Read Dr. Jarrell’s column on how UMB must celebrate and share stories about our impact, and learn about student, faculty, and staff achievements; news from around the University; and upcoming events.
To see previous editions of The President’s Message newsletter, go to the archives page on the Office of the President website.
President’s Column
UMB Continues to Excel, So Let’s Share Our Stories of Impact
Over the past five years, the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Faculty Convocation has served as an opportunity to celebrate the academic excellence, core values, and collective achievements that define our University.
This year, I had the honor of sharing stories that illustrate UMB’s impact on the lives of others. Each is a powerful reminder that the work we do at our University extends well beyond our classrooms, laboratories, and clinics: It also reaches people at some of the most challenging moments in their lives, offering renewed hope and a path toward a brighter future.
Groundbreaking Clinical Trial
At Convocation, I spoke about a young woman named Becca.
In 2021, Becca, then in her late 30s, began waking up every day with painful headaches that became debilitating. At first, she assumed she was suffering from migraines or sinus issues. But, after a few weeks, she became so sick that she checked into a hospital, where a scan showed blood in her brain.
Doctors performed more testing and found that she had a brain tumor that tested positive for glioblastoma, the most aggressive and most common malignant brain tumor in adults. The prognosis for glioblastoma is always grim. Only about 5 to 7 percent of glioblastoma patients live five years beyond their diagnosis. Most live 12 to 18 months.
Knowing her odds, Becca jumped at the opportunity to enroll in a clinical trial led by Graeme Woodworth, MD, FAANS, FACS, the Howard M. Eisenberg, MD Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery at the School of Medicine.
Susan Bindon delivers her speech, “Payment in the Form of Gratitude,” at the UMB Faculty Convocation. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Read about Bindon’s remarks and the speech by her School of Nursing colleague, Angelica Fernandez-Dizon, on The Elm website.
Dr. Woodworth and his team have developed a new treatment that uses focused ultrasound to temporarily open what’s known as the blood-brain barrier — the barrier of cells in the brain that acts as a gatekeeper to allow essential nutrients and oxygen to enter the brain, while blocking harmful toxins and pathogens. Unfortunately, this same barrier tends to block potentially lifesaving treatments — like chemotherapy — from reaching targets in the brain. Getting treatments through this barrier remains one of the biggest obstacles to improving survival rates for glioblastoma patients.
Becca was one of 34 patients in the trial who underwent between three and six focused ultrasound treatments over the span of six months.
That was more than five years ago.
Today, Becca is 42 years old. And she is not only alive — she also is thriving. A recent news story reported that Becca is back to her old self, planning a ski trip to Europe and living in the moment.
And it’s not just Becca’s story. Forty percent of the trial participants were alive after the typical expectancy for glioblastoma patients.
This trial is only one step forward, and we have a long way to work toward a cure. But I can’t help but think about how much the past five years must have meant to Becca — and what it must mean to her to plan for her future.
Becca’s story demonstrates the profound value of research and the possibilities that emerge when faculty have the expertise, resources, and determination to address today’s most pressing health challenges. Behind every research advancement is the potential to give someone more time with loved ones, more opportunities, and more hope.
Brighter Future for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
For Jessica, a 41-year-old woman who has lived with sickle cell anemia for her entire life, that hope has taken on a different form.
Patients who suffer from sickle cell anemia face debilitating pain episodes, organ failure, and a shortened life expectancy. Like Becca, Jessica faced a life sentence from a relentless disease.
But this year, Jessica became the first adult patient with sickle cell anemia in Maryland to undergo gene therapy through a program established at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center by UMB faculty members Jean Yared, MD, and Jennie Law, MD.
Several months have gone by, and Jessica is doing well. She no longer suffers from severe pain episodes, and her life no longer revolves around the disease. And she’s just the first.
The sickle cell disease gene therapy program reflects years of scientific progress, interdisciplinary collaboration, and partnership between UMB and the University of Maryland Medical Center. It also reflects the dedication of the physicians, nurses, researchers, and other health care professionals who make these advances possible. Among them are UMB graduates, including Dr. Law, a School of Medicine alum, and Ashley Guthrie, the registered nurse coordinator on the sickle cell team and a School of Nursing alumna.
They remind us that the work of our faculty extends well beyond classroom, laboratory, or clinical settings. It also is carried forward by the students they teach, mentor, and inspire who go on to serve patients and communities throughout Maryland and beyond.
UMB Provost Mark Reynolds, far left, and President Bruce Jarrell, far right, stand with two members of the Unger Group and Rebecca Bowman-Rivas, center, of the Francis King Carey School of Law, who helped to secure the release from prison of Kareem Hasan, left, and Stanley Mitchell in 2013. (Photo by Matthew D’Agostino)
Support for Returning Citizens
Of course, lifesaving work happens across our University. It’s not just limited to the health sciences. That’s why I also spoke at Convocation about the Unger group, 237 individuals who were incarcerated for allegedly committing violent crimes before 1981.
