The Future of UMDNJ-SOM....

Started by FutureDoctorrrr
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FutureDoctorrrr

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So there seems to be a notion of renaming UMDNJ --> NJ Health Sciences University which will be Newark based (after 3 schools are given to Rutgers). This new university will contain UMDNJ-SOM....

BUT

UMDNJ SOM "would gain new autonomy". Now, I am assuming this will be good for UMDNJ-SOM

Comments? Thoughts? Any more facts?
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/dramatic_restructuring_of_njs.html


Also, in the link below, I see that UMDNJ officials don't like the idea of giving SOM increased autonomy...why? Are they afraid it will expand/improve and leave NJMS behind?

http://www.courierpostonline.com/ar.../RU-become-RU-Rowan-may-absorb-Rutgers-Camden
 
Basically the state wants to strip away 1/3 of UMDNJ and let it be semi-autonomous. Of course UMDNJ (im sorry, NJHSU) isnt happy about that. They dont want to lose 1/3 of their cash flow in a time when they are still recovering from a corruption scandal primarily driven by the the hospitals need to rapidly increase its cash flow.

so decreasing their cash flow (and influence) is not what they want.
 
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"....The risk of losing accreditation for SOM is very much present. Since last week's meeting pushed the bill through committee without proposing the budget or thoroughly hashing out the legal aspects of the transfer, it has been stated that a temporary loss of accreditation for SOM may result. This risk is disastrous; I hope Rowan intends to give us free tuition whilst we have no accreditation, as they do for their own students at Cooper Medical School. I'm also concerned how this will affect our incoming class, how many great students are secretly deferring another school, which is quite common at less reputable schools, and will jump ship when this bill becomes more certain? Yesterday's (6/18) meeting, has changed few aspects of the bill. Even pushing the restructuring back one year to July 2013 is only casting off today's problems to tomorrow. The budget issues will not go away, and to ask Rutgers and Rowan to defray the cost of the merger will place undue strain on these universities. Furthermore, the bill was altered to appease Essex County legislators by sweetening the deal for them. Camden County was not shown the same respect. The changes that Camden County residents prefer (in addition to the students that cast votes in other counties based on their permanent residence), were not taken into account."
 
The reason that they want UMDNJ-SOM to go to Rowan is because of a Democratic Boss named George Norcross. HE is the one who runs south jersey and all he is supposed to be is a guy who sells insurance. This is bull.

It is him who is financing the Cooper Medical School and if SOM goes to Rowan then he gets more power. This is all stinking of politics and needs to stop
 
FutureDoctorrrr said:
"....The risk of losing accreditation for SOM is very much present. Since last week's meeting pushed the bill through committee without proposing the budget or thoroughly hashing out the legal aspects of the transfer, it has been stated that a temporary loss of accreditation for SOM may result. This risk is disastrous; I hope Rowan intends to give us free tuition whilst we have no accreditation, as they do for their own students at Cooper Medical School. I'm also concerned how this will affect our incoming class, how many great students are secretly deferring another school, which is quite common at less reputable schools, and will jump ship when this bill becomes more certain? Yesterday's (6/18) meeting, has changed few aspects of the bill. Even pushing the restructuring back one year to July 2013 is only casting off today's problems to tomorrow. The budget issues will not go away, and to ask Rutgers and Rowan to defray the cost of the merger will place undue strain on these universities. Furthermore, the bill was altered to appease Essex County legislators by sweetening the deal for them. Camden County was not shown the same respect. The changes that Camden County residents prefer (in addition to the students that cast votes in other counties based on their permanent residence), were not taken into account."
Click to expand...

