University of Maryland School of Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview of Programs and Rankings

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), established on December 23, 1807, stands as the oldest public medical school in the United States. As part of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), it is closely affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System. The School of Medicine has a rich history and a strong focus on research, education, and patient care.

Historical Overview

Davidge Hall, constructed in 1812, remains the original building of the College of Medicine of Maryland and is still in use today. The University of Maryland School of Medicine has built a 215-year legacy of excellence in medical education, patient care, and scientific discovery and was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States.

Past Policies

It is important to note that, beginning in 1938, the school instituted antisemitic quotas, limiting Jewish applications to 14%. The school also limited the number of local applicants in an attempt to reduce the number of Jewish students, given the large number of Jewish people living in the Maryland suburban communities of Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

Leadership

Since August 1, 2022, the Dean of Medicine has been Dr. Mark T. Gladwin, who is also the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Robert Dorsey Coale was a Professor and Dean (1857-1915) at chemistry and toxicology.

Academics and Rankings

In addition to an MD degree, the UMB SOM offers PhD programs through the Graduate Program in Life Sciences. U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings placed the school 29th in "Best Medical Schools: Research" and in the grouping of medical schools into four tiers. In 2013, the school offered admission to 6.3% of applicants.

Renaissance Curriculum

In keeping with its commitment to innovation, UMSOM has recently launched the Renaissance Curriculum, a forward-thinking initiative designed to produce well-rounded physicians who are not only skilled in medicine but also deeply aware of social justice, health disparities, and community engagement. This curriculum prioritizes active learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. A key component of the Renaissance Curriculum is its longitudinal experiences, which require students to engage with Baltimore City Public Schools and explore topics such as cultural competency, health equity, and the social determinants of health.

Research Focus and Institutes

The School of Medicine is a research-focused academic institution, with $537 million in extramural research funding in 2018. A large portion of that research funding comes from the federal government of the United States. Together with the Graduate Program in Life Sciences, the school provides research teaching and oversees the award of Ph.D. degrees across multiple research tracks. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have made several milestone discoveries in the field of biomedical research and therapeutics.

Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS)

Launched in 2007, the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) is a genomics research center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. IGS investigators use genomic and bioinformatic tools to research genome function in health and diseases and work in interdisciplinary collaborations with biomedical investigators. IGS is led by Dr. Claire M. Fraser-Liggett. Research areas include:

Bioinformatics
Cancer Genomics
Functional Genomics
Human Genetic Variation
Infectious Diseases
Organismal Diversity and Evolution
Human Microbiome Project
Plant Genomics
Microbial Community Ecology

Investigators at IGS work on Disease Ontology research, the Data Analysis and Coordination Center (DACC) for HMP, and other grants.

Institute for Global Health (IGH)

The Institute for Global Health (IGH) was established in 2015. The IGH develops new and improved ways of diagnosing, preventing, treating, controlling, and eradicating diseases of global impact. Such diseases include malaria, Ebola, and vaccine-preventable infectious diseases such as measles.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC)

The MPRC was established on the grounds of Spring Grove Hospital as a result of public interest in the research pioneered there on the use of the psychedelic compound LSD in Schizophrenia research. The first of this series of experiments, which came to be known as the Spring Grove Experiment, began in 1955 in cottage 13 of the hospital grounds. The study was largely conducted by the members of the Research Unit of Spring Grove State Hospital and became the largest study on psychedelic drugs in psychiatric research. After the study gained media publicity, research funding was made available, and a new building was constructed on the north side of the hospital grounds to house MPRC, a division of the department of Psychiatry of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Departments and Programs

The Department of Medical and Research Technology (DMRT) offers a graduate program and a categorical certificate program and the School of Medicine's only undergraduate program. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science (PTRS) department, established in 1956, offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, which is a 3-year program, a PhD in rehabilitation sciences, and a dual DPT/PhD program.

Notable Faculty

William A. Robert Gallo, Professor in the Department of Medicine (1996-), discovered the first human retrovirus and that HIV was the cause of AIDS.

Economic Impact

The combined School of Medicine and Medical System ("University of Maryland Medicine") has an annual budget of over $6 billion and an economic impact of nearly $20 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine, which ranks as the 8th highest among public medical schools in research productivity (according to the Association of American Medical Colleges profile) is an innovator in translational medicine, with 606 active patents and 52 start-up companies.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

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