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PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE
JULY/AUGUST 2021
GREAT MINDS, BRIGHT IDEAS CONVERGE AT UMB-LED CONFERENCES
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has long been designed to provide an unparalleled platform for integrating current
a place that brings together bright minds to address the issues knowledge on placebo research in pain, alcohol use disorders, and
of today and look forward to what may come in the future. substance use disorders. Three UMB deans — E. Albert Reece,
Recently, UMB was privileged to host three large international MD, PhD, MBA, School of Medicine; Natalie D. Eddington, PhD,
conferences: the Data Science to Power Implementation with FAAPS, FCP, School of Pharmacy; and Jane M. Kirschling, PhD,
Social Determinants of Health Conference; the 3rd International RN, FAAN, School of Nursing — offered remarks at the conference
Conference of the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies that attracted over 480 participants from around the world.
(SIPS); and UMB’s second Global Health Summit.
The organizing committee did a phenomenal job of putting
The Data Science to Power Implementation with Social Determinants together an agenda that included seven plenary speakers, a lifetime
of Health Conference served as the inaugural event for the achievements lecture, three special sessions including a conversation
conference series hosted by the Data to Action! Program. The goal about COVID-19, and three career development sessions. The
of the conference was to open up data science to the health care goals and themes of the conference were fulfilled with additional
community and other stakeholders. Supported by a grant from the research throughout the 21 workshops, two poster sessions, and
National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Advancing five oral presentation sessions. The conference had extremely high
Translational Sciences (1 R13 TR003552-01; principal investigators engagement and has received glowing comments from many who
Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH, and Stephen N. Davis, MBBS, FRCP, attended. The UMB team that helped organize the conference
FACE, MACP), the conference engaged over 1,000 people including did an exceptional job and used a virtual platform necessitated by
students, researchers, health care providers, social scientists, public COVID-19 to bring together people from around the world.
health professionals and officials, patients and patient organizations,
health agencies, data scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Plenary and keynote speakers included George Koob, PhD, director,
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; David Rakel,
Social determinants of health are the conditions in environments MD, professor and chair, Department of Family & Community
where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, who is the
affect health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes. I was able to author of the book “The Compassionate Connection” and recipient of
share a keynote address about the relevance of social determinants of NIH funding to study the “clinician effect” and incorporate healing
health to clinical practice, and UMB’s executive vice president and modalities into medical school curricula; Wayne B. Jonas, MD,
interim provost, Roger J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA, emphasized executive director, Integrative Health Programs, Samueli Foundation
the relevance of data science to the University and education context. (co-sponsor of the conference), who is an expert in health care delivery,
a widely published scientific investigator, and author of the book “How
Speakers from multiple institutions such as NIH, University of Healing Works”; and Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH, associate professor,
Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, U.S. Food University of California, San Francisco, a practicing hematologist-
and Drug Administration, Maryland Higher Education Commission, oncologist who studies cancer drugs, health policy, clinical trials, and
and IQVIA presented throughout the day. This international better decision-making and author of over 250 academic articles and
conference marked the beginning of a research, education, and the books “Ending Medical Reversal” and “Malignant.”
outreach program and a series of activities centered on leveraging data
science and social determinants of health to improve health outcomes, UMB’s second Global Health Summit also brought the world
reduce cost, and inform drug and health care practice and policy. to our University with close to 300 attendees from 25 countries.
Recordings of the entire conference are available here. Organized by the UMB Graduate School and our Center for Global
Engagement (CGE), the theme of the summit was “Decolonizing
SIPS is an international association that seeks to understand Global Health Education.” The term “decolonization” recently has
the placebo effect in medical treatment, psychotherapy, and become the focus of conversations within global health. Diverse
complementary and alternative treatment. SIPS worked with expert voices worldwide are calling for a re-examination of the assumptions
faculty from our schools of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy to design and practices underpinning global health education and practice.
a three-day interdisciplinary and international scientific conference The UMB Global Health Summit was a direct response to these
Continued on p. 2
ACCOUNTABILITY | CIVILITY | COLLABORATION | DIVERSITY | EXCELLENCE | KNOWLEDGE | LEADERSHIP
Continued from previous page
calls and an opportunity to rethink and reflect on the theories, around the world shared their reflections from the pre-summit
processes, and methods of global health education. sessions. It was an extraordinary experience for listeners to hear
future professionals ideate about the best ways to conduct truly
The summit provided the space for productive, action-oriented equitable international education in the future. These student panels
dialogue toward the reimagination of a shared vision for a decolonized were followed up by “reactor panels” featuring experts in multiple
global health field. It was a forum for global health practitioners, fields. The overall goal of the summit was to engage in discussions
researchers, educators, students, scholars, and trainees who are and reflections aimed at the development of actionable ideas and
committed to mutual respect and advancing equity, diversity, and recommendations for decolonizing global health education. Students
inclusion in global health education. It also was an intentional and faculty mentors who participated in the summit are compiling
attempt to build trust among the UMB global health community reflections that will appear in a special collection of the Annals of
through an open and honest conversation. It is another way to show Global Health that will come out in early 2022. Videos from the
UMB’s commitment to a climate of inclusion and belonging. summit are available on CGE’s YouTube channel.
Three high-level, thought-provoking keynote presentations opened These are but a few examples of how UMB continues to be a
the first two days of the summit. The first keynote speaker was convener of bright minds from around the world — and how we’ve
Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, MD, of Wayne State University School of been flexible and open to new ways of gathering. I see ingenuity and
Medicine, whose talk was titled “The Courage to Be Free: Cultivating solution-seeking behavior across the seven schools throughout the
a Decolonizing Imagination.” On the second day, there was an pandemic and, importantly, as we look to the future of UMB.
expert dialogue between two former African Ministers of Health:
Agnes Binagwaho, MD, PhD (Rwanda), and Samba Sow, MD, MSc, Sincerely,
FASTMH (Mali). Dr. Sow also is a faculty member with our School
of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health.
The core of the summit was interprofessional panels of students/
trainees who engaged in pre-summit work around a mini-curriculum Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
devoted to decolonization. Students from 12 professional training PRESIDENT
programs offered at UMB and from UMB partner programs
VIRTUAL FACE TO FACE WITH PRESIDENT BRUCE JARRELL
SUMMER BREAK
The program is on hiatus.
Virtual The next planned episode
will be a “Back to School”
FACE edition in late summer.
to FACE
with PRESIDENT BRUCE JARRELL
Watch previous episodes at umaryland.edu/president/face-to-face.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 2
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
UNIVERSITYWIDE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY Clinical
Characteristics,
UMB’s Division of Student Chris Choi, Demographics,
Affairs was recognized for the DMD, MS, and Gene
third year in a row as one of the clinical assistant Expression” were
“Most Promising Places to Work in professor, Division UMSOD’s Donita
Student Affairs” by Diverse: Issues of Prosthodontics, Dyalram, DDS,
In Higher Education magazine and Department of MD, FACS; Ioana
RANIA H. YOUNIS
the American College Personnel Advanced Oral Ghita, DDS;
Association. The award focuses on Sciences and Donita Dyalram,
workplace diversity, staffing practices, CHRIS CHOI Therapeutics, DDS, MD, FACS; Joshua E. Lubek,
and work environment, including appeared in a DDS, MD, FACS; Robert A. Ord,
but not limited to the following documentary about dentistry in the DDS, MD, FRCS, FACS, MS; and
categories: family friendliness, United States produced by South Rania H. Younis, BDS, MDS, PhD.
salary/benefits, and professional Korean cable news company YTN.
development opportunities.
Mary Anne Melo, DDS, PhD,
Lisa Rawlings, associate professor and interim chair, CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW
MBA, director Department of General Dentistry,
of workforce and Abdulrahman A. Balhaddad, Peter Danchin,
development and BDS, MS, PhD student, Dental JD, associate
job readiness, Biomedical Sciences, were among the dean, research
Office of co-authors of “Photodynamic Therapy and faculty
Community for Biomodulation and Disinfection development,
Engagement, in Implant Dentistry: Is It Feasible presented
LISA RAWLINGS
was named to a and Effective?” which was published “Between Legality
two-year term in Photochemistry and Photobiology. and the Protection
PETER DANCHIN of Rights: The
on the Maryland Association for
Adult, Community and Continuing Vasileios Ionas Jurisprudence
Education’s Board of Directors. She Theofilou, of Arthur Chaskalson” and
also was named to the Sandtown- DDS, resident, “Theorizing the Backlash Moment
Winchester Harlem Park Master Department in International Law” at the
Plan Collective’s Advisory Group. of Oncology Law and Society Association’s
and Diagnostic Annual Meeting on May 27.
Christine Sciences, received
Schmidt, the Gorlin Award, Donald Gifford,
enrollment VASILEIOS IONAS
given for the JD, professor,
THEOFILOU
services specialist, best oral abstract wrote “Foreword:
Office of the among U.S. and Canadian oral and A Torts Festschrift
Registrar, was maxillofacial pathology programs, at in Memory of
named UMB the American Academy of Oral and Professor Oscar
Employee of Maxillofacial Pathology’s Annual S. Gray,” which
CHRISTINE SCHMIDT the Month Meeting. Joining Theofilou as co- was published
DONALD GIFFORD
for April for authors of “Stromal Inflammatory in Maryland
her hard work and dedication to Subtypes of Oral Squamous Cell Law Review.
helping students with transcripts, Carcinoma Correlate with Patient
degree and enrollment verification,
diplomas, and much more.
LAURELS ARE SUBMITTED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENTS OF THE SCHOOLS AS
WELL AS BY REPRESENTATIVES IN VARIOUS UNIVERSITYWIDE OFFICES. THE OFFICE OF
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS IN THESE SELF-SUBMITTED LAURELS.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 3
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Sara Gold, Quince Hopkins, JD, director, Amanda
JD, clinical Levitas Initiative for Sexual Assault Pustilnik, JD,
law instructor, Prevention, co-authored the op- professor, was
Medical-Legal ed “Focus on Middle Schoolers quoted in “Novel
Partnership in Effort to Prevent Sexual Opioid Lawsuit
Clinic, was Assault,” which was published in Goes After Ad
a panelist on The Baltimore Sun on May 20. Agency,” which
“Closing the was published by
SARA GOLD
Justice Gap Seema Kakade, AMANDA PUSTILNIK
Courthouse News
Through Medical- JD, associate Service on May 6.
Legal Partnerships” at the Maryland professor
Pro Bono Resource Center’s Partners and director, Natalie Ram,
for Justice Conference on May 14. Environmental JD, professor,
Law Clinic, wrote was quoted in
Leigh Goodmark, JD, professor and “Revitalizing “Two New Laws
co-director, Clinical Law Program, Greenhouse Restrict Police Use
was quoted in “Prosecutors Ignored SEEMA KAKADE Gas Permitting of DNA Search
Evidence of Her Estranged Husband’s Inside a Biden Method,” which
Abuse. She Faces 25 Years in Prison EPA,” which was published in was published
NATALIE RAM
for Murder,” which was published Environmental Law Reporter. in The New York
in The Intercept on May 24. Times on May 31.
Robert Percival,
Mark Graber, JD, professor, JD, professor Matiangai
wrote “Original Expectations,” and director, Sirleaf, JD,
which was published in University Environmental professor, wrote
of Connecticut Law Review. Law Program, “Disposable
wrote “Refreshing Bodies:
Liz Graham, head of technical Unanimity COVID-19,
services, Thurgood Marshall Law in Court’s Experimental
Library, received the Emerging ROBERT PERCIVAL
Interpretation Trials & the
Leader Award from the American of Superfund MATIANGAI SIRLEAF
Uprising,” which
Association of Law Libraries. Law,” which was published in the was published in
Diane Hoffmann, SCOTUS Blog on May 25. Columbia Law Review Forum, and
JD, professor “Racial Valuation of Diseases,” which
Michael Pinard, was published in UCLA Law Review.
and director, JD, professor
Law and Health and co-director, Marley Weiss,
Care Program, Clinical Law JD, professor,
was a roundtable Program, was a wrote “Breaking
participant on panelist on “The the Chains of
the “Bodies in Effects of Mass Bondage Among
DIANE HOFFMANN
Law” panel at Incarceration on Foreign Suppliers
the Law and MICHAEL PINARD
Communities of Imported
Society Association’s Annual of Color in the Goods,” which
Meeting on May 29. Wake of COVID-19” webinar, which MARLEY WEISS
was published
was hosted by the American Bar in the winter/
Association Section on Civil Rights spring issue of the American Bar
and Social Justice on May 10. Association Section of Labor and
Employment Law’s newsletter.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 4
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Maureen Black, PhD, professor, AIDS and Substance Use Disorder
Department of Pediatrics, was the Research for “MR-Guided Focused
The following is a select list. lead author of “Grow Smart: A Cluster Ultrasound to Eradicate CNS Viral
For all the SOM laurels, visit Randomized Trial of Point-of-Use Reservoirs and Promote Neurogenesis
www.somnews.umaryland.edu. Fortification of Preschool Meals with in the HIV-Infected Brain.”
Multiple Micronutrient Powders
Clement Improves Expressive Language and Elizabeth
Adebamowo, Reduces Anemia and Iron Deficiency Clayborne, MD,
BM, ChB, in Rural India,” which was published MA, adjunct
ScD, FWACS, in the Journal of Nutrition. assistant professor,
FACS, professor, Department
Department of Thomas of Emergency
Epidemiology and Blanpied, Medicine, was
Public Health, PhD, professor, interviewed for
ELIZABETH
CLEMENT
presented “GWAS Department CLAYBORNE
“Doctor on J&J
ADEBAMOWO
of Persistent High- of Physiology, Vaccine: ‘You
Risk HPV Infection: Results from received a one- Have a Much Higher Risk of Getting
an H3Africa Collaborative Center” year, $600,000 a Blood Clot If You Smoke,’ ” which
at the National Cancer Institute’s S10 grant from was published by Yahoo Finance.
THOMAS BLANPIED the National
SeqSPACE Forum on June 8.
Institutes of Dheeraj Gandhi, MBBS, professor,
Health’s Office of the Director Department of Diagnostic Radiology
for “A Lightsheet Microscope for and Nuclear Medicine, was the last
an Established Core Facility.” author of “Evidence-Based Vascular
Neuroimaging” and “Management of
Peter Bowman, Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms,”
PT, DPT, which both were published in
FAAOMPT, Neuroimaging Clinics of North America.
assistant professor,
Department of Erin Hager, PhD,
AMBER BEITELSHEES DANIEL LEMKIN
Physical Therapy associate professor,
and Rehabilitation Department of
Amber Beitelshees, PharmD, MPH,
Science, was Pediatrics, is
associate professor, Department of
PETER BOWMAN
appointed as the principal
Medicine, and Daniel Lemkin,
director of clinical investigator on
MD, MS, assistant professor,
therapy services for University of “COVID-19
Department of Emergency Medicine,
Maryland Orthopaedic Associates. Policies: Impact
were among the co-authors of ERIN HAGER
Over Time
“Opportunity for Genotype-Guided
Linda Chang, on Child
Prescribing Among Adult Patients in
MD, MS, Health, Obesity, and Disparities,”
11 US Health Systems,” which was
professor, a $3,033,138 R01 grant from the
published in Clinical Pharmacology
Department Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
& Therapeutics, and “Prescribing
of Diagnostic Institute of Child Health and Human
Prevalence of Medications with
Radiology and Development. Maureen Black, PhD,
Potential Genotype-Guided Dosing
Nuclear Medicine, professor, Department of Pediatrics,
in Pediatric Patients,” which was
received a and Elizabeth Parker, PhD,
published in JAMA Network Open. LINDA CHANG
$5,407,500 grant assistant professor, Department of
from the Avant- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Garde Award Program for HIV/ Science, are co-investigators.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 5
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Stella Hines, Award, which was awarded at the the Department of Neurosurgery, and
MD, MSPH, American Association of Clinical Min Kwon, PhD, research associate,
associate professor, Endocrinology’s Annual Meeting. Department of Surgery, co-authored
Department “Abcc8 (Sulfonylurea Receptor-1)
of Medicine, Timothy Impact on Brain Atrophy after TBI
presented O’Connor, PhD, Varies by Sex,” which was published
“Beryllium and assistant professor, in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
the BeLPT: Department of
STELLA HINES
What Every Medicine, and Gerald
Occupational faculty member, Slobogean,
Medicine Provider Needs to Know” Institute for MD, MPH,
at the American Occupational Genome Sciences, associate professor
TIMOTHY O’CONNOR
Health Conference on May 3. received the and director of
Epidemiology clinical research,
Miroslaw Janowski, MD, PhD, and Human Genetics Program Department of
associate professor, Department of and Gerontology Program Faculty Orthopaedics,
Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Mentoring Award in May. He also GERALD SLOBOGEAN and Em Drager,
Medicine, received a $1.9 million received the Department of Medicine’s CRNA, both
R01 grant from the National Institute Best Publication Award in Basic Science members of the R Adams Cowley
of Neurological Disorders and for his research on de novo mutations Shock Trauma Center’s GO TEAM,
Stroke for “Image-Guided, Intra- in the Amish, which was published in were nominated for a Maryland
Arterial Delivery of Antibodies to Proceedings of the National Academy of Institute for Emergency Medical
the Central Nervous System.” Sciences of the United States of America. Services Systems Star of Life Award
for their role in an emergency response
Wendy Lane, Jacques Ravel, call in summer 2020 at Rocks
MD, MPH, PhD, professor, State Park in Jarrettsville, Md.
clinical associate Department of
professor, Microbiology and Sarah Sommerkamp, MD, and
Department of Immunology, Zachary Dezman, MD, MS,
Epidemiology and and associate MS, both assistant professors,
Public Health, was director, Institute Department of Emergency Medicine,
appointed director for Genome were among the co-authors of
WENDY LANE JACQUES RAVEL
of the Maryland Sciences, received “Comparison of 4 Tests’ Utility for
CHAMP a five-year, $8 Predicting Need for Emergency
(Child Abuse Medical Professionals) million U19 grant from the National Department Care in Patients with
Program, a Maryland Department Institute of Allergy and Infectious Alcohol-Related Complaints,” which
of Health-sponsored initiative that Diseases for “Structure, Immunity and was published in the American
provides training and peer review Microbiome: Human 3D Biomimetics Journal of Emergency Medicine.
to Maryland physicians and nurses Cervicovaginal Models for Sexually
who do clinical child abuse work. Transmitted Infections (SIM-STI).” Zeljko
Vujaskovic, MD,
Rana Malek, J. Marc Simard, PhD, professor
MD, clinical MD, PhD, and vice chair
associate professor, professor; for research,
Department Volodymyr Department
of Medicine, Gerzanich, PhD, of Radiation
received the H. associate professor; Oncology,
ZELJKO VUJASKOVIC
Jack Baskin, and Seong Woo, received a Lifetime
MD, Endocrine PhD, assistant Achievement
RANA MALEK J. MARC SIMARD
Teaching professor, all from Award from The Daily Record
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 6
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
as part of its annual Health Association of Colleges of Nursing’s
Care Heroes recognition. 2021 Diversity Leadership Institute,
which provided an overview of
Zhekang Ying, diversity and inclusion efforts and the
PhD, assistant role of diversity officers in academic
professor, and nursing and nursing practice.
