Integration Update: October 2024

October 15, 2024

As the integration of New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) proceeds, a key priority is creating bylaws for the new Rutgers School of Medicine (RSOM). The integration presents a unique opportunity to bring the faculties of both schools together to craft a new set of bylaws that will set the foundation for the way RSOM operates to advance its collective mission.

Much thought and planning has gone into the process of developing bylaws for RSOM. Earlier this year, a Governance and Administration Subcommittee was formed to accomplish this important task. The subcommittee, composed of faculty members from both schools, is chaired by Shawna Hudson, PhD, and Keith P. Lewis, RPh, MD, from RWJMS; and Lisa Gittens, MD, and Marc Klapholz, MD, from NJMS. It reports to the Integration Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Maria Soto-Greene, MD (NJMS), and Carol A. Terregino, MD (RWJMS).

Somewhat akin to the U.S. Constitution, bylaws are vitally important to the effective, day-to-day administration of any organization. They define the mission and goals and establish a structure and basic rules for decision-making. As legal documents, they set a clear line of authority and a structure for shared governance. Bylaws also recognize the importance of faculty voices and formally codify faculty involvement in school governance. Last but not least, bylaws are a critical requirement of medical school accreditation.

Approaching their important task, the subcommittee began its work in March, holding its first meeting on the New Brunswick campus. They were joined by two staff members from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): Carolyn Brayko, PhD; and Amy Smith, PhD. As part of the AAMC’s Member Organization Solutions team, Drs. Brayko and Smith share expertise in the accreditation process. Their role was to facilitate the development of the RSOM bylaws, providing guidance, oversight, and resources.

While both NJMS and RWJMS have their own bylaws, there was a general consensus among the subcommittee members that the new RSOM should have an entirely new set of bylaws. The medical school deans were clear in indicating that they wanted this document to be forward-facing and new—not just a reconciliation of the existing bylaws.

Taking a deep dive into current practices, Drs. Smith and Brayko were tasked with examining the bylaws of other institutions. They prepared an analysis of 16 sets of bylaws from other medical schools, including Big 10 schools, schools with regional campuses, and newer medical schools, and shared this with the subcommittee. This data offered a look at what is typically included in bylaws, as well as what is not typically included—innovations from a few schools thinking ‘outside the box.’

The subcommittee met monthly via Zoom from March through September. A critical question they sought to answer was: What would the bylaws of the medical school of the future look like? The subcommittee embraced the notion of bylaws that are simple, clean, and innovative. Because changing bylaws down the road is a complex process, the new bylaws should be evergreen, to withstand the test of time and changing trends.

Throughout the process, the subcommittee took inspiration from Guiding Principles set forth early in the integration. They listened and learned under the guidance of Drs. Brayko and Smith, but did the hard work themselves. Aligning with the underlying concept of shared governance, the entire process was faculty-driven.

A draft of the new bylaws was completed on schedule in September and submitted to university leadership. The draft is currently under review. While these bylaws are indeed totally new, the subcommittee members were informed by their experiences and brought that expertise to the table. Thus, they created an opportunity to learn from past experience to achieve something transformational: bylaws for the future.

As work on the bylaws proceeds, we will continue to keep you informed. Watch for news and updates in this newsletter, on the Rutgers website, and here: Framework for Integration: Rutgers School of Medicine Planning Structure.