University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), A Guide to the Records of

The oldest medical school in the State, New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), was established as New Jersey's College of Medicine when Seton Hall University incorporated the Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry (SHCMD) in 1954. The original school was located at the Jersey City Medical Center. Charles L. Brown, MD was appointed first dean. The charter class of seventy-two men and eight women began their studies in September 1956 and graduated in 1960.

NJMS became a public medical school when Governor Richard Hughes signed the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry Act in 1964. The school remained in Jersey City until the move to Newark began in 1967. Students and faculty used the facilities of the East Orange VA Hospital, as well as other area hospitals for clinical education during the transition period. NJMS became part of the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1970. NJMS remained in the interim facilities while the Medical Sciences Building was constructed, moving there in 1977. Martland Hospital, then College (later University) Hospital, was the core teaching hospital. In 1989, ground breaking was held for a $55 million Doctors Office Center to house the NJMS's University Faculty Practice, which opened in June 1992.

Minority education has a strong tradition in the history of the school. NJMS has consistently increased minority enrollment that compares favorably with enrollments at predominantly black medical schools. NJMS has a successful partnership with the Hispanic Center of Excellence, a program designed to increase the number of Latinos to tenured medical faculty positions. In 1972, the Students for Medicine Program was initiated to make medical careers more accessible to minority students.

Deans of NJMS: Charles L. Brown, MD, 1955-60 James E. McCormack, MD, 1960-66 Arthur J. Lewis, MD, 1966 Desmond Bonnycastle, MD, PhD (Acting, 1967) Rulon Rawson, MD, 1967-72 Harold Kaminetsky, MD, Acting and Dean, 1972-74 Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD (Acting, 1975) Vincent Lanzoni, MD, PhD, 1976-87 Stuart D. Cook, MD, 1987-89 Ruy V. Lourenco, MD, 1989-June 2000 Joel DeLisa, MD (Acting, July-Dec 2000) Russell Joffe, MD, Jan 2001-