Message From The Chair

Harsh Sule, MD, MPP

Professor and Chair (Interim)

Welcome to the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital!

It is my privilege and honor to serve as the Interim Chair of Emergency Medicine. Stepping into this role on January 1st, 2025, I have the great opportunity to continue working from the strong foundation set by the Inaugural Chair of Emergency Medicine from 2016-2024, Dr. Lewis S. Nelson.

My time with the department began in 2014 when I assumed the role of Associate Residency Program Director. In 2016, I became the Residency Program Directory, and in 2021, the Vice-Chair for Academic Affairs.

Over the past ten years, with the support of the people that make up this department and institution, the department has grown from under 20 members of the faculty to over 40, from 24 residents to 52, from no fellowships to four and from minimal research funding to over $2 million. This dedication and vision has positioned us for continued growth, innovation, and impact - and I am excited to be the caretaker for the next chapter of excellence.

As a full academic department within NJMS, with the resources and infrastructure to thrive, we remain steadfast in our mission to be both a steward of academic medicine and a provider of exceptional healthcare to the greater Newark area through our clinical partner, University Hospital – the only public hospital in the state of New Jersey. Our vision for clinical, academic, and scholarly excellence aligns seamlessly with the values of NJMS and University Hospital: multidisciplinary collaboration, integrity and professionalism, a drive for innovation, and respect for the community we serve.

While our department is relatively young, NJMS itself has a proud history, having admitted its first medical school class in 1956. Since becoming part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 2013, NJMS has continued to flourish as a leader in medical education, research, and service - offering a powerful platform for collaboration and community engagement. With the upcoming merger of New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School into the Rutgers School of Medicine we look forward continuing our growth and excellence as the premier academic medical institution in the state.

Clinical care is delivered at University Hospital in Newark, an independent, quarternary care medical center whose Emergency Department has grown from a volume of under 90,000 patients to over 105,000 patients annually. In anticipation of this growth, UH invested in the ED via a substantial expansion and renovation that was completed in August 2025 – resulting in a 30% increase in its footprint and almost 40 new and modern treatment spaces. We are home to the only Level 1 Trauma Center in North Jersey, a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, and the receiving hospital for Newark Liberty International Airport. Our department also integrates pediatric emergency medicine and houses the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System (NJPIES). Our faculty provide medical oversight for the largest EMS fleet in the northeast, as well as neighboring towns.

Our training programs for medical students and residents, led by exceptional educators, offer a range of clinical experiences, innovative teaching methods, and mentorship that prepares graduates to excel in any practice setting and to emerge as leaders in emergency medicine. Our faculty represent most subspecialties within the field, contributing not only to outstanding patient care but also to scholarship and innovation.

The faculty, residents, and staff of our department are united in a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Together, we work to advance our mission, serve our community, and shape the future of emergency medicine in New Jersey and beyond.

Sincerely,

Harsh Sule, MD, MPP
Professor and Chair (Interim), Department of Emergency Medicine, Rutgers NJMS