Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health Announce Clinical Alignment 

Agreement will integrate university’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School clinical operations in New Brunswick with RWJBarnabas Health medical group practices

Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health today announced the achievement of a significant milestone in its mission to build a premier academic health system dedicated to education, research and the delivery of high-quality health care to benefit patients, students and the residents of New Jersey. Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health have taken a step toward integrating the clinical services provided within the university’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in the New Brunswick region and RWJBarnabas Health medical group practices through the execution of an Integrated Practice Agreement (IPA), creating one of the largest integrated health systems in the country.

This agreement does not include clinical services provided by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School at University Hospital in Newark. In addition, the current agreement does not include the clinical practices of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, which will be integrated at a later date.

“Today’s announcement is another step toward integrating Rutgers’ expertise in health innovation and research with RWJBarnabas Health’s experience in the delivery of health care to bring the citizens of New Jersey world-class healthcare in their own backyard,” said Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. “Our shared goal has always been to be a transformational leader in health care, and it is exciting to continue to see our vision come to fruition.”

“The long-standing reputation of our two great organizations and the combined strengths of our outstanding clinical practitioners solidify our commitment to invest in the health and wellness of the people in our communities throughout the region,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, president and chief executive officer of RWJBarnabas Health.   “I could not be more proud of what we, together with Rutgers, have already achieved and am confident that the future will hold innovative approaches to maintaining good health.”

“It’s an exciting time to lead our combined medical group as this integration seeks to lead healthcare delivery and innovation in New Jersey and beyond,” said Andy Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the combined medical group of RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers. “I look forward to collaborating with our exceptional teams.”

Under the IPA, all current Rutgers employees in the clinical practices will remain Rutgers employees, and academic leaders in those practices will continue to lead the recruitment of new faculty. RWJBarnabas Health will assume responsibility for the patient experience and administration of the Rutgers Health Robert Wood Johnson Medical School clinical enterprise. The agreement was effective as of July 1, 2020.   

In 2018, Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health signed a master affiliation agreement to form an integrated academic health system.  Through the affiliation, the university has been able to grow the research, education and clinical missions of its academic health programs, all housed within Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Accomplishments include:

• Recruitment of approximately 35 of the world’s foremost researchers in critical health care disciplines, including oncology and neurosurgery.
• Recruitment of more than 250 clinical faculty at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School, providing care to patients of all types.
• Major investment in the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, including a joint project to build a $750 million cancer pavilion in New Brunswick.
• Establishment of a $10 million fund to retain its top medical students and hire them within the shared health system.
• Development of a state-of-the-art clinical trial infrastructure, which supported COVID-19 vaccine trials by pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, among other critical pandemic studies.

For more information, visit rutgersrwjbhtogether.org.