The Community Engagement Center (CEC) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) buzzed with holiday spirit as volunteers and families gathered for the annual Christmas Store. Held at the CEC on Dec. 13 and 14, 2024, it featured tables overflowing with brand-name toys, puzzles, and scooters, all neatly arranged for shoppers to purchase at deeply discounted prices.The Christmas Store is organized in partnership with UMB’s Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) and Foundry Church of Baltimore. This year, local CBS affiliate WJZ, UMB’s Staff Senate, and the University of Maryland Medical Center joined a Season of Giving campaign to help raise money for the store’s inventory.Read More: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/holiday-cheer-on-display-at-christmas-store.php

On Dec. 13, children and families from West Baltimore were given tickets to ride the Polar Express at the B&O Railroad Museum through an effort organized by the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).The event was funded through the University’s partnership with the University of Maryland BioPark during the Season of Giving Campaign, a joint effort supported by UMB’s Staff Senate, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and local CBS affiliate WJZ. The Season of Giving also allowed participants to enjoy s’mores and Santa Sleigh rides, while Libelle Photos provided complimentary Santa photos to the families.Read More: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/full-steam-ahead-on-the-polar-express.php

The University of Maryland, Baltimore conducted a town hall on Dec. 3, 2024 to provide an opportunity for UMB researchers to share ideas and concerns regarding research compliance issues. The presenters were Robert Rosenthal, MD, Asst. Provost, Research Compliance and Julie Doherty, DM, MSN, CIP, CCEP, Assistant Vice President, Research Compliance.

The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing celebrated two years of achievements with announcements of new partnerships with government agencies and biotech businesses based nearby in Montgomery County, Md.Several of the current UM-IHC projects were on display, including a virtual reality-based training tool called Holocamera, a digitally-twinned heart which surgeons can use to plan more effective surgeries, and a data analytics system which allows assessment and prediction of opioid overdose trends.Present at the ribbon-cutting were University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce Jarrell, University of Maryland, College Park President Darryll Pines, and University of Maryland Medical Systems President and CEO Mohan Suntha.Read more about the UM-IHC: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/december-2024/the-future-of-health-with-advanced-computing.php

Thanks to generation donations from our community, 1,600 West Baltimore families received turkeys during our eighth annual Thanksgiving Drive on Nov. 26, 2024, in partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, UMB Staff Senate, University of Maryland Medical Center and WJZ-TV.

University of Maryland, Baltimore creates the knowledge that cures disease and strengthens communities across the state and around the world. #WeAreUMBLearn more at https://umaryland.edu

Still polishing off all of that candy from the Office of Community and Civic Engagement's Spookapalooza?Here's a look at all of the fun costumes and smiling faces as neighbors joined in for some trick-or-treating at the UMB Community Engagement Center.#Halloween #CommunityEngagement #WestBaltimore

The University of Maryland School of Nursing has been awarded a five-year, $5 million Health Equities Resource communities grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission to support the West Baltimore Reducing Inequities in Cardiovascular and Mental Health Collaborative-Stronger Together (RICH 2.0), which brings together community, faith-based, academic, and health care organizations to reduce cardiovascular health disparities; improve health outcomes, especially related to mental health; improve access to primary care; and reduce health care costs.On Oct. 22, 2024, UMSON hosted a news conference about the award, bringing together UMB leadership, representatives of community partner organizations, representatives of the Maryland agencies, and community members to discuss the work of RICH 2.0.

Nicol Tugarinov is on a mission to not only care for patients, but to also promote the well-being of the doctors who treat them.Tugarinov, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), has made her mark on the school through her research, volunteer, and leadership endeavors as well as her dedication to exploring the intersection of clinical medicine, leadership, research, humanism, and advocacy.“Physician burnout is a prevalent and devastating issue in the medical field that I am deeply passionate about addressing,” said Tugarinov, who was named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) 2024 Founders Week Student of the Year.Learn more: https://www.umaryland.edu/founders/founders-week-award-winners/student-of-the-year/

"Professor Hoke is the go-to expert for public health law support for Maryland delegates and senators.” … “She exemplifies the best of UMB.” … “Kathi is a crown jewel in our public health community.” … “She is a dedicated expert that we all trust and respect deeply.”This is just a small sampling of praise that law school colleagues, public health officials, and Maryland legislators heaped upon University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law professor Kathleen Hoke, JD, in support of her nomination for the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) 2024 Founders Week Public Servant of the Year Award.Leigh Goodmark, JD, the Marjorie Cook Professor of Law and associate dean for research and faculty development at Maryland Carey Law, is one of the supporters who raved about Hoke’s work and impact.Learn more: https://www.umaryland.edu/founders/founders-week-award-winners/public-servant-of-the-year/