Press Release
September 18, 2007
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Contact: Zenaida Mendez
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23rd Annual UMDNJ University Day Celebration
Held in New Brunswick Today
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NEW BRUNSWICK—The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey celebrated its accomplishments in research, clinical care, and education over the past year at the 23rd Annual University Day Celebration, held this afternoon in The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Robert J. Del Tufo, Esq., chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, kicked off the celebration.
"This has been an extraordinary year for the University," Del Tufo said. "We have made significant remedial and forward progress in many key areas during a year of transition."
The Chairman presented the University's 2007 Medal for Distinguished Leadership to Robert E. Campbell, MBA, (retired) vice chairman of Johnson & Johnson. The medal is awarded by the University’s Board of Trustees for significant contributions to the advancement of education, healthcare, or biomedical research.
"He has clearly demonstrated through the years his commitment to advancing the mission of this University through his service as a chairman of the Director's Advisory Council at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, chairman of the Board of Overseers of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and a member of the CINJ Foundation Board," said Del Tufo.
University President William F. Owen, Jr., MD, gave his first University Day address and began by acknowledging the 13 new inductees into the University’s Master Educators' Guild, which recognizes exceptional faculty who demonstrated gifts for teaching and serve as mentors to University students and led the gathering in a round of applause for them.
Dr. Owen thanked those gathered for their well wishes during his recent illness.
"As a physician, it was sobering, humbling and educational to be on the other side of the bedrails," Dr. Owen said. "I was given the unique experience for executive leadership of experiencing the tremendous commitment, compassion, and skill demonstrated by our UMDNJ caregivers. The entire experience made me even more energized, focused, and honored to lead this extraordinary organization."
Dr. Owen also called upon the University community to help him identify opportunities for collaboration across the institution to better accelerate the University’s success.
"Only in working together across New Jersey, executing on our shared missions of education, research, healthcare and community service, can we be the statewide asset that our name declares."
The following individuals were inducted into the Stuart D. Cook, MD, Master Educators' Guild:
Joshua Berlin, PhD, of Philadelphia, PA, a professor in UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School's Department of Pharmacology/Physiology and an UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences faculty member;
Chantal Brazeau, MD, of Upper Montclair, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine;
Patrizia Casaccia-Bonnefil, MD, PhD, of Westfield, an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a faculty member of the UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a member of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey;
Louis DiPede, DMD, of Montville, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry;
Frank Filipetto, DO, of Cherry Hill, Associate Professor, Vice-Chair, and Residency Program Director in the Department of Family Medicine and faculty member at UMDNJ-School of Nursing and UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions;
David Anthony Forrester, PhD, RN, of Califon, a founding faculty member and administrator at the nursing school, Professor in the Master of Science in Nursing program and the doctoral program in urban systems, clinical professor at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and professor-in-residence and interdisciplinary health research consultant at Morristown Memorial Hospital;
Barbara Gladson, PhD, of Short Hills, an Associate Professor of both Physical Therapy and Pharmacology;
Lois Grau, PhD, RN, of Scotch Plains, Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Health Systems and Policy, co-director of the dual MPH/MBA program between UMDNJ and the School of Management at Rutgers and an associate member of the Center for Health & Aging Research at Rutgers;
Richard T. Jermyn, DO, of Milton, DE, Associate Professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and Acting Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. He also is director of the Comprehensive Pain Center at Voorhees;
Ginette Lange, CNM, FNP, PhD, of South Orange, associate professor in the Nurse Midwifery program;
Nancy C. Walworth, PhD, of Highland Park, Professor in the department of Pharmacology l and a member of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey;
Laura Rees Willett, MD, of Warren, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine. She also serves as Clerkship Director;
Barry Zweig, DDS, of Short Hills, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and past surgeon, course director, residency director and vice-chair in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,700 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and a school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty practices at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a statewide mental health and addiction services network.
