Integration Update: July 2024

July 16, 2024

On June 26, approximately 150 Integration Executive and Advisory Committee members, task force members, and department chairs from New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) came together for an Integration Summit at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Newark.

The goals of the summit were to celebrate the progress that has been made; to build community and engagement between schools and leadership; to officially launch the LCME self-study for accreditation; and to plan the next steps in creating the new entity.

The summit, jointly hosted by RWJMS Dean Amy P. Murtha, MD, and NJMS Dean Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP, had an ambitious agenda. “We're thrilled that you have committed to locking arms with us as we exchange fresh insights that will guide our integration plans,” said Dean Johnson in his opening remarks.

“This is an important moment in our history that we will all look back and reflect on,” added Dean Murtha. “We are grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to do the work that will allow us to create Rutgers School of Medicine. What you’ve accomplished is remarkable, and there is much more to be done.”

Special moments from the Integration Summit are captured in this slideshow and this video, both highlighting the atmosphere of community and collaboration.

Important Work at the Summit

The summit began with the important business of engaging with committee and task force members to help shape the mission, vision, and values for Rutgers School of Medicine (RSOM). Ralph Gigliotti, PhD, assistant vice president for organizational leadership, presented the results of a survey distributed last spring to task force members, Integration Advisory Committee members, and department chairs. The survey echoed the themes from an earlier survey in which participants were invited to submit their top mission, vision and value items. Based on the combined results of the surveys, mission, vision, and value statements were drafted. These were shared with the summit participants, and they were asked to vote via QR code for the options they preferred. 

Next on the agenda was a presentation about the Self-Study for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Accreditation. This effort is overseen by faculty members Maria SotoGreene, MD, NJMS executive vice dean, and Carol Terregino, MD, senior associate dean for education at RWJMS. Explaining the self-study process, they highlighted ways in which they will engage faculty, students, and staff of both schools, collecting the data that will inform the integration. Critical to this process is identifying institutional strengths and challenges requiring the attention of the self-study team.

The target date for full accreditation of RSOM is June 2027. “We will need all hands on deck to gather the data and be fully engaged to complete the process in a timely manner,” summed up Dr. Soto-Greene. Working with the self-study team to achieve this goal is health care leader Janis Orlowski, MD. Introduced via video conference, she expressed excitement at the opportunity to help create a medical school of the future.

As the self-study proceeds, the Integration Advisory Subcommittees will continue the work of reconciliation and creation of the new school, while the Integration Advisory Committee becomes the Self-Study Task Force. Per LCME guidelines, there will be roles for medical students, graduates in residency programs, affiliates, and others.

“What we are doing is unique,” noted Dean Johnson. “We’re blending the cultures of two schools that are part of the same institution but 30 miles apart, each with its own culture. It is truly a team effort.”

He noted that as the LCME self-study gets underway, the task forces, subcommittees, and advisory committees have been making deep dives into important aspects of our culture and environment. Representatives from these groups were invited to make short presentations, sharing information about their work thus far, and what they hope to accomplish. Among the topics discussed were the integration of clinical services; payment, billing, and insurance issues; leadership structure; hiring, recruitment, and professional development; scientific collaboration across the clinical and research spectrums; clerkship restructuring; residency questions; curriculum and admissions topics; media relations and website issues, curriculum; alignment of the application process; and more. 

The last hour of the summit was devoted to food and fellowship, as summit participants gathered at tables for dinner and discussions. The concept of health justice was introduced, and participants were asked to think of ways that this theme could be further integrated into RSOM’s core mission. 

Seeking Engagement 

Throughout the summit, participants were invited to share their thoughts and provide feedback with QR codes, shared Google documents, emails, and other communications. The integration leadership team will continue to communicate regular updates in our newsletters, town hall meetings, and the Integration Update webpage. Faculty, staff, students, and trainees can submit questions and comments through the Feedback Form.

Thanking the summit organizers for their many hours of work, Dean Murtha said, “You have brought people together across the two schools and asked them to discuss the things they care about. We find that we are more similar than different, and we all care about the same things.” 

To further this effort, we are sharing slides presented during the event. Download the presentation.

Thank you for playing a vital role in our journey!