Liqing Yu,
PhD, professor, Ameera
both from the Chakravarthy, SHANNON IDZIK KATHLEEN BUCKLEY
Department MS, RN, ACNP-
of Medicine, BC, FNP-BC,
ZHEKANG YING
received a five- clinical instructor
year, $3,124,436 and director,
grant from the National Institute Doctor of Nursing
of Environmental Health Sciences Practice Adult-
for “Mechanism for Programming AMEERA
CHAKRAVARTHY
Gerontology
of Offspring Adiposity by Acute Care Nurse
Maternal PM2.5 Exposure.” Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology
SUSAN BINDON BRENDA WINDEMUTH
Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty,
was elected president of the Nurse professor and
Practitioner Association of Maryland.
SCHOOL OF NURSING director, Adult-
Doctor of Nursing Gerontology
Forty UMSON faculty and staff Practice students Primary Care
members presented their work or had Michelle Gorey, Nurse Practitioner
it featured at the Maryland Action DNP ’21, RN; specialty; and
Coalition’s 2021 Virtual Leadership Elizabeth Debra Bingham,
Summit titled “Meeting Challenges “Betsy” Johnson, DrPH, RN,
DEBRA BINGHAM
Head On: Maryland Nurses Respond.” MSN, CPNP- FAAN, associate
PC; Lana Kim, professor,
DNP ’21, MSH, MICHELLE GOREY were among the co-authors of
AGNP-C; “Lessons Learned Using Logic
Ryan Swartz, BSN, RN; and Models to Design and Guide
Ricki Weisbrot, DNP ’21, DNP Projects,” which was
RN, were recognized for their published in Nurse Educator.
presentations at national, regional, Jane M.
and local conferences. Kirschling, PhD,
Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS RN, FAAN, the
BIMBOLA F. VANESSA P. FAHIE
AKINTADE ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, Bill and Joanne
associate professor and associate Conway Dean of
Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD ’11, dean, Doctor of Nursing Practice the University of
MS ’05, MBA, MHA, BSN ’03, Program; Kathleen Buckley, PhD, Maryland School
ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, MS ’76, BSN ’73, RN, IBCLC, of Nursing, was
JANE M. KIRSCHLING
associate professor and associate associate professor; Susan Bindon, named a working
dean, Master of Science in Nursing DNP ’11, MS ’95, RN, NPD-BC, group member
Program, and Vanessa P. Fahie, PhD CNE, CNE-cl, associate professor for the 2021-23 Interprofessional
’94, BSN ’76, assistant professor, and associate dean for faculty Education Collaborative Core
participated in the American development; Brenda Windemuth, Competencies revision update.
DNP ’11, CRNP, assistant
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 7
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Marik Moen, of Data Supporting Neurobiological SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
PhD ’18, MPH, Underpinnings,” which was published
RN, assistant in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
professor, received
a one-year, Anju Paudel,
$50,000 pilot MGS, RN, PhD
grant from the student, received
UMB Center a UMB Geriatrics
MARIK MOEN
for Addiction and Gerontology
Research, Education
Education, and Service’s Science to and Research KIMBERLY CLAEYS HEATHER CONGDON
Systems Grant Program. Moen will Program Award
ANJU PAUDEL
serve as the principal investigator in recognition of
for the project “Partnering with her contributions
People with Substance Use to the field of geriatric nursing.
Disorders as Stakeholders to Nicole E. Smith,
Improve Assessing and Addressing MS ’14, RN,
Health-Related Social Needs.” CNE, CHSE,
Eun-Shim CNE-cl, clinical
Nahm, PhD instructor and MEGAN EHRET JULIA SLEJKO
’03, RN, FAAN, clinical simulation
lab coordinator, The following
professor and
Universities at UMSOP
director, Nursing NICOLE E. SMITH
Shady Grove, was faculty received
Informatics
accepted into the promotions:
Program, was
National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Kimberly
honored with
EUN-SHIM NAHM Scholarly Writing Retreat: An NLN Claeys, PharmD,
the UMSON
Mentoring Program, which helps nurse now professor,
Colleague
educators enhance their writing skills Department
Award at the University of Maryland DEANNA TRAN
and disseminate research findings and of Pharmacy
Medical Center’s Nursing Excellence
other work in scholarly publications. Practice and
Awards Ceremony on May 6.
Science (PPS); Heather Congdon,
Rebecca PharmD, now professor, PPS;
Wiseman, PhD Megan Ehret, PharmD, now
’93, RN, associate professor, PPS; Julia Slejko, PhD,
professor and now associate professor with tenure,
chair of UMSON Department of Pharmaceutical
at the Universities Health Services Research; and
at Shady Grove, Deanna Tran, PharmD, now
was elected to a associate professor, PPS.
REBECCA WISEMAN
LYNN M. OSWALD CARLA L. STORR
two-year term
as treasurer Nicole Brandt, PharmD, professor,
of the National Forum of State Department of Pharmacy Practice
Lynn M. Oswald, PhD, RN,
Nursing Workforce Centers. and Science, and executive director,
associate professor, and Carla L. Storr,
Peter Lamy Center on Drug
ScD, MPH, professor, were among
Therapy and Aging, was named
the co-authors of “Early Life Stress
chair of the Advisory Committee on
and Risks for Opioid Misuse: Review
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 8
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Interdisciplinary, the Social Services Administration Cherokee
Community- for “Maryland State Foster Care Layson-Wolfe,
Based Linkages Psychotropic Monitoring.” PharmD,
under the Bureau associate dean for
Health Workforce Joga Gobburu, PhD, professor, student affairs
within the Department of Pharmacy Practice and and associate
Health Resources Science (PPS) and director, Center professor,
and Services for Translational Medicine, and Vijay Department
Administration. NICOLE BRANDT Ivaturi, PhD, assistant professor, PPS, of Pharmacy CHEROKEE
LAYSON-WOLFE
She also received received a U.S. patent for “Method of Practice and
a two-year, $239,837 contract from Administering Sotalol IV/Switch.” Science, received the Maryland
the Patient-Centered Outcomes Mathangi Pharmacists Association’s Seidman
Research Institute for “Engaging Gopalakrishnan, Distinguished Achievement
Older Adults and Caregivers in PhD, assistant Award and was named the
Medication Optimization Research.” professor, Doctor of Pharmacy Class of
Department 2021’s Teacher of the Year.
