Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s mission is the pursuit of excellence in the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate and continuing education of health professionals and scientists.  Through biomedical, psychosocial, clinical and public health research, promotion of disease and prevention; and the delivery of quality health care, New Jersey Medical School seeks to meet the needs of its diverse populations and improve their health and quality of life. 

The School’s commitment to the education of underrepresented and educationally and/or economically disadvantaged students materialized in 1972 with the establishment of the Office of Minority Student Affairs whose primary goal was the development of a competitive underrepresented/disadvantaged applicant pool for careers in medicine and other health professions.  In 1992, the office became the Office of Special Programs with a consolidated and invigorated vision of preparing underrepresented/disadvantaged individuals from the pre-college through faculty levels by offering a number of pipeline programs.  In 2011, the Office for Special Programs was renamed the Office for Diversity and Community Engagement.