Can listening to patient voices improve childbirth outcomes in America? | Breakthroughs Can't Wait
Childbirth is one of life’s most important moments — but many people say their voices aren’t heard during their prenatal care and birth.Pointing to scientific literature, Rachel Blankstein Breman, PhD, MPH, RN, FAWHONN, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said, “We have recently seen an uptick in people reporting that they don't feel heard and that their preferences and their options aren't necessarily being explained to them by their providers. And so I created CHOICES to measure the patient experience, because I felt that we needed something to objectively measure what people were saying was happening.”CHOICES — CHildbirth Options, Information, and Person-Centered Explanation — is the first patient-reported measure designed to capture what people experience in maternity care. Unlike traditional metrics such as C-section rates or newborn Apgar scores, it centers the patient voice.This research is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.#ChildBirth #pregnancy #NIHResearch
- Improving the Birth Experience for Mothers | Breakthroughs Can't WaitEvery mother deserves a safe, supported birth experience.Rachel Blankstein Breman, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, shares how her research is transforming maternal care, empowering women, and improving health outcomes.This research is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).#BreakthroughsCantWait #MaternalHealth #BirthExperience #NursingResearch #HealthEquity
- Can listening to patient voices improve childbirth outcomes in America? | Breakthroughs Can't WaitChildbirth is one of life’s most important moments — but many people say their voices aren’t heard during their prenatal care and birth.Pointing to scientific literature, Rachel Blankstein Breman, PhD, MPH, RN, FAWHONN, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said, “We have recently seen an uptick in people reporting that they don't feel heard and that their preferences and their options aren't necessarily being explained to them by their providers. And so I created CHOICES to measure the patient experience, because I felt that we needed something to objectively measure what people were saying was happening.”CHOICES — CHildbirth Options, Information, and Person-Centered Explanation — is the first patient-reported measure designed to capture what people experience in maternity care. Unlike traditional metrics such as C-section rates or newborn Apgar scores, it centers the patient voice.This research is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.#ChildBirth #pregnancy #NIHResearch
- UMB Campus Involvement Fair 2025Held on the last day of Fall Kick-Off, over 50 University of Maryland, Baltimore student organizations, campus departments, and local non-profits participate in the Campus Involvement Fair to share information about how they serve students, and opportunities for involvement.It's where students can find their place outside of the classroom by chatting with organization members, and scoring some free UMB swag.The Involvement Fair is co-sponsored by UMB Student Affairs and the University Student Government Association (USGA).
- UMB Faculty Convocation 2025Six University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) professors were recognized with the designation of Distinguished University Professor, the highest appointment bestowed on a faculty member at UMB at the Fourth Annual UMB Faculty Convocation, held Sept. 11, 2025. The title is a recognition not just of excellence, but also of impact and significant contribution to the nominee’s field, knowledge, profession, and/or practice.The six will be celebrated and receive their Distinguished University Professor medals during UMB’s fourth annual Faculty Convocation on Sept. 11.Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, Professor, University of Maryland School of Social Work, and Deputy Director, UMB Institute for Clinical and Translational ResearchMark A. Graber, JD, PhD, MA, University System of Maryland Regents Professor, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of LawMyron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, Simon and Bessie Grollman Distinguished Professor, Department of Medicine, and Founder, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)Jay Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg, Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and Director, Center for Research on Aging, UMSOMAmal Mattu, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, UMSOMPaula A. Monopoli, JD, Sol & Carlyn Hubert Professor of Law, Maryland Carey LawConvocation also featured three faculty speakers with mini lectures. They included:Jacqueline Mitchell, PhD, MS, CRNA, FAANA, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of NursingMaxwell Stearns, JD, professor, Maryland Carey LawDanya Mazen Qato, PhD, PharmD, MPH, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
- Mapping Diabetes Care through Food Access & LocationHow does where you live impact your diabetes care?UMB student researcher Abby Abaku uses geolocational data to explore how access to food, healthcare, and community resources affects patients’ ability to manage Type 2 diabetes.This Breakthroughs Can’t Wait research is shaping the future of personalized care.#BreakthroughsCantWait #DiabetesResearch #HealthEquity #UMBresearch #SocialDeterminants
- How Where You Live Impacts Diabetes Care | Breakthroughs Can't WaitWhat if your diabetes care plan was tailored to where you live and the resources you can actually access?Olohitare (Abby) Abaku, a Summer Research Student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is studying how geolocational data—like proximity to grocery stores, clinics, and community resources—affects diabetes outcomes.By connecting the University of Maryland Medical System Diabetes Registry with GPS Health data, Abby’s research explores how food deserts and limited healthcare access disproportionately impact underserved communities, especially low-income families and people of color. Her findings show that distance to healthy food options and care directly influences a patient’s ability to manage blood glucose levels and prevent complications.Abby’s goal: to help clinicians create personalized treatment plans that reflect the realities of each patient’s environment, while informing policies that build healthier, more equitable communities.👉 Learn how this research could transform diabetes care and why Breakthroughs Can’t Wait at https://www.umaryland.edu/breakthroughs#Diabetes #HealthEquity #MedicalResearch #FoodDeserts #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #BreakthroughsCantWait
