A South Jersey Medical School at Last!

by: Hopeful

Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 04:17:20 AM EDT

If there's one thing I've learned after beginning to pay attention to New Jersey politics, it's that South Jersey is neglected. If there's a second thing, it's that the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is a scandal. So you won't be surprised that I gladly welcome yesterday's announcement that there will be a new medical school in South Jersey:

Rowan University and Cooper University Hospital announced today that they are partnering in the formation of a new, four-year allopathic medical school in Camden, NJ which will be known as Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

Yes, the latest thing I've learned is that allopathic means conventional medicene. I believe the story was broken by the Courier-Post. In any case, the new school in Camden is made possible by an executive order by Governor Corzine, which will go into force unless rejected within 60 days by the legislature:

The new medical school will be the first four year allopathic medical school in South Jersey. Currently, Cooper provides clinical training to third and fourth year medical students from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Independent studies by both Cooper and UMDNJ concluded that there is a significant need for a four year medical school in South Jersey, and that Cooper and its medical faculty are well prepared to meet that need. "We are appreciative of our 30 year relationship with UMDNJ. This affiliation has positioned Cooper for the endeavor announced today," added John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of Cooper.
The newly-established Cooper Medical School of Rowan University will be financed by existing annual allocations to the Camden Campus and will not require any additional taxpayer dollars.

The goal is to have the first class begin in September 2012. One long-term benefit will be that a stronger academic hospital will be able to compete with Philadelphia, helping keep the $2 billion that presently goes over the river. More importantly, this will address the shortage of New Jersey doctors -- remember, the baby boomers will be retiring soon. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has been working to increase the number of medical school slots.

There's some grumbling from Essex County politicians that UMDNJ is losing turf, but they can only complain about feeling disrespected, not the merits of the plan:

Both Rice and a UMDNJ spokesman, however, acknowledged Rowan was in a better position than UMDNJ to finance the new medical school venture because of its healthier bonding capacity. Rowan plans to issue $100 million in bonds for the new school.

I don't know what will happen in the fall election, but this move by Governor Corzine will benefit New Jersey for the rest of this century.

Hopeful :: A South Jersey Medical School at Last!

Tags: Rowan University, UMDNJ, Cooper, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, medicene, doctors, med school, SOUTH JERSEY, (All Tags)

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A South Jersey Medical School at Last! | 3 comments

Thanks George (0.00 / 0)

Over the years Cooper hospital has expanded and is probably the one shining hope for Camden. An excellent hospital has been formed in a place where no one ever thought it would be successful.

Things just don't happen. The leadership of one man has made this possible. Without any scandal, without any impropriorties, George Norcross has made this work. Cooper Hospital has flourished and all of South Jersey is better for it.

As the Chairman of the Board his guidance has allowed the hospital system to get to this point in time where this Medical school is possible.

George Norcross deserves a lot of credit.

by: firstamend07 @ Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 13:07:21 PM UTC

No doubt there is a need in So Jersey (3.00 / 1)

Allopathic is medicine is limiting and in many cases not cost effective. I would hope there is an inclusion of complementary medicine as well in the curricula.

I would also hope that the new medical school has adequate transparency and oversight so that it does not become another UMDNJ and another scandal that we don't need.

No more of the same and hoping in every possible way we can fix this broken medical system in this country.

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

by: Babs NJSD @ Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 15:27:06 PM UTC

the new school (0.00 / 0)

President Donald Farish sent out a notice to the Rowan community (where I work part-time), gushing about this new school and its possibilities. He called it "the transformation of our university." We've needed a medical school for quite some time, and Rowan, in a unique partnership with Cooper, has supplied that in Camden, a city in desperate need of tax revenue and jobs, both of which are supplied by this new partnership.

Rowan is ambitious and wants to rival Rutgers as the top public school in the state but lacks the funds completely to do so. And I agree with BabsNJSD about the need for transparency and oversight in this new program.

by: Martin @ Sat Jun 27, 2009 at 22:55:07 PM UTC