Dear UMDNJ Community,

I am writing to assure you that UMDNJ is unwavering in our commitment to ensure the future viability of all of our schools and clinical units, including University Hospital.

We believe that the recently introduced legislation is a starting point for further dialogue and many details still need to be worked out. We will advocate for our core principles as an academic health center to be embodied in the final legislation so that all of our schools and units throughout the state have the ability to grow and thrive.

The legislative framework has the potential to create a formidable New Jersey institution of higher education, with the opportunity to benefit all regions of the state, particularly northern New Jersey.

We recognize the need to address these details in partnership with state, legislative and community leaders. We must also ensure that there is a clear and well-considered plan to protect University Hospital so that it will remain a viable tertiary care hospital for the region, as well as the principal teaching hospital for all of the Newark-based schools of the health sciences. This is critically important as we must continue to serve our most vulnerable patients and also ensure the continuation of high quality educational opportunities for our students.

We remain focused on the well-being of our faculty, staff, patients and students and the communities we serve. I will continue to keep you informed of further developments as they occur.

Denise V. Rodgers, MD
President (Interim)