UMDNJ History & Timeline

New Jersey's first programs of medical and dental education established with the incorporation of Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry on August 6. The college, located at Jersey City Medical Center, enrolled its first class in 1956. It was the forerunner of the New Jersey Medical School, the New Jersey Dental School, and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

New Jersey's first public program of medical education chartered as part of Rutgers University. The Rutgers Medical School opened in 1966 as a two-year basic science institution offering the master of medical science (M.M.S.) degree.

The Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry acquired by the State of New Jersey and renamed the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry (NJCMD) under a contract signed on May 3. Two years later, the medical school relocated to temporary facilities in Newark, although the dental school remained in Jersey City until 1977.

Robert R. Cadmus, M.D., named president of NJCMD.

Martland Hospital acquired by the State as the primary teaching facility for NJCMD. (Closed as a healthcare facility in 1979, the Martland Building currently houses the School of Health Related Professions, the School of Nursing, and various administrative and clinical offices.) The Newark Agreements, an historic social contract among federal, state and local governments and the Newark community, signed on March 1, clearing the way for the construction of a major academic health center in Newark's Central Ward.

The UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences established as a separate and independent school of NJCMD.

The Medical and Dental Education Act of 1970, signed into law by Governor Cahill on June 16, created the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (CMDNJ) by merging NJCMD with the medical school of Rutgers University under a single board of trustees.

Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., M.D., named the first president of CMDNJ on July 1. The following week, ground broken for construction of a $200-million campus in Newark.

The Community Mental Health Center at Piscataway dedicated. The UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (then known as CMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School) matriculated its first third-year class of M.D. candidates. The school graduated its first class in 1974.

The South Jersey Medical Education Act, signed into law by Governor Byrne, directed the University to establish both allopathic and osteopathic programs of medical education in South Jersey.

The Newark campus, which included the Medical Science Building, the dental school building, the Community Mental Health Center, the George F. Smith Library of the Health Sciences and a power plant, dedicated on May 10. The School of Health Related Professions (then called CMDNJ-School of Allied Health Professions) established on the Newark campus as a separate school. The School of Osteopathic Medicine chartered, enrolling first class the following year and graduating New Jersey's first doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) in 1981.

An affiliation agreement with Middlesex General Hospital (now known as the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital) established the New Brunswick hospital as core teaching facility for the CMDNJ - Rutgers Medical School. Cooper University Medical Center, Camden, became core teaching affiliate for the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Campus at Camden. Kennedy Memorial Hospital became the core teaching hospital for the School of Osteopathic Medicine.

University Hospital (then called College Hospital) in Newark opened in January and dedicated on May 10. The primary teaching hospital for the New Jersey Medical School, the facility remains the only medical center owned and operated by the University.

Legislation signed on December 10 by Governor Byrne established CMDNJ as the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). UMDNJ became largest, free-standing, public university of the health sciences in the United States.

UMDNJ dedicated Education and Research Building in Camden. It now houses the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Campus at Camden.

The Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, a joint research facility of UMDNJ and Rutgers University, established.

The Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, a joint facility of UMDNJ and Rutgers University, established. On July 1, UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School officially adopted UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as its name and Middlesex General University Hospital became Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

An addition to the Camden Education and Research Building, designed to house the Coriell Institute for Medical Research, was dedicated on November 1.

The Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine dedicated new building on September 26 on the Piscataway campus

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the first and only multidisciplinary, medical school-based clinical cancer center in the State, formed as a joint partnership of UMDNJ, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the New Brunswick Affiliated Hospitals. The Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, a joint facility of UMDNJ and Rutgers, dedicated new facility on the Piscataway campus on October 24.

The UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School Doctors Office Center opened on the Newark campus, with dedication ceremonies on June 10. The UMDNJ-School of Nursing established as the seventh school of the University on December 10.

The UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine dedicated Academic Center and a laboratory expansion at Science Center on November 10.

The UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School dedicated new complex for Eric B. Chandler Health Center in New Brunswick on January 12. The medical school dedicated the Clinical Academic Building on March 16. The UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions opened Scotch Plains facility.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) dedicated new building in New Brunswick in November. The Board of Trustees approved University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC) as the new name for the former Community Mental Health Centers at Newark and Piscataway and all their satellite locations.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey received designation from the National Cancer Institute as a federal clinical care center, the only one in New Jersey.

The University's founding President, Dr. Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., retired and became Founding President Emeritus. The Martland Building renamed the Stanley S. Bergen Building. Dr. Stuart D. Cook named President on November 23. The University established its eighth school, the UMDNJ-School of Public Health on the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus in collaboration with Rutgers. A new Master of Public Health Program would be offered in 1999 on the Newark campus in collaboration with Rutgers-Newark and NJIT.

Dr. Stuart D. Cook inaugurated President on April 9. The Child Health Institute of NJ was created at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey launched the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the International Center for Public Health held in Newark on September 13. The Master Educators Guild created and 12 charter members inducted. The new University logo unveiled at University Day. The Board of Trustees approved $356 million university-wide capital construction plan.

UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated 25-year anniversary.

UMDNJ-School of Nursing celebrated 10-year anniversary. UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions celebrated 25-year anniversary. The International Center for Public Health and the new Behavioral Health Sciences Building opened on Newark campus.

A new building, shared by UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and UMDNJ-School of Public Health, opened on Piscataway campus. The University Doctors Pavilion opened on Stratford campus.

Dr. Stuart D. Cook stepped down as President effective June 5, 2004, and Dr. John Petillo named Interim President. Dr. Petillo named President by the Board of Trustees on November 16. The UMDNJ Master Educators' Guild renamed the Stuart D. Cook, MD Master Educators Guild, in honor of its founder.

New Jersey Medical School celebrated 50th anniversary. The UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine dedicated new wing of the Science Center. New Jersey Dental School’s new Oral Health Pavilion completed. The Child Health Institute on the New Brunswick campus dedicated.

A federally appointed monitor designated to oversee some University operations.
Bruce C. Vladeck, PhD, appointed Interim President of the University. University’s first student residence opened on Newark campus. Governor Corzine signs legislation increasing the University’s Board of Trustees to 19 members.

William F. Owen, Jr., MD, named President and took office on July 1.