Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program Wins Diversity Recognition Award

The program has been instrumental in promoting the academic and professional success of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the schools of medicine and pharmacy.

By Monica Castillo Maggiano, published in The Elm
January 31, 2025

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Initiative for Maximizing Student Development program (UMB-IMSD), supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been instrumental in promoting the academic and professional success of graduate students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. For almost three decades, the program has created a close-knit network of support for its fellows, enabling them to excel in their academic pursuits and make meaningful contributions to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community.

The program serves graduate students across the School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, with approximately 50 students currently participating in various UMB-IMSD-sponsored events.

The UMB-IMSD program has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Recognition Award for outstanding student group. UMB-IMSD students have distinguished themselves as leaders at their schools and in the community at large. Through committee service, recruitment efforts, and interprofessional development activities, IMSD students have worked tirelessly to improve the academic and social environment for all UMB students.

UMB-IMSD students are successful in their academic pursuits along with their service and outreach initiatives, as well as their academic success. IMSD students serve in a variety of leadership roles at UMB, including active participation in the Graduate Student Association. Aarion Romany, a graduate student in pharmaceutical sciences, co-founded the chapter of Black in Biophysics at UMB, an organization dedicated to advancing diversity in biophysics.

“I was one of the founding members back in 2021, helping to organize the next-gen section of the first-ever annual Black in Biophysics week,” Romany said. “This section’s goal was to expose underrepresented middle school and high school kids to the field of biophysics and highlight the amazing work done by some black biophysicists across the U.S.

“Black in Biophysics has really given me a network of amazing scientists whose backgrounds are very similar to mine. They are very supportive and the work they all do fills me with a sense of pride.”

In addition to their leadership on campus, UMB-IMSD students have been engaged in recruitment activities, including participation in local universities and conferences that serve underrepresented minorities. Their involvement in events such as the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students has helped attract more students from diverse backgrounds to UMB’s graduate programs.

UMB-IMSD students are also deeply committed to community outreach.

Da’Kuawn Johnson, a PhD student in microbiology and molecular immunology, serves on the board of directors for the Ingenuity Project, a nonprofit organization that provides STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) resources to Baltimore-area middle and high school students. In collaboration with UMB’s CURE Scholars Program, which seeks to empower middle school and high school students in West Baltimore for competitive and rewarding research, health care, and STEM-related career opportunities, IMSD students have worked to engage high school students from West Baltimore by demonstrating experimental and computational aspects of biology and biophysics.

“One of the key aspects of advancing in the biomedical research field is gaining access to opportunities that connect you with leaders in the field and support your growth. UMB-IMSD has provided exactly that,” Johnson said. “Through the program, I was able to attend a Gordon Research Conference relevant to my field — an incredible opportunity to interact with prominent researchers whose work directly impacts my studies.

“When I decided to apply for the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship — an initiative with a strong emphasis on community outreach and advancing diversity in life sciences — UMB-IMSD was there to guide me. The program’s leadership provided invaluable feedback on my application and connected me with a former Gilliam Fellow from another institution. This support was pivotal in helping me craft a competitive application, ultimately leading to my selection as UMB’s first Gilliam Scholar.”

The group also created the IMSD Guest Speaker Series, which brings influential figures from NIH and other organizations to speak with UMB faculty, students, and postdocs about training and funding opportunities in health-related research.

Over the past two decades, IMSD graduate fellows at UMB have established a close-knit network of support.

Mahder Abate, graduate student in pharmaceutical sciences, shared, “My favorite thing about IMSD is the sense of community. Our diverse backgrounds create a unique and beautiful environment where everyone is willing to support and learn from one another. The program has significantly enriched my academic journey by providing a platform where students from diverse disciplines can come together to share their knowledge. These interactions have offered opportunities to explore scientific areas outside my own field of study. Through discussions with fellow students, I have gained insights into alternative approaches to problem solving and the crucial role of each discipline in developing solutions that impact the community. “

The UMB-IMSD program’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is a long-standing and sustained effort. Since its inception in 1996, the program has been supported by the NIH and continues to evolve to meet the needs of underrepresented students. With the recent receipt of separate NIH training grants for both UMB and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), the program is poised to further its mission and continue making an impact for years to come.

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