Medical School Faculty and Staff Honored in Latest Rutgers Health Chancellor Awards | | |
Nineteen individuals and/or teams from Rutgers' medical schools will receive 2026 Rutgers Health Chancellor Awards, including a dozen from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-affiliated honorees are:
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Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD, professor and past chair of the Department of Neurology, and Ruth Dunietz Kushner and Michael Jay Serwitz Chair in Multiple Sclerosis, who received the Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award (Faculty)
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Thomas Hegyi, MD, professor of pediatrics, and Robyn Schafer, PhD, CNM, FACNM, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences and associate professor with Rutgers School of Nursing, who received the Excellence in Education and Teaching Award
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Eric G. Jahn, MD, former senior associate dean of community health, and Kusum Punjabi, MD, MBA, associate professor of emergency medicine, who received the Excellence in Community Service Award
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Beverly O'Shea, MSN, nurse manager at Eric B. Chandler Health Center, who received the Sustained Service Award
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Ian Antón Oldenburg, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience and cell biology and a member of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology & Medicine, who received the Excellence in Basic Sciences Research Award for Early Career Investigators
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Coral O. Omene, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, program director of Breast Cancer Disparities, and a member of Rutgers Cancer Institute, who received the Excellence in Inclusive Culture and Impact Award
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Archana Pradhan, MD, MPH, professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, and associate dean for clinical education, who received the Distinguished Educator Award
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Usha Ramachandran, MD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics, who received the Excellence in Clinical or Healthcare Delivery Award
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Rhonda M. Smith, PhD, associate dean for faculty and staff affairs, who received the Leadership Award
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Steven Zheng, PhD, professor of pharmacology and chief of the Division of Cancer Pharmacology at the medical school and Rutgers Cancer Institute, who received the Excellence in Basic Sciences Research Award for Established Investigators
The following individuals/teams from New Jersey Medical School also were selected:
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Lisa Dever, MD, MS, professor of medicine and vice chair for faculty development, who received the Distinguished Mentor Award
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Hong Li, PhD, associate professor of microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics, who received the Distinguished Innovator Award
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New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, with team members Danielle Bartshe, MPH, CHES, health educator; Alicia Gambino, director of public education; Sandra Izurieta, administrative assistant; and Bruce Ruck, PharmD, RPH, managing director and director of Drug Information and Professional Education; who received a Team Award
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Tanya Norment, program administrator, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Center for Humanism and Medicine, who received the Excellence in Inclusive Culture and Impact Award
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Mercedes Padilla-Register, program supervisor for the Office of Student Affairs, who received the Emerging Leader Award
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Penny Phytides, Cytogenics Laboratory supervisor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, who received a Lifetime Distinguished Service Award (Staff)
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Hanan A. Tanuos, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, who received an Excellence in Clinical or Healthcare Delivery Award
Congratulations to all the honorees! Read the full list of awardees here.
| | Dr. Nancy Walworth Named Inaugural Executive Faculty Fellow | |
Nancy Walworth, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology, was one of five Rutgers professors selected for the inaugural 2026-2027 Executive Faculty Fellows cohort.
This new initiative in University Academic Affairs is designed to strengthen faculty engagement in shaping institutional priorities, creating meaningful opportunities for the fellows to partner with University Academic Affairs and colleagues across the university on issues that impact the faculty experience universitywide. They will serve as strategic thought partners, ensuring faculty perspectives inform initiatives that advance faculty success, leadership development, mentoring, and innovation. More information is available here.
Congratulations, Dr. Walworth!
| | 2026 'On the Brink of Pink' Symposium Focuses on Brain Health, Cognitive Longevity | |
The medical school, in conjunction with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, hosted the second annual "On the Brink of Pink" symposium, featuring speakers from Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group discussing brain health, burnout, and cognitive resilience.
The symposium gets its name from flamingos, who lose their vibrant pink color due to the tolls of caregiving but can regain it once those stressors have passed.
