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2017 Archive

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Friday, December 22, 2017

First Stereotactic Radiation Therapy System Designed To Treat Early Stage Breast Cancer Receives FDA Clearance

The GammaPod ™ – a first-of-its kind stereotactic radiotherapy system to treat early stage breast cancer – has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), paving the way for the manufacturer to bring the system to market for the treatment of breast cancer patients.


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

UMSOM Scientists Identify Key Factors that Help Microbes Thrive in Harsh Environments

Three new studies by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) scientists have identified key factors that help microbes survive in harsh environments.


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

UMSOM Associate Dean Donna L. Parker Receives Award for Advising Medical Students On Careers

Donna L. Parker, MD, FACP, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the UMSOM, has received the 2017 Careers in Medicine Excellence in Medical Student Career Advising Advisor Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

In Memoriam: Longtime Civic Leader and Philanthropist Stewart Greenebaum Passes Away

Stewart Greenebaum, a prominent business and civic leader in Baltimore who dedicated much of his philanthropic work to supporting cancer research, treatment and education, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2017. He was 81.


Monday, December 11, 2017

High-Dose Cholera Vaccine Developed by UMSOM Scientists Shows Promise for Controlling Outbreaks

Each year there are more than three million cases of cholera worldwide, a disease transmitted through contaminated food and water that hits developing countries particularly hard. While the standard regimen for protecting against cholera with existing non-living oral cholera vaccines includes administering two doses over a two-week period, research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) now shows that giving a stronger single-dose of a live oral vaccine could be an effective tool in controlling outbreaks more quickly.


Friday, December 08, 2017

Internationally Recognized Researchers on Aging and Mobility Speak at the Fifth Annual Festival of Science

Leading scientists who study aging and mobility discussed their cutting-edge work at the fifth annual University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Festival of Science, a one-day celebration of research at the school held December 14 in Leadership Hall.


Thursday, December 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientists Identify the First Brain Cells to Respond to Sound

Some expectant parents play classical music for their unborn babies, hoping to boost their children’s cognitive capacity. While some research supports a link between prenatal sound exposure and improved brain function, scientists had not identified any structures responsible for this link in the developing brain.


Thursday, December 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientists Find that Traumatic Brain Injury Causes Intestinal Damage

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have found a two-way link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and intestinal changes. These interactions may contribute to increased infections in these patients, and may also worsen chronic brain damage.


Wednesday, December 06, 2017

Study Uses Genetic Testing to Personalize Treatment for Deadly Blood Cancer

A clinical trial using genetic testing to match acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with new therapies is now open at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC). The center is one of seven cancer centers nationwide participating in the Beat AML® Master Trial, sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).


Tuesday, December 05, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeons to Receive Prestigious International Research Award

A research team led by Mohit N. Gilotra, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), will receive the prestigious 2018 Charles S. Neer Award from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) for a clinical study that demonstrated an effective method to potentially reduce the risk of serious infection following shoulder surgery.


Tuesday, December 05, 2017

Hundreds Celebrate Groundbreaking of UM Capital Region Medical Center in Largo

In a celebratory milestone decades in the making, elected officials, medical, civic and business leaders and community stakeholders gathered in Largo to break ground on the new University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.


Monday, December 04, 2017

Collaborations Between Investigators and UMSOM Cores Are Leading to Scientific Achievement and Helping PI’s to Get the Most from Their Research Funds

In today's scientific funding climate, effective management of grant funds is vital to the success of every research program. Simply put, researchers need to get more bang from fewer bucks. Increasingly, investigators at the UMSOM, as well as nationally, are leveraging shared core facilities not only to get the most out of their research dollars, but also to take advantage of the cutting-edge instrumentation, services, and expertise of Core Facility Directors and staff of the UMSOM's Center for Innovative Biomedical Resources (CIBR). Researchers report that utilizing these core resources is a critical component of publishing in top-tier journals, submitting successful grant applications, and well-designed clinical trials.


Friday, December 01, 2017

New Study: Innovative Heart Device is Safe and Effective

A new study has found that a pioneering device to repair heart valves is safe and effective, and can reduce the invasiveness and side effects of conventional mitral valve surgery. The Harpoon Mitral Valve Repair System (H-MVRS), an image-guided device based on technology developed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), is deployed through a small opening between the ribs, and repairs the heart while it continues to beat. The research was presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT 2017) symposium in Denver, and simultaneously published in JACC, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.


Thursday, November 30, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Medical Students Celebrate Thanksgiving by Helping Baltimore's Neediest

For the 28th year in a row, on November 23, 2017 students from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and other University of Maryland Baltimore schools provided a Thanksgiving meal and more for some of Baltimore’s neediest. Students, faculty and staff from the medical school, as well as other University of Maryland Baltimore schools, gathered at Booker T. Washington Middle School on Thanksgiving to serve a meal and provide free clothing and food to those in need, including children. Medical students also took blood pressure readings. Over 400 meals were served and 150 volunteers took part in this Baltimore tradition.


