Report calls for reforms in Maryland’s handling of youth tried and imprisoned as adults

November 20, 2024

Maryland is among the worst states in the nation when it comes to the number of prison inmates who began their time behind bars for crimes they committed as children, according to a report set to be released Wednesday.

Scrap Clozapine's REMS Program, FDA Advisors Say

November 20, 2024

A joint FDA advisory committee on Tuesday overwhelming voted to eliminate the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program designed around the risk for severe neutropenia associated with clozapine, a drug used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Agritourism Laws Evolve as More Farms Offer Entertainment, Education

November 19, 2024

Ag law experts from Ohio and West Virginia along with a county planner from Maryland gave a rundown on agritourism trends and legal implications at the 10th annual Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference hosted Nov. 12 by the University of Maryland’s Agriculture Law Education Initiative.
While activities such as corn mazes, petting zoos and hay rides on working farms are typical agritourism practices, some other money-making ventures are not as clearly defined.

Trump’s pardon promises add complexity to DOJ’s January 6 prosecutions

November 19, 2024

"The pardon power is unlimited," said Mark Graber, a constitutional law professor at the University of Maryland. "Let’s imagine a different president who decides, ‘I’m going to pardon everyone engaged in insider trading who is over six feet tall.’ Utterly arbitrary. They can do it."

Why UMD offers full med school tuition for a promise to serve the Eastern Shore

November 19, 2024

The Eastern Shore is designed as a medically underserved area, said Dr. Donna Parker, a senior associate dean at the UM School of Medicine. “People there have trouble getting to the doctor, finding doctors that are available with appointments in a timely fashion, having to drive too far to get a doctor,” she said.

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Cannabis-related emergency department visits up this year as Maryland begins tracking data

November 18, 2024

Maryland has experienced a “significant increase” in cannabis-related emergency department visits, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

The health department launched a data dashboard last week to track public health impacts of cannabis and visualize trends pre- and post-marijuana legalization in the state.

Maryland is training more health workers to offer abortion care

November 16, 2024

In the two counties around nurse practitioner Samantha Marsee's clinic in rural northeastern Maryland, there's not a single clinic that provides abortions. And until recently, Marsee herself wasn't trained to treat patients who wanted to end a pregnancy.

"I didn't really have a lot of knowledge about abortion care," she said.

Breaking Down RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Doublespeak

November 16, 2024

In order to find any information on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policy on his Make America Healthy Again website, you must first scroll through sections asking for donations, official MAHA merch, and an ad offering the opportunity to “secure your place” on a tile in a mosaic of Trump and RFK Jr. shaking hands. Only then, after clicking through eight pages of videos, will you find a video titled “My Take on Vaccines.” 

What RFK Jr’s War on Vaccines Could Look Like

November 15, 2024

He is the most influential anti-vaxxer in the world, one of the “Disinformation Dozen.” He is an AIDS denier who has revived old conspiracy theories about HIV. He claims that Covid was “ethnically targeted” to spare certain groups of people and that Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates are part of a “vaccine cartel” that produces fake studies in order to impose global lockdowns and 5G.

Will Trump’s return to White House deal final blow to insurrectionist argument?

November 15, 2024

It isn’t ancient history. Just 1,409 days ago, on Jan. 6, 2021, Donald Trump told supporters gathered in Washington to “fight like hell,” walk down to the U.S. Capitol and give House Republicans “the kind of pride and boldness that they need” to refuse to certify the 2020 election following Joe Biden’s decisive win in the presidential election.

Under 60? Your Blood Type May Impact Stroke Risk

November 14, 2024

A meta-analysis led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has uncovered a surprising link between blood type and the risk of having an early stroke. 

Maryland is training more health workers to offer abortion care

November 14, 2024

Expanding the pool of health care providers with reproductive health care skills outside of the state’s urban centers is vital, said Mary Jo Bondy, associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She helped create the new training program.

Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to increased risk of opioid addiction later in life

November 14, 2024

"Doctors are contending with an explosion of cannabis use, and the THC content has quadrupled from what it was a generation ago. It demonstrates the enduring consequences that prenatal cannabis exposure exerts on the brain's reward system, which ultimately results in a neurobiological vulnerability to opioid drugs," Joseph Cheer, PhD, study corresponding author, Professor of Neurobiology and Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said.

A little girl starved to death in Baltimore. Why did no one help her?

November 13, 2024

For a child suffering from abuse or neglect to become so malnourished she appears gaunt is “exceedingly rare,” said Dr. Howard Dubowitz, a professor of pediatrics and director of the Center for Families at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Maryland Is Training More Health Workers To Offer Abortion Care

November 13, 2024

Expanding the pool of health care providers with reproductive health care skills outside of the state’s urban centers is vital, said Mary Jo Bondy, associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She helped create the new training program.

Proud Boys organizer from Florida seeking pardon from President-elect Donald Trump, attorney says

November 12, 2024

Proud Boys organizer and Ormond Beach, Florida native Joe Biggs is chipping away at a 17-year-prison sentence for his role on January 6th.

Biggs’ attorney, Norm Pattis, is writing to President-Elect Donald Trump, saying it’s in the public interest to commute Biggs’ sentence.

RFK Jr.’s new bully pulpit sends public health shock waves

November 11, 2024

President-elect Trump’s promise to let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “go wild” on health is demoralizing public health experts, who worry he could meddle with key government agencies, amplify vaccine hesitancy and direct agency funding to favor his preferred views.

Those include removing fluoride from public water, promoting a wide variety of unorthodox and unproven treatments and pushing a deep skepticism of pharmaceutical companies and the agencies overseeing them.

New diabetes practice guideline designed for LTC providers

November 11, 2024

Diabetes is very common in people living in post-acute and long-term environments, affecting 25% to 34% of these individuals. 

Now there’s a wonderful new resource for those caring for them in the revised Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Setting, which was recently published by the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association

The Arbitration Illusion

November 11, 2024

To the Editor:

Re “It Shouldn’t Be This Easy to Sign Away Your Right to a Trial,” by Peter Coy (Opinion, nytimes.com, Oct. 28):
Mr. Coy reports the Chamber of Commerce’s claim that arbitration provides larger recoveries than litigation. In fact, arbitration clauses effectively block consumers from asserting claims unless, as multiple studies have shown, consumers have $1,000 or even more at stake.

When is anxiety normal and when is it a disorder? A psychiatrist explains.

November 10, 2024

Is it normal to feel this anxious all the time? How do I know if it’s too much?

These are questions many of my patients ask. Anxiety affects all of us and can be thought of as tension or worry about a situation or stressor.

Anxiety can be adaptive and is a necessary survival skill, given that our environments can be dangerous and unpredictable.

Maryland is training more health workers to offer abortion care

November 7, 2024

Expanding the pool of health care providers with reproductive health care skills outside of the state’s urban centers is vital, said Mary Jo Bondy, associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She helped create the new training program.

What The New Trump Presidency Could Mean For Public Health

November 6, 2024

With Donald Trump having successfully secured the presidency of the United States, significant shifts in American public health policy could be forthcoming.

Professor Omer A. Awan, MD, MPH, is a senior contributor for Forbes.

Trump’s return to White House could mean pardons for Jan. 6 defendants

November 6, 2024

With Trump soon to be in office,  Mark A. Graber, a professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, expects a major shift in how January 6 cases are handled. 

"Trump is the president, and in the United States, the president basically controls prosecutions," Graber said.

Placebos work. Why?

November 6, 2024

Luanna told us about this study that showed if doctors told patients they were turning off pain medication, even when they weren't, that expectation could completely reverse the effects of strong opioids. 

LUANNA: We reverse completely the action of opioids. That is how much words are critical in clinical settings. 

Corpus Christi embraces new mission of campus, marriage ministries

November 6, 2024

"The University of Maryland, Baltimore, is really a series of relatively independent schools,” said Deacon Bauerschmidt. "It’s catering to a graduate school population (in public health, law and human services). So that’s an incredibly important audience to reach to foster discussions on how you practice medicine or law as a Catholic. What are the church’s social teachings and how do they affect how you think about social work?"

AAM 2024 Report Shows Billions in Biosimilar and Generic Savings

November 5, 2024

Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, a professor of practice, sciences and health outcomes research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, in Baltimore, said the results are significant because “the high cost of medications has been a major obstacle for many managing their health conditions.”

Non-Europeans Opt Out Of Genomic Databases, Leading To Lack Of Diversity

November 5, 2024

“Since we define ‘heritage’ as including culture, geography, and genetics, one of the most interesting parts of this research is that we were able to explore the distant genetic relatedness among Latin American countries through population structure and migration patterns,” said Victor Borda, PhD, corresponding author on the paper and Research Associate at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “

Elon Musk’s lawyer says $1M giveaway winners not randomly chosen, which could raise legal issues

November 4, 2024

A lawyer for Elon Musk said in a Philadelphia courtroom Monday that the winners of Musk’s $1 million daily prize giveaway in election swing states are not chosen at random, contradicting what Musk said when he announced the contest last month. Legal experts told NBC News that the disclosure could have legal fallout for Musk across multiple jurisdictions under laws designed to protect consumers from deceptive practices. 

Hooked on Rheum with Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS

November 4, 2024

From a young age, I was fascinated by the human body and its complexities. Growing up in a small village in southern Italy, I had an insatiable curiosity about science and how we experience pain, heal and recover. 

Moore administration, others fear drastic impact to MD government under Trump

November 1, 2024

“If there’s unified (Republican) government, we’re going to see lots of legislation, executive orders (and) judicial rulings that the majority of Marylanders are not going to like,” said Mark Graber, a University of Maryland law professor and a leading scholar on constitutional law and politics.

Researchers Work to Expand Genomic Database Diversity with Latin American DNA Data

November 1, 2024

Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a comprehensive genomic database, GLADdb, to improve diversity in genomics research by including extensive Latin American DNA data.

UM School of Pharmacy hosts Pharmapreneurship Summit

November 1, 2024

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy hosted the free Pharmapreneurship Summit Oct. 8, bringing together thought leaders to engage with the university community, to propose bold and innovative ideas to address challenges and opportunities for the pharmacy world and to celebrate its successes.

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of October 2024

October 31, 2024

The University of Maryland, Baltimore broke ground on its $120 million, six-story School of Social Work (UMSSW) building that is slated to be the first net-zero emissions building within the University System of Maryland and downtown Baltimore. The 127,000-square-foot building will consolidate the school’s Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy programs—currently dispersed across three locations—into one modern, flexible space.

The 2024 Power List

October 31, 2024

For nearly three decades, Dr. Bruce E. Jarrell, M.D., FACS, has served the University of Maryland Baltimore.

The kidney and liver transplant surgeon first joined the higher educational institution in 2005 as the vice dean of academic affairs. 

Qualified Immunity as Gun Control

October 30, 2024

Although Bruen invalidates regulations inconsistent with the historical tradition of U.S. firearm regulation, states retain significant power to disarm dangerous individuals, argue Guha Krishnamurthi, professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, and Peter N. Salib, professor at the University of Houston Law Center, in a recent article.

Can AI Plus Electronic Health Records Predict Childhood Obesity Risk?

October 30, 2024

“I think that it’s an interesting way to take information that we already have and synthesize it into a picture we could use like an aid to support the family,” added Mutiat Onigbanjo, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and medical director of the University of Maryland Pediatrics at Midtown in Baltimore.

25 dead in 1 summer: The present and future of deadly heat in Maryland

October 30, 2024

Robyn Gilden, a nurse and environmental expert at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said additional risk factors for heat-related illness or death include whether a person works outside, whether they’re overweight, heart disease and age.

25 dead in 1 summer: The present and future of deadly heat in Maryland

October 30, 2024

 Robyn Gilden, a nurse and environmental expert at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said additional risk factors for heat-related illness or death include whether a person works outside, whether they’re overweight and age.

4MLK: Transforming West Baltimore into a Life Sciences Epicenter

October 29, 2024

Set to open in fall 2024, 4MLK is more than just a building—it’s a game-changer for West Baltimore. This 8-story, 250,000-square-foot facility will provide critical lab and office space for scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators working on the cutting edge of technology and medicine. Positioned at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Baltimore St., 4MLK is designed to be a beacon of collaboration.

MD law schools increase bar passage rates for July exam, data shows

October 29, 2024

The increase for the University of Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law comes after last year’s slight dip, and this year marks another steady increase for students at the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Sustainable University Building to Serve Student Social Workers

October 29, 2024

Community members and project leaders came together on Oct. 17 to break ground on the new University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) School of Social Work. The 127,000-square-foot building will support programs that address the growing demand for social workers across the country while promoting cross-campus collaboration, environmentalism, and accessibility. 

New Marker for Immunotherapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

October 29, 2024

A newly described stage of lymph node–like structures, known as tertiary lymphoid structures, identified in hepatic tumors following presurgical immunotherapy may be vital to successfully treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Shu et al in Nature Immunology.

5 Important Self Care Tips for Clinicians

October 28, 2024

Sara Robinson, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, shares 5 tips for clinicians on self care. While self care is a popular buzzword, it is harder to find tangible elements that you can implement as a clinician. Here's a good place to start.

Unmet Needs and the Importance of Social Support in Schizophrenia

October 27, 2024

Treatment adherence is a big challenge for patients with schizophrenia, as is the appropriate use of clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia, said Megan Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, professor and codirector of the Mental Health Program, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy. She also noted that telehealth hasn’t been as helpful for treating patients with schizophrenia as it has in other areas of care.

We must prepare for hidden threat of disease from natural disasters | GUEST COMMENTARY

October 27, 2024

As a scientist who has spent my entire professional career developing countermeasures like vaccines against mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, we cannot ignore the danger posed by climate change and its effect on infectious diseases.

Four Women Selected to Lead Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives in Higher Education

October 24, 2024

Rhea Roper Nedd has been named assistant vice president of equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She brings over a decade of experience in developing diversity programs to her new role. Most recently, she served as director of the Center for Student Diversity at Towson University in Maryland.

U. of Maryland School of Medicine Program Focuses on Rural Eastern Shore

October 24, 2024

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has launched the Rural Health Equity and Access Longitudinal Elective (R-HEALE) designed to train and place incoming medical students in Eastern Shore healthcare practices. 

The Nocebo Effect: How We Think Ourselves Sick, According To Psychiatrists

October 24, 2024

We are now beginning to understand some of the mechanisms—psychological and biological—that give rise to nocebo effects. Studies in both laboratory and clinical settings, some of which are described in other chapters, document the important role of information and expectations in generating nocebo effects.

WHY PEOPLE ITCH AND HOW TO STOP IT

October 23, 2024

There’s so much more compassion from doctors and family members,” Shawn Kwatra of the University of Maryland School of Medicine told me. Itch, he added, “is just not respected.” Perhaps doctors do not respect it because, until recently, they did not really understand it.

Supreme Court powerhouse aligns with tribe to stop copper mine

October 23, 2024

The Apache Stronghold has asked the Supreme Court to block Resolution Copper from digging up more than a billion tons of copper. If the mine moves forward, the land could subside, creating a depression more than 1,000 feet deep and almost 2 miles wide. “This is the route environmentalists should be taking in trying to establish these strategic alliances,” said Robert Percival, director of the environmental law program at the University of Maryland.

Anne Arundel County schools warn parents about rise in whooping cough cases

October 23, 2024

Anne Arundel County Public Schools are warning parents about a rise in whooping cough cases. The district has identified three cases since Sept. 10. Dr. Esther Liu, from the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, says whooping cough is preventable with vaccines.

The Latest in New and Emerging Therapies in Schizophrenia: Dr Megan Ehret

October 22, 2024

In September, the FDA approved the first new schizophrenia treatment in decades.1 Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride) has a new mechanism of action, and there is a lot of potential for this drug in treating patients with schizophrenia, said Megan Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, professor and codirector of the Mental Health Program, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy.

