Rowan and Virtua Enhance Healthcare/Academic Partnership

Longstanding Organizations Align to Further Cement Region as Healthcare Hub

On Nov 10, 2021

The boards of trustees for Glassboro-based Rowan University and Virtua Health have approved the signing of a letter of intent to expand their organizations’ relationship, further collaborating across education, research, and patient care. The new affiliation agreement will be completed in the next several months to define how the two organizations will work together to establish a sought-after program for preparing the health and wellness workforce of the future, expanding the number and diversity of health professionals educated through Rowan University and Virtua Health.

According to Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D., the new affiliation “will strengthen Rowan’s School of Osteopathic Medicine, its School of Nursing & Health Professions and create a new School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences, among other initiatives.”

He added that, through the new affiliation, “Virtua Health will benefit by partnering with our top 100 public research university to educate and train highly skilled nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, while pursuing research that improves people’s lives. This extraordinary partnership further helps propel Rowan on its path toward R1 status—a classification that will reflect our capacity and commitment to leadership as a high-intensity national research university.”

Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health, commented, “We share an overarching goal of creating an outstanding academic health system that improves the health of New Jersey residents by reimagining the education and training of the state’s next generation of physicians and other health professionals,” “This is an exciting exploration of how we change New Jersey’s role in the future of health care.”

Both organizations plan to commit significant resources to expand educational programs, which train new healthcare professionals for an evolving future. The agreement will include plans to provide more clinical experiences for Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine students and to increase residency and fellowship opportunities that will serve South Jersey.

In addition, the plans include continued professional and career development for Virtua and Rowan nurses through streamlined access to undergraduate and graduate educational programs. And, the enhanced relationship will allow the organizations to expand their roles in research and discovery into new ways to improve health, which will contribute significantly to the regional economy and South Jersey’s reputation as a source of innovation and talent.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: