Choptank Health Expands School-based Care with Two New Providers

Choptank Community Health System is expanding access to behavioral health and dental care for Mid-Shore students with the addition of two providers to its school-based health program. 

Kaitlin Connor, LMSW, has joined Choptank Community Health System’s school-based behavioral health team, providing services at Sudlersville Elementary School and Sudlersville Middle School in Queen Anne’s County. Connor brings experience working with children, adolescents, and families.

Kaitlin Connor, LMSW, is providing behavioral health services at Sudlersville Elementary School and Sudlersville Middle School in Queen Anne’s County. Caitlin Hohenstein, RDH, has joined the school-based dental program serving students in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. 

“School-based health care brings services directly to students, helping families overcome barriers to getting the care their children need,” said Sara Rich, president and CEO of Choptank Community Health System. “Adding Kaitlin and Caitlin strengthens our ability to support students’ emotional well-being and oral health during the school day.”

Connor is a licensed master social worker who earned a master’s degree in social work from Salisbury University, specializing in clinical social work and advocacy. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in psychology from Salisbury University.

Her experience includes working with children and adolescents at Discovering Serenity Counseling Services in Chestertown, where she developed treatment plans and conducted group sessions. Her internships included counseling and classroom settings, and she served as a counselor and director for Kent County Parks and Recreation summer programs.

Connor brings experience communicating with families, supporting young people, and collaborating with colleagues to her role on Choptank Health’s school-based behavioral health team.

Caitlin Hohenstein, RDH, has joined Choptank Community Health System’s school-based dental program serving students in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. Hohenstein brings experience in preventive dental care and helping children and families build healthy oral care habits.

Hohenstein is a Maryland-registered dental hygienist who earned a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and an associate degree from Chesapeake College. She received the American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award and the Dean’s Community Service Award in 2020.

Her clinical experience includes dental screenings, cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatments, and oral health assessments. She has also educated pediatric patients and their parents about nutrition, brushing, and flossing.

Hohenstein’s training included participation in a school dental sealant program, where she helped document screenings and provided oral health education to children in prekindergarten through third grade. Her background also includes clinical and educational services for children at high risk of tooth decay.

“Healthy students are better prepared to learn,” Rich said. “Our school-based teams work with families and school partners to address health needs early and make care more accessible. Kaitlin and Caitlin bring skills and experience that will help us continue that work.”

Choptank Community Health System provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and school-based health services throughout Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, serving nearly 35,000 adults and children across Maryland’s Mid-Shore. Families can learn more about school-based services and enrollment at www.ChoptankHealth.org/schoolbased.