Some Maryland residents may be asking for a haircut, shave and a doctor's consultation at their local barber shop thanks to a new University of Maryland health program funded by a $5.9 million federal grant. 

African Americans in Maryland are three times more likely to die in infancy, twice as likely to die from diabetes, and much less likely to get flu vaccines than whites. The University of Maryland Center for Health Equity (M-CHE) is driving new efforts to eliminate such disparities—in the state and beyond—through a $5.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) is the largest ever systematic effort to describe the global distribution and causes of a wide array of major diseases, injuries, and health risk factors.  

On July 1, 2014, the University of Maryland will become a member the Big Ten Conference. On July 1, 2013, we will become a member of the academic consortium of Big Ten universities, known as the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC). 

This is more than a change in athletic conference. It is an institution-wide integration with the Big Ten and the CIC. To prepare for it, I am announcing the "President's Commission on UMD and Big Ten/CIC Integration."  

On July 1, 2014, the University of Maryland will become a member the Big Ten Conference. On July 1, 2013, we will become a member of the academic consortium of Big Ten universities, known as the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC). 

When compared to whites, African Americans in Maryland are three times more likely to die in infancy, twice as likely to die from diabetes, and much less likely to get flu vaccines. 

Maryland officials are preparing to unveil this week a detailed plan for a $600 million regional hospital to replace the ailing Prince George’s Hospital Center and establish a new health-care network throughout Prince George’s County. 

Maryland health officials are proposing to build a 280-bed regional acute-care hospital and expand outpatient care in Prince George’s County as they try to reshape the county’s health-care system and make it more financially secure. 

Medical officials and Maryland lawmakers hope to attract dozens of new physicians to targeted areas in southern and central Prince George's County that are lacking enough primary care providers to serve residents. 

A proposed new hospital for central Prince George's County could be smaller than previously thought, but that doesn't mean it will be any cheaper. 

Faced with 24,000 residents who are leaving Prince George’s County annually to seek medical treatment, Maryland officials Wednesday unveiled plans to improve the county’s health care system and build a $600 million regional hospital to replace Prince George’s Hospital Center.  

A recent checkup on the health of Prince George’s residents might affect the setup of health care delivery across the county.

A coalition of state and county leaders and health care professionals unveiled a report July 25 that outlines the health challenges faced by residents. Planners say the report will play a role in developing a comprehensive countywide health system. 

The case for building a new teaching hospital in Prince George's County associated with the University of Maryland Medical System got a boost from a health study released Wednesday, but the question remains how the county and state would pay for it. 

CHEVERLY, Md. (July 25, 2012) – Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker were joined by leadership from the University of Maryland Medical System, Dimensions Health Care, University of Maryland School of Public Health and other state and county health officials to provide an update on the partnership agreement signed in 2011 to develop a comprehensive plan for strengthening health care in Prince George’s County.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Prince George's County residents may be getting a call from one of their "neighbors" soon -- the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The school will conduct a telephone survey in late January and February to ask Prince George's County residents about their views on health and health-care services in the county. 

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A special report released today by the University of Maryland School of Public Health will inform the design of an innovative new system to improve health and health care in Prince George's County. Transforming Health in Prince George's County, Maryland: A Public Health Impact Study is the result of a unique group of studies that concurrently gathered information from residents and policy makers, examined the county's health care workforce and public health programs, and documented best practices from comparable health care systems.  

Commissioned by Prince George's County, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), the University of Maryland Medical System and Dimensions Healthcare System, the Public Health Impact Study of Prince George's County was conducted by a team of senior researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. 

ANNAPOLIS, MD - At the National Governors Association meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, Governor Martin O’Malley today released a new report on the economic impact of health reform in Maryland. The report, conducted by the Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, finds that implementation of the Affordable Care Act will benefit the state’s budget by more than $600 million through 2020, generate more than $3 billion in annual economic activity, and create more than 26,000 jobs. 

The Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act was a turning point in the health-care debate, a chance to stop refighting old political battles and move forward with implementing and improving a law that is already lowering health-care costs and providing more security for millions of American families. Instead, congressional Republicans will spend Wednesday staging yet another repeal vote. 

The University of Maryland School of Public Health and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have launched a new partnership to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of Maryland veterans and their families. The Maryland Veterans Resilience Initiative will identify gaps in veterans' services and train mental health professionals, primary care doctors and clergy to better understand and address the unique needs of veterans. The initiative will also develop peer support networks for veterans reintegrating to civilian life. 