Wednesday, November 29, 2017

To Mark World AIDS Day, Institute of Human Virology Releases Video on Dr. Robert Gallo

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) released a video on Dr. Robert Gallo, a trailblazer in HIV research, in advance of World AIDS Day, December 1. While many know Dr. Gallo for his pioneering work in AIDS research, the short video focuses on Dr. Gallo’s life and legacy in its entirety, including his pioneering discovery of human retroviruses.


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

UMSOM Department of Surgery Chair Stephen T. Bartlett, MD to Transition to Increased Role at University of Maryland Medical System

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Stephen T. Bartlett, MD, the Peter Angelos Distinguished Professor in Surgery and Chair of the UMSOM Department of Surgery, will transition from his long-term service as chair of the Department to an increased role at the University of Maryland Medical System as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective January 1, 2018. He will continue as an active member of the UMSOM faculty and maintain teaching, research, and clinical responsibilities as he transitions to his new role as CMO of the 14-hospital system.


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

UM SOM Scientist Elected as Fellow of American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Robert Edelman, MD, a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been elected as a Fellow by the Board of Directors of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). This honor was awarded for his sustained professional excellence in tropical medicine, hygiene, global health, and related disciplines.


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientists Set to Begin Studies of Infection Prevention Related to Fracture Treatment

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) researchers have been awarded more than $14 million to carry out two research projects to investigate the best way to prevent infections that can occur during the surgical treatment of fractures.


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Set Standards for What Diseases Should Be Called

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) are searching through medical journals, databases and other authoritative sources to establish standard terms for diseases as a way to help future researchers better understand a wide range of diseases like cancer. The work involves a time-intensive manual curation process, examining the breadth of information, naming systems and levels of evidence in order to integrate information and bridge data across resources.


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Study: Process Used to Select Lung Transplant Patients May Need to be Changed

With a limited number of lungs available, deciding who gets a transplant can be a matter of life or death. New research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) suggests that the system for choosing transplant recipients in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may underestimate how long a person might survive without a lung transplant and therefore, may mislead clinicians.


Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Faculty Physicians Named 2017 Top Docs by Baltimore magazine

Doctors who practice at the University of Maryland Medical Center University and Midtown Campuses, all members of the University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty, were recognized as "Top Doctors" in the November 2017 issue of Baltimore magazine.


Tuesday, November 07, 2017

UM SOM Class of 2021 Presented with White Coats

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) held its annual White Coat Ceremony on November 2 at the Hippodrome Theatre in downtown Baltimore. During this event, first-year UM SOM medical students were presented their first white coats as a welcome into the field of medicine.


Wednesday, November 01, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers to Study Spread of Bacteria in Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are settings with a high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) bacteria, leading to infection and sometimes death in patients. This is a key concern, particularly as there is a growing number of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), making it difficult to treat infections. The current standard of care for preventing the spread of Staph in nursing homes in the U.S. is for healthcare workers to use gowns and gloves when there is expected contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) will study whether a targeted increase in the use of gowns and gloves is effective in preventing and controlling spread of the dangerous bacteria.


Tuesday, October 31, 2017

UM SOM Professor of Psychiatry Recognized for Innovative and Promising Research in Schizophrenia

Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been awarded the 2017 Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. The Maltz award is considered one of the top awards in the field of psychiatric disorders.


Tuesday, October 31, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Studying New Approach to Fighting Antibiotic-Resistant Wound Infections

Antibiotic resistance to serious wound and systemic infections is a growing concern, particularly among those injured in combat. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) are studying how to fend off deadly infections by targeting the body’s immune response to harmful bacteria.


Thursday, October 26, 2017

The 2017 State of the School Address: Transforming the Trajectory of Medicine: A Review of the Centuries

On October 25, E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), delivered the State of the School in the newly renovated Leadership Hall.


Monday, October 23, 2017

Institute of Human Virology Hosts 19th Annual International Meeting of Top Medical Virus Researchers in Baltimore, Maryland

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine today commenced IHV’s 19th Annual International Meeting, which will be held through Thursday, October, 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. IHV’s Annual International Meeting attracts hundreds of elite scientists who descend upon Baltimore to share ideas and inspire medical virus research collaborations.


Friday, October 20, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Study Finds That Nearly Half of U.S. Hospital-Associated Medical Care Comes From Emergency Rooms

In the first study to quantify the contribution of emergency department care to overall U.S. health care, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have found that nearly half of all US hospital-associated medical care is delivered by emergency departments. The paper highlights the major role played by emergency care in health care in the U.S. In recent years, the percentage of care delivered by emergency departments has grown significantly.


