Donna L. Parker, MD , FACP

1982 - B.Sc. from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

1986 - M.D. from University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

1986-1989 - Residency, Department of Medicine, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 

Dr. Parker graduated from McGill University and received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. After a residency in internal medicine, she spent three years on the faculty at the University of North Carolina working at their Area Health Education Center at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. She returned to Baltimore to join the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1992. Since joining the faculty, she has served as the Medical Director of the Internal Medicine Clinic, Associate Program Director for Ambulatory Education in the Department of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Associate Dean for Student and Faculty Development, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and is currently Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Chief Academic Officer for the Medical Education Program.

Dr. Parker is an academic leader with more than 30 years of experience in medical education, faculty development, and institutional strategy. Her work focuses on building high-quality educational systems and preparing future physicians to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. She has mentored learners across all stages and led initiatives to strengthen educational outcomes, including the Rural MD Scholars Program, designed to prepare students for rural medical practice and the BS-MD Program with the University of Maryland College Park preparing engineering and computer science students for careers in medicine  . Dr. Parker is also deeply committed to faculty development and leadership cultivation. She founded the Medical Education Leadership Academy in 2020, supporting approximately 150 faculty educators. 

Medical Education, Primary Care, Women in Medicine

Book Contributions

1. Parker, DL. Balancing, Juggling and Other Feats. This Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine. Edited by Eliza Lo Chin. Sage Publications 2002.
2. Parker, DL.  Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Physician Leaders.  Edited by Deborah Shlian, MD, MBA. AALP publication 2022. 

Journal Articles - Refereed

1. Parker, DL. You Can't Judge a Book By its Cover, But We Do! The Pharos, Spring 2003, Page 13
2. Frayha, N, Raczek, J, Lo, J, Martinez, J, Parker, DL. An Electronic Interview Tracking Tool to Guide Medical Students Through the Match: Improvements in Advising and Match Outcomes, Academic Medicine (March) 2019; Vol 94, No. 3.
3. Gladwin, MT, Parker, DL. Innovations in Medical Education and Patient Care at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Maryland Medical Journal, Fall 2023; Vol 24, Issue 3. 

Medical Education
Primary Care
Women in Medicine

General Internal Medicine

• 06/09/82 - Graduated with distinction, McGill University
• 04/28/98 - Election to AOA Honor Medical Society, UMSOM
• 05/21/04 - Mace Bearer at Pre-Commencement exercises, UMSOM
• 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 - Marshal at Pre-Commencement exercises, UMSOM
• 05/15/13 - Carolyn J. Pass, MD ’66 and Richard J. Susel, MD ’66 Academy of Educational Excellence, UMSOM
• 05/14/14 - The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, UMSoM Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society
• 11/3/17 - AAMC 2017 Careers in Medicine Excellence in Medical Student Career Advising Advisor Award
• 11/13/18 - University of Maryland Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award for 2019
• 03/11/19 - University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring for 2019
• October 2021 - University of Maryland Baltimore Educator of the Year
• May 2022 and 2026 Maryland's Top 100 Women issued by The Daily Record
• May 2024 University of Maryland Baltimore UMBrella Champion of the Year
• May 2026 University of Maryland School of Medicine Medical Alumni Association Honor Award and Gold Key

• 1998 - Present: Fellow, American College of Physicians
• 08/01-08/04: University of Maryland Medical Alumni Association – Member, Board of Trustees
• 2001-Present: Reviewer for the Annals of Internal Medicine.  Acknowledged in 2014 and 2016 for exceptional quality of reviews.
• 2003-06 and 2009-Present: MCAT exam Bias Reviewer
• 2021 Graduate of Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) at Drexel University College of Medicine
• 2022- Present Faculty Accreditation Lead for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)

The OSA Insider Podcast

Rural MD Program

BS-MD Program

Medical Education Leadership Academy

Leaders in Education: Academy of Presidential Scholars