UM School of Nursing kicks off $5M collaborative to expand health equity initiatives in west Baltimore

October 22, 2024

The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Tuesday announced it was awarded a five-year, $5 million Health Equities Resource communities (HERC) grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC) to support the West Baltimore Reducing Inequities in Cardiovascular and Mental Health Collaborative-Stronger Together (RICH 2.0).

Groundbreaking for University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center

October 22, 2024

Governor Wes Moore joined elected officials and leadership from the University of Maryland Medical System for the groundbreaking of the UM Shore Regional Medical Center. The groundbreaking and major investment reinforces the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to improving healthcare access and support for Maryland’s rural communities.

New rural health initiative by University of Maryland seeks to fill medical gap on Eastern Shore

October 18, 2024

Rural areas in Maryland have notoriously been medically underserved, according to the federal Health Resource and Services Administration. Students like Riaz are taking initiative to address these disparities and help close the medical disparity through the Rural Health Equity and Access Longitudinal Elective.

UMB breaks ground on $120M Social Work building downtown

October 18, 2024

The University of Maryland, Baltimore broke ground Thursday on a major new School of Social Work building on the westside of downtown.School of Social Work Judy Postmus said in a statement that "it will be a vibrant community hub where students, faculty, and local partners come together." School of Social Work Judy Postmus said in a statement that "it will be a vibrant community hub where students, faculty, and local partners come together."

9 Things You Should Do for Your Brain Health Every Day, According to Neurologists

October 17, 2024

Taking care of your cognitive health ought to be—well, a no-brainer. According to a survey published in March, 87% of Americans are concerned about age-related memory loss and a decline in brain function as they grow older, yet only 32% believe they can take action to help control that trajectory.

Democrats in Congress seek to prevent another Jan. 6 riot, protect Electoral College certification

October 15, 2024

A group of constitutional law experts told CBS News there's no specific prescription for such a political standoff in the Constitution itself.   

"The Constitution assumed a certain level of normality in our politics. But 'normal' may not describe our current politics," said University of Maryland constitutional law professor Mark Graber. 

Why few communities chose Baltimore’s high-risk, high-reward opioid legal strategy

October 8, 2024

Thousands of communities across the United States have sued pharmaceutical companies in the last decade, seeking accountability and money for an opioid crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and forced governments to spend billions of dollars on drug treatment and other remediation efforts.

Solar panel install damages roof, leave thousands in damages

October 8, 2024

According to Jeff Sovern with the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, people usually don't read or understand the consumer contract's they're reading.

"If they don't understand something they should ask the provider and seller what it means and see what they say. Although if it comes to a dispute over what the provider says and what the contract says, the court will usually go with what the contract says," said Sovern. 

‘It’s safe’: VR program being used to help University of Maryland students identify life-threatening situations

October 1, 2024

Inside a computer science office in College Park, a retired firefighter studying to become a physician assistant at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, was with a patient when suddenly someone next to him put that patient in a life-threatening situation.

Kennedy Says Trump Will ‘Make Americans Healthy.’ His Record Suggests Otherwise.

August 27, 2024

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Donald J. Trump last week, he recounted speaking with the former president about "the issues that bind us together," including "having safe food and ending the chronic disease epidemic."Mr. Kennedy, a onetime environmental lawyer and longtime vaccine critic, insisted that a second Trump administration would lead to the elimination of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in America's food and water supply.

Are DEI efforts in academic radiology under threat?

August 27, 2024

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in academic radiology are under threat as anti-DEI legislation continues to be introduced to the U.S. Congress, according to a research letter published August 26 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Marijuana use linked to higher heart attack, stroke risks

August 27, 2024

More older adults in the U.S. are turning to cannabis for stress relief, pain relief and help with other health issues. But new research suggests doing so could come with some heart risks. A large study published Feb. 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found a significant association between smoking, vaping or eating cannabis products and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke, even when controlling for other cardiovascular risk factors.

'It's a blessing' How Baltimore's Live Near Your Work incentives keep people in the city

August 22, 2024

Some local universities and larger employers also believe the programs can help revitalize the areas around their campuses and offices.