Diversity Dinner and Celebration
2025 Diversity Dinner and Celebration
Diversity Dinner and Celebration:
Shaping Inclusive Excellence in Medicine
Saturday, February 22, 2025
5:15 - 10:30 p.m.
M&T Bank Exchange
France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
401 W. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Tickets are $200 each
This includes complimentary parking, cocktail reception, dinner, beverages, dessert, and access to the after-party.
About the Celebration
The Diversity Dinner and Celebration: Shaping Inclusive Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich tapestry of diversity within the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Schedule of Events
5:15 pm Registration Opens
5:30 pm Cocktail Reception
6:30 pm Dinner and Program
8:30 pm Dessert Reception, DJ & Dancing
10:30 pm Event Concludes
Proceeds from the event will support the University of Maryland Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund, broadening opportunities and resources essential to cultivating a truly inclusive environment. A portion of these proceeds will also benefit the Dean Emeritus Donald E. Wilson’s Endowed Scholarship Fund, a foundational fund that empowers the talents of underrepresented individuals in medicine.
Rooted in the spirit of unity, this celebration not only showcases the remarkable achievements that arise from the spirit and practice of diversity and inclusion but also advances our collective efforts toward equal access and excellence in medical education and practice.
Host
Mark T. Gladwin, MD
Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore
John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and
Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Emcee
Rodney J. Taylor, MD, MPH
Bruce and Isobel Cleland Chair of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Professor and Chair, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Guest Speaker
Reverend Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr.
A lifelong advocate for health equity, social justice, and community empowerment, Dr. Hathaway will address Baltimore's persistent health disparities, offering a powerful vision for community-driven healthcare solutions. His message is sure to inspire action toward a more equitable and inclusive healthcare landscape, emphasizing trust, collaboration, and transformative social change.
More about Dr. Hathaway
Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr., a lifelong advocate for health equity, social justice, and community empowerment, has dedicated his career to uplifting Baltimore’s under-resourced communities through visionary leadership, unwavering commitment, and deep economic investment. Growing up in West Baltimore, he was profoundly shaped by a foundation of faith, family, and neighborhood support, which enabled his enduring commitment to service.
As former senior pastor of Union Baptist Church, Dr. Hathaway led pivotal health initiatives, establishing health navigator teams and forging partnerships that expanded healthcare access for Baltimore’s Black communities. His leadership paved the way for essential programs and resources, enabling residents to receive compassionate, community-centered care.
Dr. Hathaway’s influence reaches nationally through initiatives like the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative, a groundbreaking effort he co-founded to elevate African American representation in neuroscience research. Collaborating with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, he has worked tirelessly to address mental health disparities, advocate for inclusive research practices, and bridge gaps in health equity.
Beyond health advocacy, Dr. Hathaway has been transformative in preserving Baltimore’s cultural heritage. He renovated PS103, the historic school attended by Justice Thurgood Marshall, into the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center — a national landmark celebrating civil rights history and providing the community with educational and job training resources.
Dr. Hathaway has also secured more than $70 million in investments to revitalize the Upton-Druid Heights neighborhood, in addition to the Justice Thurgood Marshal Amenity Center has restored other key cultural landmarks that honor Baltimore’s civil rights legacy. Among these, he transformed the law office of civil rights pioneer Juanita Jackson Mitchell— the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Maryland Law School and practice law in Maryland — into the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Law Center. Now a vital community hub, this center houses the University of Maryland ROAR Center, providing essential legal and social support services. Dr. Hathaway’s commitment to preserving history and empowering underserved communities underscores his dedication to lasting, accessible resources for all.
At the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Diversity Dinner and Celebration, Dr. Hathaway will address Baltimore's persistent health disparities, offering a powerful vision for community-driven healthcare solutions. His message is sure to inspire action toward a more equitable and inclusive healthcare landscape, emphasizing trust, collaboration, and transformative social change.
Nominations for Dean's Faculty and Alumni Awards
Each year, the Dean’s Faculty and Alumni Awards for Diversity and Inclusion are presented at this event. These awards recognize an individual SOM faculty member and medical school alumnus for their outstanding contributions in promoting diversity and inclusion within the field of medicine and/or the recruitment and retention of under-represented minorities.
Nominations for these awards are due by Friday, December 20, 2024.
Award Nomination Criteria & Submission Information
- 2025 Dean's Faculty Award for Diversity and Inclusion
- 2025 Dean's Alumni Award for Diversity and Inclusion
Nominations can also be submitted online:
University of Maryland Medicine Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Fund
Charitable gifts to the University of Maryland Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund, will broaden DEI opportunities and essential resources.
Your donation to this new fund will:
- Ensure that talented students who are underrepresented in medicine (URM) can have equitable opportunities to pursue their medical aspirations.
- Support research initiatives and curriculum development focused on addressing healthcare disparities, promoting health equity, and ensuring cultural competency training.
- Increase the representation of URM faculty members, providing URM students with role models, mentors, and advocates who can support their academic and professional success.
Dean Emeritus Donald E. Wilson Endowed Scholarship Fund
Gifts to the Dean Wilson Scholarship help driven and qualified students of all backgrounds get the support they need to succeed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Ayooluwakiitan Oluwafemi
2024 Dean Emeritus Donald E. Wilson Scholarship Recipient
For More Information
For additional information about the 2024 Diversity Dinner and Celebration, please contact:
Julie Ecke
Director of Special Events
410-706-8257
Sponsors
Thank You To Our Diversity Dinner and Celebration Sponsors!
Sponsorship Opportunities
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Julie Ecke
Director of Special Events
410-706-8257
jecke@som.umaryland.edu
Premier Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Dr. and Mrs. Donald Wilson
Silver Sponsor
- Banks Global Group
Bronze Sponsors
- University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology
- University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology and Public Health