Grove Family Health Earns St. Mary’s Chamber’s 2026 Emerging Business Award

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Inside an office at Breton Marketplace, patients don’t wait weeks for an appointment or rush through a ten-minute visit with their provider — and that difference is exactly what earned Grove Family Health this year’s recognition from the local business community. The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce has named Grove Family Health the recipient of its 2026 Emerging Business Award, honoring the practice’s growth, innovation and commitment to Southern Maryland just three years after it opened its doors.

For founder Sheri Dean, FNP-BC, the recognition is a meaningful milestone, but she’s quick to point out who it really belongs to.

“When I started Grove Family Health, I wanted to build the kind of primary care practice where patients have time to be heard and ask questions, and know they can reach their provider when they need us,” Dean said. “Receiving this award is an honor, but it really belongs to our patients and everyone who has supported us along the way.”

What Is Direct Primary Care?

Grove Family Health introduced Direct Primary Care to St. Mary’s County when it launched in 2023, offering an alternative to the traditional insurance-billed primary care visit. Rather than billing insurance for routine care, patients join the practice through an affordable monthly membership. That membership includes longer appointments, direct access to Dean, telehealth visits and same or next-day scheduling — all while patients continue using their insurance for lab work, imaging, prescriptions, specialist referrals, emergency care and hospital services. The model is designed to complement insurance rather than replace it.

The practice’s roots go back further than its Breton Marketplace office. Grove Family Health began as a mobile clinic, with Dean making in-home visits to patients throughout St. Mary’s County before the practice had a permanent location. Since opening its office, growth has come largely through word of mouth, employer partnerships and a steady push to make Direct Primary Care more accessible for individuals, families and local businesses alike.

“Our patients have been our biggest supporters,” Dean said. “Most of the people who find us do so because someone they know shared their experience. There isn’t a better compliment than having a patient recommend you to a friend or family member.”

Serving Patients and Employers Across Southern Maryland

Today, Grove Family Health cares for patients of all ages and partners with employers throughout the region, giving local businesses an affordable way to help employees access consistent, quality primary care. For patients, the Direct Primary Care model offers something increasingly hard to find in traditional practices — time, access and a personal relationship with their provider.

The Chamber’s recognition wasn’t just about the practice’s growth, either. Grove Family Health has built a visible presence in the local business community, staying active with the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Business Partners, the Lexington Park Business Association, the Leonardtown Business Association and community events throughout Southern Maryland.

“We’ve always believed being part of the community means more than just seeing patients,” Dean said. “We’ve been fortunate to build relationships with so many local businesses and organizations, and we’re grateful for the encouragement and support they’ve shown us since the beginning.”

Looking ahead, Grove Family Health plans to keep expanding access to Direct Primary Care while holding onto the founding philosophy that shaped the practice from day one — giving patients the time, access and personal attention they deserve.

For more information about Grove Family Health or to learn how Direct Primary Care works, visit GroveFamilyHealth.net or call 301-481-5358.

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