New Jersey Medical School Spotlight 2020

NJMS Students Win Wholeness of Life Awards for Service During COVID-19 Pandemic
Eight NJMS students were honored for collectively providing over 1500 hours of spiritual care and family support by collaborating with the University Hospital Chaplaincy team on the Virtual Family Visit program.

New Tuition Grant Program Will Support NJMS Students in Need
Learn about a new five year $3.2 million grant program available at NJMS. The goal of the program is to help diversify the nation's health care workforce.

NJMS Expert Weighs in on Cannabis for Recreational Use
Dr. Alex Bekker shares his viewpoints and research on cannabis, following New Jersey's November vote to legalize the substance for recreational use.

NJMS Surgery Welcomes Bariatric Surgery Candidates
Did you know that more than 27% of New Jerseyans are obese? Dr. Dustin Cummings will be caring for bariatric surgery candidates in light of a clear need for this service within the community

NJMS Integrates 'Tele' Across Undergraduate Medical Education
Drs. Christin Traba and Sophia Chen explain how NJMS students are learning to practice telemedicine and how the curriculum has changed in light of COVID-19.

Observing World AIDS Day During the Time of COVID-19
On World AIDS Day, NJMS' Clinical Research Center discusses the importance of continuing to advocate for funding for HIV/AIDS research and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

VIDEO: Student Council Shares Thanksgiving Message
In this video, NJMS Student Council members share a hopeful message of gratitude for the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday.

Halloween Safety Tips from the NJ Poison Control Center
Dr. Diane Calello shares advice on how to celebrate Halloween safely during COVID-19.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How Genetic Testing Saves Lives
Drs. Bernadette Cracchiolo and Adriana Suarez-Ligon share lifesaving information on how diagnostic screening tests can protect you and your family from cancer.

Rutgers Establishes Study Site for Monitoring Kidney Risk After COVID-19
Rutgers Today announces that NJMS will serve as a clinical test site for a study assessing the long-term risk of chronic kidney disease in patients who recover from COVID-19.

Battling Flu During the Pandemic
Rutgers Today talks to Dr. David Cennimo about why a getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever this year.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Dr. Lissette Cespedes
Dr. Lissette Cespedes, assistant professor of medicine/endocrinology, shares an inspiring message on diversity in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Pulse Magazine: Spring/Summer 2020 Issue
The latest edition of Pulse Magazine is now available, featuring stories about NJMS students, faculty, and staff. Bonus video footage included.

How the Loss of Black-Owned Doctors' Offices May Worsen Health Disparities
NJMS associate professor Dr. Natalie E. Roche and assistant professor Dr. Damali Campbell discuss the impact the COVID-19-related closures of black-owned businesses will have on primary care access in minority communities.

Dr. Ayyala to Helm Center for Humanism
Dr. Manasa Ayyala, assistant professor of medicine, has been appointed the director of The Healthcare Foundation Center for Humanism and Medicine at NJMS.

Resident Creates Virtual Lecture to Aid Ortho Students During Pandemic
In the wake of COVID-19, NJMS resident Dr. Jeremy Hreha has created a virtual lecture series to help orthopaedic students nationwide stay on track.

Now available! Read the latest issue of Pulse magazine. Bonus video footage included.

VIDEO: NJMS Orientation Leaders Welcome the Class of 2024
During the first week of August, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School welcomed the Class of 2024 for a virtual orientation. Check out this video to see what two of our orientation leaders had to say to the incoming class.

Humanist Trailblazer, Dr. Dorian Wilson, Retires After 30 Years of Service at NJMS
A beloved clinical professor of surgery and the director of the Healthcare Foundation Center for Humanism and Medicine at NJMS has retired.

Rutgers NJMS WIC: Serving Families in Need During COVID-19
Learn about how the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Women, Infants & Children program has continued to serve families in need during the global pandemic.

Coming June 2021: New NIH-Backed Research Program for RBHS Students
Following the receipt of an NIH grant, three NJMS faculty members are recruiting RBHS students for a new multidisciplinary summer research education program that will begin in June 2021.  

NJMS Summer Research Program Goes Virtual
Dozens of first and second-year students are taking part in the Student Summer Research program, a unique opportunity for students to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and learn about medical research.

Curbside Glaucoma Testing Now Offered at the DOC
The Glaucoma Division of the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science has established a program to allow patients to access curbside eye pressure checks, even during a pandemic.

Rutgers Employees Come Together to Battle Pandemic Stress
Dr. Chantal Brazeau, RBHS Chief Wellness Officer and the assistant dean for faculty vitality at NJMS and RWJMS, sheds light on innovative efforts at Rutgers to promote wellness and help frontline workers cope with COVID-19.

Meet NJMS Medical Students

A Message To Graduates From Robert Barchi
Rutgers University's president offers his congratulations to NJMS's class of 2020, who have completed their degrees early amid the coronavirus pandemic.

New Jersey Poison Center keeps the Garden State safe
NJPIES provides an essential lifeline as the only poison control center in New Jersey.

Get COVID-19 Mental Health Care Tips
Dr. Petros Levounis, chair of the department of psychiatry, shares expert insights on mental health care during COVID-19.

Families of kids with autism may face burnout
Emotional burnout. Social isolation. Accusations of child abuse. These are some of the findings in a new study on the impact of caring for a loved one with autism spectrum disorder.

NJMS Spotlight
Dear NJMS Community:

VIDEO: Mental Health Under Isolation

On the Front Line for COVID

Rutgers experts report dramatic increase in teen use and overdoses from anxiety drugs
An increase of 54 percent has been found in cases involving children ages 12 to 18 that were reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers from 2000 to 2015.

Taking Care of the Team NJMS Physicians Treat the NFL and NHL
Meet Dr. Peter Hersh and Dr. Lewis Nelson, NJMS physicians who take care of the NY Jets and NJ Devils.

Bringing Research andCommunity Together to End HIV
NJMS's Clinical Research Center (CRC) is partaking in Mosaico — a Phase III clinical vaccine trial, which aims to provide HIV immunity for life via several shots.

Dr. Soto-Greene wins AAMC 2019 Herbert W. Nickens Award
Congratulations to our very own Dr. Soto-Greene as she is recognized by the AAMC for her commitment to diversity & inclusion in medicine.

Rutgers experts report dramatic increase in teen use and overdoses from anxiety drugs
An increase of 54 percent has been found in cases involving children ages 12 to 18 that were reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers from 2000 to 2015.

New Jersey Poison Center keeps the Garden State safe
NJPIES provides an essential lifeline as the only poison control center in New Jersey.

Families of kids with autism may face burnout
Emotional burnout. Social isolation. Accusations of child abuse. These are some of the findings in a new study on the impact of caring for a loved one with autism spectrum disorder.

Taking Care of the Team NJMS Physicians Treat the NFL and NHL

Read the latest issue of pulse magazine. Bonus video footage included.

Lattimore food pantry offers a caring approach to treating tuberculosis
Realizing that patients often didn't have enough food at home to take their TB medication, Deborah and Dona knew something had to change.