How We Are Working Toward Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The past few years have been a wake-up call for many to the inequities, injustices and systems in place that create barriers for many people based on their race, ethnicity, background, beliefs, disability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.

During this time, our nation began to acknowledge the injustices that many have long endured, and we saw the global pandemic's more severe impact the most vulnerable members of our society.

At University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), we have been evaluating how we’re addressing equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels and locations of our organization. We have been having tough conversations, examining our policies and truly listening to our employees, patients and neighbors.

As a result, we have developed a multi-year plan, backed by a $40 million investment, that outlines our commitment to equity in care delivery, diversity in our workforce, meaningful investments in local communities and expanded opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

Meet the UMMS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Team.

What this commitment means for...

Our Patients

We are working to make changes that will reduce, and eventually eliminate, race-based health care disparities. For example, in 2021 UMMS stopped estimating kidney function using a race-based diagnostic formula that placed African-Americans at a disadvantage in receiving care for chronic kidney disease.
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Our Workforce

To bring more diversity to our workforce, we have set ambitious goals, such as of increasing the diversity of our leadership team to 40% by 2024. We are developing programs that foster a sense of belonging and ensure access to career advancement opportunities for our current and future workforce.

Our Communities

Economic stability and growth are associated with healthy communities, and as anchor institutions, we must find ways – beyond the delivery of health care – to make change in our own neighborhoods. UMMS Community Impact Grants fund initiatives that improve the health and wellness of Marylanders and dismantle barriers to health, safety and wellness.

Our Vendors and External Partners

We are growing our relationships with diverse and inclusive organizations because we believe that our suppliers should reflect the communities we serve. UMMS Minority and Women-Owned Business Program is one way that the System is seeking to leverage its economic power to ensure better access to business opportunities for underrepresented businesses.