Decades later, it was determined that they had been wrongfully convicted, and many were released from prison.
By that time, most had been in prison for more than 30 years. They never had cellphones or their own computers. The oldest had entered prison in 1952, when Harry Truman was president. Some had no surviving family members.
Michael Millemann, JD, Emeritus Professor at the Francis King Carey School of Law, and Rebecca Bowman-Rivas, MSW, director of the school’s Law and Social Work Service Program, saw that these people would have extraordinary needs for legal and social services. Millemann and Bowman-Rivas developed a decarceration program to help members of the Unger group return to society — and it worked.
In Maryland, about 40 percent of individuals released from prison return to prison within three years. But thanks to the efforts of Millemann, Bowman-Rivas, and countless UMB law and social work students, the return rate for the Unger group was less than 3 percent.
Today, the Unger group is like a family. They host get-togethers and celebrate the milestones in each other’s lives. Many of them serve in roles that support youth programs, mentorship, and crime prevention in their communities. They work to ensure that others never have to walk in their shoes.
This work is lifesaving — just as much as any medical discovery or treatment. It demonstrates how legal education, social work, and commitment to social justice can change lives, restore opportunities, and strengthen communities. It is also just one example of the transformative work being led by our faculty, staff, and students across all of UMB's schools.
Call to Action
As members of the UMB community, each of us plays an important role in advancing work and supporting programs that change lives for the better.
But it’s not enough to do good work. We also must ensure that the broader public understands the value of what we do and the lives we touch. At a time when the value of higher education is increasingly questioned, sharing the human stories behind our research, teaching, clinical care, and service is more important than ever.
That is why I closed my speech with a directive for all UMB faculty, staff, and students:
Go out into the world and share stories of our impact. Tell others about Becca, Jessica, or the Unger group — or share your own examples of lives that have been changed through your work and the work of your colleagues.
And remember this: Becca, Jessica, and the Unger group are living their lives to the fullest. They are thriving, contributing to their communities, and looking toward the future. Whether or not they ever knew about UMB in the past, their lives have been forever changed because we are here.
UMB has been here for more than 200 years, and we will be here another 200 years from now. Our faculty, staff, and students will continue to make discoveries, educate future generations, care for patients and clients, and serve our communities. And our measure of success will always be our impact on the lives of others.
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
Laurels is a roundup of student, faculty, and staff achievements that is published 11 times a year in The President’s Message newsletter. This month’s edition includes kudos for (in photo, from left) the School of Graduate Studies’ Shani Fleming, who was inducted as a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; the School of Medicine’s Ronnie Adams, who was named UMB’s Employee of the Month for August; and the School of Dentistry’s Som Chatterjee, who received a $3.6 million grant to study the drug resistance of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.
New Hires
See a LIST OF NEW HIRES at UMB central administration and our seven schools for September.
News and Notes
The 2026 Founders Week award winners: Top row, from left: Leah Millstein, Ramsay Koury, and Natalie Ram. Bottom row, from left: Graeme Woodworth and Anum Zehra.
FOUNDERS WEEK: HONOREES, HISTORY, FOOD, AND FUN
Every fall, UMB dedicates one week to commemorate our rich history and celebrate the future we’re building together. Among the highlights of Founders Week is recognizing extraordinary work with awards that signify outstanding accomplishment in education, public service, research/scholarship, entrepreneurship, and academics. The 2026 Founders Week Awards recipients are:
- Educator of the Year: Leah S. Millstein, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
- Public Servant of the Year: Ramsay Koury, DMD, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, Division of General Practice, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry
- Researcher/Scholar of the Year: Natalie Ram, JD, Professor of Law, Francis King Carey School of Law
- David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year: Graeme F. Woodworth, MD, FAANS, FACS, Howard M. Eisenberg, MD Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine
- Student of the Year: Anum Zehra, MD Student, Class of 2027, School of Medicine
There are four Founders Week-related events this year, including the Staff Luncheon on Oct. 19; UMB Historical Treasures Tour and Ice Cream Social, both on Oct. 20; Student Cookout on Oct. 21; and Awards Recognition and Reception on Oct. 22 (invitation only). Registration remains open for the luncheon, ice cream social, and cookout on the Founders Week website.
