The Brotherhood Health Initiative at New Jersey Medical School receives $450,000 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a program to decrease health disparities among minority males.

The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey awards $3.2 million to New Jersey Medical School to establish a Center for Humanism, the first such center in the nation.

The NJ CARES (Child Abuse Research Education and Service) Institute at the School of Osteopathic Medicine is established, thanks to a $1.5 million commitment from the state.

Aventis Pharmaceuticals Foundation donates $600,000 to the Department of Pediatrics at New Jersey Medical School to establish the Aventis Pediatric Asthma Program.

Delta Dental contributes $2 million to the capital construction campaign by establishing the Delta Dental Educational Conference Center in New Jersey Dental School’s new Oral Health Pavilion. The conference center houses a 3,000 square foot student lounge, lecture halls and conference rooms.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School receives more than $27 million in new grants. Of these new awards, federal funds totaling $21.8 million included $19.2 million from the NIH.

As a continuation of the Resource for Life branding campaign, UMDNJ launches its new website. The new interface, designed to meet the needs of external users, offers easy navigation options and features faculty, staff and students.

Clifton Lacy, MD, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services, holds a press conference on the Newark campus to present an overview of the state’s new healthcare infrastructure designed to manage a mass casualty.

Annual White Coat ceremonies throughout UMDNJ welcome the class of 2008. During the event, incoming medical and dental students are greeted by their deans and receive lab coats.

Broadway House for Continuing Care receives the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s Award for Excellence as an Outstanding Employer, as well as the Circle of Life Award from the American Hospital Association. Broadway House is the state’s only nursing care facility for individuals with HIV/AIDS.

The 20th Annual University Day is held at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway. The University Medal for Distinguished Leadership goes to Acting Governor Richard Codey; and acting University President John J. Petillo, PhD, urges UMDNJ to embrace a commonality of language, purpose and accountability.

The UMDNJ Board of Concerned Citizens and The University Hospital sponsor the second annual Senior Citizens Day, inviting area residents to the Newark campus to participate in daylong discussions on health issues.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) receives high marks from the National Cancer Institute site visit as part of the five-year, $25 million grant renewal process. The report concludes that CINJ has made significant strides in just nine years.

The University’s new web store opens for business (www.umdnjbooks.com). In addition to texts and medical supplies, the store carries books for faculty, apparel and gift items.

University Behavioral HealthCare receives $2.5 million from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Victim Witness program to provide counseling services to New Jersey residents still experiencing emotional after-effects from the terror attacks.

New Jersey Medical School begins its 50th anniversary celebration starting with a Fall Arts Festival. One of the most important components of the celebration is the launching of the school’s new Jubilee curriculum.

The UMDNJ Board of Concerned Citizens sponsors the 11th Annual Robert Talley Scholarship Dinner Dance and awards 10 students $3,000 each. The annual event is held in recognition of Private Robert Talley, a Newark resident who became the youngest casualty of the Persian Gulf War.

The School of Public Health is awarded a five-year, $5.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness. The center aims to improve the capabilities of local, city and county health officials to respond to public emergencies.

University President John J. Petillo, PhD, begins a strategic planning process to elevate the University to a level of national distinction. A steering committee and work groups are gathered together involving hundreds of members of the University community, including trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and representatives of the Foundation of UMDNJ, to define goals for the University. The first of two rounds of Town Hall meetings are held on UMDNJ campuses to gather input.

The Board of Trustees names John J. Petillo, PhD, president of UMDNJ.

A groundbreaking ceremony on the Newark campus marks the beginning of
construction of a 14-story dormitory, the University’s first student housing. Above a five-story parking garage, the facility will feature an exterior courtyard and
fitness center.

New Jersey Dental School adds its newest dental treatment center in Galloway Township.

The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities awards a three-year, $1.2 million grant to the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities to develop a Center for Excellence in Health Disparities in New Jersey.

Darlene Cox, MS, RN, is appointed president and chief executive officer of The University Hospital.

The University celebrates Hispanic heritage with university-wide activities including lectures, health and wellness fairs, films and luncheons.

UMDNJ receives nearly $3 million in federal funding to support the Center for Biodefense, the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center and the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities.

The University Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services is slated to receive a $1.2
million grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to establish one of five centers to enhance the capability of New Jersey’s response to public health emergencies.

The Foundation of UMDNJ receives a Bronze Award for its 2004 Annual Report from the CASE District II Accolades Awards program. UMDNJ Research wins a Clarion Award, a national competition sponsored by the Association for Women in Communications. UMDNJ Magazine, UMDNJ Research and the 2004 Annual Report each secure Communicator prizes; UMDNJ Rounds earns an honorable mention.

The new Intranet portal (my.umdnj.edu) is introduced.

The School of Osteopathic Medicine formally dedicates the new wing of the Science Center, which increases research space by more than 25 percent.

The Tsunami Relief Coalition raises more than $16,650 through various UMDNJ student organizations to assist those affected by the powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami in Asia.

New Jersey Dental School and the New Jersey Dental Association join forces to offer free dental care to underprivileged children as part of Give Kids a Smile! National Children’s Dental Access Day.

The New Jersey Center for Chemical, Biological, Nuclear/Radiological and Explosives Research and Training is created to address the state’s vulnerability to acts of terrorism.

A wide range of events take place in observance of Black History Month across all
campuses and include lectures, panel discussions, a fashion show and food tasting. “Keeping the Dream Alive,” a program held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), honors 17 UMDNJ professionals who have shown a commitment to community service.

The University and Medco Health Solutions announce a new partnership based at the School of Public Health. Utilizing Medco’s patient database and the school’s research capability, the initiative will address areas such as prescription drug safety and cost-efficacy.

A President’s Council on Strategic Advancement is created to provide the University with additional leadership, information and perspectives on basic and translational research.

The New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute at UMDNJ receives a $7.5 million federal award from the CDC to expand its regional activities in tuberculosis training and treatment to 16 states.

The School of Nursing holds its first Ambassadors Induction Ceremony to honor 18 students from the Nursing Accelerated Student Ambassadors Program. Ambassadors are academically talented students who have a grade point average of 3.4 and above.

More than 2,000 individuals attend the academic ceremony on April 26 at the NJPAC to inaugurate John J. Petillo, PhD, as the third president of the University.

Two UMDNJ medical schools land in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s top schools edition. Among 74 public universities on the list, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School ranks 27th overall. The School of Osteopathic Medicine is cited as one of the nation’s top medical schools for geriatric medicine for the fourth consecutive year.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey introduces the Spanish version of New Jersey Cancer Trial Connect (www.njctc.org), a unique Internet-based resource that allows users to search for clinical trials investigating the most cutting-edge treatments. Since it went online in April 2003, the website has received more than 4.4 million hits.

The University graduates its largest class in history — 1,384 students at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the keynote speaker, receives one of five honorary degrees presented.

The results of The University Hospital’s site visit from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) are outstanding, giving high marks to staff and physicians for healthcare delivery.

The New Jersey Department of Human Services awards $100,000 to University Behavioral HealthCare to develop a smoking cessation program for people with mental illness. The initiative is a joint project with the department’s Division of Mental Health Services and the Mental Health Association of New Jersey.

Pop music star Donna Summer plays to a full house at the Sixth Annual Musical Moments for MS at the NJPAC. Roger Fine, board chair of the Foundation of UMDNJ and former Johnson & Johnson executive, receives the lifetime achievement award.

The University hosts its first conference focused on health disparities encountered by South Asian Americans. Speakers present an overview of risk factors and prevention strategies regarding health issues for this community.

The UMDNJ Board of Trustees approves the new Strategic Plan for AY/FY 2006-2010 that was developed through a year-long participatory process, providing a road map for the University for the next five years.