Visionary Vanguards: Transforming Our Culture While Shaping the Future
On October 30, 2019, E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, 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 Address in Leadership Hall.
This year’s theme was "Visionary Vanguards: Transforming Our Culture While Shaping the Future." Video presentations highlighted the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students over the last year.
In 2019, the School of Medicine celebrated one of the largest contracts ever received by the school. A $200 million contract was awarded to Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, and Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. The contract will fund research to develop a universal vaccine for influenza, one to covers all strains.
The total income from grants and contracts rose again in FY’19 to a record-setting $542 million dollars, representing a 35 percent increase over the last 5 years. According to funding data from The Association of American Medical Colleges, the School of Medicine ranks 8th among all public medical schools nationwide.
Importantly this year, the school launched a Culture Transformation Initiative to create a more diverse, inclusive, respectful and professional work environment. The school’s leadership was restructured to place more women in executive leadership positions.
Other highlights included the first drone flight to deliver a kidney for transplant, and continued growth in clinical care revenue. On the education front, the School of Medicine developed and approved a new renaissance curriculum that better aligns with the way students process information.
“As we look ahead to the next five years and establish new goals for 2025, I believe we are more unified as an academic community, and more relentless than ever in our determination to excel at every level of our organization,” said Dean Reece. “It was one of our best years ever.”
State of the School 2019 Videos:
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