The Commission is composed of fifteen members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years. A short biography of each Commission member follows:

Randolph S. Sergent, Esq, Chairman, is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, where he has been employed since 2010. Prior to joining CareFirst, Mr. Sergent was a partner at Venable, LLP. Mr. Sergent also has served in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Counsel to the Maryland Insurance Commissioner and as Assistant Attorney General in Civil Litigation Division. Mr. Sergent is a member of the Ethics Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association and has served as Chair of the MSBA’s Health Law Section. Mr. Sergent holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Mr. Sergent resides in Howard County. (Term Expires 9/30/2024)

Arun Bhandari, MD, is a practicing Oncologist and Hematologist at Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates, PA (COHA), Annapolis, MD since 2007(an Oncology - Hematology private practice serving citizens of Maryland since 1990). He is on staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC) and John Hopkins Medicine at Howard County General Hospital (HCGH). Dr. Bhandari is an Executive Board Member of The Maryland and District of Columbia Society Of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (MDCSCO) which plays a significant role to improve the quality and delivery of cancer care in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Bhandari was appointed by Governor Hogan as a Council on the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control, where he has a role to educate and advise government officials, public and private organizations, and the general public on comprehensive State policies and programs necessary to reduce and control cancer incidence, mortality, and morbidity among Marylanders. Dr. Bhandari served as a member of the Maryland Board of Physicians from 2016 to 2020. He served as Chairman of Panel A of the Board from May 2016 until April 2020, where he was responsible to assure quality health care in Maryland through the efficient licensure and effective discipline of healthcare providers under its jurisdiction by protecting and educating clients, customers, and stakeholders, and enforcing the Maryland Medical Practice Act.

Dr. Bhandari completed a fellowship in Hematology-Oncology from Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC with bone marrow transplant rotation at the National Institute of Health (NIH- NHLBI), Bethesda, MD. He served as a Chief Fellow in Hematology & Oncology from 2004-2005. He was a fellow in Hematology & Oncology at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, and NCCN Member Institution. (Term Expires 9/30/2025)

Hassanatu Blake, PhD, MPH, MBA., is a public health professional with over 15 years in spearheading innovative initiatives at the nexus of public health, educational technology, and social impact. She is a thought leader and catalyst for change, coupled with a unique blend of academic achievements and practical and research experience. 

In her current role as Director of Health Equity & Social Justice at the National Association of County & City Health Officials, Dr. Blake is instrumental in leading a $15.3M CDC-funded project to build COVID health equity infrastructure. Her role involves introducing cutting-edge technology, such as AI chatbots, to enhance training programs and streamline organizational processes for increased efficiency and impact. 

Dr. Blake also serves as an Adjunct Professor at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Brooklyn College; and a researcher at University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health focused on the use of social media for HIV prevention among female sex workers in Cameroon. She was appointed in 2023 by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to the Maryland Health Care Commission as a Health Commissioner.

Hassanatu has been recognized for her wealth of expertise by the US White House Champions of Change Initiative under the Obama Administration; featured in Black Enterprise; a TEDx Speaker; and has served as a keynote speaker at numerous education, business, and tech conferences, and leading institutions of higher education.

 Hassanatu Blake has a BA from Tufts University, a MPH from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, a MBA from Plymouth State University, and a PhD from University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health. (Term Expires 9/30/2027)

Marcia L. Boyle, MS, is the founder of the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), the national non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of persons with primary immunodeficiency diseases through advocacy, education, and research (www.primaryimmune.org.) She served as president and CEO until her retirement in August 2017. She grew IDF from 5 volunteers in 1980 to an organization with approximately $10 million a year in revenue in 2017 and a full-time staff of 37. She was a co-founder of the International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI), which currently includes the representation of patient organizations from 60 countries around the world. She also served on the Board of Directors of the National Health Council from 2015 to 2017. She was honored as a White House Champion of Change in Precision Medicine in 2015. (Term Expires 9/30/2026)

Ken Buczynski, MD,  Dr. Buczynski is the founder and owner of Wellspring Family Medicine, a practice that provides outpatient, inpatient, and surgical obstetrical care to residents of Western Maryland. Dr. Buczynski founded Wellspring Family Medicine in 2004 and has grown the practice to three sites staffed by  four physicians, five physician assistants, and one nurse practitioner.

Dr. Buczynski holds leadership positions with organizations dedicated to providing care to residents of Western Maryland. He is the Chairman of the Dept of Medicine at Garrett Regional Medical Center and serves as Secretary on the medical staff Executive Committee. He serves as adjunct faculty for the University of Maryland in the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) rural rotations program for medical students. Dr. Buczynski also currently works part-time in the Emergency Department at Garrett Regional Medical Center where serves at the Base Station Medical Director.  Dr. Buczynski formerly served as an attending physician and Medical Director of Oakland Nursing and Rehab Center as well as Owner and Medical Director of Garrett Medical Transport, an interfacility ambulance transport company.  