No comment on the UMDNJ-SOM/Rowan/Rutgers/NJHSU

however, if you are a 4th year medical student at UMDNJ-SOM and your school loses accreditation (even temporary) .... if the school doesn't regain accreditation by the time you graduate - you are screwed. You can't do ANY (aoa or acgme) residency (since you didn't graduate from an accredited US medical school), you don't qualify for ECFMG (since you are a US graduate), and you don't qualify to take COMLEX 3 (since you have to be a graduate of a COCA-accredited school) ... basically if the school is unaccredited at the time of graduation, the degree will be worth less than toilet paper (as least you can use the toilet paper for a useful function)

Won't matter if Rowan gives you free tuition for your fourth year - it's all about the accreditation


*however, not sure how likely the threat of losing accreditation is, nor do I understand exactly the reasons why UMDNJ-SOM would lose their accreditation
 
Since Thursday we have bombarded Assemblymen and Senators with our disdain for this bill, from my conversations with staff and Assemblymen I can assure you that the force of our will is being felt by members in both the House and the Senate. I encourage everyone to continue contacting them, every call we make and every email we write will further shaken the resolve of those legislators who had before been tools of the Norcross political machine. You can get the contact information of your Legislators through this index http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp

Since Thursday We have contacted local media and informed them of our intention to march upon Trenton on monday, they will be there and are prepared to make our voices heard. Now the task is in everyone's hands.

All the preparations are made, we will be moving from campus at 7:30 in the morning on Monday. I implore you to cancel your obligations that day and join us, wear your White Coat, bring family and friends- everyone who cheered for you when you were accepted to a Medical School that you were proud to attend. Ensure that it will remain worthy of that pride.

It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that the fight has become harder and the stakes higher. As of Thursday the bill has been made into one which is "all or nothing" If Rutgers Camden or SOM do not join Rowan the entire deal is off, this draconian attempt by the architects of the bill hopes to eliminate resistance from Rutgers. Additionally, the 9 dissenting Democratic Senators who rightly refused to support a bill with no stated fiscal plan now numbers at 7. Finally, let it be known that the promise by legislators that our Accreditation will be guaranteed if we merge with Rowan is an outright lie. Only the AOA has this power and their official stance is this "Given the unlimited authority of this board, the lack of adequate infrastructure to provide clinical services and the
uncertainty in funding for increased costs associated with maintaining quality of education and training, the AOA is
concerned that this proposed move may jeopardize the School of Osteopathic Medicine’s accreditation from the
AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)." It should be noted that the head of the committee on S2063 has already stated that now funding will be allocated for Rowan to improve the infrastructure that the AOA finds lacking. "That’s (funding allocated for infrastructure) going to be a significant investment. The bill does not include that … If we’re go to put more state commitments there, how we do that without hurting the other state colleges?” Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) I suggest to all interested parties that the testimony of Dr. Martin S Levine, President of the AOA, who testified on our behalf in the State House.
http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-and-publications/blogs/daily-report-blog/Documents/Testimony.pdf
I wish you all well and hope to see you on Monday.
Ross Brockunier
OMS II
UMDNJ Political Action Subcommittee
 
group_theory said:
No comment on the UMDNJ-SOM/Rowan/Rutgers/NJHSU

however, if you are a 4th year medical student at UMDNJ-SOM and your school loses accreditation (even temporary) .... if the school doesn't regain accreditation by the time you graduate - you are screwed. You can't do ANY (aoa or acgme) residency (since you didn't graduate from an accredited US medical school), you don't qualify for ECFMG (since you are a US graduate), and you don't qualify to take COMLEX 3 (since you have to be a graduate of a COCA-accredited school) ... basically if the school is unaccredited at the time of graduation, the degree will be worth less than toilet paper (as least you can use the toilet paper for a useful function)

Won't matter if Rowan gives you free tuition for your fourth year - it's all about the accreditation


*however, not sure how likely the threat of losing accreditation is, nor do I understand exactly the reasons why UMDNJ-SOM would lose their accreditation
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As a current SOM 4th year, this is utterly terrifying to me....

However, I have to agree that I do not understand why it would be necessary for COCA to dump our accreditation at the drop of a hat. After all, Rowan must have already passed some sort of preliminary/pre-accreditation process through the LCME to open an MD school, right? So then why would Rowan somehow be so subpar in terms of COCA accreditation, especially given the fact that COCA has accredited many institutions recently that have no track record whatsoever (and, arguably, substantially fewer resources than SOM has, especially in the realm of research facilities)?

That said, I have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that no matter how much noise we make as students this will go down just the way they want it to...and my family's entire future (and my career) could be destroyed 😱
 
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I don't think our school will actually lose accreditation, and if we do I'm sure it will be temporary. I'm opposed to this merger and I hope our voices will be heard during the protest.
 
Postal said:
I don't think our school will actually lose accreditation, and if we do I'm sure it will be temporary. I'm opposed to this merger and I hope our voices will be heard during the protest.
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If it happens, I'm sure it will be strategically timed--ie like august after 4th years have graduated and classes have started for the next year again. And then they'll re-grant accreditation before if affects anyone.
 
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Whiskeypunch said:
If it happens, I'm sure it will be strategically timed--ie like august after 4th years have graduated and classes have started for the next year again. And then they'll re-grant accreditation before if affects anyone.
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Ummm, that would be fraud. COCA has to follow its internal policy and if the conditions exist that no longer allows for accreditation, it has to pull accreditation ... doesn't matter if it is August or if it is May. And it can only re-accredit once the situations has been resolved. To not follow its stated policy will not only invite lawsuits (and legal scrutiny) but also reviews by the US DoE on its authority to accredit osteopathic medical schools.

Most likely any actions by COCA will be based on their timelines (and meeting dates). However, most accreditation agency have appeal process, and usually places programs/institutions on probation before pulling accreditation (although if the issue is egregious enough, the accreditation agency can pull its accreditation immediately)
 
Oh man, I almost wanted to go to this school. Now I am glad I did n't. With step 2 approaching soon, I did not need this monkey on my back. I wish the students of SOM best of luck, they deserve better than merging with some no-name non-accredited school!
 
"The president of UMDNJ, Denise Rodgers, and a stream of white-coated medical students testified before the Assembly budget panel - the first time that house had taken up the matter - opposing the transfer of the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford to Rowan.
They argued that the medical school risked losing its accreditation and would suffer a loss of research funding and an exodus of faculty.
"It's like cutting off a concert pianist's hands, reattaching them to someone else, and telling them to go out and play a concert," Ross Brockunier, a medical student in Stratford, said in an interview. "Everyone knows Rutgers; everyone knows UMDNJ. Nobody knows Rowan.""

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/b...ty_overhaul_clears_Assembly_budget_panel.html
 
This is the commentary of a current medical student, Andrew Buchholz, at UMDNJ-SOM:



"Assemblyman Prieto, Chair of Budget and Appropriations, states that he will be able to "insert language" into the bill that will help us keep our accreditation. Which, you know, he can't.

Here is the letter I sent him this evening. Everyone please do the same.

--------------
Assemblyman Prieto,

With all due respect, you cannot simply add language to a bill and magically create accreditation for UMDNJ-SOM. The state has no power over who the American Osteopathic Association accredits. Only the American Osteopathic Association has that power.

Should you need a reminder of AOA President Levine's Testimony, please find it here:

http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-and-publications/media-center/2012-news-releases/Pages/06-14-aoa-testimony-on-senate-bill-2063.aspx

Should you choose not to read it, allow me to highlight an important part of his testimony.

"Given the unlimited authority of this board, the lack of adequate infrastructure to provide clinical services and the uncertainty in funding for increased costs associated with maintaining quality of education and training, the AOA is concerned that this proposed move may jeopardize the School of Osteopathic Medicine's accreditation from the AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)."

Nowhere in that is the ability to simply "insert language in a bill" to grant us accreditation.

Furthermore, without the rest of UMDNJ, especially the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, we will lose our researchers (especially if Stratford is haphazardly broken apart and half the laboratories go to Rutgers) who do brilliant work in Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease, which affects New Jerseyans daily and have a significant impact on state healthcare funding -- something, as Budget and Appropriations Chairman, that should be important to you.

If you continue to merge SOM and ONLY SOM to Rowan and leave us orphaned from our sister schools, you will destroy healthcare in South Jersey and all over the state -- please remember that SOM has the claim to fame that it keeps the most NJ-trained physicians in NJ and the most NJ-trained physicians in primary care -- filling the gaps this state so plainly has.

Please allow SOM to go to Rutgers. It will make the most sense, save the most money, and keep NJ-trained physicians in New Jersey.

