July 1, 2024

Dear School of Medicine Community,


I hope that the warm summer months are providing you with opportunities for some deserved relaxation, and with that in mind, let me be the first to wish you a Happy July 4th!  While business may slow down a bit in the summer, many things continue to move at a dizzying pace here at the School of Medicine, including our plans to recruit engaged and accomplished leaders across our academic medical enterprise.


Last month,announced the appointment of Lisa S. Schocket, MD, as the new Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Services. Dr. Schocket has also been appointed as Chief of Ophthalmology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, by UMMC President and CEO Dr. Bert O’Malley. Lisa served as Interim Chair for almost two years working to establish best practices for the Department, strengthening its academic programs and improving its financial viability. Please join me in congratulating Lisa on this well-deserved promotion.

Congratulations are also in order for Taofeek Owonikoko, MD, PhD, who was recently invested as The Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Distinguished Professorship in Oncology. Taofeek serves as the Executive Director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Senior Associate Dean of Cancer Programs, as well as the Associate Vice President of Cancer Programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The investiture event was a wonderful celebration that I greatly enjoyed, and we send our deepest gratitude to the members of the Greenebaum family for their outstanding generosity, vision, and leadership.

Speaking of leadership, I had a wonderful and candid lunch with 15 of our Chief Residents at UMMC. As a former Chief Resident, I remember that time fondly, and I also remember some days being long and stressful. I invited these soon-to-be leaders to lunch simply to hear their stories and challenges, and maybe offer some ideas or counsel from someone who has been there before. These leadership roles are critical to our teaching and clinical missions, and often lead to future leadership roles in Academic Medical Centers. The good news for us: these residents are all up to the task!

Two weeks ago, the School of Medicine’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), led by Director JP Pierre, held an event titled "Beyond the Binary: Expanding Our Understanding of LGBTQ+ Healthcare."  The goal was to advance the understanding and practice of LGBTQ+ healthcare both locally and regionally. I appreciate the full engagement of our SOM leaders, who are working tirelessly to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace in full support of our LGBTQ+ communities. As a follow up to my announcement at the event, the Office of EDI very recently launched the OUTlist. This is a safe space for current faculty, staff, students, trainees, and alumni who identify as LGBTQ+ to connect with others who share this lived experience within the School of Medicine. The OUTlist is intended to facilitate communication and community building, and is a reflection of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.


We will continue to explore options to further this important work, and I ask everyone to always be on the lookout for opportunities to better dialogue and engage with members of our community whose voices and stories are not often heard.

With enthusiasm and commitment,

Mark T. Gladwin, MD (He/him/his)

Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore

John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean