Crime & Safety

Franklin Square Hospital Center Dedicates EMS Lounge in Falkenhan's Honor

Falkenhan, the volunteer firefighter who died battling an apartment blaze Jan. 19, took hundreds of patients to the Rosedale hospital through the years.

Mark Falkenhan never got the opportunity to bring a patient into the new emergency department at Franklin Square Hospital Center.

The longtime paramedic retired from the Baltimore County Fire Department to take a job with the U.S. Secret Service in 2006, four years before the hospital completed its expansion. Then, while battling an apartment fire with the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Department in Hillendale.

Still, Falkenhan's legacy, who lived in Middle River, will last for many years to come at Franklin Square after the Rosedale hospital dedicated its EMS lounge in his honor during a ceremony on Thursday morning.

Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Medical personnel from the hospital, along with members of the Baltimore County Fire Department and area volunteer companies, were on hand as Franklin Square presented a plaque to Falkenhan’s widow Gladys. The plaque will be on display in the lounge. The ceremony came as part of national EMS Week, with this year’s theme being “everyday heroes.”

“Mark was a great EMS provider and an even better husband, father and friend,” said Christina Hughes, an emergency room nurse and EMS liaison at Franklin Square. “The fact that Mark can continue to inspire EMS workers even though he is no longer with us is amazing.”

Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dr. Eric Nager, associate medical director of emergency services at Franklin Square, knew Falkenhan on many levels. Nager handled many of Falkenhan’s patients during his 16 years with the fire department. Nager was even a student of Falkenhan’s, taking several firefighter and emergency medicine classes with him.

“People don’t understand the trust hospital staff and EMS providers have to have with one another,” Nager said. “You have to trust that the EMS providers took the proper steps in the field to ensure the patient has the best possible chances for recovery when they arrive at the hospital.

“Mark was a phenomenal provider and I never had to worry whether one of Mark’s patients received the proper care because he was one of the best.”

The dedication on Thursday was just the latest in a series of events to honor Falkenhan since his death. He was recognized on , and a

While the event at Franklin Square was not done on the large scale of some of those other events, it was very emotional as so many people from the hospital worked and/or were friends with Falkenhan. Additionally, Gladys Falkenhan works at the hospital as an administrative assistant in its family health center.

“This event might be smaller and less ceremonial than other events, but it is no less significant,” County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins said. “Mark Falkenhan was an extraordinary person and this was an appropriate tribute.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Essex-Middle River