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Andrew Buchholz, MPH CPH
Osteopathic Medical Student, Class of 2013
UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine"
 
group_theory said:
Ummm, that would be fraud. COCA has to follow its internal policy and if the conditions exist that no longer allows for accreditation, it has to pull accreditation ... doesn't matter if it is August or if it is May. And it can only re-accredit once the situations has been resolved. To not follow its stated policy will not only invite lawsuits (and legal scrutiny) but also reviews by the US DoE on its authority to accredit osteopathic medical schools.

Most likely any actions by COCA will be based on their timelines (and meeting dates). However, most accreditation agency have appeal process, and usually places programs/institutions on probation before pulling accreditation (although if the issue is egregious enough, the accreditation agency can pull its accreditation immediately)
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That's nice, but it's not how the real world works. See the LCME and their issue with San Juan Bautista. Notice how they ended up with a change in status to probation in time for the 4th years to graduate and second years to take step 1? lol.

Anyway it's all about plausible deniability. They'll play the "strategic probation timing" game too.
 
Whiskeypunch said:
That's nice, but it's not how the real world works. See the LCME and their issue with San Juan Bautista. Notice how they ended up with a change in status to probation in time for the 4th years to graduate and second years to take step 1? lol.
Click to expand...

lcme actually revoked accreditation on oct 3, 2011. san juan bautista got back its status through a preliminary injunction issued by the US District Court in San Juan, Puerto Rico vacating lcme's appeal board decision to affirm the revokation of accreditation and ordered them to form a new appeal board to consider SJB's appeal (mainly because the LCME didn't follow its own rules exactly as stated, and thus was likely in violation of HEA). That order came oct 21, 2011. When the LCME reconvene on nov 18, 2011 to review the court ruling (and the status of SJB), they decided to place the school on probation. SJB is still on probation status (but accredited)

but thanks for the lesson on how the real world works.
 
Whiskeypunch said:
That's nice, but it's not how the real world works. See the LCME and their issue with San Juan Bautista. Notice how they ended up with a change in status to probation in time for the 4th years to graduate and second years to take step 1? lol.

Anyway it's all about plausible deniability. They'll play the "strategic probation timing" game too.
Click to expand...

The real world does not work on convenient timelines or compromises. Life can sht on you in an instant. I'm not sure what sheltered world you live in.

The entire umdnj community realizes this better than anybody right now because they have everything to lose

Thanks for the life lesson though, I'll wait for a bailout the next time sht hits the fan.
 
Dissected said:
The real world does not work on convenient timelines or compromises. Life can sht on you in an instant. I'm not sure what sheltered world you live in.

The entire umdnj community realizes this better than anybody right now because they have everything to lose

Thanks for the life lesson though, I'll wait for a bailout the next time sht hits the fan.
Click to expand...

Is there even one example of a school where the LCME/AOA revoked accreditation in the time frame when 4th years were graduating/2nd years were taking step 1?
 
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http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/160641295_No_Rutgers_merger.html



"Then there is the really controversial part of this plan: compromising the integrity of Rutgers-Camden and the UMDNJ's School of Osteopathic Medicine in favor of the expansion of Rowan" and "Even more lame logically is risking the loss of accreditation of UMDNJ's School of Osteopathic Medicine if it is ceded to Rowan. Legislators have responded to that concern by saying they will draft an amendment stating that the school's accreditation cannot be affected. The problem with that is the Legislature doesn't have the authority to decide whether a school is accredited or not."
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2012

Lautenberg Press Office 202.224.3224

LAUTENBERG TO NJ LAWMAKERS: VOTE "NO" ON RUTGERS MERGER BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today urged the New Jersey state legislature to vote down Governor Christie's university merger plan:

"Today, New Jersey legislators have a choice to make that will impact New Jersey for generations to come: They can choose to stand with students, tax payers, and our higher education system or they can choose to stand with politically connected special interests," said Senator Lautenberg. "This is a half-baked bill that has no price tag, and raises more questions than solutions. Higher education reform is important, but there is no reason to rush it, and I urge my friends in the legislature to vote this bill down."
 
christie-romney-e1326110345209.jpg



UMDNJ, GET IN MY BELLY!!!!!!
 
Actually I think students have the option to have the old name on their diplomas, provided they matriculated before the name change.