Wednesday, October 18, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientists Set to Begin Critical Radiation Countermeasures Research

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Department of Radiation Oncology Chair and Professor William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FACRO, and UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that UM SOM researchers have been awarded a contract worth up to $9.7 million over three years, from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study new ways to treat radiation-induced bleeding disorders. BARDA is part of the Office of the Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

UM SOM Scientist Elected as Fellow of Infectious Disease Society of America

Wilbur Chen, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), was elected as a Fellow by the Board of Directors of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). Fellowship in IDSA is a top honor for those who have achieved professional excellence and have provided significant service as an infectious disease physician and scientist.


Thursday, October 05, 2017

UM SOM Researchers Identify Protein That Could Reduce Death and Improve Symptoms in Influenza and Other Infectious Diseases

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has identified an innovative strategy for treating influenza, and perhaps other infectious diseases as well. Scientists showed that a small protein called retrocyclin-101 (RC-101) could potentially improve the symptoms and mortality associated with the flu and possibly other types of infectious illness as well.


Friday, September 29, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Millions of New Genes From Bacteria Living on and in the Human Body

A new study of the human microbiome—the trillions of microbial organisms that live on and within our bodies—has uncovered millions of previously unknown genes from microbial communities in the human gut, skin, mouth, and vaginal microbiome, allowing for new insights into the role these microbes play in human health and disease.


Thursday, September 28, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Intriguing Links Between Sleep, Cognition and Schizophrenia

More than 3.2 million Americans suffer from schizophrenia; about 100,000 people are newly diagnosed every year. The disease includes a wide range of symptoms including visual and auditory hallucinations, cognitive problems and motivational issues.


Thursday, September 28, 2017

UM SOM Vaccine Expert Warns of Risks of Influenza to Older Populations

“Protect yourself and others by getting the flu shot” was the message from Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Director of the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM). Dr. Neuzil was among the speakers at a press conference hosted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Thomas E Price, MD, also spoke at the press conference and urged people to get their flu shot. The panel members all received their flu shots following the press conference.


Tuesday, September 26, 2017

University of Maryland Medicine Receives Prestigious Award For Its Heart and Lung Resuscitation Program

A heart and lung resuscitation program at University of Maryland Medicine (UMM) has been recognized for its elite level of care by a leading group in the field.


Friday, September 22, 2017

UM SOM Research Supports New Approach for Protecting Infants from Malaria

Malaria is a major cause of death for children throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In this high transmission area, they are at risk of severe malaria early in life when their immune system has not developed enough to protect them.


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

UM SOM Partners with Towson to Help Advance Under-Represented Minority Students in Biomedical Research

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) and Towson University (TU) were awarded a $1.3 million, five-year grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to train and provide research experience to help under-represented minority students advance from Master’s Degree programs to Ph.D. programs in the biomedical sciences.


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

New Clinical Trial Explores Combining Immunotherapy and Radiation for Newly Diagnosed Sarcoma Patients

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers are investigating a new approach to treat high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas by combining two immunotherapy drugs with radiation therapy to stimulate the immune system to destroy the main tumor as well as leftover microscopic cancer cells that may seed other tumors.


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Institute of Human Virology Marks National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Wednesday, September 27 as HIV/AIDS Increases in Baltimore’s Youth

The proportion of newly reported HIV diagnoses among Maryland youth has tripled over 20 years. The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine will host an event Wednesday, September 27 to raise awareness about the rise in HIV/AIDS among Maryland’s youth ages 13-24, particularly among young black men. Of the 252 youth HIV diagnoses in 2015, 82.5 percent were male and 17.5 percent were female in Maryland while 82.1 percent of these new diagnoses were African American. The statistics are astounding considering the availability of prevention therapy.


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Critical Molecular Link Between Inflammation and Diabetes

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has uncovered an explanation for how inflammation contributes to a key feature of diabetes, the body’s inability to metabolize glucose, a condition known as insulin resistance.


Monday, September 11, 2017

Research Identifies Causes and Possible Treatments for Deadly Diseases Affecting Children in Developing Countries

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Explore How to Prevent Diarrheal Diseases, a Leading Cause of Death in Young Children in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia


Monday, September 11, 2017

UM SOM Researcher Discovers New Potential Pathway for Treating Addiction

Breakthrough Research Recognized with 2017 Grand Prize from Science Magazine


Monday, September 11, 2017

New Study Shows Novel Collaborative Intensive Care Can Significantly Improve Treatment for Heart Patients – and Cut Costs

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) have found that a new, collaborative treatment model for seriously ill heart patients with breathing difficulties results in better care and lower costs.


Sunday, August 27, 2017

River of Life Tribute Challenge: Honoring Dr. Angela Brodie

Breast cancer survivor, Carolyn Choate, together with her daughter Sydney Turnbull, crossed the finish line in Baltimore's Inner Harbor on Aug. 27, completing their 300-mile kayaking journey that began on Aug. 10 in Port Jervis, New York.


