University of Maryland Medical System Recognized by Vizient in 2021 Supplier Diversity Excellence Ranking

University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has been recognized as a top performer in the 2021 Supplier Diversity Excellence Ranking by Vizient, Inc. UMMS was recognized as the top performer in the comprehensive academic medical center cohort as a champion of inclusion and diversity in its supply chain through engagement, empowerment and utilization of minority, women, LGBT, veteran-owned and disability-owned business enterprises.

“As an academic health system and one of the largest employers in the state of Maryland, we are committed to the economic growth of the communities in which we are privileged to serve,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of UMMS.

In FY21, in keeping with our long-standing commitment to the success of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), UMMS partnered with leading experts to develop foundational training designed to increase the capacity of these companies to do business within our system and beyond. The first cohort of this program will begin in the first quarter of 2022.

Roderick King, MD, MPH, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of UMMS, added, “Maintaining a supply chain that ensures the inclusion of businesses owned by diverse individuals or groups takes us one step closer towards a more equitable marketplace. We will continue to identify new ways to partner with minority and women-owned business enterprises throughout Maryland.”

The guiding principles of the UMMS Minority Business Program include:

• Enhance our engagement and alignment with minority businesses within our health system communities.
• Innovation – move beyond our status quo
• Commitment to using our strength and accountability as an anchor institution to address the socioeconomic injustices across our communities
• Create internal and external awareness with a sense of urgency
• Proactively promote diverse businesses and job growth in our communities

“Health care organizations are often the biggest businesses in their communities and when they make supplier diversity a strategic goal, they help boost the economy of their communities and by extension, public health,” said Simrit Sandhu, executive vice president, strategic transformation and clinical supply at Vizient, Inc. “We celebrate all Vizient members working toward and achieving their Supplier Diversity goals.”

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state's future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system's 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 12 hospitals. UMMS' flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, partners with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

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