Perman Previews Trip to Africa to Visit 'UMB Family'
In May, 网红爆料, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, hosted an inaugural Global Health Summit, where teams of international researchers and clinicians met to discuss their past work and future plans. He referred to the participants from 10 countries being 鈥渁ll part of one big UMB family working to advance health, well-being, and justice on a global scale.鈥�
At his quarterly Q&A session on Sept. 17, Perman said it was time for him to return the family favor, discussing his planned visit with those UMB members working in Africa. Other University leaders, Center for Global Education Initiatives representatives, and personnel have joined Perman in the weeklong trip to Zambia and Botswana that began the weekend of Sept. 21.
President Perman addresses audience at the School of Social Work auditorium.
The group鈥檚 itinerary includes meetings with University of Zambia and University of Botswana officials to explore and expand academic partnerships; visits to hospitals, clinics, and community sites; the first UMB 鈥淕lobal Meet-Up鈥� web broadcast; and more.
鈥淚 believe we need to engage with the people in our UMB family in Africa and we need to thank them for their great work,鈥� Perman told a crowd of 100-plus at the Auditorium. 鈥淚鈥檒l report back to the University community here after we visit with the roughly 800 personnel in Africa. They are an important part of our family.鈥�
Perman said UMB-affiliated programs in countries such as Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and Rwanda are doing important work on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly HIV.
鈥淥ur programs have benefited people with regard to infectious disease and other health and social needs in these countries,鈥� Perman said. 鈥淭he programs also have provided economic development in terms of jobs, and they鈥檝e allowed our faculty members, students, and staff to learn and contribute.鈥�
He said UMB鈥檚 investments in overseas programs and visits are worth it because the University鈥檚 participants gain new perspectives on health care problems and ways to solve them.
鈥淪ometimes I鈥檓 asked by well-meaning people in the United States: 鈥榃hy do you have to be supportive of issues elsewhere?鈥� Their argument is: 鈥楧on鈥檛 we have enough problems here? Why do we need to take our resources, apply for grants, and go over there?鈥�
鈥淲ell, I have personally seen it again and again that when our faculty, students, and staff spend some time away, they come back with solutions to challenges here that we would have never thought of. We invest so much elsewhere because it鈥檚 a win-win.鈥�
Other topics discussed in the 50-minute Q&A session included the UMB task force on women鈥檚 issues and the fledgling President鈥檚 Council for Women, the creation of UMB鈥檚 Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and efforts to train more people at UMB on the use of naloxone.
The women鈥檚 task force, chaired by Dean Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, was asked to independently examine issues of sexual harassment and discrimination at UMB as well as Title IX education and compliance. The group has presented its recommendations to Perman in outline form and will deliver its full report in October.
鈥淭he report will dovetail nicely with the President鈥檚 Council for Women,鈥� said Perman, who added that the council will consist of 30 to 35 members and include representation from all UMB schools and various administrative units. 鈥淚 want to make sure that UMB has a platform for women to be successful and free from harassment. But it鈥檚 about more than Title IX and sexual harassment. It鈥檚 about equity in regard to compensation. It鈥檚 about appropriate policies for promotion. And it鈥檚 about other matters that are concerning to women, areas where they鈥檇 like our institution to do better.
鈥淭hat council will be a standing body,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t will create bylaws, terms, et cetera, and it will get started on the task force鈥檚 recommendations. I hope and expect that the President鈥檚 Council for Women will be at UMB forever.鈥�
Regarding another presidential initiative, the Center to Prevent Gun Violence, announced in August, Perman said Dean Donald B. Tobin, JD, is assessing the anti-gun violence efforts already underway at UMB schools, the , and the .
鈥淒ean Tobin is doing an inventory first, which is the right thing to do,鈥� Perman said. 鈥淥nce he does that, he will come back with more specifics on how to organize this initiative. There have been many offers to help us in the formation of the center.鈥�
Regarding naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose, Chief Alice K. Cary, MS, said that all of her police officers are trained in its use and that training would be expanded to the security officers stationed inside buildings on campus.
鈥淲e want to get everyone on board, even citizens,鈥� Cary said. 鈥淗aving the availability of that drug hopefully will reduce some of the opioid deaths. Part of that is getting the community educated about naloxone, its immediate effects, and what to look for.鈥�
