UMSOM Faculty join engAGE with Heart Trust-Based Community Health Summit

On July 30, faculty community leaders from the University of Maryland School of Medicine participated in a community health summit alongside Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and Maryland State Senator Cory V. McCray. The event was organized by engAGE with Heart, led by Reverend Dr. Terris King, Pastor of Liberty Church of God, who described trust-based community hubs as “not just a program, but a ministry.” His church stands as a model for how integrated care and community engagement can transform healthcare delivery.

The event focused on innovative approaches to healthcare and emphasized the importance of community-based initiatives in achieving equitable health outcomes for Baltimore City residents. Dr. King’s church stands as a model for how integrated care and community engagement can transform healthcare delivery.

Esa Davis,MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Population and Community Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Associate Vice President for Community Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and Chuck Callahan,DO, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UMSOM were among the panelists who addressed key barriers to healthcare access for Baltimore City residents including transportation, financial literacy, and limited access to primary care. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between institutions and community hubs to advocate for community needs more effectively.

These community hubs, anchored by faith-based organizations, barbershops, community centers, and libraries, serve as accessible, inclusive, and locally-driven spaces. They bring together diverse resources to support the health and well-being of individuals and families, reinforcing the idea that trusted community institutions are essential to advancing public health.

The city’s long-term vision is to expand access to care by building trust through community expertise and leveraging ongoing grassroots efforts, aiming to improve health outcomes for all residents.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine, established in 1807 as the first public medical school in the U.S., continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world.  The School has nearly $500 million total research funding, 46 departments, centers, and institutes, more than 2,200 student trainees and over 3,000 faculty members, including notable members of the National Academy of Medicine.  As the largest public medical school in the DC/MD/VA region, faculty-physicians are working to help patients manage chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, heart disease and addiction, while also working on cutting-edge research to address the most critical generational health challenges. In 2024, the School ranked #12 among public medical schools and #27 among all medical schools for R&D expenditures by the National Science Foundation. With a $1.3 billion total operating budget, the School partners with the University of Maryland Medical Center to serve nearly 2 million patients annually.  The School's global reach extends around the world with research and treatment facilities in 33 countries.  In Maryland, the School of Medicine is spearheading new initiatives in AI and health computing and partnering with the University of Maryland BioPark to develop new medical technologies and bioengineering ventures. For more information, visit medschool.umaryland.edu.

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