For nearly two centuries, Sheppard Pratt has helped define what’s next in mental healthcare—not by looking past the needs of the moment but by meeting them with purpose, compassion, and leadership.

What’s next is never abstract. It is the child waiting for a safe place to heal. The family searching for answers. The student learning how to build a life beyond the classroom. The community looking for stronger systems of support. And it is the field of mental health itself, which continues to call for new advances, deeper partnerships, and better ways to reach people when and where they need help.

At Sheppard Pratt, defining what’s next means staying true to what matters most—while leading with expertise and innovation. It means advancing care that is compassionate, clinically excellent, and grounded in dignity; expanding access to services that change lives; and bringing visionary leadership to the communities, schools, health systems, and partners who rely on us.

In this year’s annual report, you will see how that commitment is taking shape. The stories that follow highlight our work to build a new children’s mental health hospital and expand residential services for adults in Towson. They show how Sheppard Pratt is advancing what is possible through risk and threat assessment, national partnerships, and advocacy that strengthens Maryland’s behavioral health system. And they reflect our commitment to building stronger communities by elevating conversations about mental health in sports, supporting public education, and partnering in new ways to reach more people.

This work reflects both who we have always been and where we are going next. Since our founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been guided by a simple but enduring charge: to meet a need, to lead, to care, and to respect. Today, those values continue to propel us forward as we shape the future of mental healthcare for Maryland, for the nation, and for every person who turns to us for help.

Thank you for being part of that future. With your support, we will continue defining what’s next—with purpose, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to advancing mental health for all. 

Sincerely,

Joshua Kakel 
Chair, Sheppard Pratt Board of Trustees

Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA
President and CEO, Sheppard Pratt

As Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, reflects on his first decade as president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt, he looks back on a period shaped by growth, integration, and a commitment to helping more people access compassionate, high-quality mental healthcare.

You’ve been president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt for 10 years. What initially drew you here?

Before joining Sheppard Pratt, I was fortunate to work at some of the best psychiatric centers in the country. And when we had patients whose needs were especially complex, Sheppard Pratt was always where we turned.

That stayed with me. Sheppard Pratt has an incredible legacy and vibrant mission, and I wanted to understand what made this place so special. The opportunity to work at the place where I had referred so many patients—to learn what was in the “secret sauce”—was what first attracted me. The culture, people, and mission have kept me here.

What is the most meaningful growth you’ve seen in Sheppard Pratt over the last 10 years?

For nearly 200 years, Sheppard Pratt has had exceptional programs, providers, and services. What has changed in the last 10 is the way our people have worked together to make it easier for patients and families to access the care they need and experience greater continuity across their journey.

Over the past decade, we’ve scaled interventions at a population level, brought new services to communities across Maryland, and built education programs that reach tens of thousands of clinicians around the world. At its heart, this work is about meeting people where they are and helping them get the right care at the right time.

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

As Sheppard Pratt has grown, we have remained true to the mission that has guided us since 1853: helping people find hope and healing. As our founder, Moses Sheppard, said, “If through my means five persons were restored to health and reason, even one, I would be satisfied.” Today, our success is still defined by what we can accomplish to connect people to care and by our ability to say yes when our communities need us.

There are many milestones that reflect that commitment, including integrating our services, opening the Baltimore/Washington Campus, the way our teams pivoted to support patients and employees during COVID-19, and launching Sheppard Pratt Solutions. Building the Baltimore/Washington Campus truly stands out as a highlight of that journey. It showed what is possible when clinical excellence, thoughtful design, and a deep understanding of patient needs come together.

I’m also excited about what comes next: creating the nation’s foremost children’s mental health hospital and reimagining care for youth and families at a time when the need has never been greater.

Looking to the future, what are you excited for?

I am encouraged by the growing recognition that mental health must be a priority across healthcare, government, education, and the community. The engagement of the hospital field in addressing pediatric emergency department overstays, protecting access for vulnerable populations, and expanding school-based mental health services are all important signs of progress.

I’m also excited about the continued growth of Sheppard Pratt Solutions across the nation. We’ve broken ground on new behavioral health hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Lansing, Michigan. We’re also growing the certified community behavioral health clinic model in Maryland and expanding community-based services so more people can stay well in the community.

I also look forward to exploring how technology and artificial intelligence can be used responsibly to improve access, strengthen quality, and support the people delivering care. 

