Rev. Al and I are thrilled to welcome an extraordinary guest to He’s Holy, I’m Knott: Dr. Jay A. Perman, a nationally recognized leader in education, healthcare, and civic engagement. Currently the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM), he oversees 12 public universities and three regional centers and has spent his career building bridges across institutions, communities, and disciplines.

A pediatric gastroenterologist by training, Dr. Perman has never stepped away from the exam room, continuing to care for young patients even as he took on some of the most influential roles in American higher education. His clinical experience grounds everything he does, keeping people, especially the most vulnerable, at the heart of his leadership.

Before becoming USM Chancellor in 2020, Dr. Perman served as President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) for nearly a decade. There, he oversaw record-breaking research growth, expanding UMB’s annual grant funding to nearly $700 million. But his proudest legacy may be his bold commitment to equity and interprofessional education. He established UMB’s Center for Interprofessional Education, now a national model, where students from medicine, nursing, law, pharmacy, dentistry, and social work train side by side to deliver collaborative, community-based care.

Dr. Perman also launched the President’s Clinic, where he personally taught teams of future professionals how to work together to serve patients more holistically. And his founding of the UMB CURE Scholars Program, a STEM pipeline for West Baltimore students starting as early as sixth grade, has opened doors for hundreds of young scholars from underserved communities.

Beyond academia, Dr. Perman is a pillar in Maryland civic life. He chairs the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, co-chairs the UniverCity Partnership, and serves on numerous boards including Baltimore’s Promise, the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board. His honors are many, including regular recognition among “The Best Doctors in America” and leadership positions with national medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Dr. Perman, thank you for your steadfast dedication to the people of Maryland and beyond. It’s an absolute honor to have you on the show and to share the remarkable legacy you are building.