Dr. Buczynski received his medical education at Penn State College of Medicine and his undergraduate education at University of Virginia, where he graduated with high distinction and was a two year letterman in varsity football. He completed his family medicine residency at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita Kansas.  Dr. Buczynski is a staunch advocate for advanced primary care. Wellspring Family Medicine is the only primary care practice in Garrett County that participates in the MDPCP and he serves on the MDPCP Advisory Council, a group convened by MHCC to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health on changes to the MDPCP.  (Term Expires 9/30/2024) 

Tinisha Cheatham, MD, is a Physician in Chief (PIC) of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) for the Baltimore service area. She is responsible for the clinical care that MAPMG delivers to over 134,000 members at Kaiser Permanente’s integrated outpatient medical centers, contracted hospitals, and affiliated skilled nursing facilities across the Baltimore metropolitan area. Dr. Cheatham is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician who currently practices throughout the Baltimore Service Area. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Biology from North Carolina State University and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. She completed her Family Medicine training at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Cheatham has been recognized by her peers as a top doctor and was acknowledged by the National Committee for Quality Assurance Diabetes Recognition Program from 2011 to 2014. (Term Expires 9/30/2024)

Karl Douglas, ALM, LNHA, MBA., Mr. Karl Douglas is the Founder of Synergy Baltimore. This non-profit organization provides health education, disease management, food assistance, rehabilitation, and job placement for the homeless and underprivileged in Baltimore City. 

Karl is the Director of Talent Development for Brightview Senior Living and is responsible for the growth and development of 5500+ associates and leads efforts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Mr. Douglas has led start-ups as a Dementia Care Director and larger teams as an Executive Director for Brightview. Before his change to the healthcare industry, he celebrated a 20-year career in the consumer product industry as Director of Retail, managing all Walmart business for the Proctor and Gamble Corporation, covering 17,000 stores. His responsibilities included managing 25 managers who managed 3000 employees across North America. 

He graduated from Morgan State University with a BS in Business Management and an MBA in Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a licensed Assisted Living Manager and Nursing Home Administrator. He is a professor in the Health Sciences College at Towson University, teaching master’s level courses on entrepreneurship and leadership at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

If you know Karl, you know that his attitude and commitment to serving others and growing leaders are contagious. He is skilled at collaborating and bringing people of diverse backgrounds together. He consistently pursues excellence and pushes everyone around him to do the same. (Term Expires 9/30/26)

Joan Gelrud, RN, MSN, CPHQ, FACHE., Ms. Gelrud, retired as Luminis Health’s Chief Quality and Population Health Officer, responsible for system-wide quality, safety, infection prevention, patient experience, accreditation, care management, community outreach, performance improvement, population health, value-based programs, and progressive payment models for all entities of Luminis Health.

Prior to Luminis Health, Ms. Gelrud was responsible for the care, treatment, and services for 12.4 million Kaiser Permanente members as the Senior Vice President of Kaiser Foundation’s Health Plan and Hospital Quality, Co-Executive Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute, and the Executive Director of the Improvement Institute in Oakland CA.

Ms. Gelrud also served as Vice President of Quality, Safety & Regulatory and Chief Nurse Executive at Kaiser Permanente’s Mid-Atlantic States Region. Prior to her roles with Kaiser, Joan was the Vice President at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, MD.

Ms. Gelrud  is currently spending her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children experiencing abuse or neglect, as a member of the Agency for Research Healthcare and Quality’s National Advisory Committee, and as a new member of the Maryland Health Care Commission. To help combat hospital expenditures, Joan is also on the Advisory Board for LIBERTAS, a new company working to reduce the cost of physician preference items for cardiac and other procedures.  (Term Expires 9/30/27) 

Mark Jensen, Esq, is a senior partner and the founder of Bowie & Jensen, a law firm based in Baltimore Maryland. Mr. Jensen heads the Mergers & Acquisitions practice and oversees the firm’s work with major clients including counseling established private companies on decisions and transactions which advance critical corporate objectives. Mark serves as outside general counsel for several private companies, helping them to identify and triage a range of legal and business issues, including governance, mergers & acquisitions, corporate issues,intellectual property, real estate, and employment matters. Mr. Jensen has been active in the community and public service throughout his career. He has provided pro bono assistance to numerous non-profit organizations, including the Intrepid Foundation and the Bates/Vincent Foundation.

Mr. Jensen has been engaged with the Maryland health care system for over two decades. He served on, and ultimately Chaired, the Board of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and later on the MedStar Health System Board from 2011-2019, where he Chaired the Patient Safety and Quality Committee. He held leadership positions with the Maryland Hospital Association including Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Search Committee for the new MHA President and CEO, and a member of the Clinical and Quality Issues Committee. Mr. Jensen earned his J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. (Term Expires 9/30/2025)

Awawu Agbabiaka, CRNP is a nurse practitioner specializing in addiction medicine, and she operates a private practice, AIM Behavioral Health Services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Howard University and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from George Washington University. Currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Family specialty at University of Maryland School of Nursing.  She is a proud member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., a volunteer with the American Red Cross, and a member of the Board of Directors for Lynn’s Gift Inc., a national nonprofit that supports families from low-income background.  (Term Expires 9/30/26)

Dr. Jovonni Spinner, MPH, CHES., is the CEO and Founder of Beacon Public Health- whose vision is to support healthy and whole communities by focusing on health equity. She is an award-winning health equity strategist and thought leader with a deep passion for improving health equity across the lifespan through research, communication, multi-sector partnerships, and leadership. She creates culturally competent and inclusive public health programming, but also shines at telling public health stories, giving voice to those rarely heard, and sharing outcomes with key influencers to provide programmatic strategic direction and influence organizational change. Dr. Spinner uses her voice to deliver dynamic speeches and to facilitate conversations on health equity.

She has led state and federal health equity programs like the Diversity in Clinical Trials Initiative, Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative, and Virginia Vaccines for Children Program which have reached millions of consumers to help them make better informed health decisions, obtain the services they need, and advocate for healthier communities. She was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve on the Maryland HealthCare Commission in 2023.

Her passion is helping organizations and public health professionals overcome challenges in delivering dynamic, equity-driven, culturally tailored public health programs to meet the health needs of minority communities.

She is also a public health adjunct professor, serves on non-profit boards, and is active in her community creating programs to build the public health workforce and mentoring early-career professionals.

She is an alum of Virginia Commonwealth University, Emory University, and Morgan State University. (Term Expires 9/30/27)

Danielle S. Duncan, MLS, MEd, EdD., has over 20 years of experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Clinical Educator in various healthcare settings throughout Maryland. With her vast knowledge, she has trained laboratory science professionals, medical assistants, and nurses to provide excellent patient care. 

Currently, Danielle is the Director of Education at COLA, Inc., where she oversees the creation and development of educational content for laboratory science professionals and physicians. Working with an interdisciplinary team, she promotes the visibility of laboratory science professionals through an educational approach, nurturing the pipeline in clinical laboratory science by advocating for initiatives to address the laboratory workforce shortage and utilizing laboratory data to improve patient outcomes. Stroughton Duncan strives to promote and advance understanding of the impact of laboratory science in the effective delivery of healthcare.

Danielle has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Morgan State University and Anne Arundel Community College. She sits on the advisory board for the Anne Arundel Community College Medical Laboratory Technician program.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University and a Master of Education degree from Northcentral University, where she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in education. She was appointed in 2023 by Governor Wes Moore to the Maryland Health Care Commission as a Commissioner. Stroughton Duncan’s area of focus includes clinical chemistry, interprofessional education, and championing the advancement of the laboratory science industry. (Term Expires 9/30/27)

Marcus L. Wang, Esq. is a Harvard-educated CEO and New York-licensed attorney with proven experience both in building startups to profitability and in expanding public companies globally. He has powered companies to success in diverse sectors ranging from biotech and genomics to retail and e-commerce, in both the U.S. and China.

Mr. Wang serves as Co-Founder, President, and General Manager of ZytoGen Global Genetics Institute, which utilizes Next Generation Sequencing to drive successful pregnancy outcomes for patients worldwide through its proprietary Preimplantation Genetic Screening platform. Mr. Wang’s international business and legal experience cover both the U.S., where he practiced corporate law at the Manhattan office of DLA Piper, as well as China, where he spearheaded the development, execution, and launch of Under Armour’s China market entry in 2011. Mr. Wang continues to advise U.S. businesses concerning China's market entry and partnerships, providing guidance on go-to-market strategy, regulatory issues, brand development, and product localization.

Mr. Wang also serves as the Chair of the Baltimore County Economic Development Advisory Board. Formed in 2020 by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, the Board is tasked with advising the administration on strategies for attraction and retention of businesses, best practices for public-private partnerships, and the creation of a long-term economic development strategy.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Mr. Wang is a graduate of Gilman School with an A.B. cum laude from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Mr. Wang also holds a Certificate in International and Comparative Business Law from the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, and a Certificate in Genetics and Genomics from Stanford University. Mr. Wang is licensed and admitted to practice as an attorney in the State of New York. (Term Expires 9/30/24)

Karrie Wood.,  Executive Vice President, Director of Business Development.   Karrie Wood is the Director of Business Development for Community Bank of the Chesapeake. Karrie has been with the Bank for twenty years and has extensive experience and expertise working with large commercial clients, municipalities and school systems. Karrie is a graduate of Maryland Banking School and Karrie has also attended the College of Southern Maryland and is a graduate of the Leadership of Southern  Maryland Executive program.  Karrie serves her community as the current Treasurer and Membership Chair for the Charlotte Hall Rotary Club and board member for The Calverton School. Karrie is past President of the Charlotte Hall Rotary Club, past board member of the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland and past board member of the Calvert Health Foundation. (Term Expires 9/30/25)