LifeBridge Health is pleased to announce the addition of Kurt Sommer as the new director of community development. Sommer will join the team at LifeBridge Health in late January 2019.

In his role at LifeBridge Health, Sommer will direct the development and implementation of a multi-dimensional plan to improve the quality of life in areas surrounding LifeBridge Health campuses in Northwest Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Carroll County. This plan will enable LifeBridge Health to further strengthen the roles of its facilities as anchor institutions in the communities where they are located. Sommer’s work will include enhancing education and workforce development, business and economic development, community leadership capacity building and neighborhood improvement.

“Kurt’s experience working in all areas and at all levels of community development – from housing and neighborhood improvement and workforce development to advancing local economic inclusion efforts – meshes perfectly with LifeBridge Health’s goal to be fully integrated with and consciously invested in the communities we serve,” said Martha Nathanson, vice president, government and community development at LifeBridge Health.

Sommer joins LifeBridge Health after leading the nationally recognized Baltimore Integration Partnership. The initiative is credited with helping advance and grow economic inclusion and development projects,creating jobs for city residents and supporting business development. Throughout his career, Sommer has held policy, legislative and research positions with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Baltimore Housing and the Brookings Institution.

Sommer earned a Master’s degree in city/urban, community and regional planning from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington College.

He is a Baltimore native, an appointed member of the Baltimore City Commission on Sustainability and lives near Sinai Hospital with his wife and daughter.

About LifeBridge Health:

LifeBridge Health consists of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, LifeBridge Health & Fitness, hundreds of primary care and specialty physicians throughout the region, and many affiliated health-related partners.