Press Release

April 25, 2006
Contact: Anna Farneski
(973) 972-4501
farnesam@umdnj.edu

Board of Trustees Approves Reorganization of Administration Staff

NEWARK - The University of Medicine and Dentistry Board of Trustees today approved a plan to reorganize a series of administrative positions to fill current vacancies and better address the challenges that lie ahead.

In a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees approved the plan set for by Interim President Dr. Bruce C. Vladeck, which includes the hiring of a new chief financial officer for University Hospital.

“Today’s vote is just one in a series of many that we will be taking in the months ahead to put the University back on track,” said Board Chairman Robert DelTufo. “This reorganization ensures that our senior staff meets the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and we have full confidence in their abilities and dedication.”

Edward C. Burke, currently Chief Financial Officer of Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center, was appointed CFO for University Hospital and Special Advisor to the President. Burke has more than 31 years of financial management experience, and will begin May 15.

Dr. Denise Rodgers, currently Vice President and Chief of Staff, has been named Executive Vice President for Academic and Clinical Affairs. She will replace Dr. Robert Saporito, who resigned effective March 31. Rodgers, a nationally recognized expert in health disparities, was named Chief of Staff in September 2005. She served as Senior Associate Dean for Community Health and Professor of Family Medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School since January 1997.

James Rowan, the University’s Executive Director of the Office of Compliance, has been named Chief of Staff. Before joining UMDNJ in October 2005, Rowan was Deputy Chief Inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, where he oversaw criminal and administrative investigations.

In addition, Vice President of Human Resources Maryann Master will move into the newly created position of Senior Vice President of Administration. Her duties will include oversight of Human Resources, Public Safety, Logistical Services, Procurement and Operations.

"These actions constitute major progress in assembling the team that will help the University move forward,” said Dr. Bruce C. Vladeck, interim president. “While continuing to address the problems of the past, we are laying the groundwork for a much brighter future."

UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 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 its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty 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 mental health and addiction services network.