This year, four expert panels, moderated by our medical students, explored various aspects of brain health, including gender differences, aging and cognitive longevity, and brain health in clinicians, caregivers, and first responders. Keynote speaker Edmarie Guzmán-Vélex, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and core member of the Center for Healthy Aging Research, discussed "Healthy Brain Aging: What You Can Do Today to Protect Your Mind Tomorrow," offering practical strategies to manage stress and protect cognitive longevity.
"This symposium exists because self-care and workplace support aren't just luxuries -- they are critical strategies for preserving our longevity as providers," noted Alopi Patel, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine, who co-chaired this year's event with Hilary Grosso Jasutkar, MD, assistant professor of neurology.
A full list of speakers and topics can be viewed here.
| | Faculty and Staff Lead Joy at Work Mini-Grants Awardees | |
Seven medical school faculty- and staff-led projects were selected by Rutgers Health for funding through its 2026-2027 Joy at Work Mini-Grants Program -- the highest number of awardees among participating Rutgers Health schools and units this year. The Joy at Work Mini-Grants Program supports initiatives that foster workplace well-being, strengthen connection and belonging, encourage recognition, and promote a positive culture across Rutgers Health.
In addition to the "On the Brink of Pink" event led by Alopi Patel, MD, which was mentioned in the article above, the following medical school projects received awards:
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The Balanced Break, led by Tamar Brandler, MD, MS, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, which is designed to strengthen communication and community within the Division of Cytopathology by integrating physician wellness activities and opportunities for meaningful peer connection.
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Developing a Formalized Debriefing Process to Support Psychological Well-Being and Optimize Team Effectiveness in a Level 1 Trauma Center, led by Zachary Englert, DO, FACS, associate professor of surgery and associate trauma medical director at the medical school and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, which is a structured debriefing initiative aimed at supporting psychological resilience and improving team performance in high-acuity clinical settings.
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The Residency House Cup: Using Gamification to Build a Longitudinal Culture of Community, Mentorship, and Academic Excellence, led by Internal Medicine chief resident Thomas Lucido, MD, which involves a team-based competition that promotes mentorship, professional development, well-being, and community among Internal Medicine residents.
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Compassion in Medicine: Cultivating a Core Skill in the Physician's Toolkit, led by hematology/oncology fellow Krisha Mehta, MD, which uses reflection, discussion, writing, and experiential learning to strengthen compassionate care in medical education.
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Consultation and Connection: A Peer Support and Professional Growth Initiative for APA-Accredited Internship Training Program Faculty, led by Marc Steinberg, PhD, professor of psychiatry, which is a structured peer consultation program designed to strengthen collegial support, professional development, and collaboration among faculty.
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ENT-Anesthesia Critical Airway Skills & Experience (CASE) Series, led by Kiley Trott, MD, assistant professor specializing in pediatric otolaryngology, which is a recurring interprofessional, case-based discussion and simulation program that enhances teamwork, communication, and learning across clinical disciplines.
Congratulations! Learn more about Joy at Work Mini-Grant-funded projects here.
| | RWJMS and RWJUH Recognized as National Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence | | |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), in conjunction with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, has been designated as a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA) Recognized Center of Excellence, in recognition of their expertise in delivering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients living with this complex heart condition.
"A Center of Excellence recognition gives patients and families confidence that they can benefit from leading-edge treatments and technologies, clinical trials, personalized care plans, and critical ongoing support close to home to achieve the best possible outcomes," explained Sabahat Bokhari, MD, FACC, FASNC, professor of medicine and director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence, New Jersey Rare Disorders Center of Excellence, Amyloidosis Center of Excellence, and Advanced Cardiac Imaging Center at the hospital (pictured below, fifth from the right, with members of the team). Dr. Bokhari also directs the Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship Program.
Learn more about this latest Center of Excellence designation here.
| | Dr. Eleanna Kara Receives Parkinson's Study Grant | |
Eleanna Kara, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Departments of Neurology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and resident member of the medical school's Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, has been awarded a five-year, $3.1 million grant from the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to investigate the toxicity of lipid-rich-alpha-synuclein inclusions in Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease is marked by the build-up of alpha-synuclein, a protein that is normally found in nerve cells but can form harmful clumps in the brains of affected patients. These clumps are especially damaging to dopamine-producing neurons, whose loss contributes to the tremor and impaired movement of Parkinson's disease. This new project will investigate why these neurons are particularly vulnerable. Dr. Kara will test whether the lipid-rich environment in these particular neurons promotes the formation of harmful alpha-synuclein clumps that disrupt mitochondria, the cell's energy producers. Understanding how lipids, alpha-synuclein, and mitochondria interact could reveal an early step in Parkinson's disease and identify new strategies to protect vulnerable neurons before irreversible damage occurs.
Congratulations, Dr. Kara!
| | Dr. Shawna Hudson Receives Jazz4PCA Award | |
Shawna V. Hudson, PhD, senior associate dean for population health research, Distinguished Professor and Henry Rutgers Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health, and director of the Center Advancing Research and Evaluation for Person-Centered Care (CARE-PC), was selected as the inaugural recipient of the "Community Health Research & Equity Leadership Award" from Jazz4PCA, an organization dedicated to advancing prostate cancer awareness.
The award formally recognizes a leader whose scholarship, vision, and community partnership has transformed the landscape of public health and cancer equity. "Rooted in the belief that research must resonate with lived experience, this award recognized individuals who generate knowledge that empowers communities, informs policy, and strengthens pathways to early detection and survivorship," the organization noted. The award was formally presented during Jazz4PCA's 15-year anniversary celebration on September 19 in Edison.
Congratulations, Dr. Hudson, on this recognition!
| | OSIG Hosts Joint Orthopaedic Surgery Symposium | | |
The medical school's Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group (OSIG) hosted the 2026 Rutgers Medical Student Orthopaedic Surgery Symposium at the HELIX, bringing together nearly 100 registered attendees from the New Brunswick and Newark medical school campuses, including medical students, residents, faculty, and attending physicians. The symposium marked the first joint orthopaedic research event of its kind between the two medical school campuses, creating a new opportunity for collaboration across the Rutgers orthopaedic community and building ongoing connections among the medical schools.
The event featured 21 podium presentations and 34 poster presentations and included the first in-person physical poster session for a Rutgers medical student orthopaedic research symposium, allowing students to directly present and discuss their work with faculty, residents, and fellow students. It also included remarks from Dean Amy P. Murtha, MD; Brian Katt, MD, clinical associate professor of orthopaedic surgery; and Joseph Ippolito, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at New Jersey Medical School and an orthopaedic oncologist with Rutgers Cancer Institute, who highlighted the importance of medical student research, mentorship, and collaboration between Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School.
Awards and certificates were presented for each podium and poster category to recognize outstanding student scholarship.
Thanks to event organizers, medical students Richard Morales and Zac DeCurtis, and all those involved in planning and participating in such a successful event!
| | Medical Students, Faculty Speak at the UN | | Gloria A. Bachmann, MD, MMS (pictured, second from left), along with (l-r) third-year medical students Elizabeth Considine and Sanya Ravoori, and fourth-year medical student Ana Oyola, were invited to speak at the United Nations' Maternal Health Panel on September 24. The panel was held during the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School co-sponsored the panel in conjunction with the UN and the American Medical Women's Association. | | Faculty Donations Support New Endowed Professorships | | |
The Rutgers Board of Governors approved several new endowed professorships at its recent meeting, including two funded by medical school faculty.
