Message from the Dean

The nation’s best medical schools are known for providing the highest quality medical education, research, patient services and community outreach. At New Jersey Medical School, these priorities are combined with a commitment to constant innovation and progress.

As a result, NJMS is experiencing remarkable growth in these critical mission areas. Such progress is truly a mark of our success as a medical school. Some of our most recent achievements include:

Education — Applications from highly qualified students are on the rise. In Fall 2004, we instituted a new curriculum, focused on active learning and the importance of humanism in medicine, which offers students exciting new challenges and learning opportunities. More than 700 faculty and 1,300 volunteer faculty in our 19 academic departments play a critical role in transforming our students into first-rate physicians.

Research — Research funding at NJMS has doubled since 1996. During fiscal year 2004, funding reached an unprecedented $103.9 million - a 17 percent increase over the previous year. This funding is coupled with an impressive list of groundbreaking discoveries by a world-class cadre of researchers.

Clinical Care — In addition to employing state-of-the-art treatment tools and innovations, construction on major cancer and ambulatory care centers is rapidly progressing. These facilities will offer patients unparalleled care in convenient and welcoming environments. At the same time, a focus on specialty areas of medicine — including infectious diseases, cardiovascular science, neurological and visual sciences, cancer and trauma — ensures that we are meeting a wide range of patient needs.

Community Outreach — Our longstanding ties to the community are being strengthened by a variety of support programs. In addition to providing vital healthcare information and services to the community through neighborhood outreach programs and health centers, NJMS continues to expand and support initiatives that provide career opportunities and help our neighbors achieve personal success.

All of these steps forward are critical in the growth of NJMS. By growing our success, we are redefining the future of medicine while distinguishing ourselves among the nation’s leading medical schools.

Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP
The Sharon and Joseph L. Muscarelle Endowed Dean (Interim)