The future children’s hospital is especially meaningful. It represents our commitment to meeting the needs of young people and families in a way that is bold, compassionate, and worthy of Sheppard Pratt’s legacy.

Which of Sheppard Pratt’s core values—to meet a need, to lead, to care, to respect—is most meaningful to you? 

Respect. I respect the journey of each person who walks through our doors, whether they are here for care, to support someone they love, or to support those who need us most. 

Respect requires integrity and transparency. The decisions we make as an organization affect patients, families, employees, and communities. We owe it to them to communicate clearly, listen thoughtfully, and lead in a way that builds trust. At its heart, respect is what allows meaningful relationships to form—and meaningful relationships are the foundation of healing.

The need for mental healthcare has never been greater, and our responsibility has never been clearer. We will continue to build on nearly two centuries of leadership; expand access to care; and innovate in ways that help more people find hope, healing, and support. The next decade will bring new challenges, but it will also bring extraordinary opportunities to live our mission more fully and reach more people than ever before. 

A New Vision for Children's Mental Health

Every day, children experiencing a mental health crisis arrive in emergency departments hoping for help. Too often, however, the care they need isn’t immediately available. With too few inpatient psychiatric beds across Maryland and demand continuing to rise, many young people wait hours or even days for treatment while families search for answers.

Sheppard Pratt is working to change that.

Already the state’s largest provider of child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric care, Sheppard Pratt operates 144 of Maryland’s 255 licensed child and adolescent inpatient beds. Yet the need continues to outpace capacity. Children are presenting with increasingly complex mental health conditions, and communities across the state, particularly Prince George’s and Montgomery counties—the counties in Maryland with the highest populations— remain dramatically underserved. 

To meet this growing need, Sheppard Pratt is planning a first-of-its-kind Children’s Mental Health Hospital. Slated to be located in Prince George’s County, the hospital will add 120 child and adolescent inpatient beds, along with a pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care, partial hospitalization services, and other specialized programs designed specifically for children and adolescents. 

“This isn’t simply about building another hospital,” says Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, Sheppard Pratt president and CEO. “It’s about creating the right system of care where children can access specialized treatment, close to home. Sheppard Pratt has long been serving these communities, and this investment allows us to build on that foundation while addressing one of the most urgent behavioral health needs facing Maryland today.” 

For Rajeev Krishna, MD, PhD, MBA, chief of medical staff for child and adolescent services, the hospital represents an essential part of a larger solution.

“The children who require inpatient care are experiencing the highest level of psychiatric need,” he explains. “While we continue investing in prevention and early intervention, we also need a safety net for young people in crisis. This hospital will provide specialized care for children at the moment they need it most while helping connect families with ongoing support.” 

The project recently received more than $15 million from the state of Maryland to purchase land for the new hospital, a significant milestone that reflects confidence in Sheppard Pratt’s vision for the future of pediatric behavioral healthcare. Together with community partners and philanthropic supporters, Sheppard Pratt is working to create a national model for children’s mental healthcare that expands access, reduces emergency department boarding, and gives more families hope when they need it most. 

A Space for Recovery and Independence

In October 2025, Sheppard Pratt celebrated the opening of its newest adult residential treatment location in the heart of downtown Towson. Designed to provide a bridge between intensive treatment and independent living, the program offers a safe, supportive environment where adults can stabilize, build essential life skills, and prepare to return to the community.

The new location reflects Sheppard Pratt’s commitment to meeting people where they are, both in their recovery and within the communities where they hope to live, work, and thrive.

Residents receive 24/7 support while participating in individualized treatment, therapy, medication management, and psychosocial programming. Daily activities reinforce skills that support long-term independence, from maintaining personal hygiene and a clean living space to managing medications, preparing meals, and navigating the community.

“We try to teach independence as much as possible,” says LaTasha Fulton, assistant director of the program.

Recovery Rooted in Community

Moving from Sheppard Pratt’s hospital campus into downtown Towson has created new opportunities for residents to practice those skills in everyday settings. Libraries, shops, restaurants, public transportation, and community events are within walking distance, allowing residents to build confidence while gradually increasing independence.

“The clients need to see everyday happenings,” Fulton shares. “They need to see that life is still moving.”

The new residences provide welcoming, light-filled apartments designed to feel like homes rather than treatment settings. Residents share living spaces and kitchens while maintaining access to clinical care, structured programming, and support.

