It was two years ago this week that the first COVID-19 inpatients were admitted to Maryland hospitals. As we enter this new phase in the pandemic, we reflect on the incredible strength and bravery of your hospital workforce. Cases and hospitalizations are reaching more manageable levels, and public attention on COVID has begun to wane. Yet, the state’s nurses, doctors, and other caregivers are still on the front lines fighting this pandemic, keeping us safe, and recovering from a 730-day campaign. They are still heroes.

Maryland hospitals are places of health and healing for your patients. Your organizations may also be the largest institutions in your communities. As such, you are often asked to speak up when social justice concerns arise, whether in your neighborhood or around the world.

A more diverse and inclusive health care workforce makes all our organizations stronger and improves health care for all Marylanders. Yet, data show we have a long way to go.

We’re coming out of the most harrowing months since the earliest days of this pandemic. In January, there were more new COVID-19 patients than the previous 10 months combined. A spike in hospitalizations—2,603 COVID inpatients per day on average—strained your hospitals and already overburdened workforce. Fifteen Maryland hospitals—35% of the acute care hospitals in the state—declared crisis standards of care in this time, indicating severe overload.