Erica Davis,
PharmD, of Pharmacy Kayleigh
advanced practice Practice and Majercak,
pharmacist, Science, received graduate student,
Mental Health
MATHANGI a two-year, Department of
GOPALAKRISHNAN
Program, received $15,506 contract Pharmaceutical
an Innovative from Meabco, Inc. for “Consulting Health Services
Practices Award Services Related to Meabco, lnc.’s Research,
ERICA DAVIS
from the College Proprietary Compound, BP-C2.” received a
of Psychiatric KAYLEIGH MAJERCAK 19-month,
Mojdeh Heavner,
and Neurologic Pharmacists. PharmD, $50,000
associate professor, fellowship from the National
Sandeep Health Council for “Overcoming
Devabhakthuni, Department of
Pharmacy Practice Evidence-Based Gaps: A Patient
PharmD, Survey Template to Inform Patient-
associate professor, and Science,
received the Centered Value Assessment.”
Department of
Pharmacy Practice Distinguished Jill Morgan,
MOJDEH HEAVNER
and Science, was Alumni PharmD,
accepted into Award from professor
SANDEEP UMB’s Faculty the Yale New Haven Health and chair,
DEVABHAKTHUNI
Leadership Pharmacy’s Residency Program. Department
Development Program. Jace Jones, PhD, of Pharmacy
assistant professor, Practice and
Susan dosReis, Science,
PhD, professor, Department of
JILL MORGAN
Pharmaceutical received the
Department of 2021 Sustained
Pharmaceutical Sciences, was
named UMSOP’s Contribution to Administrative
Health Services Practice in Pharmacy Education
Research, American
Association Award from the American
received a one- Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s
year, $99,998 of Colleges of JACE JONES
SUSAN DOSREIS Pharmacy’s Administrative Services Section.
contract from
Teacher of the Year.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 9
LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Zachary Noel, Pharmacists Association; was SCHOOL OF
PharmD, elected a member-at-large of the
assistant professor, American Pharmacists Association’s
SOCIAL WORK
Department of Academy of Pharmacy Practice Richard P. Barth,
Pharmacy Practice and Management; and received PhD, professor,
and Science, was the 2020 Outstanding Reviewer was among the
named UMSOP’s Award from the Journal of the co-authors of
American American Pharmacists Association. “Police Violence
ZACHARY NOEL
Association and Associations
of Colleges of James Trovato,
with Public
Pharmacy’s alternate delegate. PharmD,
Perceptions of the
professor,
Police,” which RICHARD P. BARTH
Charmaine Department
was published
Rochester- of Pharmacy
in the Journal of the Society for
Eyeguokan, Practice and
Social Work and Research.
PharmD, Science, was
professor, named president- Mel Bellin,
JAMES TROVATO
Department elect of UMSOP’s PhD, associate
of Pharmacy Faculty Assembly. professor, and
Practice and alumnus Rachel
CHARMAINE
Science, received Linda Wastila,
ROCHESTER- Margolis, PhD,
the 2021 Bowl PhD, the Parke-
EYEGUOKAN MSW, wrote
of Hygeia Award Davis Chair
“Caregiver
from the Maryland Pharmacists of Geriatric
Depressive
Association and was named the Pharmacotherapy,
Symptoms MEL BELLIN
Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2021’s Department of
and Primary
Faculty Preceptor of the Year. Pharmaceutical
Medication Nonadherence in
Health Services
Children with Asthma,” which
Julia Slejko, PhD, associate LINDA WASTILA Research,
was published in the Journal
professor, Department of received a
of Pediatric Health Care.
Pharmaceutical Health Services two-year, $242,202 fellowship
Research, was named co-chair- from Novartis for “Novartis John Cagle, PhD, associate
elect of the Professional Society for Outcomes Research Fellowship professor, was among the co-
Health Economics and Outcomes’ Task Order No. 3.” authors of “Caregiver Burden and
Research Faculty Advisory Council. Related Factors During Active
Barbara Zarowitz, PharmD,
Cancer Treatment: A Latent
Sarah Tanveer, graduate student, geriatric pharmacotherapy and
Growth Curve Analysis,” which
Department of Pharmaceutical clinical research consultant, Peter
was published in the European
Health Services Research, Lamy Center on Drug Therapy
Journal of Oncology Nursing.
received the 2021 Outstanding and Aging, was named to the
Graduate Student Representative American Medical Directors Christabel Cheung, PhD, assistant
Award from the UMB Graduate Association Foundation Board. professor, co-authored “Centering
Student Association. Black Swans: Embodied Research
in Adolescent and Young Adult
Deanna Tran, PharmD, associate
Oncology,” which was published
professor, Department of Pharmacy
in Oppositional Conversations.
Practice and Science, was named
president-elect of the Maryland
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 10LAURELS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
Jaih Craddock, Bethany Lee, PhD, professor, was Court’: Criminal
PhD, assistant appointed as director of UMSSW’s Justice Actors’
professor, was Doctoral and Postdoctoral Perceptions of
among the Program, effective July 1. Prostitution
co-authors of Diversion
“Associations in Howard A. Palley, PhD, Professor Programs,” which
Preventive Sexual Emeritus, wrote “The White Working was published in
Health Service Class and the Politics of Race in Law & Policy.
JAIH CRADDOCK
Utilization and the United States,” which was COREY SHDAIMAH
Pre-Exposure published in Open Political Science.
Melissa Smith, PhD, associate
Prophylaxis (PrEP) interest Among Joan Pittman, professor, was among the co-authors
Young Black Women in the United PhD, associate of “Social Work Training to Reduce
States, 2018,” which was published professor, was Duration of Untreated Psychosis:
in AIDS Care: Psychological and among the Methodology and Considerations of a
Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV. co-authors of Web-Based Training for Community
Sarah Dababnah, “Interprofessional Providers,” which was published in
PhD, associate Education Clinics Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
professor, was and Improved
JOAN PITTMAN
Outcomes for Jay Unick, PhD, associate professor,
among the was among the authors of “Item
co-authors Primary Care
Patients with Diabetes,” which Response Theory Analysis: PROMIS®
of an article Anxiety Form and Generalized Anxiety
published in the was published in the Journal of
Interprofessional Education & Practice. Disorder Scale,” which was published in
International the Western Journal of Nursing Research.