The John D. Slade Endowed Legacy Professorship, which will join the faculty in the Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, was made possible by a gift from Christine Delnevo, PhD, MPH, director of the institute, and her husband, Michael Steinberg, MD, professor and chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The couple worked with the late Dr. Slade when they were junior faculty members and saw the extraordinary impact of his work on the field.
The Klapholz and Abramowitz Endowed Legacy Professorship, meanwhile, is designed to support, retain, and recruit department faculty at New Jersey Medical School who specialize in scholarship and service dedicated to health equity. It is funded through a gift from Marc Klapholz, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Medicine at the school, in honor of his late grandparents, Holocaust survivors who came to the United States after World War II.
Both contributions were matched by the Rutgers Health Legacy Professorship Match Campaign.
Learn more here.
| | HIPHOP Students Volunteer with Buddy Ball | | |
Medical students involved in the Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project's Community Health Initiative (HIPHOP-CHI) have been volunteering with North Brunswick Buddy Ball, a HIHOP-CHI-Project Outreach community partner and CESL site.
North Brunswick Buddy Ball, led by director and coach Steven Wen, assistant manager in the medical school's Office of Information Technology, is a local sports program for differently abled and neurodiverse participants in North Brunswick and surrounding towns. Volunteers serve as Buddies who support and encourage the program's players as they navigate through different sports and skills. Activities include spring and fall soccer and winter basketball, as well as other opportunities.
| | Back-to-School Drive Donations Distributed | | |
The medical school's Homeless and Indigent Populations Health Outreach Project (HIPHOP) participated in the recent CareSparc Sustainable Health and Wellness Village Fest on September 19 at Alice Jennings Archibald Park in New Brunswick, where they interacted with more than 100 community participants and families.
They also distributed more than half of the backpacks -- stuffed with school supplies -- that were donated by the dean, executive team, and members of the medical school community during HIPHOP's recent back-to-school drive. The remaining items will be donated to several community-based organizations that are HIPHOP partners. Thanks to all for your generosity!
| | Alumna and faculty member Alexandra Tabakin, MD, and Teleflex hosted a mobile lab for urology and radiation oncology residents, faculty, and staff on September 23 in Piscataway. As part of the "Prostate Education Express," learners engaged in simulation models and received hands-on training for how to perform UroLift and Barrigel procedures. | | Reminder: Sign Up for Your Flu Shot Today! | | |
In addition to university-sponsored flu vaccination clinics, the medical school is hosting its annual flu vaccine program, with vaccine clinics in New Brunswick on the following dates:
October 7
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
CAB Room 1302
October 15
8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
CAB Room 1302
October 26
Noon – 3 p.m.
Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Room 3101
November 10
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
CAB Room 1302
In addition, the school will offer flu vaccines during its annual wellness fair on October 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in CAB 1302.
Register online for one of these sessions here.
Download the consent form here, or the consent form for individuals 65 and older here.
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Debrief, don't just observe, after simulation or rounds.
A few minutes of structured reflection ("What went well? What would you do differently?") after a clinical encounter converts an experience into actual learning. Without debriefing, much of the educational value is lost.
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Independent Practice in Modern Medicine: A Path Worth Considering?
Tuesday, October 13, 9 - 10 a.m.
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, in collaboration with the Lansing Family and Rutgers Network of Affiliated Family Medicine Residencies, will hold in hybrid format a presentation with Thomas P. McCarrick, MD, MBI, chief medical officer, Vanova Health, for the Annual Martha A. Lansing, MD Memorial Lectureship. The session will be held via Zoom and in person at 303 George Street, Sixth Floor, Training Rooms 620 & 621. Download the event flier here. Register for in-person attendance here or for Zoom attendance here. For more details, please contact Felecia Beard.
For more information on upcoming CME events, contact Paul F. Weber, MD, RPh, MBA, associate dean, Continuing Medical Education.
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Join us this weekend for the Rutgers Health Hack 2026 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. Keynote speaker for the event is Raj Narula, MD, founder of Savaro, a physician-led virtual neurology company.
