2026 Jewish American Heritage Month
UMB Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month
Dear UMB Community,
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time when we highlight the legacies and contributions of Jewish Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States and our University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community.
It is a time to honor those who have paved the way for future generations, through their resilience, creativity, and tireless efforts to make a difference.
Amid the celebrations, we recognize revered figures and contemporary trailblazers whose work continues to inspire and change lives. Their contributions are not only historical but also present in innovative advancements and individuals who have made indelible marks on our society.
We celebrate Lillian Wald, who was an American nurse, humanitarian, and author. She was known for her contributions to human rights and was the founder of American community nursing, which involves nurses providing care, health education, and preventive services outside of hospitals and often focuses on underserved populations. Wald campaigned for federal child labor laws and women’s suffrage and supported racial integration. Her ideas led the New York City Board of Health to organize the first public nursing system in the world.
Gertrude Elion, MSc, was born in New York. A biochemist and pharmacologist, she used the differences in biochemistry between normal human cells and pathogens to design drugs that would block viral infections. Elion and her team developed drugs to combat leukemia, herpes, and AIDS. They also discovered treatments to reduce the body's rejection of foreign tissue in kidney transplants between unrelated donors.
Lawrence Einhorn, MD, is an American oncologist who revolutionized testicular cancer treatment. Before Einhorn's research in the area of platinum combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic testicular cancer, the survival rate of the disease was approximately 10 percent. Today, the survival rate is 80 percent.
During Jewish American Heritage month at UMB, we also affirm our commitment and support for Jewish American colleagues and friends. We are committed to increasing belonging and inclusion at UMB and throughout Baltimore, the state of Maryland, and the world.
In Collaboration,
Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA
Chief Inclusive Excellence and Institutional Effectiveness Officer and Vice President
Professor, School of Graduate Studies