The program serves adults with a range of behavioral health conditions, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders. During an average stay of three to six months, residents work toward goals tailored to their individual needs.

Progress may mean returning to work or school, managing medications more independently, strengthening self-advocacy skills, or transitioning to a less intensive residential program or home.

Residential treatment also serves an important role within the broader behavioral health continuum. By providing an appropriate level of care for people who no longer require hospitalization but still need structured support, the program helps preserve inpatient and emergency capacity for individuals experiencing crises. On-site clinical support and staff can also help address concerns before emergency intervention is necessary.

For residents, success is measured not only by symptom stabilization but also by the confidence and skills they gain to move forward.

“Time, patience, and strength from the staff here got him through,” Fulton says, recalling a former resident who credited the program with helping him reach a healthier, more independent place. 

Building a Proactive Culture of Safety

Safety is one of the most fundamental human needs. It fosters the stability and security people need to heal, learn, work, and thrive. At Sheppard Pratt, where programs serve some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals, creating a safe environment requires anticipating risk and preparing employees with the knowledge and resources to respond.

To strengthen safety across its more than 400 sites of service, Sheppard Pratt’s security teams developed comprehensive assessment tools addressing physical security, workplace violence, and threat management. Each location undergoes an annual risk assessment, resulting in a detailed report that identifies opportunities for improvement and provides leaders with a practical roadmap.

The approach is informed by U.S. Secret Service threat assessment methodology and adapted to the distinct needs of Sheppard Pratt’s hospitals, schools, and community services programs.

“The basic elements are consistent, but the application may be different in different settings,” says Josh Pruett, chief security officer. “Every situation is unique.”

Turning Concern into Coordinated Action

The threat management process provides a standardized framework for evaluating concerning statements, behaviors, or interactions involving patients, students, clients, family members, employees, or others. Multidisciplinary teams gather information, assess the nature and credibility of the concern, and determine appropriate next steps.

The process can expand or contract based on the circumstances. Responses may include additional investigation, collaboration with law enforcement, enhanced safeguards, or continued monitoring. By involving safety and security teams early, employees can address concerns proactively.

The system also creates a consistent process for documenting concerns and identifying recurring behaviors or emerging patterns.

Expanding the Safety Toolbox

With support from U.S. Representative Sarah Elfreth, Sheppard Pratt is expanding specialized safety and security training for employees in community-based programs. The two-day training will provide practical strategies for employees who may work in clients’ homes or other settings without the security personnel and emergency response resources available on hospital campuses.

Training will address personal safety awareness, situational assessment, collaboration with law enforcement, and legal considerations. “We’ve trained the teams at our special education schools,” says Dave Simmons, security manager, schools and community services. “Through this process, we’ve developed a method to effectively impart this knowledge and show the wide-ranging benefits of this training.”

“We share the tools so that our people can stay safe,” says Ray Sawyer, security manager at Sheppard Pratt’s Towson campus.

By combining proactive assessments, standardized threat management, and practical education, Sheppard Pratt is empowering employees to take an active role in safety. The result is a stronger culture of preparedness and safer, more supportive environments for everyone.

Expanding Access to Behavioral Healthcare in Mid-Michigan

The behavioral health crisis extends far beyond Maryland. Across the country, communities face growing demand for mental health services, limited treatment capacity, and barriers to timely care.

Connecting Patient Care in Michigan

Sheppard Pratt Solutions helps address these challenges by providing behavioral health management and advisory services to health systems nationwide. Through its latest partnership with University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, Sheppard Pratt is bringing its expertise to mid-Michigan to expand access and strengthen behavioral health services.

Sheppard Pratt Solutions has assumed management of UM Health-Sparrow’s existing adult and geriatric behavioral health programs, comprising 54 inpatient beds. By strengthening relationships with the health system’s emergency department and streamlining admission processes while maintaining a focus on quality, the program is increasing the number of patients receiving care.

“We’ve focused on access,” says Michael Nanzer, DPT, MBA, FACHE, on-site executive at UM Health-Sparrow. “How do we get people help when they need it without making them wait for months?”

A Broader Continuum of Care

The partnership will reach an important milestone with the development of a dedicated 64-bed behavioral health hospital in Lansing. Scheduled to open in late 2028, the facility will expand adult and geriatric services while introducing child and adolescent inpatient care to the region.

