Senate Report - Envisioning the Future of Academic Medicine

January 31, 2023

Dear colleagues:

We are pleased to provide you with a report that further develops a vision for the future of academic medicine at Rutgers University. This report represents the collective work product of numerous faculty, staff, students, community members, and administrators of New Jersey Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and provides responses to questions posed by the University Senate concerning the potential integration of Rutgers’ two medical schools. The report was delivered to the Chair of the University Senate earlier today.

Over the past three months, committees comprised of faculty, staff, students, health system colleagues, and community representatives addressed the key questions regarding admissions, culture, and curriculum while questions pertaining to administration and research were answered by RBHS leadership. Internal and external community members provided additional input through a town hall-style “Conversation with Our Communities” forum, an online feedback form, and a faculty survey. The final report synthesizes the committees’ discussions and answers the Senate questions.

We would like to thank the members of the committees for their thorough and diligent work providing thoughtful answers to the questions as well as all the faculty, staff, and students at both medical schools for their input and contributions during this process. Each of our schools demonstrates an admirable level of pride for their accomplishments, passion for our missions, and a commitment to enhancing our excellence in medical education, patient care, research, and community service.

As the University Senate begins its deliberations, we will continue to welcome your thoughts, perspectives, experience, and knowledge as we contemplate the optimal structure for academic medicine at Rutgers that will best deliver on our missions for all the communities we serve.

We will keep you informed of the Senate’s further examination and next steps in the evaluation
process. Please also continue to check this website for regular updates.
 
With appreciation,

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP
Dean, New Jersey Medical School

Amy Murtha, MD
Dean, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School