Rutgers University is sponsoring 42 graduate medical students as part of a new residency program at Trinitas Regional Medical Center that began on Nov. 1.
The program focuses on internal medicine and psychiatry, which diversifies the hospital’s current relationships for residency programs with universities like Seton Hall in South Orange and St. George’s in Grenada.
“Sponsorship of our graduate medical education program by Rutgers is a home run that brings great benefits to our residents and our patients,” said Gary Horan, Trinitas’ CEO and president. “Rutgers is one of the oldest and perhaps best-known universities in the state, and it has a successful history of sponsoring residency programs in other hospitals. It stands for strong academic commitment and the staff is heavily involved in scholarly activities, including research. In addition, our residents will have full use of their exceptional research and laboratory facilities.”
Rutgers’ sponsorship means it is responsible for the curriculum and training, as well as collaboration with Trinitas on research opportunities.
Horan said the university will monitor the students, help develop the curriculum and allow access to its clinical laboratories — all for a fee per student paid by Trinitas to Rutgers to cover costs.
The new partnership will not affect the existing relationships Trinitas has with other universities, but was spurred by the agreement with Hackensack Meridian Health and Seton Hall to open a new medical school on the border of Nutley and Clifton in 2018.
Asked if he believes the relationship, for nursing and physician assistant residency, could be affected by the school opening, Horan said no.
“The relationship will continue with Seton Hall. Could that change in the future? It could, but I don’t see that changing in the immediate future,” Horan said.
In fact, having more universities to work with through the Rutgers relationship can only be beneficial.
“The network of hospitals Rutgers has is very beneficial to us,” Horan said. “It looks like it’s going to be a very good fit for us.”
The hospital previously had a relationship with Rutgers before switching to Seton Hall.
William Farrer, currently internal medicine program director at Rutgers, will also become the director of medical education at Trinitas.
Robert Johnson, the endowed dean of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said, “New Jersey Medical School looks forward to building on our academic and clinical affiliation at Trinitas.”
Psychiatry Program Director Rehan Malik will start in his new role on Jan. 1.