Currently, families in the Lansing area seeking inpatient behavioral healthcare for their child may travel an hour or more for treatment. The new hospital will establish the area’s first dedicated child and adolescent inpatient beds while supporting the development of ambulatory services.

Located near UM Health-Sparrow’s main hospital, the facility will strengthen connections between behavioral health and other medical services.

The collaboration reflects a shared nonprofit mission and commitment to quality, patient-centered care. By combining Sheppard Pratt’s behavioral health expertise with UM Health-Sparrow’s statewide reach and clinical reputation, the partnership will create lasting change throughout Michigan.

“For me, the biggest focus has always been access,” Nanzer says. “Being part of something that is going to make a meaningful difference in behavioral healthcare across the state is what was important to me.”

Each year, Sheppard Pratt provides life-changing mental healthcare to 80,000 people. But our impact extends far beyond those who walk through our doors. By partnering with lawmakers and advocating for meaningful policy reform, we are building a behavioral healthcare system that works better for every Marylander.

During Maryland’s 2026 legislative session, Sheppard Pratt spearheaded key initiatives to address one of the state’s most urgent behavioral health challenges: children remaining in psychiatric hospitals long after they are clinically ready for discharge.

Every week, children in Sheppard Pratt’s hospitals are ready to return home or transition to a less intensive level of care but remain hospitalized because Maryland’s Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) process is slow and functionally unworkable. Today, approximately 75% of Sheppard Pratt’s pediatric overstay cases are delayed by this process. 

According to Carrie Etheridge, LCSW-C, director of social work, these delays affect every part of a child’s life: Children who are clinically ready to leave the hospital remain separated from their families, schools, and communities while waiting for placement. At the same time, occupied inpatient beds limit access for other children waiting in emergency departments for urgently needed psychiatric care.

Adefolake Akinsanya, MD, service chief of Sheppard Pratt’s adolescent female unit, sees these effects firsthand. While inpatient care is designed to stabilize children during an acute psychiatric crisis, extended hospital stays can leave young people feeling isolated and abandoned, increasing the risk that emotional and behavioral symptoms will return even after they had begun to improve. As children remain hospitalized longer than medically necessary, they also lose opportunities to reconnect with family, school, and the routines that support long-term recovery.

House Bill 1181 addresses the structural causes of these delays by creating greater accountability, establishing enforceable timelines, and streamlining the placement process so children can move more quickly into the care settings they need. The legislation also strengthens statewide oversight, ensuring the system works more consistently for children and families across Maryland. 

Sheppard Pratt also championed legislation aimed at reducing hospital overstays and emergency department backlogs by expanding behavioral health capacity, strengthening the workforce, and increasing access to community-based resources such as 988. Together, these efforts help ensure that inpatient beds remain available for children experiencing acute crises while allowing those who have stabilized to continue healing in the least restrictive environment possible.

Through thoughtful advocacy and collaboration with policymakers, Sheppard Pratt is removing barriers to care, expanding access, and building a stronger behavioral healthcare system for generations to come.

Shedding Light on Athlete Mental Health

Athletes are celebrated for their physical endurance, discipline, and resilience. But excelling under pressure depends on more than physical conditioning. Increasingly, athletes, coaches, and organizations recognize that mental health is just as essential to success as physical health: The two cannot be separated.

That was the focus of Future of Sports: The Mental Edge, a Sheppard Pratt-hosted event held during Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco. Bringing together professional athletes, sports leaders, and mental health experts, the event explored what meaningful support looks like across every level of sport. Panelists discussed the importance of accessible care, early intervention, organizational accountability, and the role leaders play in creating environments where mental health is prioritized alongside physical performance.

For Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt, the timing couldn’t be more important.

“In the past, conversations about mental health only focused on getting someone back to baseline after a crisis,” Trivedi explains. “Today, we’re seeing a fundamental shift. Mental health is increasingly recognized as an essential part of achieving peak performance, not just recovering from illness.” 

That shift has been fueled by professional athletes who have openly shared their mental health journeys, helping reduce stigma while reinforcing that caring for the brain is just as important as caring for the body. As awareness has grown, organizations have increasingly invested in resources that support athletes before challenges become crises. 

