Dr. Daniel Egan to Lead Emergency Medicine | | |
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital have appointed Daniel J. Egan, MD, MBA, as professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of Emergency Medicine at RWJUH, effective Nov. 2.
Dr. Egan joins Rutgers from Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, where he serves as vice chair of education and associate professor of emergency medicine. He previously directed the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program and has held leadership roles at Mount Sinai, New York University and Columbia University Medical Center.
A nationally recognized leader in emergency medicine education, Dr. Egan has more than 20 years' experience in academic emergency medicine and has held educational leadership roles in several departments of emergency medicine, including Mount Sinai Morningside/Mount Sinai West, New York University, and Columbia University Medical Center, where he was the inaugural vice chair of education.
Read the full announcement here.
| | Medical School Names New Nephrology Chief | |
Dennis G. Moledina, MD, PhD, will join the medical school on September 1 as associate professor of medicine and its new chief of the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Moledina also will serve as the division chief of Nephrology Services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH).
A faculty member at Yale School of Medicine for the past eight years, Dr. Moledina most recently served as associate professor of nephrology, vice chief for clinical and translational research in nephrology, director of the Yale Kidney BioBank, and director of the Nephrology Research Fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. He also served for more than four years as a member of the Yale Cancer Center.
A physician-scientist with multiple grant projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, he has published 65 articles in peer-reviewed publications, in addition to book chapters, editorials, and speaking engagements. He is a member of the ASN Journals Editorial Board and a reviewer for more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications, including BMJ, JAMA Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Kidney International, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, and Clinical Transplantation.
Dr. Moledina completed clinical and post-doctoral fellowships in nephrology at Yale and earned his doctoral degree in investigative medicine from Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Please join us in welcoming him to the medical school and RWJUH!
| | Faculty Recognized for Teaching Top Honors by Students | | |
Faculty in the departments that have core third-year clerkships -- Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Community Health, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences -- were recognized by third-year medical students as outstanding educators for making them feel that they were a part of the patient care team, for creating an environment that allowed for open communication and participation, for teaching effectively, for delivering constructive feedback on clinical skills, and for displaying professional demeanor toward patients and families, peers, students, residents, and staff.
More than 100 faculty were identified in the most recent clerkship evaluations, where students were asked to rate items on individuals' care-team inclusion, open communication, effective teaching, constructive feedback, and professional demeanor. Individuals who received top rankings in all five criteria were rated "Exceptional," while those who scored at the top in four out of the five criteria were rated "Outstanding." Individuals who had at least three students ranking them in the top box on all items were recognized as "Commended."
Thirty faculty members in the eight clinical departments listed above received "Exceptional" ratings. View the full list of recognized faculty here.
Congratulations to all, and thank you for helping to create such a valuable learning environment for our students!
| | Rutgers and Weill Cornell Receive NIH Award to Establish NeuroHIV Research Center | | |
Rutgers and Weill Cornell Medicine have received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) award to establish the New York-New Jersey Center for Actionable NeuroHIV Biomarkers and Integrated Omics (NYJ-CAN-BIO), a new Developmental AIDS Research Center focused on advancing research on the neurological effects of HIV.
The center is co-directed by Tricia H. Burdo, PhD, Henry Rutgers Endowed Professor of Translational Medicine and Science and professor of medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine.
The award began Aug. 6 and will support the center through April 30, 2030. The project will receive approximately $750,000 annually, with about half the funding supporting research activities at Rutgers.
NYJ-CAN-BIO will bring together researchers from Rutgers, Weill Cornell, and institutions across the New York-New Jersey region to advance NeuroHIV research through the development of biomarkers and integrated omics approaches. The center will provide research infrastructure, support collaborations, and help attract new investigators and resources to the field.
"This award is an important recognition of the strength of our collective vision and the value of bringing together complementary expertise across Rutgers, Weill Cornell, and the broader New York-New Jersey research community," Dr. Burdo said.
Researchers say the center will help accelerate discoveries related to HIV-associated neurological disorders while positioning the region as a leader in NeuroHIV research.
| | Helix Offers Enhanced Learning for Medical Students | | |
Healthcare emergencies do not only happen in quiet, spotless hospital rooms. By exposing future providers to the sights, sounds, and stressors of real-world environments while they are still in training, educators help them build confidence, sharp decision-making skills, and composure long before they treat their first real patient. The new Simulations Lab and immersive experience rooms at the medical school, located in the new HELIX building, provide medical students with augmented reality, virtual reality, and manikin-assisted learning. Colleen M. Donovan, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine, is the medical director of the simulation and clinical skills program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
From an educational standpoint, these rooms are places where faculty members can immerse students in a variety of settings, in a safe educational environment. Imagine stepping out of a standard classroom and directly into a crowded home, or on the scene of an outdoor emergency. That is the experience created by our new state-of-the-art immersive simulation room. Unlike traditional virtual reality setups that isolate individual users behind headsets, this wall-to-wall immersive space allows groups of students to learn and work together in a shared physical environment.
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360-Degree Surroundings: Advanced wall projections display high-resolution video, 360-degree footage, and custom graphics. In seconds, the room transforms into any location where medical care happens.
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Full Sensory Realism: By integrating realistic lighting, spatial audio, wind, and ambient scents, students experience the exact atmosphere of high-pressure environments.
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Hands-On Interaction: The room pairs digital projections with real medical equipment, interactive touch-sensitive walls, and training manikins. Students do not just watch a screen; they actively diagnose, treat, and interact with their surroundings.
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SIM Deck: Hands-on training using lifelike manikins that mimic human physiology is a powerful way to build confidence and prepare students for the broad scope of challenges they’ll face in their careers.
| | RWJUH Earns High Marks in New Ranking | | |
The medical school's principal clinical partner, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), was named to the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Hospital list, ranking No. 6 in New Jersey and No. 23 in the New York Metro Area.
RWJUH was one of two RWJBarnabas Health facilities recognized for its exceptional patient care and clinical outcomes. The other -- Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston -- tied with RWJUH in the most recent rankings.
RWJUH's Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, was recognized among the top 100 cancer programs in the nation and among the top 10 in the New York metropolitan area. The program also earned the new U.S. News silver badge designation for its cancer care services and outcomes.
RWJUH was among several RWJBH hospitals recognized as High Performing for excellence in treating common adult procedures and conditions; specifically, it was rated High Performing in aortic valve surgery; ear, nose & throat surgery; heart failure; kidney failure; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; lung cancer surgery; pacemaker implantation; and spinal fusion. The full list of recognized RWJBH hospitals can be viewed online here.
"Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional, high-quality care to our patients and to continuous quality improvement," said Andy Anderson, MD, executive vice president and chief medical and quality officer at RWJBarnabas Health. "As New Jersey's academic health system in partnership with Rutgers University, our mission is to deliver safe, effective, evidence-based care informed by the latest clinical research. These recognitions reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary care teams and reinforce our commitment to building healthier communities across New Jersey."
| | Dr. Hai Sun Awarded $2.9M NIH Grant for Epilepsy Surgery Research | | |
Hai Sun, MD, PhD, professor of neurosurgery at the medical school and chief of neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), has received a five-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve surgical treatment for epilepsy.
The research aims to help physicians more accurately identify the brain networks responsible for seizures in patients whose epilepsy cannot be controlled with medication. Using advanced brain monitoring and computer analysis, Dr. Sun and his team hope to develop a standardized approach for planning epilepsy surgery and neuromodulation treatments that ultimately would help make epilepsy surgery more accessible for patients and more effective.
This is the second NIH grant Dr. Sun has received in the past two years for research focused on seizure disorders. Last year, he received a $2.8 million NIH grant to develop implanted devices designed to prevent seizures. Dr. Sun also serves as the assistant director of research, vice chair of clinical affairs, and assistant residency program director in the joint Department of Neurosurgery at Rutgers.
To learn more, click here.
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| Mobile Food Pantry Returns to New Brunswick! | | |
Rutgers Health Food Pantry, in partnership with the Office of the Dean, is hosting a mobile food pantry with fresh produce and pantry staples.
