When I agreed to accept the position of Interim President of UMDNJ, I did so because I believed that UMDNJ is a vitally important institution for the people of New Jersey and the nation, and that its many outstanding faculty, students, and staff deserved whatever assistance I could provide in addressing and getting past some very real problems.

The challenges faced by UMDNJ this year were many and well-publicized. We still have an awful lot of work to do. But we have made very real progress with the leadership of the Board of Trustees. We are not only rectifying past mistakes but building the framework for a more efficient, flexible, and results-oriented organization that will better support our critical educational, research, clinical, and community service activities.

Despite the distractions of a difficult year, there were indeed notable successes and remarkable achievements in all areas of our institution.

A faculty researcher was recognized by the NIH for one of the top six discoveries made this year. Another won a lifetime achievement award for groundbreaking work on interferon. Two others had their published research cited as among the three most influential papers in their field.

Our schools dedicated centers for child health, successful aging, and humanism in medicine. A student group won a competitive grant from the American Association of Medical Colleges to support a clinic providing access to healthcare to an underserved urban population.

We added eight new programs in our schools, and we launched an initiative to provide professional education for the biopharma industry. And in June, we graduated our largest class ever — 1,476 health professionals and scientists.

This was the year that the institution itself was put under the microscope. That intense scrutiny has yielded a reassuring conclusion: the overwhelming majority of the thousands who make up this vibrant academic community are ethical, hard-working, and committed to UMDNJ and the public that they serve. I thank the Board of Trustees and all who have carried on the business of the University with distinction and who believe, as I do, that the mission of this University is worth fighting for.

Bruce C. Vladeck, PhD
Interim University President