The Maryland Center for Health Equity (MCHE) at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, in partnership with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation/ Association (USPHS), the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the Community Ministry of Prince George’s County engaged in a strategic alliance focused on addressing racial and ethnic health disparities in Prince George’s County, MD.   

The things that Amy Vance does for James Prasad are pretty simple: She calls doctors with him, organizes his meds, and helps him keep tabs on his blood pressure, blood sugar and weight.

Here’s the White House transcript of President Barack Obama‘s remarks on the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act. The remarks were delivered in the East Room of the White House beginning at 12:15 p.m. EDT.

"I think it is a great day to be an American. What this decision upheld is that health care is a right and that there is now going to be a commitment to promoting health and preventing disease. "

Last week, researchers at the Maryland Center for Health Equity (M-CHE) at the University of Maryland School of Public Health partnered with the Collaborative Center for Health Equity and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science Research (CCHE) at the University of Wisconsin to conduct the 3rd annual Health Equity Leadership Institute (HELI).  HELI is an intensive, week-long “research boot-camp” designed to help junior investigators, particularly minority scholars, interested in health disparities and health equity research to become successful tenure-track academicians.

No. 11–393. Argued March 26, 27, 28, 2012—Decided June 28, 2012*s

In 2010, Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct in order to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and decrease the cost of health care. One key provision isthe individual mandate, which requires most Americans to maintain"minimum essential" health insurance coverage. 26 U. S. C. §5000A.For individuals who are not exempt, and who do not receive healthinsurance through an employer or government program, the means ofsatisfying the requirement is to purchase insurance from a private company. Beginning in 2014, those who do not comply with the mandate must make a "[s]hared responsibility payment" to the Federal Government. §5000A(b)(1). The Act provides that this "penalty"will be paid to the Internal Revenue Service with an individual's taxes, and "shall be assessed and collected in the same manner" as tax penalties. §§5000A(c), (g)(1).

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- White Americans have 22 times more wealth than blacks -- a gap that nearly doubled during the Great Recession.

The median household net worth for whites was $110,729 in 2010, versus $4,995 for blacks, according to recently released Census Bureau figures.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown held an event on Thursday May 31, 2012 to highlight the O'Malley-Brown Administration's efforts to address health disparities. The event, which took place during "Healthy Maryland Week," included a free health screening event in partnership with the Prince George's County Health Department, Kaiser Permanente and Greater Baden Medical Services at the Wayne K. Curry Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Long-time kinesiology faculty member Jane Clark will serve as the new dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health for a two-year term beginning July 1. She will succeed founding Dean Robert Gold, and will be charged with leading the school into a new collaboration with Maryland’s Medical School in Baltimore, effectively doubling the size of their respective Masters of Public Health programs.

Hepatitis C is an unrecognized health crisis in the United States. This life-threatening infection affects an estimated 3.2 million Americans, most of whom are "baby boomers" (those born from 1945 through 1965). And while newly available treatments can cure the majority of hepatitis C cases, most people do not seek care because they do not know they are infected.

Prince George’s County could break ground by early 2014 on a new regional medical center that it plans to build with the state and the University of Maryland Medical System, if things go according to plan.

In their article in the March-April issue of IRB: Ethics & Human Research, Paul G. Stiles, Monica Epstein, Norman Poythress, and John F. Edens address the issue of protecting individuals who decide not to participate in research. Although there is great concern about protecting those who enroll in research studies, little if any concern has been expressed in the literature about protecting "decliners" -- individuals who were invited to participate, but did not.

Six Prince George's County communities will get some extra attention from the county government, as officials believe assisting the areas will help cut down on crime and improve economic development.

PROGRAM THIS WEEK (April 18): Chuka Ndibizu will talk abut the process involved in obtaining a patent through the U.S. Patent Office.
PROGRAM NEXT WEEK (April 25): Dr. Lawrence Wall, NIH researcher in Arthritis and blood disease.
PROGRAM LAST WEEK (April 11): Pat Cunniff introduced our speaker, Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, Director of the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity, in the School of Public Health.

“According to a number of measures, the State of Maryland is one of the highest performing states in the nation…Maryland also, despite its wealth, demonstrates significant disparities in healthcare and health outcomes.”