SARAH DABABNAH
Journal of Michael Reisch, PhD, Distinguished
Developmental Professor Emeritus, gave the Fernando
Disabilities that explored the keynote presentation “Promoting Wagner, PhD,
stigma among parents raising Social Justice Through Social Work professor, was
children with disabilities. Research in an ‘Alternative Facts’ among the
Environment” at the European co-authors of
Jodi Frey, PhD, professor, was “Comparative
among the co-authors of “Suicide Social Work Research Association’s
Annual Conference in May. Analysis of
Intervention Training with Law Lifetime Suicide
Enforcement Officers,” which Theda Rose, PhD, assistant FERNANDO WAGNER
Attempts
was published in Suicide and professor, and student Victoria Among Mexican
Life-Threatening Behavior. Chan were among the co-authors Adolescents Over the Past 12
Elizabeth J. Greeno, PhD, of “A Very Present Help: The Role Years,” which was published in the
research associate professor; of Religious Support for Black International Journal of Environmental
John A. Cosgrove, PhD, lead Adolescent Girls’ Mental Well- Research and Public Health.
research analyst; and Bethany Being,” which was published in the
Journal of Community Psychology. Orrin Ware, PhD candidate, was
Lee, PhD, professor, co-authored among the co-authors of “Barriers to
“The Evaluation of a Nurturing Corey Shdaimah, PhD, the Daniel Retention in Substance Use Treatment:
Parenting Program Implemented Thursz Distinguished Professor Validation of a New, Theory-Based
by Child Welfare Workers,” of Social Justice, co-authored Scale,” which was published in the
which was published in Children “Targeted Sympathy in ‘Whore Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.
and Youth Services Review.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 11COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT
JULY/AUGUST 2021
B’MORE FOR HEALTHY BABIES DELIVERS RESULTS
Shania Kerina was pregnant — and homeless — when at least At the time, Kerina knew little about BHB, how the staff
once a week she received a call from Angelise Shelby, MSW, conducts aggressive outreach using door-to-door, word-of-mouth,
LGSW, a social worker with B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB), and other methods to build family and community trust and
the outreach program operated by the University of Maryland increase community awareness of their prenatal and postnatal
School of Social Work’s (UMSSW) Promise Heights initiative. support services. She didn’t know BHB would be credited for
achieving a record-low infant mortality rate for Black infants in
“I was house to house. I was in and out the hospital from stress. her neighborhood of Upton/Druid Heights.
I was bleeding a lot,” Kerina said. “I was so stressed that I just
would ignore her call.” Eventually Kerina saw a flyer for a “Spa Night” hosted by BHB
for pregnant women and new moms in her neighborhood. “Why
not go?” she said to herself. After all, dinner was included.
“The room was packed just with pregnant moms, new moms,
and they had a room where they were watching the kids. They
supplied dinner for us at the end. And I don’t even think they
knew that was the only meal I had that day. And I was pregnant
at eight months,” Kerina said.
Now the proud mother of a 1½-year-old son Kimani, Kerina
shared her story at a June 17 news conference celebrating a major
milestone in the work of BHB and its partners. After more than
a decade of sustained investment in Upton/Druid Heights, the
infant mortality rate has dropped by 75 percent to 3.8 deaths
per 1,000 live births. This rate is lower than the city’s overall
white infant mortality rate (4.4 in 2019) and comparable to
Baltimore communities that are far more wealthy and affected far
less negatively by social determinants of health. The outcome is
directly tied to years of local investment, outreach, and education
through the work of the BHB program, officials said.
When BHB launched in 2009, Upton/Druid Heights, with a
population that is among the city’s least wealthy and almost entirely
Black, had a higher rate of infant mortality than the city overall.
“It is no secret that there is a distinct significant racial disparity in
infant mortality with Black babies typically dying between two and
five times the rate of white babies,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott,
who hosted the news conference. “This is an unfortunate dynamic
that our city knows all too well. In 2009, 15 out of 1,000 infants in
the neighborhood of Upton/Druid Height did not survive birth.
“While the deck is already stacked against Black children growing
up in these neighborhoods, 15 of those precious lives won’t even
have an opportunity to dream or fulfill their potential.”
Scott was joined by University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
PHOTO BY MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS; Stacey Stephens,
SHANIA KERINA, A MOTHER WHO BENEFITED FROM B’MORE FOR HEALTHY
BABIES SERVICES, SAYS OF THE INITIATIVE: “NOT ONLY ARE THEY SAVING
LCSW-C, director of BHB; Letitia Dzirasa, MD, commissioner
LIVES, BUT THEY’RE BUILDING FAMILIES.”
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 12Continued from previous page
of the Baltimore City Health
Department; Demaune
Millard, president and
chief executive officer of the
Family League of Baltimore;
Traci Kodeck, MPH,
chief executive officer of
HealthCare Access Maryland;
Destiny Simone-Ramjohn,
PhD, vice president of
community health and social
impact at CareFirst BlueCross
BlueShield; and Antoine
Dow, owner of Cut Styles
barbershop.
“The work in Upton/
Druid Heights is absolutely
incredible,” Scott said. “I
want to thank Director
Stephens and B’more for
Healthy Babies for this
measurable impact in this PHOTO BY MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO
community, and subsequently MAYOR BRANDON SCOTT (LEFT) LISTENS AS UMB PRESIDENT BRUCE JARRELL SPEAKS DURING THE EVENT THAT
in Baltimore as a whole.” CELEBRATED B’MORE FOR HEALTHY BABIES’ SUCCESS IN REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY.
In addition to promoting “We owe a tremendous thank you to Black women who partnered
access to prenatal care and primary care services, BHB provides with us during the vulnerable but joyous time of pregnancy and
education to new parents through local organizations, schools, parenting young children,” Stephens said, addressing moms
and businesses. BHB also leads Moms Clubs for prenatal from the community who gathered on the sidewalk and joined
education and postpartum support, breastfeeding support groups, program staff in donning purple BHB T-shirts outside Cut Styles
parenting classes, and case management. on McMechen Street, where the news conference was held.
“This isn’t just an accomplishment relative to Baltimore. This is “During this period, we have deeply listened to Black women as
a national accomplishment, where we have done a spectacular you have transformed educational, perinatal groups into spaces
job,” Jarrell said. “The hard part comes up now. How do that foster social connections and supports,” she said. “We admire
we make it so that those infants now blossom, reach their how you have emerged as strong advocates and community
potential, and become great contributors to this city? That’s the organizers in your community, which has even led to new
challenge. The other challenge is, of course, to keep our federal entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.”
government helping us to fund this great program. And so, Mr.
Mayor and all of our delegation, we’re going to need your help Stephens also thanked Dow and other barbers in the community.
to make this kind of funding that goes to social determinants For eight years, barbers have been instrumental in providing
of health really successful.” space in their shops to share BHB messaging on reducing the
infant mortality rate.
Stephens noted that a central part of BHB’s success has been
cultivating trust and respect in the Upton/Druid Heights — Mary Therese Phelan
community.
Read more about this event.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 13DIVERSITY
JULY/AUGUST 2021
UMB CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH, CONTINUES DISCUSSION ON ANTI-RACISM
Seantè Hatcher, LCSW-C, associate dean of continuing
professional education at UMSSW, was among the organizers.
