History

The Foundation of UMDNJ was created in 1973, shortly after the formal establishment of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, when four University trustees volunteered their vision and energy to set the course for the Foundation: the late Dr. Franklyn P. Gerard, a prominent cardio-thoracic surgeon in the state and associate clinical professor of surgery at New Jersey Medical School; the late Everett M. Scherer, former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey and partner in the law firm of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti; the late George F. Smith, former president of Johnson & Johnson; and the late Gustav O. Lienhard, former chairman of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former president and vice-chairman of Johnson & Johnson Worldwide.

Today, as in the beginning, the Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, a group of remarkable individuals–prominent leaders of New Jersey's business, health and philanthropic communities–who serve with great dedication.

Since its inception, the Foundation of UMDNJ has sustained its mission to provide private sector support of the University's quest for excellence in the education of healthcare professionals, in biomedical research, and in health care delivery.

To date, the Foundation of UMDNJ has raised more than $276 million for scholarship, research, education and patient care programs throughout the University's eight schools. In addition, the Foundation has awarded more than $34 million in seed funding to various University research, education and healthcare projects through the UMDNJ Faculty Research Grant Program.