Hackathon tracks are designed to tackle real challenges in healthcare, with each track having specific challenges: a TwinVerse Challenge, building intelligent digital "twins" that simulate patients, care pathways, and health systems; "Wellness, Reimagined"; AI-powered solutions to streamline healthcare operations; and a Sevaro track focused on real-world challenges in neurological care.
No prior hacking experience is necessary. The event is open to all, including medical sciences, computer science, engineering, business administration, design, law, and policy students and professionals.
October 9-11
Learn more and register online here.
| | NJ ACTS Community Engagement Core Event | | |
NJ ACTS is hosting an event, "Making Partnerships Work: Community Member Perspectives on Successful Community-Engaged Research," to share patient and community scientist experiences in working and collaborating with different research teams. Moderated by Jennifer Hemler, PhD, assistant professor of family medicine and community health, the event includes speakers Elizabeth Marcketta, Family Faculty Supervisor at Children's Specialized Hospital and co-designer of the Patient Scientist Program; Deepa Drivivasavaradan, director of Early Childhood Initiatives at SPAN Parent Advocacy Network and co-designer of the Patient Scientist Program; and Diana Lai, Family Faculty with Children's Specialized Hospital and a patient scientist.
October 13
10:30 a.m. - Noon
Deborah M. Spitalnik Learning Center
Liberty Plaza, 335 George Street, Third Floor
New Brunswick
Box lunches will be provided. Download the event flier for more details. Register for the event here.
| | Lecture Series Explores Lessons from COVID | | |
In the latest seminar in its "The Purpose of Science" lecture series, Rutgers Waksman Institute of Microbiology is hosting "When Scientific Evidence and Political Agendas Collide: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and the FDA." The speaker is Tracy Beth Høeg, a physician, epidemiologist, and the former acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
October 13
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Waksman Institute Auditorium
The event is open to students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines.
Learn more here.
| | Resident & Fellow Recruitment Events | | |
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:
| | 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
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.
| | Featured Social Media Post | | |
From rivals to partners: Rutgers' medical schools unite | Opinion -- Amy P. Murtha, MD, and Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP -- NJ.com
VIDEO: Rutgers Gives Future Doctors an AI Head Start -- Amy P. Murtha, MD -- PYMNTS
VIDEO: Two Foundations of Excellence -- Miri Goodman; Ana M. Natale-Pereira, MD, MPH; Amy P. Murtha, MD; and Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP -- Rutgers University Foundation
Amazon Will Run AI, Cloud Computing from New Brunswick HELIX -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- Patch
Common Stomach Bacteria Linked to Colorectal Cancer -- Martin J. Blaser, MD -- Newsweek, Yahoo!Health
Nonprofit NJ Sharing Network adds three board members -- Ram Gowda, MD -- ROI-NJ
Montclair's Dr. Ram Gowda Named to NJ Sharing Network Board -- Ram Gowda, MD -- Montclair Local and TAPinto Montclair
Young Patients Celebrate Disease-Free Milestone Following Advanced Sickle Cell Treatments -- Steven K. Libutti, MD, and Niketa C. Shah, MD -- Rutgers Cancer Institute
61 recent hospital, health system executive moves -- Daniel Egan, MD -- Becker's Hospital Review
Mass General Brigham ED leader heads to RWJBarnabas hospital -- Daniel Egan, MD -- Becker's Hospital Review
AMA Research Challenge recognized institutions -- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- American Medical Association
Study Probes Racial Differences in Prurigo Nodularis, a Debilitating Itch Disease -- Gaurav N. Pathak, MD, PharmD, and Suraj S. Pathak -- Scienmag
Hair Loss Signals Emerge in FDA Database as Biologics Draw New Safety Scrutiny -- Priya Agarwal; Aryan Mahajan; Gaurav N. Pathak, MD, PharmD; and Babar K. Rao, MD -- Scienmag
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