NEW SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK BUILDING EARNS DESIGN AWARD
The future School of Social Work (UMSSW) building has yet to welcome its first class, but its design is already making a statement: “Beautiful exterior, plain and simple.” That was the assessment from the American Institute of Architects Louisiana jury that reviewed entries for the AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards. The Maryland chapter of the AIA recognized Ballinger’s design for the building in the Unbuilt Architecture — Commissioned category. For the team behind the project at UMB, the recognition reflects years of work translating social work values into a place where students, employees, and neighbors can feel welcome. “I want to congratulate Ballinger for their design leadership, and the dozens of talented professionals behind the creation of our new School of Social Work building," said UMSSW Dean Judy Postmus, PhD, ACSW. “The engaging spaces, sustainable design, evocative artwork, and soft touches are among the many features echoing social work values that will be visible throughout our new home.”
HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE BEHIND UMB’S EVERYDAY OPERATIONS
What does it mean to truly see and value the people whose work makes it possible for a university community to function every day? That question was at the heart of the UMB Values in Action Speaker Series event Sept. 22 at the 4MLK building, where Nicole Palmore, executive director of employee and organizational success, Administration and Finance; and three guests from Environmental Services (EVS) shared candid reflections on respect, integrity, recognition, and the essential contributions of employees whose work often happens behind the scenes. The panelists highlighted the many ways in which EVS employees care for UMB’s campus and community, often extending far beyond what might be visible in their day-to-day responsibilities.
From left, Denise Meyer, Kyra Franklin, Keisha Blake, and Nicole Palmore took part in the Values in Action Speaker Series event on Sept. 22 at the 4MLK building.
‘THE UMB PULSE’: ‘WHAT IF OUR DOCTORS REALLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER?’
This episode of “The UMB Pulse” podcast explores why health care can feel fragmented when patients must repeat medical histories and providers don’t seem to communicate. Kenneth H. Wong, PhD, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and UMB’s vice provost for graduate education, explains that the issue is driven less by individual unwillingness than by systems and structures that discourage coordination and lack a clear “general contractor” role. He discusses the limitations of electronic medical records in practice, consequences such as errors and redundant tests, and the historic separation of health professional training.
‘USA AT 250’ CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON IMPACT OF UMB
A little more than halfway through the campaign, the UMB Celebrates America at 250 series of stories has shifted its focus to the impactful research, programs, and initiatives that illustrate the University’s influence on the health and human services professions in the United States and around the world. Stories about the School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) history of vaccine development, the “Golden Hour” concept of emergency medicine and the Shock Trauma Center, the University Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State, and UMSOM’s 6-year-old Renaissance Curriculum show the breadth of UMB’s work to improve the human condition and serve the public good.
Upcoming Events
OCTOBER: CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY MONTH
The UMB Office of Sustainability is hosting events and initiatives across the University to celebrate sustainability, and it welcomes all members of the UMB community to participate. Visit the Campus Sustainability Month 2026 webpage for the full list of events and the most up-to-date information.
OCT. 19-23: WILLS (AND MORE) WEEK 2026
This week of webinars provides easy-to-understand guidance to help you build financial security, protect the people you love, and create a lasting impact for future generations. The expert-led virtual sessions will be held Monday through Friday, with all sessions recorded for future viewing. They are free to the UMB community in recognition of National Estate Planning Awareness Week.
OCT. 23: ‘HEALTH CARE ACCESS AT A CROSSROADS’
UMB’s PA Leadership and Learning Academy hosts an afternoon exploring the evolving health care landscape and strategies to expand access to care across Maryland. Expert speakers will examine current health care challenges and opportunities, including legislative changes that are helping to expand access to care.
OCT. 28: ‘FACE TO FACE’: ‘AI IN TEACHING AND LEARNING’
Faculty members will discuss AI-native pedagogy and tools, writing and intellectual development with AI, and assignment/assessment redesign in this virtual episode hosted by Roger Ward, interim chief administrative and strategy officer, University System of Maryland, and former UMB provost.
Save the Date
DEC. 2: UMB HOLIDAY MARKET
Mark your calendar for the 18th Annual UMB Holiday Market (formerly known as the Holiday Craft Fair), which will be held in the SMC Campus Center Elm Ballrooms. The event features artisans who sell handmade or original products and help create a festive shopping experience for the UMB community.
FEB. 2, 2027: MLK AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
UMB honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrates Black History Month with this annual event that features a keynote speaker, MLK Leadership and Community Champion of Equity and Justice award winners, and more. Nominations are due for the MLK Leadership Awards by Nov. 6 and the Community Champion of Equity and Justice Awards by Nov. 10. More details about the event will be announced in the weeks to come.
Video of the Month
Watch a recap of UMB’s Faculty Convocation, which featured faculty speakers, recognition of the 2026 Distinguished University Professors, and remarks by UMB President Bruce Jarrel