The Horizon Foundation has announced three new members to its board of trustees: Jonathan Ilsong Ahn, Esq., an attorney and Korean American community leader; Catherine Hamel, president of Gilchrist Hospice Care; and Brian Hepburn, MD, executive director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. The new trustees will serve four-year terms on the 20-member board of the foundation, the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland.
Jonathan Ilsong Ahn, Esq. is an attorney who has been providing legal services to domestic and international clients in intellectual property, business and corporate areas for more than 25 years. Prior to opening his own practice in Columbia, Mr. Ahn served as a partner in the Baltimore law firm Semmes, Bowen & Semmes. As an active leader in Howard County’s Korean American community, Mr. Ahn serves in a number of roles including general counsel for the Korean Society of Maryland and Korean Women’s Society of Maryland and member of Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church. He also serves on the board of Howard Community College Educational Foundation. Mr. Ahn holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and computer science from Brandeis University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He lives in Ellicott City.
Catherine Hamel is the president of Gilchrist Hospice Care and vice president of continuing care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. In this role, she oversees a $75 million operation with 650 employees and more than 500 volunteers serving 12,400 patients annually. Gilchrist provides a world-class hospice, a geriatric practice, inpatient palliative care and outpatient care management. Previously, Ms. Hamel served in executive positions at NeighborCare At Home, Severn Healthcare, Inc., and Columbia Healthcare Corporation. She currently holds board positions as vice chair of Global Partners in Care, chairman of Hospice Alliance and Alliance Kids, Maryland and board member of Maryland Hospice Network. Ms. Hamel holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, associate’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University and a master’s degree in management and aging services from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Ms. Hamel lives in Marriottsville.
Brian Hepburn, MD is executive director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMPHD), which represents the $37.6 billion public service delivery system serving 7.1 million people annually. Dr. Hepburn has 35 years working in the field of psychiatry and previously served as director of the Behavioral Health Administration at the Maryland Department of Health for 13 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and M.D. from the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore. Dr. Hepburn earned a distinguished service award from the Maryland Mental Health Association in 2015 and distinguished life fellow honor from the American Psychiatric Association in 2013. He currently serves on the advisory boards of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Dr. Hepburn lives in Ellicott City.
“Our new trustees bring a wealth of diverse expertise and experience at the local and national levels that will help us advance our mission to improve health and wellness for everyone in Howard County,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “We are excited about their leadership and look forward to their contributions and impact on health in our community.”
The new trustees began their terms on Jan. 1, 2018. Trustee Kwang Chul “KC” Whang ended his second term on the board in Dec. 2017, after serving since 2010.
As the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland, Horizon strives to help everyone in the community – especially those facing the greatest challenges. In 2018, the Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary of improving health and wellness in Howard County.
