COLUMBIA, MD — Howard County General Hospital honored an individual at its second annual State of Health Care in Howard County: Our Changing Health Care Culture event on Oct. 28. Carlessia Hussein received the Promise of Health in Howard County award, which recognizes those who have made sustained contributions to the health and well being of the Howard County community.

Hussein is chair of the Howard County Board of Health and retired director of Maryland's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. She established and managed the office with the goal of increasing awareness, involving health systems and communities and reducing health disparities among small population groups in Maryland. Hussein has spent more than 40 years working to improve the quality of health care to all populations with special focus on those in poorest health. Among her efforts, she gives scholarships to minority middle school boys in Howard County and Baltimore.