In the News: 2022 and Prior
May 6, 2022
Dr. Joseph Wright, chief health equity officer for UMMS and a member of the academy's board of directors, spoke with CBS News, citing the medical System's elimination of race as a factor in clinical decisions in regard to kidney function and vaginal births after caesarean (VBAC).
Also speaking on NPR's All Things Considered, Dr. Wright explained that while race is not a biological factor to be considered, doctors need to understand the affect of systematic racism on health. "We are not at all suggesting that we ignore the impact of race on health outcomes. I think we're all, you know, quite clear that race has certainly a role to play in the health status of individuals," he says.
University of Maryland Medicine Eliminates Race in Birthing Decisions
May 3, 2022
The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) calculator assigned a higher risk of a complicated vaginal delivery to African American or Hispanic American women with previous surgical cesarean section, making it more likely that doctors would recommend a C-section to these women. Although this calculator was not frequently used at the UMMS' hospitals, UM Medicine wanted to eliminate its use completely to ensure a race-free standard among physicians practicing in all UMMS hospitals.
More Coverage: WTOP, CTV in Prince George's County
UMMS: We're focused on eliminating health care disparities - Baltimore Sun
February 24, 2022
After the Baltimore Sun took an introspective look into its own history and past actions affecting the Black community, UMMS congratulated the newspaper on its self-reflection. In a Reader Commentary, UMMS's equity, diversity and inclusion leaders, Drs. Roderick King and Joseph Wright, restated the System's commitment to creating a transformative plan to address healthcare disparities.
University of Maryland Medicine to Eliminate Race from Kidney Function Estimates
November 21, 2021
University of Maryland Medicine is ending the use of a long-standing clinical standard that factors race into the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. The change could increase access to specialty care, including eligibility for kidney transplantation, for thousands of Black people living with advanced kidney disease.
University of Maryland Medical System Recognized by Vizient in 2021 Supplier Diversity Excellence Ranking
October 12, 2021
Vizient, Inc., recognized University of Maryland Medical System as a top performer in the 2021 Supplier Diversity Excellence Ranking.
University of Maryland Medical System Announces $1.2 Million Commitment To Address Food Insecurity
August 2, 2021
With a $1.2 million commitment, the System and member organizations will work with four well-respected organizations to address food insecurity issues in the communities served by UMMS hospitals.
UMGCCC Working to Reduce Disparities in Breast Cancer Care
June 7, 2021
The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) is working to reduce disparities in patient care for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer – a group at significantly higher risk of dying from breast cancer than white women.
UMMS Appoints System's First Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
April 7, 2021
Dr. Roderick K. King, a physician with deep roots in addressing healthcare inequities over a career spanning nearly three decades, joins UMMS to begin implementing a long-term roadmap addressing health inequities in communities across the state.