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

New Use of Blood Cleaning Device Saves High-Risk Patients With Liver Failure

Severe acute liver failure (ALF), a rare but life-threatening illness, is associated with high death rates if patients don’t receive timely treatment or a liver transplant. Unlike the heart or the kidneys, there is no established mechanical device to replace the liver’s function. Now, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) researchers report that a device that removes toxins from the blood can also effectively provide a bridge to liver transplantation or buy time for a traumatically injured liver to heal, suggesting broader uses for the device than previously thought.


Friday, August 18, 2017

Tenth Annual Kids Mini-Med School Celebrates Graduation Day

In 2008, the University of Maryland School of Medicine expanded its Mini-Med School program to Kids Mini-Med at the Salvation Army’s Franklin Square Boys & Girls Club in West Baltimore. Doctors from the School visited the camp weekly to teach about health and encourage the young campers (ages 5 to 13) to consider careers in science and medicine. The idea took off and over the past decade, our faculty have touched the lives of several hundred campers.


Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Mother-Daughter Kayaking Team to Complete 300-Mile Trip in Baltimore to Honor Late UM SOM Scientist Dr. Angela Brodie

Patients who receive life-saving care from a physician or surgeon are often so grateful that they make generous gifts to medical schools and hospitals where they were treated.


Thursday, August 10, 2017

Study Finds That Proton-Beam Therapy is Safe for Treating an Aggressive Type of Lung Cancer

Proton-beam radiotherapy is safe and appears to be effective in treating some cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), an aggressive cancer that accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers, according to a new study published online in the journal Cancer.


Wednesday, August 09, 2017

UM SOM Names Deputy Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for its Graduate Program in Life Sciences

Dudley K. Strickland, PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), along with UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced that Peixin Yang, PhD, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (OB-GYN), has been named Deputy Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in UM SOM’s Graduate Program in Life Sciences (GPILS).


Monday, August 07, 2017

Renowned Scientist and Former Department of Epidemiology Chair Dr. Paul Stolley Has Died

Dr. Paul David Stolley, who fought for more rigorous drug safety testing, died Friday of bone cancer in his Columbia home. He was 80.


Monday, August 07, 2017

New Study Reveals How Breast Cancer Can Grow if Untreated

In 2017, more than 315,000 women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 40,000 are expected to die in 2017 from the disease. Over the course of their lives, one in 8 women in this country will develop invasive breast cancer.


Monday, August 07, 2017

Adding Targeted Therapy To Chemoradiation Fails To Improve Survival for Esophageal Cancer Patients

Adding the targeted therapy cetuximab to chemotherapy and radiation treatment does not improve overall survival for patients with esophageal cancer, according to new research published online in JAMA Oncology.


Thursday, August 03, 2017

UM SOM Study Announces Breakthrough in Understanding Hearing Loss

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) today announced a breakthrough discovery that could eventually help scientists repair hearing problems or protect those at risk for hearing loss – a condition that affects some 40 million Americans.


Thursday, August 03, 2017

UM SOM Received $2.47 Million Grant To Develop Traveler's Diarrhea Vaccine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has been awarded a three-year, $2.47 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop a vaccine to protect against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), pathogens which are among the leading causes of diarrheal disease in young children in developing countries and a common cause of “traveler’s diarrhea” among travelers to these countries.


Wednesday, August 02, 2017

UM School of Medicine Receives $2 Million Grant for HIV Research in Malawi

The University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UM SOM) Institute for Global Health (IGH) and the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) have been awarded a $2 million five-year grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to study the impact exposure to HIV has on the immune systems of infants in utero and how those changes impact the ability of infants to fight off infections after birth.


Tuesday, August 01, 2017

Preeminent UM SOM Scientist Elected to National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Board

Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), was elected to serve a three-year term to the Board of Directors for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).


Monday, July 31, 2017

University of Maryland Medicine Establishes Nation’s First Center for Cardiac Xenotransplantation with $24 Million Grant and Top Surgeon-Scientists

Stephen Bartlett, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that a recent $24 million grant from United Therapeutics Corporation will establish the first and only center for cardiac xenotransplantation research in the US, and one of only two in the world.


Monday, July 24, 2017

Civil Unrest After Freddie Gray's Death Harms Health in Baltimore Mothers

The April 2015 civil unrest associated with Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody caused a significant spike of stress in mothers of young children living in affected neighborhoods, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM).


Friday, July 21, 2017

University Of Maryland School Of Medicine Scientist Receives Top Award for His Pioneering Work on Improving Radiation Therapy Outcome

Søren M. Bentzen, PhD, DMSc, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been awarded a gold medal from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). This is the highest honor bestowed upon ASTRO members. It recognizes a distinguished scientist who has made major contributions to the field of radiation oncology.


Thursday, July 20, 2017

Third-Year Medical Students Celebrate Annual Student Clinician Ceremony

The annual Student Clinician Ceremony was held in Davidge Hall recently, to formally welcome the third-year medical students to their clinical rotations. As they were just about to start their third year the Class of 2019 gathered to hear inspirational messages from their mentors, pin professionalism pins on each other, and recite the Student Clinician Oath to symbolize their transition from classroom learning to patient care.


Wednesday, July 05, 2017

UM SOM Study Identifies Gene that Could Play Key Role in Depression

Globally, depression affects more than 300 million people annually. Nearly 800,000 die from suicide every year – it is the second-leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 to 29. Beyond that, depression destroys quality for life for tens of millions of patients and their families. Although environmental factors play a role in many cases of depression, genetics are also crucially important.


Thursday, June 29, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientist Receives Top Award for His Work on the Relationship Between Potassium and Blood Pressure

Paul Welling, MD, a professor of physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been named the 2017 Carl W. Gottschalk Distinguished Lecturer of the American Physiological Society. The award recognizes a distinguished scientist who has made major contributions to understanding physiological processes through innovative research.


Tuesday, June 27, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Names David Marcozzi to Help Lead Health Disparities and Population Health Program

Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MS, Hyg, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), along with UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that David Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, FACEP, an associate professor in the UM SOM Department of Emergency Medicine, has been named as Co-Director of the UM SOM Program in Health Disparities and Population Health, which is based in EPH.


Thursday, June 08, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Vaccine Researcher Receives Top Award in the Study of Infectious Diseases from National Foundation

Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, the Simon and Bessie Grollman Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Global Health, Vaccinology and Infectious Disease at UM SOM, has been awarded the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).


Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Dr. Jill RachBeisel Named Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs in UM School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry

Bankole A. Johnson, DSc, MD, MBChB, The Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair for the Department of Psychiatry, Professor of Pharmacology, Anatomy and Neurobiology, along with UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Jill RachBeisel, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, has been named Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs for the UM SOM Department of Psychiatry, commencing at the start of the next academic year.


Wednesday, June 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Gene That May Play a Central Role in Heart Disease

Heart disease kills more than 600,000 Americans every year, which translates to more than one in every four deaths. Although lifestyle choices contribute to the disease, genetics play a major role. This genetic facet has remained largely mysterious. But new research by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has identified what may be a key player: a mutated gene that leads to irregular heartbeat, which can lead to a dangerously inefficient heart.


Wednesday, June 07, 2017

In Memoriam: Angela Hartley Brodie, Ph.D., Internationally Renowned Breast Cancer Researcher at University of Maryland School of Medicine

Angela Hartley Brodie, PhD, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and an internationally recognized scientist whose groundbreaking cancer research is considered among the greatest advances in treating breast cancer, passed away of complications from Parkinson’s disease at her home in Fulton, MD. She was 82.


Tuesday, June 06, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Director of the Anatomical Services Receives Top Award from American Association of Clinical Anatomists

Ronald S. Wade, Director of the Anatomical Services Division, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), Director of the Maryland State Anatomy Board Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Director of the Anatomical Services Division, will be the 2017 recipient of the R. Benton Adkins Jr. Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA).


Wednesday, May 31, 2017

When It Comes to Health, Does Zip Code Matter More than Genetic Code?

A range of powerful evidence shows unequivocally that where you live, as well as your social circumstances, play a huge role in your health. This was the message delivered by Anthony B. Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Healthy Communities at the California Endowment, in a lecture April 18 at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM).


Wednesday, May 31, 2017

UM SOM Translational Genomics Laboratory Receives Accreditation from College of American Pathologists

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Translational Genomics Laboratory (TGL) based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs.


Thursday, May 18, 2017

So Long and Farewell to the Class of 2017

The Class of 2017 were the stars as they celebrated their graduation ceremony at the Hippodrome Theater on May 18. Hundreds of family, friends and faculty were there to cheer on the 160 graduates as they officially transitioned from students to doctors. “This celebration is also about you and, indeed, for you,” E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine, told the families “This celebration is also about you and, indeed, for you.


Thursday, May 18, 2017

Top Achievers Honored at Student Awards Dinner

The night before their graduation ceremony, top achievers from the Class of 2017 gathered for the 11th annual Student Awards Ceremony and Dinner, held at the Marriott Inner Harbor. The awards dinner provided an opportunity to recognize the accomplished graduating students who received scholarships, awards, and other academic prizes. This event also recognized the donors whose generous contributions support these awards.


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Dr. Greg Carey Receives Top Award From National Cancer Institute for Lymphoma Research and Student Mentoring Program

Greg Carey, PhD, Assistant Professor in the c at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), a scientist in the UM SOM Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and a member of the University of Maryland Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCC), has received a Mentorship Award from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD). The award will be presented in celebration of 21 years of Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Scholars Program on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.


Monday, May 15, 2017

U.S. CDC Recommends Use of Cholera Vaccine Developed by University of Maryland School of Medicine

A cholera vaccine developed by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) has been recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use as a protection for U.S. adults traveling to areas with cholera. The CDC’s latest recommendation was published on May 11, in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.