“Juneteenth is a celebration of Black joy,” Hatcher said. “It’s a time
when we can all come together to see how rich and vast Black
culture is. We are so much more than the descendants of slaves.”
The celebration kicked off June 14 with a panel of museum
leaders who discussed Black history post-enslavement and the
strides that have been made to obtain full physical and financial
autonomy. Moderated by Hatcher, the freewheeling discussion
ranged from the impact of integration on African Americans to
the importance of the arts in education.
Terri Freeman, MA, executive director of the Reginald F.
Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and
Culture in Baltimore, reflected on the importance of African
American museums, saying they provide an understanding of
PHOTO BY MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO the 400 years of fundamental contributions Black people have
THE JUNETEENTH JUBILEE AT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER made in America.
FEATURED FOOD, GIVEAWAYS, MUSIC, AND MORE.
“It’s not African American history. It’s American history
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) affirmed its through the lens of the African American experience,” she said,
commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in June and July emphasizing that there is no way to disentangle the two.
with events that celebrated Juneteenth, a follow-up discussion On June 15, the virtual event “Black Diasporic Experience:
on how to be an anti-racist, and the arrival of a new chief equity, Are We All Seeking Collective Liberation?” explored the Black
diversity, and inclusion officer (CEDIO) and vice president. experience in America. Moderated by Neijma Celestine-Donnor,
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in June, but well before LCSW-C, assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at
that UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, announced UMSSW, the panel included speakers of African descent from
it would be a holiday for UMB, saying in a March 29 letter Ghana, Belize, and the United States who discussed cultural
to the community that Juneteenth “serves as a day to reflect differences within the Black community.
on the fight for freedom and justice — then and now — and On June 16, the CEC hosted a Juneteenth Jubilee Community
to joyfully celebrate Black history and culture, and Black Day Block Party that featured food, giveaways, music,
resistance and resilience.” activities, and dancing. And June 17, a Zoom House Party was
Originally commemorating the announcement of the abolition held online to emphasize Black joy through music, trivia, and
of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, more than two years after social connection. At the Juneteenth Jubilee, attendees received
the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth tote bags that included information about the holiday’s history
is now the preeminent national celebration of freedom from and a craft kit.
slavery in the United States. “We wanted to make sure that youths received an activity book
After Jarrell’s March announcement, a group of employees from so that at a young age they can learn about Juneteenth, what their
the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW), ancestors went through, and how our history didn’t start with
UMB Intercultural Center, and UMB Community Engagement enslavement, that there are other aspects to African American
Center (CEC) worked to organize a week of cultural events for culture,” said Danielle Harris, LCSW-C, associate director of the
the University community to celebrate the contributions and CEC. “We wanted to celebrate that, because the children may not
resilience of African Americans. be getting that messaging in school.”
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 14Continued from previous page
Meanwhile, the June 17 edition of They were joined by Diane Forbes
Virtual Face to Face with President Berthoud, PhD, MA, who would
Bruce Jarrell served as a follow- become the University’s inaugural
up to a February UMB event in CEDIO on July 1.
which author and educator Ibram
X. Kendi, PhD, MA, discussed his While praising Kendi’s scholarship,
book “How to Be an Antiracist.” Forbes Berthoud recommended that
The University then sponsored members of the UMB community
discussions about the book and its also explore the work of Beverly
topic, and four of the facilitators Tatum, PhD, MA, an author,
took turns on Virtual Face to Face educator, psychologist, and expert
talking about their sessions and the on the topic of racism. She shared
feedback they received. Tatum’s “moving walkway” analogy.
Among the key takeaways was “Dr. Tatum says she sometimes
that UMB needs to continue its visualizes the ongoing cycle of racism
conversations around equity, diversity, like a moving walkway at the airport,”
inclusion, and anti-racism, while Forbes Berthoud said. “Active racist
striving to be proactive in assessing behavior is the equivalent of walking
and addressing these issues in the fast on the conveyor belt. Passive
University’s policies and practices of racist behavior is the equivalent of
the past, present, and future. standing still, so you’re standing there
and not doing anything. But the
“We are an action-oriented conveyor belt moves the bystanders to
institution, and we absolutely want the same destination as those who are
to be more of an action-oriented actively walking.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO
institution on the topic of diversity, YOUTH WHO ATTENDED THE JUNETEENTH JUBILEE
equity, and inclusion,” said Roger RECEIVED A TOTE BAG THAT INCLUDED INFORMATION “Some of the bystanders may feel
J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA,
ABOUT THE HOLIDAY. the motion of the conveyor belt, see
interim provost, executive vice the active racists walking ahead of
president, and dean of the University of Maryland Graduate them, and choose to turn around.
School, who hosted the show in place of Jarrell. “We’ve been But unless they are walking actively, in the opposite direction,
having great conversations around this topic, and those at a speed faster than the conveyor belt — unless they are
conversations should continue after today’s program, because actively anti-racist — they will find themselves carried along
we are on this journey together.” with the others.
The book club discussions included about 150 UMB students, “So it is really important to think about our collective
staff, and employees including 19 facilitators. Each facilitator met commitment as it relates to anti-racism, but also as it relates
with their group at least two times to discuss Kendi’s book and to all other forms of oppression — at the institution, in our
generate ideas for UMB to combat racism. communities, and more broadly in society — that will require all
of us actively turning around on the conveyor belt and going in
The four facilitators on Virtual Face to Face were Cherita the opposite direction.”
Adams, MBA, MS, assistant dean for administration and
strategic initiatives, UMSSW; Rosemary Ferreira, MEd, — Laura Lee and Lou Cortina
program coordinator, Intercultural Center; Elisa Medina, Watch a video about the Juneteenth Jubilee.
MSW, LCSW-C, career development manager, Human
Resource Services; and Tyrone Roper, MSW, director, CEC. Read more about the June 17 Virtual Face to Face.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 15PROUD TO WORK HERE.
PROUD TO GIVE HERE.
CAMPAIGN IMPACT AR EAS
SUPPORTED:
The PROUD TO WORK HERE. PROUD TO GIVE HERE.
campaign is a Universitywide awareness and fundraising
effort that invites faculty and staff to show their pride
Student Scholarships
with a gift to the UMB school, scholarship, program, fund,
and Endowments
or cause that matters most to them.
