Dr. Robert S. and Barbara A. Gold established the Robert S. and Barbara A. Gold Public Health Innovation Award Endowment in January 2017 and amended the fund in December 2019 and July 2024. The fund is now known as the Robert S. and Barbara A. Gold Public Innovation Endowed Award in Public Health. It supports awards for students who are enrolled in the Do Good Accelerator Fellows Program and pursuing public health-related projects including health technology or community-oriented health solutions.
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.