Monday, May 15, 2017

UM SOM Vaccine Researcher Receives Top Award in the Study of Infectious Diseases

Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, the Simon and Bessie Grollman Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Global Health, Vaccinology and Infectious Disease at UM SOM, has been awarded the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). The award honors his extensive accomplishments in public health; over his career, he has identified solutions to major sources of disease in the developing world, including cholera, typhoid, and Shigella dysentery. The award will be presented on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda in Bethesda, Md.


Friday, May 12, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Gene That Controls Birth Defect Common in Diabetes

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) have identified a gene that triggers a process leading to the formation of neural tube defects, a problem commonly found in infants of pregnant women with diabetes. This is the first time the gene has been shown to play this role; it opens up a new way to understand these defects, and may one day lead to new treatments that could prevent the problem or decrease its incidence.


Friday, May 12, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify Link Between Birth Defect and Several Neurodegenerative Diseases

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has found a link between some neurodegenerative diseases and a birth defect that occurs commonly in infants of women with diabetes. This is the first time this link has been identified; it may indicate a new way to understand, and perhaps treat, both the birth defects and the neurodegenerative diseases.


Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Special Ribbon Cutting Event Celebrates the Grand Opening of the New 'Leadership Hall'

With a complete top-to-bottom renovation, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has dramatically transformed it’s 1970s-era Medical School Teaching Facility (“MSTF”) Auditorium into “Leadership Hall,” a bright, inviting and elegant space that will serve as the UM SOM’s new signature venue for large events. The UM SOM community --which played a significant role in making the renovation possible -- is now ready to celebrate!


Wednesday, May 10, 2017

How Cancer Turns a Good Protein Into A Double Agent

Under normal conditions, the CHD4 protein is helpful: it stops cells from transcribing faulty DNA, thereby eliminating potential mutation. However, in colon cancer and perhaps other kinds of cancer as well, it appears that this protein becomes a kind of double agent, working for the enemy.


Friday, May 05, 2017

Secondhand Smoke Ups Heart Disease in Unique Group of Female Nonsmokers – Amish Women

New research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) has found that secondhand smoke tends to have somewhat different effects on men and women. The research, conducted in a Pennsylvania Amish community where virtually no women smoke, found that women who were exposed to secondhand smoke had a greater risk for cardiovascular disease, while men exposed to secondhand smoke tended to have a higher body mass index (BMI).


Thursday, May 04, 2017

UM School of Medicine Researchers Receive $9 Million Grant for Malaria Research

The University of Maryland School of Medicine has been awarded an International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) grant by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of seven ICEMRs awarded worldwide. With funding of more than $9 million over seven years, the grant will be used to research and develop new tools to help eliminate drug-resistant malaria in Myanmar and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.


Wednesday, May 03, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Adjunct Professor Named Minister of Health for Mali

Samba Sow, MD, MSc, Director General of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali (CVD-Mali), and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been named the Minister of Health for Mali.


Monday, May 01, 2017

UM School of Medicine Gala Celebrates 210 Years of Discovery, Innovation and Impact

The air was filled with history, excitement and anticipation on a warm spring evening as more than 1,000 business and community leaders, donors, faculty staff, students and other distinguished guests gathered for the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Annual Gala in Baltimore. This year’s event celebrated the School of Medicine's 210th anniversary, and it coincided with the Medical Alumni Association’s Reunion Weekend.


Friday, April 28, 2017

Expert Unravels Disease That Destroyed the Hearing of World-Famous Painter Francisco Goya

Francisco Goya is the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th century. He was famed for his sensitive portraits, and many historians argue that he was the first truly modern painter.


Friday, April 28, 2017

School of Medicine Community Mourns Passing of Richard Horenstein, MD, JD

Richard B. Horenstein, MD, JD, Associate Professor of Medicine at UM SOM, passed away on March 23, 2017. A graduate of Yale Law School and Jefferson Medical College, and a Fellow in Endocrinology at the UM Medical Center. He had extensive experience in clinical research and had implemented several large translational gene x environment and pharmacogenetics studies at the UM SOM.


Monday, April 24, 2017

New York Times Science Journalist Gina Kolata to Deliver Graduation Address to University of Maryland School of Medicine's 208th Graduating Class

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, along with students, parents, families, faculty and other members of the UM SOM community, will welcome award-winning science journalist and University of Maryland alumna, Gina Kolata, MS, as the graduation speaker for this year’s graduating class. The UM SOM graduation ceremony will take place at 10am on May 18, 2017 at the Hippodrome Theater. As this year’s speaker, Ms. Kolata will receive an honorary Dean’s Medal from the UM SOM.


Thursday, April 20, 2017

In the Huffington Post, School of Medicine Physician Dr. Richard Colgan Writes His Prescription for Fixing the Primary Care Crisis

By 2020, the U.S. will face a deficit of up to 90,000 primary care doctors. Right now, nearly one in five Americans — 60 million people — don’t have access to a primary care doctor.


