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Maryland Center for Health Equity

The Maryland Center for Health Equity (M-CHE) is committed to improving the health of residents in the state of Maryland. Headquartered in the Office of the Dean at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, M-CHE is a TIER 3: Campus-­wide Research Initiative Program charged with providing support for the development of broad, multidisciplinary research initiatives that will position the university to become a national leader in the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities aimed toward achieving the nation's Healthy People 2030 goal of health equity.

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Barbershops and salons participate in M-CHE's Health Advocates In Reach and Research (HAIR) program.

Help Make Our Vision a Reality

Donations to the Maryland Center for Health Equity support the development of broad, multidisciplinary research initiatives to address racial and ethnic health disparities, including the Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR) campaign and the national "Shots at the Shop" initiative.

Read the May 30, 2021 Washington Post story: Barbershop offers coronavirus shots, in addition to cuts and shaves. Some see it as a national model

UMD Today News

Vaccine clinic at beauty salon

An Injection of Trust

Dozens Get COVID-19 Vaccine at UMD-Sponsored Clinic at Local Beauty Salon
View Article An Injection of Trust
Patron receives a COVID vaccine at the Shop Spa

Barbershops to Cut Through Vaccine Hesitancy

Biden Announces Partnership With UMD Center, Black Coalition Against COVID and SheaMoisture to Encourage Vaccinations in Communities of Color
View Article Barbershops to Cut Through Vaccine Hesitancy
Person gets vaccine

Overcoming a Legacy of Medical Racism Amid COVID

Panel Discussion to Take on Disparate Impacts, Vaccine Acceptance
View Article Overcoming a Legacy of Medical Racism Amid COVID

Connect with us

The Latest News from the Maryland Center for Health Equity

Two men standing next to each other smiling.
Stephen B. Thomas Joins White House Summit on COVID-19 Equity
View Article Stephen B. Thomas Joins White House Summit on COVID-19 Equity
Close up shot showing an African American man's hands holding a cell phone.
ProChange, Maryland Center for Health Equity Awarded $1M CDC Contract to Reduce Health Disparities in Diabetes Prevention
View Article ProChange, Maryland Center for Health Equity Awarded $1M CDC Contract to Reduce Health Disparities in Diabetes Prevention
School of Public Health Building, Front Entrance
Welcome New SPH Faculty and Staff, Fall 2022
View Article Welcome New SPH Faculty and Staff, Fall 2022

Join us LIVE each Thursday

Join the Maryland Center for Health Equity LIVE each Thursday at 7pm EST on our talk show, The Cutting Edge: All Things Health and Wellness.

The show began as a community resource during the chaos of the pandemic, and has bloomed into so much more. Our hosts Mayor Omar Neal and Director Stephen B Thomas create lively conversation spaces about race, health, history, and get real about what we need to do to progress in health equity. When you're with us, you're family- we hope to see you there

Contact Us!

Maryland Center for Health Equity
SPH Building, 4200 Valley Drive, Suite 3302
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-2611

Phone: (301) 405-8859
Fax: (301) 405-2542

Directions and parking information about Directions and parking information

Featured Projects

Summer Intern Students visit Black Barber shop as part of the Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR)

The Health Advocates In-Reach and Research Campaign (HAIR)

The primary aim of HAIR is to create an infrastructure to engage barbershops and beauty salons in Prince George’s County as culturally relevant portals for health education and delivery of public health and medical services in the community.

A Black woman holding a COVID-19 air filter in front of a hair salon

Wellness Warriors

The HAIR Program has expanded to a national program through our Wellness Warriors. These shop owners are bringing health interventions to their local community to promote health.

The Cutting Edge: All things health and wellness COVID-19 and Beyond

The Cutting Edge

Are you looking for real talk on current issues with Black experts? Look no further than The Cutting Edge Podcast, All Things Health and Wellness: COVID-19 and Beyond, hosted by Mayor Omar Neal and Dr. Stephen B. Thomas.

The Barbershop Storybook Project

The Barbershop Storybook Project

The Barbershop Storybook Project series seeks to translate public health research into relatable storylines and champion principles of human-centered design

Black female nurse standing up and giving COVID vaccine in the arm of a young Black man who is seated and wearing construction worker clothing.

COVID-19 Vaccines- Webinar Series

The Center for Health Equity has held several informative and informal webinars to address questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines with community members and medical and public health experts.

Mission of Mercy, dentist cleaning teeth at the University of Maryland

Mid-Maryland Mission of Mercy and Health Equity Festival: Free Adult Dental Clinic

MID-MD MOM is a free adult dental clinic with wraparound healthcare services, the next event will be held in 2022.

Maryland Statehouse Aerial photo

Health in All Policies Workgroup

Shots at the Shop: from Vaccine Hesitancy to Vaccine Confidence

Shots at the Shop

Shots at the Shop is a White House-backed effort from the University of Maryland’s Maryland Center for Health Equity, the Black Coalition Against COVID and the beauty and personal care brand SheaMoisture to recruit 1,000 Black-owned barbershop and hair salons nationwide to promote informed decision-making as a means to increase COVID-19 vaccinations.