The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), named two University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty members as Distinguished University Professors on September 17 at the fifth annual UMB Faculty Convocation celebrating the beginning of the new academic year. 

Deanna L. Kelly, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP, the Dr. William and Carol Carpenter Professor in Psychiatry for Mental Illness Research, and Thomas M. Scalea, MD, the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery, were honored for their significant contributions to their profession and graduate school practice.

Also honored as UMB Distinguished professors were Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Professor of Organizational Systems and Adult Health at the School of Nursing, Michael P. Van Alstine, JD, Francis King Carey Professor in Business Law at the Francis King Carey School of Law, Hongbring Wang, PhD, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Science at the School of Pharmacy, and Huakun Xu, PhD, MS, FADM, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomaterials and Regenerative Dental Medicine at the School of Dentistry. Each of the honored professors were joined on stage by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, and the deans of their respective schools, and were presented with a medallion designed and created by President Jarrell. 

“UMB established the title of Distinguished University Professor six years ago to recognize excellence, and the title represents the highest rank achievable by faculty in our university,” said Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, UMB Interim Provost and Executive Vice President, who served as master of ceremonies. “This year's distinguished university professor honorees were nominated by their peers and recommended for the professorship to the provost and president by a committee of accomplished faculty members representing each of our seven schools.”

Dr. Kelly is an internationally renowned expert in schizophrenia, psychopharmacology, and innovative treatments of serious mental illness, and currently serves as the Director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. Since first coming to UMSOM in 1997, Dr. Kelly has been at the forefront of groundbreaking research into the nutritional, metabolic and immune underpinnings of psychiatric disease, helping to establish the emerging fields of nutritional and metabolic psychiatry.

“Dr. Kelly, you are a true visionary, and we are grateful to have you here at the University of Maryland,” Dr. Reynolds said.

Dr. Scalea is an internationally recognized expert in trauma care and influential trauma surgeon. He came to UMSOM in 1997 as a Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Trauma Surgery, and now directs the school of medicine’s Program in Shock Trauma and serves as the Physician-in-Chief of the Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the only free-standing trauma center in the U.S. In addition to saving countless lives as a trauma surgeon, Dr. Scalea has made a profound impact as an educator, developing a multidisciplinary curriculum that is widely recognized as the gold standard in trauma critical care education.

“Dr. Scalea is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential trauma surgeons of his generation,” Dr. Reynolds said. “He’s received the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hero award 15 times. He’s saved many lives, and through his mentorship, will save many more for generations to come.”

The Distinguished Professor appointments of Drs. Kelly and Scalea reflect the extraordinary depth of clinical excellence, pioneering research, and dedicated mentorship they’ve both exhibited across their long careers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, according to UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD.

“Drs. Kelly and Scalea embody the absolute highest standard of our academic tripartite mission—advancing groundbreaking scientific discovery, delivering world-class patient care, and training the next generation of healthcare leaders,” said Dean Gladwin, who is also the Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. “Their visionary leadership and decades of unwavering dedication have profoundly impacted our institution, transformed outcomes for patients in Maryland and beyond, and brought immense pride to our entire community. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to both on this extraordinarily well-deserved recognition.”

President Jarrell personally crafted these medals in his home studio and presented each one to the distinguished faculty.