Retirement of Dr. Vicente Gracias

August 28, 2026

Dear Rutgers Health Community,

I am writing to share that Dr. Vicente Gracias, Senior Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs and Vice President for Health Affairs, has announced his retirement this September after more than seventeen years of extraordinary service to Rutgers and Rutgers Health.

Dr. Gracias’s career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to advancing our mission, strengthening our clinical enterprise, and supporting the people who make Rutgers Health such a remarkable community. Throughout his tenure, he has held numerous leadership roles across Rutgers, always bringing vision, innovation, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to the people we serve.

Many of us witnessed Dr. Gracias's leadership at one of the most challenging moments in our history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a pivotal role in guiding Rutgers' clinical response, bringing together university leaders, our health system partners, and the State of New Jersey to navigate an unprecedented public health crisis. His sound judgment and collaborative approach helped Rutgers Health meet that moment with strength.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Gracias has made lasting contributions across our academic health system. As Chief of Acute Care Surgery and Director of the adult and pediatric trauma centers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, he advanced trauma care and surgical excellence, founded fellowship programs in surgical critical care and acute care surgery, and co-founded Rutgers Global Surgery. As Interim Dean of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, he provided steady leadership during a pivotal period of transition. As Senior Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, he helped shape the growth of our enterprise by spearheading the formation of the Rutgers Health Group and strengthening collaboration across our schools, centers, institutes, and health system partners.

Among Dr. Gracias's most enduring legacies is his commitment to the well-being of our community. He recognized that caring for our patients begins with caring for one another. He established the Rutgers Health Office for the Promotion of Well-being, embedding wellness into our culture and creating a lasting foundation to support our community.

Beyond his accomplishments, Dr. Gracias will be remembered for the way he leads. He has an extraordinary ability to know people by name, to express sincere appreciation and gratitude, and to make every member of our community feel valued. Those qualities have made him a trusted colleague and friend to many across Rutgers Health. While his professional achievements have left an enduring mark on our institution, it is his genuine commitment to promoting kindness, empathy, and compassion that is his true legacy.

Please join me in thanking Dr. Gracias for his many years of dedicated service and leadership. We wish him and his family every happiness in this well-deserved next chapter.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP
Dean, New Jersey Medical School
Interim Chancellor, Rutgers Health