Dr. Robert S. and Barbara A. Gold established the Robert S. and Barbara A. Gold Public Health Innovation Award Current-Use fund in 2017 and amended it in July 2024. The fund is now known as the Robert S. Gold and Barbara A. Gold Innovation Current-Use Discretionary Fund in Public Health. It provides discretionary support to the dean of the School of Public Health.
The fund celebrates and honors the lifelong commitment, dedication and academic life of Dr. Robert S. Gold who served as founding dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health and founding director of the Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory. Dr. Gold was responsible for creating the University of Maryland Global Health College Park Scholars Program and created the post-baccalaureate certificate program in global public health. It also honors the Golds' philanthropic commitment to the School of Public Health.