HOWARD COUNTY, MD — After nearly two decades of serving Howard County, Dr. Maura Rossman has announced her retirement.
Rossman joined the Howard County Health Department in 2007. Since becoming the county's health officer in 2012, Rossman has "helped expand access to care, strengthen community partnerships and lead the Howard County Health Department through significant milestones," including the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic and public health emergencies involving the Ebola and Zika viruses.
Under her guidance, the Howard County Health Department achieved national public health accreditation in 2019 and earned reaccreditation in 2026.
Reflecting upon her career, Rossman described her journey as "incredible" and marked by many successes. But those successes were a team effort, Rossman told Patch.
"Our achievements were only possible through strong partnerships with county government, the Maryland Department of Health, Howard County Medical Center, HCPSS, local nonprofit organizations and our community. However, my success was truly driven by the staff of the HCHD—a highly dedicated and spirited group of public health professionals," Rossman told Patch.
Before being appointed the county's health officer, she served as Medical Director and Deputy Health Officer of Clinical Services. Before joining the Howard County Health Department, she served as the Medical Director of School Health for 10 years in the Baltimore City Health Department. The first 10 years of her medical career were spent in academic pediatrics and as a neurodevelopmental specialist.
Under her leadership, the Howard County Health Department launched several award-winning programs including:
"We are grateful for Dr. Rossman's compassionate leadership, dedication to all who live, work and visit Howard County, and lasting contributions to the health and well-being of our community," county officials stated.
Rossman wraps up her career with several awards to her name, too, such as the 2020 Certificate of Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award for outstanding leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Community Action Council Holland Humanitarian Award and the 2026 Maryland Assembly on School-Based Health Care (MASBHC) Lifetime Achievement Apple Award.
Rossman told Patch she plans to travel and spend time with her family in her retirement.
Antigone R. Vickery, MPH, has been named interim health officer. Vickery has served as HCHD's Deputy Health Officer since 2015 and has extensive experience in public health systems, emergency preparedness and community health improvement.
Prior to joining HCHD, Vickery led community health planning and emergency response initiatives for Anne Arundel County's Department of Health and before that, oversaw the advancement of health systems at the national level following the events of Sept. 11, 2001. She holds a master of public health in health systems management from Tulane University and a bachelor of science in community health from the University of Maryland.
"Dr. Rossman's leadership has helped shape public health in Howard County for over 12 years through navigating public health challenges and establishing innovative programs that improves the lives of many," Vickery said. "I have enormous respect for the work she and the department's staff have accomplished."
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