Thursday, August 27
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday, September 10
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Medical Education Building
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick
Individuals are asked to please bring their own reusable bags. If you're interested in volunteering to help for the event, please contact Carla Hailey Penn at carla.hpenn@rutgers.edu or 732-235-6300.
To help determine the need for ongoing services in our Rutgers Health community, please take a few moments to complete this brief survey. All respondents will have a chance to win a $25 or $50 gift card!
For more information about the mobile food pantry, please email rutgershealthfoodpantry@rbhs.rutgers.edu.
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Burnout is no longer just a buzzword -- it is a measurable threat to cognitive performance, clinical judgment, and long-term brain health. The annual "On the Brink of Pink" Symposium gathers physicians, researchers, medical students, healthcare providers, and workplace leaders for an interactive session on wellness in the workplace. This year's theme is Brain Health, Burnout and Cognitive Resilience, where we explore the science of resilience and the systems that protect it.
Join us for this free half-day symposium, where you will learn practical strategies for protecting cognitive longevity -- for yourselves, your patients, and the teams you lead.
What You'll Take Away:
- Strategies for managing stress and protecting cognitive function across the lifespan
- Insight into sex- and gender-specific differences in brain health, hormones, and burnout risk
- Frameworks for safeguarding the aging workforce and high-stakes professionals -- clinicians, caregivers, and first responders
- Suggestions for building brain-healthy workplaces and organizational cultures
- Direct exchange with leading neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, and emerging voices from Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group
Tuesday, September 15
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Light breakfast and networking at 8 a.m.; sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.
Clinical Academic Building, Room 1302
125 Paterson Street, New Brunswick
To register, click here.
| | Save the Date! 2026 George and Lily Boxer Memorial Lecture | | |
Save the date for this year's annual George and Lily Boxer Memorial Lecture, featuring keynote speaker Jeffrey M. Friedman, MD, PhD, Marilyn M. Simpson Professor and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University. Dr. Friedman will discuss "On the Causes of Obesity and Its Treatment, The End of the Beginning."
November 12, 2026
4 p.m.
Location To Be Determined
Established in 1969 as a tribute to internationally renowned researcher George E. Boxer, MD, and renamed in 2007 to recognize the commitment of Dr. Boxer's wife, Lily, to advancing biomedical research, the Boxer Lecture is a distinguished tradition at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
For more information, contact Kathleen Semler at kathleen.semler@rutgers.edu.
| | Resident & Fellow Recruitment Events Planned | | |
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health are sponsoring the 8th Annual Resident & Fellow Recruitment events in October -- join colleagues, as well as leaders from across RWJBarnabas Health, for a special evening of networking, dinner, and career exploration.
Events are being held in Newark and East Brunswick:
| | Featured Social Media Post | | |
Scientists research aging factors -- Alfred F. Tallia, MD, MPH -- Yahoo! Health
Waist Size: Key Indicator of Health Risks, Study Finds -- Aayush Visaria, MD; Soko Setoguchi, MD, DrPH; and Jeffrey Carson, MD -- Mirage News, MSN.com, Medical Xpress, and others
EHR-based AI beckons rapid-response team to head off avoidable in-hospital deaths -- Thomas Nahass, MD, MS -- Healthexec
Does Ozempic Cause Hair Loss? -- Christoph Buettner, MD, PhD -- Good Housekeeping
Patients with Generalized Epilepsy Have Higher Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea -- Matthew Scharf, MD -- Pharmacy Times
Rutgers Study on New Jersey and A.I. Regulation -- Elizabeth Stone, PhD -- On New Jersey (ONNJ)
Managing Conversations with Mild Cognitive Impairment -- Fred Kobylarz, MD, MPH -- Everyday Health
Medical Schools Manage Trends Incorporating AI -- Amy P. Murtha, MD, and Robert Johnson, MD, FAAP -- New Jersey Business Magazine
What to Know about the Newly Approved MRNA Flu Vaccine.-- Ronald Nahass, MD -- JAMA Network
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