University of Maryland, Baltimore President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, created UMB's Center for Health and Homeland Security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in order to coordinate and expand the extensive health programs, scientific research, policy development, and government consulting done in the University's six professional schools--dental, law, medical, nursing, pharmacy, social work--and the graduate school.
"Even before Sept. 11, our schools were at the forefront in dealing with public health issues and crisis management concerning the worldwide terrorist threat. Under Michael Greenberger's leadership, we intend to build upon and strengthen the contributions of our University to resolving this national public health and security threat," Ramsay says.
Greenberger came to the University in July 2001 as a visiting professor at the School of Law. He will continue to be a professor at the School in addition to directing the CHHS. He will report directly to Ramsay, who will serve on the center's board of directors with the University deans.
As principal deputy associate attorney general at the U.S. Justice Department from 1999 to 2001, Greenberger's responsibilities included counterterrorism. He worked closely with Attorney General Janet Reno to develop a nationwide counterterrorism war game in May 2000. The simulation tested the response of Cabinet officials, as well as state and local governments, to biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorist disaster scenarios in three cities at the same time.
"Since coming to the University, I have been overwhelmed by the abundance of highly regarded health and homeland security programs, research, and policy development undertaken campus-wide by our faculty and students. I was thrilled by President Ramsay's offer to work with him, the deans, and the University community to coordinate and strengthen these highly acclaimed efforts in an area of critical national importance," Greenberger says.
The University has a wide range of nationally recognized programs already making a difference. The School of Medicine staffs internationally renowned centers such as the Charles McC Mathias, Jr., National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems and the Center for Vaccine Development. These centers will allow the CHHS to lead the way in researching trauma care and developing new ways to combat infectious diseases.
After Sept. 11, the School of Social Work provided extensive grief counseling for victims of the Pentagon attack; faculty members from the Dental School helped identify remains of those killed in the Pennsylvania plane crash; the School of Law continued its extensive work on civil liberties and bioethics issues; and the School of Nursing continued to train government employees stationed at embassies overseas.
This fall, Greenberger will also teach "Homeland Security and the Law of Counterterrorism," a course he inaugurated at the School of Law last spring. The course gives students a look at the legal implications of governmental intelligence, law enforcement and public health responses to terrorists. Guest speakers included R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA, and James S. Reynolds, currently the chief terrorism prosecutor in the Justice Department. Greenberger has also been a frequent media commentator on post-Sept. 11 and homeland security issues.
Before working at the Justice Department, Greenberger was the director of trading and markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was previously a partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Shea & Gardner, where he handled complex trial and appellate litigation nationwide.
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