Each year, UMB commemorates the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.This celebration reinforces UMB’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. An inspiring keynote message is delivered by a distinguished leader or scholar in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion.This year’s keynote message is “Fulfilling Dr. King's Legacy from Civil Rights to Economic Rights: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies to Fulfill Economic and Racial Justice.”KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Darrick Hamilton, PhD, Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy and Founding Director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, The New School, New York City.

A signing ceremony on Jan. 10, 2025, marked the announcement of a $10 million joint gift from Edward and Jennifer St. John and the Edward St. John Foundation, which will establish the Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM).The new center brings together researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) at UMB and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). Occupying the fourth floor of 4MLK at the University of Maryland BioPark, CTEM will foster face-to-face collaboration among clinicians and engineers.Their proximity will ensure that real-world clinical needs inform the creation of new devices, diagnostics, and treatments, accelerating the pathway from research to patient care – resulting in next-generation medical solutions that will benefit patients across Maryland and beyond.Read More: https://www.umaryland.edu/news/archived-news/january-2025/10m-gift-to-power-innovations-for-next-gen-care.php

The $10 million gift from the Edward St. John Foundation for the Edward and Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM) will open a world of possibilities for collaboration between the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and the A. James Clark School of Engineering in College Park.CTEM is led by co-directors Giuliano Scarcelli, PhD, of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at UMCP, and Osamah J. Saeedi, MD, of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UMSOM.Their collaborative work using cutting-edge ophthalmologic imaging to address ocular diseases such as glaucoma illustrates how the center will cultivate new possibilities across bioengineering and medicine.Building on these breakthroughs, the center will expand into diverse areas of translational science, encouraging broader collaborations that accelerate discovery and improve patient outcomes well beyond eye care.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore's 16th Annual Craft Fair is a well-loved event that featured nearly 50 vendors who sold their homemade or handmade goods to members of the UMB community.The craft fair attracted students, faculty, staff, and UMB leaders including President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, while the Staff and Faculty senates set up tables to provide employees with information about their governance roles at the University.Shoppers could choose from a wide range of homemade and handmade items, including the always-popular bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, baked goods, T-shirts, sweaters, jewelry, wax candles, dog treats, and greeting cards, not to mention tree skirts, key chains, tabletop Christmas trees, and much more.Read More: https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2024/UMB-Holiday-Craft-Fair-December-2024.php

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