SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Rowan University and Virtua Health are partnering to create an academic health and research system, which will include New Jersey's first osteopathic medical school.
As far as professional relationships go, this is kind of a big deal, merging two of the most recognized names in South Jersey. The collaboration will create the Virtua Health College of Medicine and Health Sciences of Rowan University.
Virtua Health president Dennis Pullin said the goal is to produce skilled doctors, nurses and health professionals for South Jersey.
"Hopefully by training them, we'll also be able to retain them in the region, and that's a real important part of this affiliation," he said.
Rowan President Dr. Ali Houshmand said he doesn't view this as a competitive situation with the handful of other medical schools in the area. Instead, he thinks it will further cement the region's strength in medicine and innovation.
"If we collaborate and put all of our resources between the seven medical schools together, this is the most giant and attractive location in all of America, exactly midway been New York and Washington D.C.," Houshmand said.
One of the non-negotiable priorities for him is making the school affordable and accessible to a diverse student body.
An $85 million gift from Virtua will help build an endowment, hire top-notch faculty and cover construction for a state of the art research facility.
"By investing in these types of things, you're investing in the community," said Pullin, "and so it's making this region a more attractive place to stay.