There is growing recognition that the United States’ clinical trials enterprise (CTE) faces great challenges. There is a gap between what is desired – where medical care is provided solely based on high quality evidence – and the reality – where there is limited capacity to generate timely and practical evidence for drug development and to support medical treatment decisions.

The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation this session that creates programs to improve health in underserved communities and to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities throughout the state. Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reductions Act (SB 234) into law on April 10 at a ceremony attended by several University of Maryland School of Public Health faculty members and other allies. The legislation will position the state of Maryland as a leader in the national effort to eliminate health disparities.

Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, and Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown to sign legislation to protect public education and improve Marylanders’ quality of life. The Governor signed into law the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) bill and the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reduction Act of 2012.

The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation that creates programs to improve health in underserved communities and to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities throughout the state. Called Health Enterprise Zones, the pilot program will offer tax breaks and other incentives to local health departments and community groups for their programs in these underserved areas.

A program to improve healthcare in minority areas and reduce health disparities was approved by the General Assembly over the weekend.

The pilot program, which now goes to Gov. Martin O’Malley for his signature, would offer tax breaks and other incentives to local health departments and community groups for their programs in these underserved areas – labeled as Health Enterprise Zones.

Stan Brock never expected to see adults and children shivering in line in the middle of the night, hoping to get free medical, dental and vision care in the wealthiest country on earth. Now that he's seen it for years, he's no longer surprised. "It's quite common," he said. "People line up many, many hours before the event opens, which is normally at 5:30 in the morning."

A Web-based interactive anthology will provide psychologists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists and other scientists with the latest research methods and tools to address emerging challenges in public health, such as the obesity epidemic and the rise of chronic diseases such as heart disease. The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research(OBSSR) at the National Institutes of Health collaborated with New England Research Institutes to create the free resource, called e-Source.

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents today approved an innovative and structured collaboration between the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP).  Called University of Maryland:  MPowering the State, this new working relationship will leverage the resources of the two universities to serve students better; attract even more exceptional faculty and researchers; and boost research, technology transfer, and commercialization.

Critics of the new plan to build an upscale resort casino at National Harbor are wringing their hands over the risk that blackjack tables and slot machines will hurt Prince George’s County’s precious image.

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said Thursday that he wants to see a billion-dollar casino on the banks of the Potomac River, arguing that a “high-end” gaming destination at National Harbor would be a catalyst for economic development and generate much-needed tax revenue.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — As a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland hurtles toward a vote in the legislature this week, a coalition lobbying for its passage has focused much of its efforts on a group of Democrats who could potentially scuttle its success: African-Americans.

The questions are simple: Where do you go to the doctor? How long does it take you to get there? If there were a new hospital closer to home, would you use it?

But the survey underway in Prince George’s County is intended to address a complex problem. Officials expect the data to give them a detailed look at the state of health and health care in the county, where conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are much more common than in the rest of the region and most of the state.

In 2007, Maryland’s Medicaid dental-care program came under fire after a Prince George’s County boy died from an untreated tooth infection that spread lethal bacteria to his brain. Five years later, the same system that failed 12-year-old Deamonte Driver is now touted as one of the best in the nation, officials said Wednesday at a children’s dental care panel on Capitol Hill.

The Prince George’s County Council is unanimously opposed to the proposed slots bill pending in the General Assembly that could open the door to a casino in the county.

Council chairman Andrea Harrison (D-Springdale) said the panel is expected to formalize its opposition by voting on a resolution on Tuesday.

The Prince George’s County Council chairwoman says several items in legislation proposed Monday that could bring slots machines to the county stand out as “a no-go.”

For the first time in his 17-year speaking career, author and anti-racism activist Tim Wise spoke at this university last night about issues of color and white privilege and explained why President Barack Obama cannot speak out against either: Because he's black.

Public health study As part of an assessment of residents’ well-being, health-care behaviors and experiences, and perceptions of available health-care services, the University of Maryland School of Public Health and Prince George’s County are conducting a telephone survey through February. Callers will clearly identify themselves; all answers are confidential. 301-405-8859, www.healthequity.umd.edu or www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.

LAST SUMMER, WHEN Maryland state and local officials joined a university chancellor and health company executives in outlining a $600 million plan to build a critically needed hospital in Prince George’s County, no one breathed a word about gambling revenue. Now it turns out that the gaming industry, along with its legislative champions in Annapolis, was licking its chops.