Thank you to all who participated — you have a lot
to be PROUD of. Professorships
Research Activities
$884,000 11% 187
received employee funds
in gifts and participation supported Public Service Projects
pledge payments
Institutional Programs
FISCAL YEAR 2021 (July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021)
Areas of Greatest Need
744 DONORS
291
39%
$25
donors with more
than one gift donors with
multiple gifts
66% consecutive year
donors
124 FIRST-TIME DONORS
most frequent
gift amount
49 donors through
payroll deduction
488 CONSECUTIVE
YEAR DONORS
THE CATALYST CAMPAIGN catalyst.umaryland.eduCOLLABORATION
JULY/AUGUST 2021
ALLIANCE PROMOTES EDUCATION-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP
Partnership was the theme June 11 at the Universities at Shady The Maryland Life Sciences Education and Innovation Partnership
Grove (USG) in Rockville, Md., where leaders from government, goes a step further than MPower, bringing the educational and
higher education, and business gathered to celebrate the research aspects of Maryland’s public higher education institutions
Maryland Life Sciences Education and Innovation Partnership. into a close working relationship with industry. The goals are
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines a strategic to provide Maryland students richer experiential learning and
alliance designed to greatly enhance opportunities for students, Maryland biotech businesses a highly qualified pool of talent.
propel further innovation, and provide a talent pipeline
for the region’s burgeoning life sciences industry.
“You will see the word ‘partnership’ repeated
throughout this document,” Isiah “Ike” Leggett, JD,
a University System of Maryland (USM) regent and
former Montgomery County executive, told the room
before making a reference to the musical Hamilton.
“This does not work without partnership. It will
take time for us to fully execute this, but we have a
movement, we have a plan, and we have the right people
in the room where it happens.”
Those “people in the room” included University of
Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell,
MD, FACS; USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD;
the presidents and other representatives of five USM
institutions and Montgomery College; Montgomery
County Executive Marc Elrich, MA; and business
leaders from AstraZeneca, IBM, S3, American Gene
Technologies, Quality Biological, and US Pharmacopeia. PHOTO BY ALEX LIKOWSKI
UMB PRESIDENT BRUCE E. JARRELL ADDRESSES THE LEADERS WHO GATHERED JUNE 11
“Partnership is a key thing for success, especially in AT THE UNIVERSITIES AT SHADY GROVE TO CELEBRATE THE MARYLAND LIFE SCIENCES
EDUCATION AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP.
Maryland with the system for us to develop linkages
across the various institutions,” said Karl V. Steiner,
PhD, vice president for research at the University of Maryland, Key elements of the partnership are a commitment to collaborate
Baltimore County. “There’s a power in working together, really to enhance student career path awareness and inform the
showing the power of USM, which the chancellor has really development of curricula and programmatic offerings that
challenged us to do.” support industry’s workforce needs, and to establish postgraduate
research programming that will focus on future aspects, needs,
The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering and opportunities fueled by the life sciences industry, with the
the State, which combines the research activities of UMB and the goal of ensuring that Maryland remains a premier location for
University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), is a great example biotech industry advancement.
of the power of partnership, Jarrell said.
“Year in and year out, Maryland ranks among the top three
“Among public universities, [UMB and UMCP] are ranked best-educated states, among the most innovative states, the most
eighth in research. My gosh, think about that!” Jarrell exclaimed. entrepreneurial states,” Perman said. “And this MOU makes it
“Our combined research expenditures are over $1 billion per better, because it brings a framework to the work to leverage our
year, which is a large amount of money. So, there is tremendous individual strengths for collective benefits.”
research expertise sitting on these two campuses, as well as
throughout Maryland and in the biotech community.” — Alex Likowski
Read more and watch a video about this event at this link.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 17WORK-LIFEBALANCE
JULY/AUGUST 2021
TAKE YOUR LEAVE: TIME AWAY FROM WORK OFFERS MANY BENEFITS
Take a breather. Take a break. Take your leave … and relax. phone to use. What we forget is that we need to treat ourselves
the same way. Vacations allow us the time to disconnect from
That’s the message for University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) work and recharge our batteries.”
employees who’ve accrued hours upon hours of leave time during
the COVID-19 pandemic, when many vacation plans were scuttled According to UMB policy, a maximum of 400 hours of annual
because of travel restrictions or health and safety concerns. leave can be carried into a new calendar year by all regular,
full-time employees. Because of the pandemic, that number
Now there seems to be a light at the end of the COVID-19 was lifted to 480 hours under a University System of Maryland
tunnel, with vaccines being distributed and restrictions on exception. Staff members have until the final pay period of the
gatherings and face coverings 2022 calendar year to use any leave
relaxed or rescinded. The over 400 hours, or else it will be
Centers for Disease Control and forfeited; faculty members have
Prevention says if you are fully until the final pay period of the
vaccinated — two weeks after 2021 calendar year.
your final vaccine shot — you
can travel safely within the The increase in unused leave at
United States. UMB has been dramatic. For
example, between the 24th pay
UMB’s leaders are encouraging period of 2020 and the 24th pay
employees to use their accrued period of 2021, there was a 19.1
leave — and what better time than percent increase in the amount of
during the summer? Whether it’s unused leave time, according to
a vacation, a staycation, a long Susan McKechnie, CPA, assistant
weekend getaway, or a simple day vice president and University
off, taking time away from work controller. By comparison, the
to refresh and recharge is seen increase in unused leave time
as a critical way to improve your over the same time period in
physical and mental health. the previous four years was 1.34
“It’s not only OK to take time off, percent, 1.7 percent, 2.97 percent,
but I also expect our workforce and 5.61 percent.
to do so,” says UMB President The large amount of unused leave,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “UMB’s leadership understands that now nearly 1.8 million hours, is detrimental to the University,
taking your earned time off is critically important to your mental, because it serves as a debt on UMB’s ledger, McKechnie says.
emotional, and physical health, and it is important for the health
and safety of our entire community. Please make sure that you “These hours represent unused vacation that will be used,
are taking the time you need — that you have earned — and that paid out, or lost,” she says. “Any hours that have been earned
you are being respectful of others’ time off.” but not paid out must be treated as a debt to our employees
that UMB records as an expense. So the higher the number of
Michelle Pearce, PhD, a professor at the University of Maryland unused hours, the larger the debt, and the bigger the expense.
Graduate School and a clinical psychologist, applauds the This growing balance of unused leave time is a financial issue
University for advocating employees taking time away from work. for the entire University.”
“I liken vacations to recharging our phone batteries,” she says. — Lou Cortina
“We all know that our phone has to be charged regularly in order
to function. If we don’t take time to charge it, we won’t have a Read more about the Take Your Leave campaign.
UMARYLAND.EDU/PRESIDENTS-MESSAGE 18You can also read