But wow. SOM just didn't get the respect it deserves. Will be sad to see how adversely this will affect the school's quality. I guess one upside is that MSU and Rowan will have something in common.
 
calvinhobbes said:
UMDNJ-SOM, you're in our prayers...
Click to expand...

It's still not clear to me why Rowan wanted this SOM so badly with the new MD school, why Rutgers didn't, and why the politicians did.

Will the MD and DO school share clinical sites? What about all the GME?

Finally, why would the AOA threaten accreditation when it allows schools like pikeville and rvu to exist?
 
Well its all settled now.

And I really doubt this will affect accreditation at all. The only way it would is if 3rd year rotations suddenly disappeared. Something that could happen, but is very very unlikely to actually happen.
 
Coastie said:
It's still not clear to me why Rowan wanted this SOM so badly with the new MD school, why Rutgers didn't, and why the politicians did.

Will the MD and DO school share clinical sites? What about all the GME?

Finally, why would the AOA threaten accreditation when it allows schools like pikeville and rvu to exist?
Click to expand...

It was clearly a business decision...the only other medical school in the country (correct me if I'm wrong?) that has both an MD and DO school, that shares resources and such, is Michigan State. They seem to do just fine...

I doubt the AOA will remove accreditation, sure they may "have" to do it if a problem arises, but right now they won't, it's their reputation (and the future of the DO profession) on the line, too... UMDNJ-SOM produces EXCELLENT doctors and everyone knows it, so I do think that the fourth years who matched now, will be fine...and the second years who just took boards will be fine, too. Who knows what will happened in the next year. As for people's diploma saying UMDNJ-SOM, it just might for a while... look what happened with Mount Sinai and NYU... After Mount Sinai School of Medicine stopped its affiliation and broke the merger with NYU Medical School in the 90's, (and they were no longer affiliated at all), MSSM's diploma's still said "MSSM of NYU" for about 10 years... don't know if this was a legal thing because it took a while for assets to be totally broken apart, etc. So maybe the kids who entered UMDNJ-SOM (and other UMDNJ schools) will still have their degree says UMDNJ for a few more years, since it takes a while for this stuff to happen (but in this case it's a merger coming together, not breaking apart), so who knows if Rowans will be greedy bastards and want their name on everything right away.

UMDNJ-SOM students: will your campus remain intact? Or will you guys be moving to Rowans? In my opinion, if it is def. that you guys are being taken over by Rowans, start contacting Cooper Medical School and Cooper Hospital now and make sure they know that you guys, medical students, deserve the SAME hospital affiliations and rotations as the MD counterparts. Maybe, in some odd way, the slight benefit to this in the near future will be that you guys have access to Cooper Medical School and that trauma-1 hospital...it would only be fair. (e.g. Columbia med and Cornel med students have access to their NewYorkPresb. hospitals in the city, since that's their main affiliate, even though they're separate medical schools). Keep your voices heard, don't give up the fight, this is YOUR education, YOUR money, YOUR degree. Contact local news stations, keep getting coverage, make the media know you guys might be getting the **** end of the stick because of all this political bullish--t. The media, especially TV, can be your ally here. Also, contact The Middle States Commission on Higher Education and make sure your degree will stay say UMDNJ-SOM and voice your concerns about Rowan and they unfair disadvantage you may have from Rowan...KEEP THE FIGHT ALIVE!

https://www.msche.org/documents/sas/509/Statement of Accreditation Status.htm
 
And please disregard all the typos I just made above lol, my keyboard sucks. Good luck and remember keep fighting and DO NOT stay complacent in all this, be unified in your message and let Rowan know you demand your resources to be integrated with that of Cooper's, you demand that your education be appropriate!
 
Just saw this quick message on another forum regarding degree status, so it may apply to you guys too!

"Jun 26 by lgagliano
Quote from tomhall
Hey everyonee!! so i was just researching online and saw the bill that the governor is trying to pass to merge umdnj-som with rowan university and rutgers-camden. Does anyone think this is going to affect the umdnj in newark- absn for this fall? I hope not.

At the Stratford interest session a few months ago, they told us that if we start at UMDNJ, our degree will be from there and that it would probably be some time until the merge occurs. Who knows though what is going on with all that"

http://allnurses.com/new-jersey-state/umdnj-accelerated-bsn-715174-page5.html
 
calvinhobbes said:
It was clearly a business decision...the only other medical school in the country (correct me if I'm wrong?) that has both an MD and DO school, that shares resources and such, is Michigan State. They seem to do just fine...

I doubt the AOA will remove accreditation, sure they may "have" to do it if a problem arises, but right now they won't, it's their reputation (and the future of the DO profession) on the line, too... UMDNJ-SOM produces EXCELLENT doctors and everyone knows it, so I do think that the fourth years who matched now, will be fine...and the second years who just took boards will be fine, too. Who knows what will happened in the next year. As for people's diploma saying UMDNJ-SOM, it just might for a while... look what happened with Mount Sinai and NYU... After Mount Sinai School of Medicine stopped its affiliation and broke the merger with NYU Medical School in the 90's, (and they were no longer affiliated at all), MSSM's diploma's still said "MSSM of NYU" for about 10 years... don't know if this was a legal thing because it took a while for assets to be totally broken apart, etc. So maybe the kids who entered UMDNJ-SOM (and other UMDNJ schools) will still have their degree says UMDNJ for a few more years, since it takes a while for this stuff to happen (but in this case it's a merger coming together, not breaking apart), so who knows if Rowans will be greedy bastards and want their name on everything right away.

UMDNJ-SOM students: will your campus remain intact? Or will you guys be moving to Rowans? In my opinion, if it is def. that you guys are being taken over by Rowans, start contacting Cooper Medical School and Cooper Hospital now and make sure they know that you guys, medical students, deserve the SAME hospital affiliations and rotations as the MD counterparts. Maybe, in some odd way, the slight benefit to this in the near future will be that you guys have access to Cooper Medical School and that trauma-1 hospital...it would only be fair. (e.g. Columbia med and Cornel med students have access to their NewYorkPresb. hospitals in the city, since that's their main affiliate, even though they're separate medical schools). Keep your voices heard, don't give up the fight, this is YOUR education, YOUR money, YOUR degree. Contact local news stations, keep getting coverage, make the media know you guys might be getting the **** end of the stick because of all this political bullish--t. The media, especially TV, can be your ally here. Also, contact The Middle States Commission on Higher Education and make sure your degree will stay say UMDNJ-SOM and voice your concerns about Rowan and they unfair disadvantage you may have from Rowan...KEEP THE FIGHT ALIVE!

https://www.msche.org/documents/sas/509/Statement of Accreditation Status.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for the support. We dont know much of anything right now. The future is rather murky. I heard our campus will be split between us and and Rutgers. Some buildings will be Rutgers and some will be Rowan. At this point, a lot of us are hoping our diplomas will say UMDNJ on it, seeing as that was the school we agreed to be a part of. All we can do is to continue to work hard and hope that our hard work is recognized in spite of the name on it.
 
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http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/nj_assembly_passes_bill_for_ru.html

"In South Jersey, UMDNJ’s School of Osteopathic Medicine will be turned over to Rowan, which will also enter into a quasi-merger with Rutgers-Camden to offer joint programs."

http://www.change.org/petitions/the...enate-bill-s2063-merge-umdnj-som-with-rutgers

"1) Many students conduct research in the Science Center at SOM, and publishing data requires both quality data as well as a strong research pedigree. UMDNJ has this pedigree, Rutgers does as well (even more so with the acquisition of our sister campuses), however Rowan does not. This sentiment has been shared by much of the graduate faculty. Impeding research at SOM will hurt SOM as whole. For example, this past year Dr. Nagele of SOM developed a early detection screening for those at risk for Alzheimer's Disease. With his resources and the SOM and UMDNJ pedigree, his work is well known and well regarded. In return, Dr. Nagele's work, along with the many other researchers at SOM, has helped rebuild the image of UMDNJ as a whole and brought in valuable research dollars to the University, along with increasing the respect of our institution.