Following is the text of Gov. Martin O’Malley's State of the State address as released by his office...

By a 2 to 1 ratio, Marylanders see slot machines as having been good for the state. Opinion is mixed on expanding the numbers of slots casinos — although possible locations in Prince George’s County are somewhat more popular.

For more than a decade, gaming proponents have promised Prince George’s County funding for a wide range of social services and other needs, from school modernization and closing budget deficits to revitalizing Maryland’s horse industry. Each time, reason trumped the inflated revenue projections, and our county opted to pursue real economic solutions, rather than giving in to budget gimmicks or extortion from Annapolis. Now, the gaming lobby, industry pals and like-minded legislators are arguing that slots can solve a new problem: the need for a new county hospital .

University of Maryland officials soon will begin working on their efforts to help Prince George's County overhaul its health care system.

The university will conduct a survey of county residents in late January and will question residents on their state of health, access to primary care, and general attitude toward the quality of health care facilities in Prince George's County.

Upper Marlboro, Md. -- Prince George's County residents may be getting a call from one of their "neighbors" soon -- the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The school will conduct a telephone survey in late January and February to ask Prince George's County residents about their views on health and health-care services in the county.

The Obama administration touts it as a key solution to the nation’s runaway health-care spending: a new national center set up by the 2010 health-care law to test and implement groundbreaking ways to cut costs while improving patient care.On Thursday, a little more than 14 months after the center opened, officials will release a report summarizing its progress: 16 recent initiatives, funded with more than $1.7 billion in federal money, that will involve more than 50,000 providers over the next five years.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Prince George’s County residents may be getting a call from one of their “neighbors” soon -- the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The schoolwill conduct a telephone survey in lateJanuary and February to ask Prince George’s County residents about their views on health and health-care services in the county.

Annapolis, MD – Today, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III testified before the Maryland House of Delegates Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services about the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build a new regional medical center in Prince George’s County.  County Executive Baker joined County Council Vice Chair Eric Olson, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Joshua Sharfstein on the first panel of testimony.  On the second panel of testimony was University of Maryland Medical Systems (UMMS) President Robert Chrencik, UMMS Vice-President John Ashworth, University of Maryland Baltimore President Jay Perman, and Dimensions Acting President and CEO Neal Moore.

Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity, is a member of the state's health disparities workgroup formed by Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown to develop strategies to address Maryland's high rate of health disparities. This week, Lt. Gov. Brown announced several of the group's recommendations, including the formation of Health Enterprise Zones, where doctors and community groups in areas with large health disparities, such as Baltimore and Prince George's County, could add medical and support services for minorities. Tax credits and other financial incentives would be available to spur interest.

Maryland is one of the nation’s most affluent states, but continues to suffer high rates of infant death, sexually transmitted diseases and kidney disease among minority populations. In a proposal to be unveiled Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) will outline a series of financial incentives that he says could help narrow the health care gap in the state.

Frustrated by Maryland's high rate of health disparities, state leaders are proposing a new attack — one more commonly associated with economic development..

Conflict between rich and poor now eclipses racial strain and friction between immigrants and the native-born as the greatest source of tension in American society, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Things weren’t so hot for the American economy and a lot else in 2010, but for the health of the American people, it was a pretty good year.

Life expectancy improved, mortality rates fell for all five leading causes of death, and the homicide rate was as low as it has been in almost 50 years, according to data released Wednesday.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A large and growing number of Americans are poor, or at risk of becoming poor, as a result of the Great Recession of 2007-09, and many will continue to struggle during the recovery, according to a White Paper released today by broadcaster Tavis Smiley and the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

It’S still early in 2012, so let’s be optimistic. Let’s assume you have made a New Year’s resolution and have not yet broken it. Based on studies of past resolutions, here are some uplifting predictions:

1. Whatever you hope for this year — to lose weight, to exercise more, to spend less money — you’re much more likely to make improvements than someone who hasn’t made a formal resolution.
2. If you can make it through the rest of January, you have a good chance of lasting a lot longer.
3. With a few relatively painless strategies and new digital tools, you can significantly boost your odds of success.

She’s a member and frequent user of Capital Bikeshare and has testified before the D.C. Council in favor of more bike lanes in Southeast Washington, where she lives and owns a small business.

We have developed life-sustaining treatments for previously fatal diseases, including many types of cancer, HIV, and heart disease. Life expectancy has climbed, and infant mortality has fallen.