The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has established the Ritu Agarwal Distinguished PhD Fellowship in Information Systems.

Underserved and marginalized populations in the United States and across the world have long suffered from unequal access to the basic human need of healthcare based on factors that should not be relevant: race, gender, ethnicity, geographic location and income, says Maryland Smith’s Ritu Agarwal in a recent American Medical Association “Making the Rounds” podcast.

Healthcare is in the midst of an AI-driven transformation, but a lot of work is needed to realize AI’s potential work in real world settings while simultaneously minimizing undesirable outcomes. From March 4-5, 2022, over 100 researchers attended the 12th annual Conference on Health IT and Analytics (CHITA) in Washington D.C., hosted by the Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. 

A study co-led by Maryland Smith’s Ritu Agarwal to improve clinical decision making in the treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome has been selected among projects for $3 million in new grants through the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State (MPower) to address “critical areas of paramount importance to the state and the nation.”

Experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, health equity, and related emerging innovation areas will gather Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, 2022, for the 12th Annual Conference on Health IT and Analytics (CHITA) at the Darcy Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business was selected as a key contributor in a $50 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a new effort to enhance diversity in artificial intelligence and machine learning research and initiatives. NIH’s Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) program was created to get more diverse researchers and underrepresented communities involved in the development of AI/ML models to address health disparities and inequities. CHIDS will steer the AI leadership training for healthcare professionals in the Data Science Training Core of AIM-AHEAD.

Recognized for her tireless efforts toward enhancing the student experience and mission of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Ritu Agarwal received the UMD President’s Medal during the 38th Annual Faculty and Staff Convocation on Wednesday.

Often referred to as “superwoman” by colleagues for her tireless work, Ritu Agarwal has dedicated her career to enhancing the experience of students at Maryland Smith. Now, the Distinguished University Professor and Dean’s Chair of Information Systems will be recognized for her hard work and accomplishments as the recipient of the highest honor the University of Maryland bestows, the President’s Medal.

Maryland Smith’s Ritu Agarwal was elected as a fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). The honor is in recognition of her lifetime contributions to the profession and is reserved for only the very top academics and professionals in the field.

Income, educational attainment and political ideology all play into racial disparities in vaccination rates that have left African Americans more vulnerable to COVID-19, Maryland Smith researchers found. In a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they write that “structural inequities pose a serious threat to progress” in the push for nationwide vaccination.