Sheppard Pratt is leading that conversation. By convening respected voices from professional sports, healthcare, and business, the organization is demonstrating that mental health belongs wherever conversations about performance, leadership, and overall health are taking place.

“Mental health should be discussed as openly as heart disease or cancer,” says Trivedi. “Sports are a powerful vehicle because they influence culture and reach people in meaningful ways. When we normalize these conversations, we help communities understand that mental health is critical to overall health.” 

By elevating these conversations, Sheppard Pratt is reshaping how individuals, organizations, and communities think about mental wellness, ensuring that athletes of every age have the support they need to thrive—on and off the field. 

Training the Coaches Who Shape Young Lives

For young athletes, a coach is more than someone who calls plays. Coaches are trusted mentors, often among the first adults to notice when something isn’t right. Yet many have never received training to recognize the signs of a mental health challenge or know how to respond.

That is why Sheppard Pratt launched Mental Health Training Camp in 2024: to equip coaches with practical tools to support the mental well-being of the young people they lead. Now in its third year, the initiative continues to grow, with the Baltimore Orioles joining longtime partner the Baltimore Ravens in bringing mental health conversations into the mainstream. 

“The goal has always been to change the conversation,” says Jennifer Weiss Wilkerson, MHSA, FACHE, senior vice president and chief strategy officer. “When athletes, coaches, and respected sports leaders talk openly about mental health, it reduces stigma and makes it easier for young people to ask for help.” She notes that the event creates space for athletes to share their own experiences, including former professional baseball player Ryan Ripken, who spoke candidly about the benefits of receiving mental health treatment as a teenager. Personal stories help coaches better understand the challenges many young athletes face and reinforce that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

This year’s program built on that foundation by introducing mental health first aid training, giving coaches practical strategies to recognize warning signs, start supportive conversations, and connect student-athletes with appropriate resources before concerns escalate. 

For Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO, the initiative reflects Sheppard Pratt’s broader mission of meeting people where they are.

“Sports are one of the places where children develop confidence, relationships, and resilience,” he says. “Coaches are trusted adults, yet many feel unprepared when a young person comes to them with a mental health concern. By partnering with organizations like the Ravens and Orioles, we’re giving coaches the confidence, resources, and support they need to help kids sooner.” 

Together, Sheppard Pratt, the Ravens, and the Orioles are creating a stronger network of support—one that recognizes mental health as an essential part of every young athlete’s success, both on and off the field.

Dear Friends,

Every day at Sheppard Pratt, we see what becomes possible when people receive the right care, at the right time, from experts who understand their needs. Children find support to manage anxiety, depression, and trauma. Families find answers after long and difficult searches. Adults facing mental health and substance use challenges find a path forward. Communities find a trusted partner, committed to helping people thrive.

For generations, Sheppard Pratt has been building a model of care that meets this moment of need with unmatched compassion, expertise, and innovation. Since 1853, our singular focus has been transforming lives through comprehensive mental healthcare. We help people reclaim their futures, strengthen families, and build healthier communities.

For families whose needs cannot be met elsewhere, Sheppard Pratt offers hope. For providers, school systems, and organizations seeking expertise, Sheppard Pratt offers partnership. For emerging challenges that demand new solutions, Sheppard Pratt offers leadership.

We are uniquely positioned to lead the transformation that mental healthcare requires. At Sheppard Pratt, we have a bold belief: Mental healthcare can be better, more accessible, and more responsive to the people who need it most.

Our core focus right now is on our community’s youth and the mental health crisis they are confronting.

They need Sheppard Pratt.

They need you.

And they need our partnership. 

Sheppard Pratt is leading the way, and we are asking you to join our effort to build a new children’s mental health hospital that will redefine how care is delivered. Further, we will strengthen community programs, expand access to critical services, advance research and innovation, train the next generation of behavioral health professionals, and help ensure more people receive exceptional care—when and where they need it.

Your generosity makes this progress possible. It fuels innovation, opens doors to care, and affirms a powerful truth: Mental health matters, and every person deserves the chance to heal, grow, and thrive.

As we look to the future, I am filled with optimism. Together, we can change mental healthcare for good and create lasting impact for generations to come. 

With gratitude,

Claudia E. Keenan
Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Our donors and partners play an important role in helping us lead the way. With your support, we will continue to meet the unmet mental health needs of our communities. Sheppard Pratt recognizes new pledges and gifts of $100 and above received between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.