The recognition honors 100 men and women who are shaping Maryland’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms, and other key institutions.
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, was named to The Daily Record’s Power 100 list for 2025, the fifth consecutive year he has been included on the list.
The recognition honors 100 men and women who “are shaping our businesses, nonprofits, law firms, and other key institutions … and play an outsized role in the culture, lifestyle, civic conversations, and economic fortunes of Maryland,” according to the newspaper, which focuses on business, law, and government in the state.
In announcing its list July 31, The Daily Record said it “sought to explore how these men and women see their accomplishments, the lessons they’ve learned, and what they think is the biggest challenge facing Maryland.”
Jarrell, a kidney and liver transplant surgeon by trade and native of Caroline County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has been UMB president since September 2020, when he was appointed after serving as interim president for eight months.
Before that, he held a number of executive positions at UMB, including executive vice president and provost, chief academic and research officer, senior vice president, and dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
Jarrell arrived on campus in 1997 as chair of the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Department of Surgery. He expanded UMSOM’s surgical programs and developed innovative research studies and clinical trials. In 2003, he moved to the UMSOM Dean’s Office, where he served as executive vice dean, directing the school’s education and research enterprises.
Jarrell also served as the institutional official for human research protection and animal research protection, and he has remained actively involved in research and medical student education throughout his career.
The newspaper asked Jarrell three questions:
What’s the most important thing you do?
One of the most important things I do is to support our extraordinary students as they grow, learn, and shape their futures. At this pivotal stage in their training, they absorb knowledge, push boundaries, and bring fresh perspectives that fuel creativity and innovation. Their resilience and evolution are what drive progress.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
As a surgeon, I learned the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks. Disappointment and failure aren’t signs to stop — they are signs to try harder. In today’s higher education environment, the same is true. I have also learned that collaboration is foundational to success. Innovation and growth thrive in environments where people challenge and support one another.
What’s the most significant challenge facing our state?
The value of our biomedical research is under attack in this country. We must emphasize its importance to the public on the benefits and the continued value of research. This will make a better America.
Five other presidents of University System of Maryland (USM) institutions were recognized — Darryll J. Pines, PhD, MS, University of Maryland, College Park; Kurt L. Schmoke, JD, University of Baltimore; Anthony Jenkins, PhD, Coppin State University; Valerie Sheares Ashby, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Mark R. Ginsberg, PhD, MS, Towson University — as well as USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, and University of Maryland Medical System President and CEO Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA.