On May 20, 2026, LaVern Phillips from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Information Technology Services explain the upcoming transition to Microsoft Teams calling at a campus town hall.

What if dementia care focused less on routines — and more on helping people feel purposeful again?At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW, is helping assisted living communities integrate meaningful activities into everyday dementia care.From music and dance to helping set the table or participating in self-care, these small moments can help residents feel connected, engaged, and more like themselves.Research shows meaningful activity can also help reduce behavioral symptoms and improve quality of life for people living with dementia.Breakthroughs can’t wait. At UMB, we’re changing the future today.#DementiaCare #Alzheimers #AssistedLiving #NursingResearch #HealthcareInnovation #BreakthroughsCantWaitUMB

What if improving dementia care started with understanding what matters most to each person?Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Nursing are studying how meaningful activities can reduce distress and improve quality of life for residents with dementia in assisted living communities.When care reflects identity — not just diagnosis — everything changes, associate professor Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW says.#DementiaCare #Alzheimers #HealthcareInnovation #NursingResearch #BreakthroughsCantWaitUMB

How can assisted living communities improve dementia care and reduce agitation in residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias?At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW, is researching how meaningful, personalized activities can improve quality of life for people living with dementia while helping reduce aggression, agitation, and distressing behavioral symptoms.Many residents with dementia spend large portions of the day disengaged because activity programming often isn’t tailored to their interests, abilities, or personal history. Holmes says that boredom and lack of engagement can increase behavioral symptoms and create additional stress for caregivers and staff.To address this challenge, Holmes and her research team — including Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, and Elizabeth “Beth” Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP — developed “Meaningful Activities for Assisted Living,” an evidence-based dementia care approach designed to create more personalized engagement throughout the day.The four-step model helps assisted living communities: • Identify resident interests and preferences • Train staff on meaningful engagement strategies • Improve care environments and routines • Reduce challenging dementia-related behaviors through personalized careWatch how researchers are working to improve dementia care, Alzheimer’s support, caregiver experiences, and quality of life in assisted living communities.#DementiaCare #Alzheimers #AssistedLiving #Aging #Caregiving #HealthcareResearch #NursingResearch #ElderCare #UniversityOfMaryland #BreakthroughsCantWaitUMB

April Xu shares her experience and exposure to the broad scope of social work as a Research Assistant working with Dr. Jodi Frey and the Behavioral Health and Well-Being Research Center (BHWell). Learn more about BHWell and how you can make an impact. https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/giving/how-can-donors-impact-the-behavioral-health-and-well-being-research-center-bhwell/

On May 8 2026 the University of Maryland, Baltimore Strategic Plan Committee reported out on the themes that have formed the foundation of the University's next strategic plan. This one-hour town hall discussion included questions from the virtual audience and answers from the panel.

As the University of Maryland, Baltimore honors and celebrates the Class of 2026 with individual school and school department ceremonies from May 12 through May 20, we asked our students to share photos of their time at UMB and answer, "Why did you choose UMB?"#UMBgrad #Classof2026 #CollegeGraduation

The biggest challenge in heart transplants isn’t the first year.Survival rates exceed 95% early on — but over time, the immune system can still reject the heart.At the University of Maryland, Baltimore, researchers are studying how the gut microbiome helps regulate immune responses — and whether a transplanted heart is accepted or rejected long-term.The goal: more precise treatments that help patients live longer, healthier lives.Hear from Bing Ma, University of Maryland School of Medicine assistant professor on how her research aims to make lives better for these patients.#BreakthroughsCantWaitUMB #Shorts #HeartTransplant #Microbiome #MedicalResearch #ScienceExplained

What if your gut microbiome could affect a heart transplant?At the University of Maryland, Baltimore, researchers are studying how microbes in the gut regulate the immune system — influencing whether a transplanted heart is accepted or rejected.This research is helping move toward more precise, personalized treatments to improve survival and quality of life.Hear more from Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Bing Ma, PhD.Breakthroughs can’t wait. At UMB, we're changing the future today!#BreakthroughsCantWaitUMB #Shorts #MedicalResearch #Microbiome #HeartTransplant #scienceexplained