2) The risk of losing accreditation for SOM is very much present. Since last week's meeting pushed the bill through committee without proposing the budget or thoroughly hashing out the legal aspects of the transfer, it has been stated that a temporary loss of accreditation for SOM may result. This risk is disastrous because students will either have to try to transfer to another medical institution or be left out to dry. I'm also concerned how this will affect SOM’s incoming class, how many great students are secretly deferring to another school, which is quite common at less reputable schools, and will jump ship when this bill becomes more certain? The meeting on 6/18 has changed few aspects of the bill. Even pushing the restructuring back one year to July 2013 is only casting off today's problems to tomorrow. The budget issues will not go away, and to ask Rutgers and Rowan to defray the cost of the merger will place undue strain on these universities, and will most likely result in increased tuition. Furthermore, the bill was altered to appease Essex County legislators by sweetening the deal for them. Camden County was not shown the same respect. The changes that Camden County residents prefer (in addition to the students that cast votes in other counties based on their permanent residence), were not taken into account.

3) The name change for SOM and the separation from its sister campuses at UMDNJ degrades our reputation. At present, SOM is in the top three osteopathic medical schools in the nation. Losing it’s name and character during the Rowan merge, even superficially, will affect current students in the residency matching process after graduation, and affect the quality of the students that apply in future years. Both of these outcomes will lead to disastrous results for New Jersey healthcare that would be felt for years to come.

4) Loss of the Graduate School of the Biological Sciences. Under this plan the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) will be lost. This program consistently made money for the school and shuttled effective students into SOM. In an online ranking, GSBS is considered one of the stronger and more affordable programs in the country.

5) Rowan has yet to prove for that it would be able to handle the load the merger would place upon itself. Rowan has just built an allopathic medical school set to open its doors to its very first class this fall. Furthermore, under the current bill, Rowan will acquire Rutgers Camden and its population of 4000+ students as well. Rutgers Camden is a research institution which again, Rowan is unprepared to manage at this time, as evidenced through the fact that Rowan has never managed to become a strong research institution. I find any claims that Rowan will be able to deal with the intricacies of running their medical school first year, integrating Rutgers Camden, and administering SOM in a way that doesn't strongly negatively impact SOM extremely doubtful. You cannot push forward a bill that will undermine the years of hard work put in by SOM in order to bolster Rowan University.

These concerns felt by many students and faculty at UMDNJ SOM should be considered seriously. As a citizen of New Jersey, I believe this proposed restructuring, as it stands, will have a disastrous effect on New Jersey healthcare and medical education. In all, it may be easier to merge SOM with Rowan on pure geographic reasons. However, we should not punish students and faculty by taking the path with the least resistance. Merging with the rest of UMDNJ into Rutgers buffers and protects RWJMS and NJMS, while leaving SOM out to dry with an institution that has not proven itself capable of handling these loads. In time, Rowan will develop into a strong research institution and competitive medical school, however, I ask that you not take a chance with SOM. SOM has proven itself to be a strong part of the UMDNJ system, and the gem of South Jersey, and it would undermine the progress made by the students and faculty to merge SOM with Rowan. My suggestion is to keep all of the UMDNJ entities together and merge them with Rutgers, a university that has proven that it can manage institutions all across the state and already has strong research credentials."
 
I wonder what effect this will have on the osteopathic GME programs linked to UMDNJ
 
It won't have any impact on the OGME programs. Rowan is obligated to ensure that. The only effect this will have is that Jersey's DO school is no longer a brand name, at least not for the next few decades or so...that's it...as far as research and all is concerned, a bill was passed to give 150 million dollars to Rowan to construct research buildings and what not...also Rutgers Camden & Rowan shall collaborate health sciences research...who knows...maybe, in a few decades, Rowan will earn the respect that UMDNJ currently has...
 
FutureDoctorrrr said:
It won't have any impact on the OGME programs. Rowan is obligated to ensure that. The only effect this will have is that Jersey's DO school is no longer a brand name, at least not for the next few decades or so...that's it...as far as research and all is concerned, a bill was passed to give 150 million dollars to Rowan to construct research buildings and what not...also Rutgers Camden & Rowan shall collaborate health sciences research...who knows...maybe, in a few decades, Rowan will earn the respect that UMDNJ currently has...
Click to expand...

Are you sure about the OGME programs? Do you have a source? Not calling foul, its just that I have a rotation scheduled with them in the fall and am interested in one of the programs so I'm trying to see if their will even be a program to audition at.
 
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