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.

This year’s theme was Transforming the Trajectory of Medicine: A Review of the Centuries. “In the School of Medicine, we strive to stay ahead of developments in healthcare through foresight and the relentless pursuit of achieving, or exceeding, our ambitious goals,” said Dean Reece.

This year’s address was different than those delivered in the past. The accomplishments of faculty, staff and students were highlighted in a series of videos marking the school’s 210th anniversary. The first video showed the rich history of the School of Medicine, and recognized the amazing men and women who helped to forge a path to current successes. The second video reviewed the past year, acknowledging key highlights across all mission areas: Research, Patient Care, Education and Community Impact.

Research activity is expanding under the Special Trans-Disciplinary Recruitment Award Program, or STRAP. The increase in clinical and research activity by faculty was reflected in a record setting total for grants and contracts, and an increase in clinical revenue. The total income from grants and contracts rose dramatically in FY’17 to $447 million dollars, representing a 21% increase over the past five years. Driving the increase was a surge in grant applications and new awards, and 30 million in additional funding brought in by scientists under the STRAP initiative.

“Our rapidly increasing extramural funding allows us to pursue research in various disease states, and by so doing, impact the lives of vulnerable populations, locally and globally,” said Dean Reece. According to AAMC funding data, the School of Medicine ranks 8th among all public medical schools nationwide. During the past 5 years, clinical revenue also grew more than 20% to $315 million.

View the 2017 State of the School Videos >>

The Dean also noted accomplishments in patient care. “The School of Medicine works in close partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC),” said Dean Reece. “Together, we have been deliberate in this partnership at multiple levels because this has proven to be the model for success of our healthcare enterprise.” UMMS President and CEO Bob Chrencik thanked the faculty for their hard work and dedication.

The video presentations featured breakthroughs and achievements in genomics, vaccinology, virology, ophthalmology, neurology, neurosurgery, and transplantation. The Institute for Global Health, the Institute for Human Virology and the Institute for Genome Sciences are working to fight disease around the world.  With a presence in 35 countries, the School of Medicine’s clinical care and research has a global impact.

Collaborative research between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park was also highlighted in the Dean’s address. At the new Center for Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance at College Park, the School of Medicine’s Program in Sports Medicine will improve treatment, education and research in the care of athletic injuries. 

The videos also demonstrated the School of Medicine’s excellence in education and community service. 

The final video included testimonials expressing gratefulness concerning the remarkable impact that the School of Medicine has made, and is making, in Maryland, the Nation and across the globe.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Commemorating its 210th Anniversary, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 43 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and a distinguished recipient of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically-based care for more than 1.2 million patients each year. The School has over 2,500 students, residents, and fellows, and nearly $450 million in extramural funding, with more than half of its academic departments ranked in the top 20 among all public medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has nearly 7,000 total employees. The combined School and Medical System (“University of Maryland Medicine”) has a total budget of $5 billion and an economic impact of nearly $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8th-highest public medical school in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu/

Learn More

• State of the School Website

• State of the School - Archive

• Download the 2017 State of the School PDF