Thursday, April 20, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researcher Discusses the Genetics of Hearing Loss at National Otorhinolaryngology Conference

As a keynote speaker at the recent Association for Research in Otolaryngology conference in Baltimore, Ronna P. Hertzano, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), discussed innovative ways to study hearing loss – a condition that affects nearly 40 million Americans.


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Dr. Sandra M. Quezada Appointed Assistant Dean for Academic and Multicultural Affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and James B. Kaper, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, announced today that Sandra M. Quezada, MD, MS, will be the new Assistant Dean for Academic and Multicultural Affairs. This role is in addition to her position as Assistant Dean for Admissions.


Tuesday, April 04, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Physician Scientist Receives Top Award in Epidemiology from Physician's Group

Mary-Claire Roghmann, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, and Associate Dean for Physician Scientist Training and Transdisciplinary Research Advancement, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), as well an Associate Hospital Epidemiologist and Investigator at the VA Maryland Health Care System, has been awarded the Alvan R. Feinstein Memorial Award from the American College of Physicians (ACP). The award was presented in San Diego at ACP’s Convocation Ceremony on March 30, 2017, during its annual scientific conference, Internal Medicine Meeting 2017.


Thursday, March 30, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine's Dr. Stephen Davis Receives Top Award from National Physician's Group

Stephen Davis, MBBS, FRCP, MACP, the Theodore E. Woodward Endowed Chair and the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM); Director of the General Clinical Research Center and the Clinical Translational Science Institute; and Vice-President of Clinical Translational Science for the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, has been awarded Mastership in the American College of Physicians (ACP), the national organization of internists.


Thursday, March 23, 2017

University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus Receives Regulatory Approval for New Ambulatory Care Center

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, along with the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (SON) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, announced today that an alumni couple, Richard Sherman, MD, SOM ’72, and Jane Sherman, PhD, SON ’85, have made a $1.5 million gift to the University to establish a health care innovation center to be located in the Health Sciences & Human Services Library.


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

$1.5M Gift Establishes New Center for Health Care Innovation

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, along with the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (SON) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, announced today that an alumni couple, Richard Sherman, MD, SOM ’72, and Jane Sherman, PhD, SON ’85, have made a $1.5 million gift to the University to establish a health care innovation center to be located in the Health Sciences & Human Services Library.


Monday, March 20, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Identify New Pathway for Brain Inflammation

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) researchers have identified a new mechanism by which inflammation can spread throughout the brain after injury. This mechanism may explain the widespread and long-lasting inflammation that occurs after traumatic brain injury, and may play a role in other neurodegenerative diseases.


Monday, March 20, 2017

Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Miriam Laufer, to Head Division of Malaria Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Christopher Plowe, MD, MPH, the Frank M. Calia Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), and director of the UM SOM Institute for Global Health (IGH), as well as UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Miriam K. Laufer, MD, MPH, will be the new Director of the Division of Malaria Research (DMR) at IGH.


Friday, March 17, 2017

The Luck of Match Day: St. Patrick's Day Brings Happy News to the Class of 2017

It was a day filled with anxiety and excitement at Baltimore’s famed Hippodrome Theater when Match Day was held for the Class of 2017 of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At exactly noon, medical students here and around the country receive an envelope telling them where they will do their residency training.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Two Distinguished Board Members from the University of Maryland School of Medicine to be Inducted into Maryland Business and Civic Hall of Fame

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that two distinguished members of its Board of Visitors – Michael E. Cryor and William E. “Brit” Kirwan – have each been selected by the Baltimore Sun as the newest inductees to the Maryland Business and Civic Hall of Fame.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researcher Receives French Legion of Honor for His Work Fighting Ebola in Mali

Samba Sow, MD, MSc, Director General of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali (CVD-Mali), and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), has been decorated as a Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French government.


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

New Director Appointed to Lead the University of Maryland Children's Hospital

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) President and Chief Executive Officer Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA and University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Steven J. Czinn, MD, The Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor of Pediatrics and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been appointed to the role of Director of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH).


Tuesday, March 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Hosts 'Shark Tank' Competition for Aspiring Medical Entrepreneurs

To encourage entrepreneurial leadership among its medical students, the University of Maryland School of Medicine hosted a contest to give aspiring student entrepreneurs a chance to share product ideas, with winners receiving cash prizes and expert help. The four finalists competed before a panel of judges, including doctors, researchers and investors, using a format similar to the popular television program “Shark Tank.”


Monday, March 06, 2017

Researchers Unravel How Ticks Protect Themselves from Lyme Disease Bacteria and Other Microbes

Everyone agrees that ticks are exceedingly nasty creatures. For hundreds of millions of years, they have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. In humans, these diseases include many unpleasant and dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia, to name a few.


Thursday, March 02, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Dr. Stephen Davis Receives Top Clinical Research Award From State Physician's Group

Stephen Davis, MBBS, FRCP, MACP, the Theodore E. Woodward Endowed Chair and the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM); Director of the General Clinical Research Center and the Clinical Translational Science Institute; and Vice-President of Clinical Translational Science for the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, has received the Mary Betty Stevens Award for Outstanding Clinical Research from the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP).


Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Tenth Annual “Celebrating Diversity” Dinner Supports Funding for Minority Student Scholarships

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) held its tenth annual “Celebrating Diversity” reception and dinner on February 25, 2017 at the Baltimore Hilton Inner Harbor. The event was attended by nearly 300 guests, who gathered to honor diversity at UM SOM, recognize those who have helped increase its diversity, and to raise money for an endowed scholarship in the name of Dean Emeritus Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, AGAF.


Friday, February 24, 2017

Experimental Malaria Vaccine Provides Durable Protection Against Multiple Strains in NIH Clinical Trial

An experimental malaria vaccine protected healthy subjects from infection with a malaria strain different from that contained in the vaccine, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).


Thursday, February 23, 2017

SOM Faculty Receive Top Honors From Maryland American College of Physicians

Dr. Ada Offurum Named Maryland Hospitalist of the Year and Dr. Mangla Gulati Elected Governor of Maryland Chapter of American College of Physicians.


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Young Scientists at SOM Emerge as the New Rising Stars of Research

As the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) continues to attract top scientists through its new recruitment initiative (“STRAP”), some of its young scientists are receiving major awards as “rising stars” in the biomedical research community.


Tuesday, February 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Announces New Leadership Appointments in the Department of Dermatology to Bridge Research and Clinical Strengths

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Thomas J. Hornyak, MD, PhD, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the School of Medicine, and internationally recognized physician-scientist in melanoma and skin cancer, has been named the new Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at UMSOM. He will also serve as Chief of Dermatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). In addition, Zaineb Makhzoumi, MD, MPH, an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at UM SOM, and skin cancer surgeon, has been named the Department’s Chief of Clinical Services.


Tuesday, February 07, 2017

University of Maryland School of Medicine Researchers Find Novel Chemical Switch That May Help Decrease Crucial Symptoms of Schizophrenia

A new study by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers has found that in mice, adjusting levels of a compound called kynurenic acid can have significant effects on schizophrenia-like behavior. The study appeared in the latest issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry.


Tuesday, February 07, 2017

Comprehensive New Study Finds that Yoga Can Be Helpful for Low Back Pain

Over the course of their lives, about 80 percent of Americans will suffer from back pain at one time or another. A recent study found that more than a third of adults say that low back pain has affected their ability to perform the tasks of daily living, exercise, or sleep. Treating this pain remains a difficult problem, and for millions of people the pain is chronic.


Monday, February 06, 2017

Teams of Top Scientists to Join University of Maryland School of Medicine as Major Recruitment Initiative Has Strong Start

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) announced today the successful recruitment of a broad slate of top scientists, as the first part of the School of Medicine’s bold new recruitment initiative called “STRAP” (Special Trans-Disciplinary Recruitment Award Program).


Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Special Issue of Pathogens and Disease Highlights Innovative Research by Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Collaboration with UM School of Dentistry

New research by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UM SOD), is highlighted in a special issue of Pathogens and Disease.


Friday, January 13, 2017

Scientists Identify Vaccination as the Most Cost-Effective Strategy to Sharply Reduce Rabies Deaths in India

Every year in India, 20,000 people are estimated to die from rabies. Most of the victims are children. Nearly all of the deaths occur after victims are bitten by rabid dogs. For years, experts have debated the best strategy to reduce this burden.


Thursday, January 12, 2017

Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Forms New Executive Committee to Provide “Visionary Governance”

University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Surgery Chairman Stephen Bartlett, MD, announced today the formation of a new Department of Surgery Executive Committee. The new committee, which draws from the Department’s top clinical and research faculty leadership, will provide strategic oversight and advice on ongoing departmental operations and initiatives with the goal of advancing innovation, growth, and visibility.


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

University of Maryland Medical Center Offers Genetic Testing as Standard of Care to Help Improve Outcomes for Heart Stent Patients

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) is now offering a simple genetic test to patients who receive heart stents to determine whether they have a genetic deficiency that affects how they respond to a common drug to prevent blood clots. Patients are typically given the medication, clopidogrel, to prevent cardiovascular events after having a stent placed in a coronary artery to treat a blockage.


Thursday, January 05, 2017

For the First Time, Researchers Identify Key Proteins That May Make Zika So Deadly

Until it burst onto the scene earlier this year, Zika was an obscure, little-known virus. As a result, scientists know little about how it works. Over the past year, they have learned that it can cause a range of dangerous health problems, including birth defects such as microcephaly and neurological problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. But they don’t know which Zika protein or proteins are causing harm, or exactly how these proteins cause damage.


Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Honoring a Hero: Dr. Thomas Scalea, Physician-in-Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Marks 20 Years at the University of Maryland

Under his leadership, Shock Trauma has grown tremendously – from the construction of the cutting-edge Critical Care Tower to the expansion of hands-on training opportunities for physicians, nurses and medical students.