar Health hospitals and business units received 2025 Wellness at Work Recognition from the Maryland Department of Health’s Healthiest Maryland Businesses program, setting a record for the nonprofit health system and representing 26% of the 42 total honorees statewide. The awards, announced August 25, 2025, acknowledge employers for robust workplace wellness practices, including leadership support, multifaceted strategies and data-driven efforts to promote employee health.
MedStar Health, the largest health care provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, has participated in the program since 2022, with at least nine sites earning recognition each year. This year’s honorees include MedStar Ambulatory Services, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, MedStar Health Home Care, MedStar Health Physical Therapy, MedStar Health Research Institute, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
The Healthiest Maryland Businesses initiative, administered by the Maryland Department of Health, evaluates applicants on criteria such as establishing organizational support for wellness, implementing comprehensive strategies and using data to measure outcomes. There are three levels of MedStar Health Wellness Recognition: Exemplar, Well-established and All Stars, though specific levels for 2025 recipients were not detailed in the announcement. The program provides accredited resources and technical assistance to participating businesses, aiming to foster healthier work environments across the state.
“We are extremely proud to again be honored among the top Healthiest Maryland Businesses for the fourth year in a row,” said Dan Marchalik, MD, executive director of the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing. “It is especially gratifying to see even more of our MedStar Health workplaces earning recognition for their hard work prioritizing wellbeing in the workplace. This growing number demonstrates our continued commitment to creating healthy, caring, and nurturing environments for all associates serving our communities.”
The MedStar Health Wellness Recognition highlights the system’s integration of resources like mental health coaching, career development, physical fitness programs, and child and elder care support for its more than 35,000 associates. Established in 2021, the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing focuses on building a supportive culture, addressing stress and mental health challenges through research and program expansion. In the past year, the center recorded nearly 30,000 interactions, including coaching for 1,400 associates, back-up care for nearly 1,000 and training for over 8,000 participants.
This MedStar Health Wellness Recognition adds to national accolades, such as the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine recognition, the Wellness Council of America’s gold-level Well Workplace award and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Well-Being Excellence credential. These honors reflect broader efforts to enhance associate wellbeing, which research shows can improve satisfaction and retention in health care settings.
In Southern Maryland, the MedStar Health Wellness Recognition includes MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, facilities that serve communities in Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, a 182-bed acute care hospital, offers community health programs like Living Well Self-Management workshops for adults with chronic conditions, emphasizing evidence-based strategies for better health management. The hospital’s wellbeing committee promotes employee wellness through initiatives aligned with systemwide resources, contributing to faster treatment times and improved patient outcomes.
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, a 93-bed community hospital, provides emergency, inpatient and outpatient services while prioritizing associate health through access to MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing programs. The facility’s Health Connections department delivers community outreach, including classes and support groups, which tie into internal wellness efforts. Both hospitals have earned MedStar Health Wellness Recognition in prior years, underscoring consistent commitment amid regional health needs.
Statewide, workplace wellness programs like Healthiest Maryland Businesses address rising demands for mental health support, with 82% of employees in 2025 citing it as crucial in employer offerings. Maryland’s initiative, part of efforts to promote healthier workplaces, has recognized businesses since at least 2017, with past honorees including educational institutions and government entities. In 2025, 87% of companies report formal wellness programs, up from 61% in 2020, reflecting a national trend toward inclusive environments that boost satisfaction by 32% and overall wellness by 43%.
MedStar Health’s approach involves local wellbeing committees and advocates who tailor programs to site-specific needs, such as career support and physical health initiatives. The system’s MedStar Institute for Innovation supports these efforts by exploring new ideas to advance care delivery. For Southern Maryland residents, facilities like MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital offer transportation assistance through programs like Wheels to Wellness, ensuring access to care while modeling healthy practices for employees.
The 2025 MedStar Health Wellness Recognition aligns with broader surveys, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness poll, where respondents support coworker mental health concerns, emphasizing the role of employers in fostering such environments. Montgomery County, for instance, earned a 2025 Gold Bell Seal for workplace mental health, indicating statewide momentum.
As health care faces staffing challenges, MedStar Health’s focus on wellbeing helps retain talent, with resources like the Healthy Living program promoting lifestyle medicine to prevent and manage diseases. The system’s community health efforts, including partnerships for education and wellness services, extend these benefits beyond associates to the populations they serve. In areas like Southern Maryland, where access to specialized care is vital, such recognitions affirm the value of integrated wellness strategies.
MedStar Health operates 10 hospitals and numerous outpatient sites, serving diverse communities with a commitment to quality care. The 2025 awards build on previous successes, including a 2023 dual recognition from the Wellness Council of America and Maryland Department of Health. With ongoing expansions, the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing continues to pilot grants and consortia to advance professional wellbeing.
