Dear UMB Community,

The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization as soon as tomorrow. The case centers on the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law that bans most abortions after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. It is possible that the ruling may overturn the landmark case Roe v. Wade.

This potential decision is expected to have dramatic implications for women’s health and reproductive rights. There also are fears that overturning Roe v. Wade could unravel a wide range of privacy rights.

On Wednesday, June 29, at 11 a.m., I will host a special edition of Virtual Face to Face with a group of University of Maryland, Baltimore leaders to answer questions and facilitate a discussion about the major impact the ruling may have on women, the disproportionate effect it may have on Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, and the socioeconomic issues that may inevitably arise.

The panel of thought leaders will include:

• Nadine M. Finigan-Carr, PhD, MS, research assistant professor; director, Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative, University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW)
• Stacey Stephens, MSW, LCSW-C, director, B’more for Healthy Babies, an initiative to combat the infant mortality rate in Baltimore under Promise Heights, UMSSW
• Danya Qato, PhD, PharmD, MPH, assistant professor and director, Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Graduate Program, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

You can register to attend here. I hope that you will join the conversation.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS

President