Rutgers School of Medicine Founding Dean Appointment

July 9, 2024

Dear Rutgers Health Community:

I am pleased to share that we continue to make significant progress in bringing the medical schools together. Last week’s Integration Summit held in Newark was an important opportunity for Deans Johnson and Murtha to provide updates and receive feedback from a broad stakeholder group. The Summit also signaled the initiation of the two-year Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation process. 

As part of our journey toward LCME accreditation, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Amy P. Murtha, MD to serve as Founding Dean of the new Rutgers School of Medicine (RSOM). LCME has informed us that accreditation of the new medical school will require oversight by a single dean. Deans Murtha and Johnson will continue in their respective roles and day to day responsibilities as deans of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) and New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). Dean Murtha will serve as the primary administrative contact for the LCME on behalf of RSOM and will continue to partner with Dean Johnson in coordinating and directing the establishment of the RSOM.

Together Dean Johnson and Dean Murtha will continue their highly successful collaboration and will jointly lead all our efforts to support the shared mission and vision across both schools while maintaining their steadfast commitment to excellence in education, research, patient care, and community service at each individual campus. Once accreditation has been approved by the LCME, we will conduct a national search for the Dean of the fully accredited Rutgers School of Medicine. 

Please join me in congratulating Dean Murtha on this new role. We are looking forward to the successful launch of the Rutgers School of Medicine. 

Thank you for all your contributions to this effort and to Rutgers Health.

Sincerely,

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Rutgers University