UM School of Medicine Names Irina Burd, MD, PhD, the Sylvan Frieman, MD Endowed Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Investiture Also Celebrates an Alumnus’ Longtime Commitment to Advancing Women’s Health

At Westminster Hall on August 30, 2023, in front of a throng of colleagues, family, and other well-wishers, Irina Burd, MD, PhD, was invested as the Sylvan Frieman, MD Endowed Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences.

Dr. Burd is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). Her areas of clinical expertise include high-risk pregnancy conditions and fetal brain development. Dr. Burd earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. She completed the combined MD/PhD program at Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and performed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Burd was recruited to the University of Maryland from Johns Hopkins University, where she rose through the ranks from Assistant Professor to full Professor.

The endowed professorship serves as a tribute to the legacy of Dr. Sylvan Frieman and his invaluable contributions to women’s health throughout his career. Sylvan Frieman, MD ’53 was a highly respected alumnus and dedicated supporter of UMSOM. Born and raised in Baltimore, he had significant roots in the community and made significant contributions to the field of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive services. In 1985, Dr. Frieman established an endowed perinatology research fund within the Department of OB/GYN at UMSOM. Two decades later, he further contributed by establishing this endowed professorship.

William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FACRO, the Isadore & Fannie Schneider Foxman Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology, served as the master of ceremonies. In his introductions, Dr. Regine acknowledged Dr. Burd for her ability to significantly grow her department within months of joining UMSOM.

"Many seasoned department chairs struggle to find recruits willing to bring state-of-the-art care to remote regions of Maryland. And then enters a new OB/GYN chair who not only recruits multiple candidates for challenging roles, but she manages to do it within her first six months,” he noted.

UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, who also is Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor, praised Dr. Burd for her ability to inspire young practitioners in the field. “She has made it her mission to empower women through better health care and to attract young doctors and midwives to careers in academic gynecology and obstetrics,” he said. “Her compassionate approach to patient care and her dedication to providing comprehensive women’s health services touch the lives of countless individuals and inspire the next generations to join this vitally important field.”

Among those speaking at the ceremony was Gloria Bachmann, MD, MMS, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine and Associate Dean for Women’s Health at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Bachmann was Dr. Burd’s mentor while she was a medical student at Rutgers. “She really is a remarkable researcher, person, and mentor," said Dr. Bachmann. “She is also an inspiration. Even though I was once her mentor, she inspires me now.”

Karin J. Blakemore, MD, Professor of Gynecology & Obstetrics and Director of Prenatal Genetics at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), also spoke on behalf of Dr. Burd. In recounting their time together at JHU, Dr. Blakemore expressed, “She [Dr. Burd] was very prolific and productive. I was very proud to serve as her mentor, but she eventually became mine… It wasn’t long before I found myself hanging on to the tails of this rising star.”

In taking the podium, Dr. Burd humbly accepted the honor of the endowed professorship and credited her success to the support of her “village”. “Find your purpose – find your passion – find your people,” she advised. “Finding your people is important because I have learned it takes a village to do anything.”