Rutgers Health

12/05/2025

What is the true measure of a successful career? For Brian Strom, the outgoing first Chancellor of Rutgers Health, it's the new generation of doctors and researchers he guided.

In his 12 years, he oversaw major institutional growth, but his greatest pride is the comprehensive faculty mentoring program he implemented, which is now a statewide model.

Strom even got to experience firsthand the powerful impact of mentorship when one of his earliest mentees, associate professor of surgery Gregory Peck, saved his life by diagnosing Strom with pancreatic gallstone disease. Peck's quick, impromptu diagnosis led to emergency surgery, saving his mentor's life.

When reflecting on his time at Rutgers Health, Chancellor Strom said this: “For all that we did building this institution – the integrations, the grants, the buildings, the systems – the heart of my career has always remained the same: teaching and mentorship. Seeing former trainees become leaders who elevate their entire field, that is the legacy I value most.”

His commitment to teaching proves that investing in people is the most powerful legacy of all.

12/03/2025

Congratulations to Riddhi Vyas of the Rutgers School of Health Professions for receiving the Rutgers Gateway Award as part of the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards!

This honor celebrates her exceptional efforts to remove barriers to education and her commitment to creating accessible, career-ready learning experiences through innovative curriculum design and student-focused teaching.

11/26/2025

Each year, an estimated 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses. Diane Calello of New Jersey Poison Control at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School shares essential tips to prevent food poisoning during holiday feasts.

Each year, an estimated 48 million Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die of food poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

11/25/2025

Rutgers’ reputation for excellence in nursing education recently drew the chief nurse officer for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, Rear Admiral Jennifer Moon, to campus.

The visit served a dual purpose: recognizing Rutgers' standing in health professions education while recruiting students for a federal service that most Americans – including nearly all the students Moon addressed – have never heard of.

“The opportunities that we have, the impact that we have, the influence that we have – public health nursing is much broader and more varied than typical clinical nursing,” Moon said when she spoke to nursing and social work students during her visit.

Learn more about the Rear Admiral’s visit and career opportunities at the USPHS: go.rutgers.edu/qiq68ikz

11/24/2025

Rutgers Health recently celebrated 40 years of research impact at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research. Through interdisciplinary studies, strategic partnerships across the University and a focus on addressing population health challenges, the institute has contributed to vital research in fields including state health policy, health services, pharmacoepidemiology, aging and global health.

Since its founding in 1985, the institute has supported hundreds of researchers and trainees, secured millions in grants, and advanced solutions to improve health outcomes. Today, it continues to foster collaboration across disciplines and apply rigorous science to tackle pressing public health issues.

11/21/2025

Congratulations to Chancellor Brian Strom on being named New Jersey’s 2025 Educator of the Year by the Research & Development Council. Even with a career filled with achievements, he says his proudest legacy is the students, clinicians, and researchers he mentored. A leader who built an institution and lifted the next generation with him.

11/20/2025

Recipients of the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards were recently honored for their outstanding service and impact within the Rutgers community and beyond. Among the honorees was the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center at the Rutgers School of Nursing, recognized for its exceptional frontline care for individuals and families affected by HIV.

Through compassionate, patient-centered care, the FXB team has raised viral load suppression rates from 86% to 93%, implemented innovative injectable treatments, and maintained zero new perinatal HIV infections since 2020. Patients stay with the center for an average of 18 years – and many since infancy – which is a testament to the trust and continuity the team provides. Every day, they overcome barriers such as housing instability and lack of insurance to ensure patients feel seen, supported, and valued.

Their work exemplifies Rutgers Excellence and makes a lasting difference in the lives of those they serve.

11/19/2025

At Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health, researchers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer treatment. In collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, two recent studies led by Christian Hinrichs, MD revealed something extraordinary – patients with advanced HPV-related cancers experienced long-term complete responses following treatment with engineered T cell therapy.

The first study, which evaluated the use of TCR-T cells designed to target the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein, showed remarkable results. Several patients – all of whom had advanced cancers that are generally regarded as incurable – saw substantial tumor shrinkage, and two experienced complete tumor regression that remains ongoing.

In a second study, investigators reported the extraordinary finding that two patients with metastatic cervical cancer remain in complete remission 10 years after receiving a single infusion of TIL therapy.

“These studies indicate that one-time cell therapies can achieve durable responses in epithelial cancers, which historically have been more resistant to these treatments than blood cancers,” said Dr. Hinrichs.

“The decade-long complete responses to TIL therapy give hope that these patients may be cured. The E7 T cell results that include complete responses are encouraging and support continued study of the approach.”

Congratulations to Dr. Hinrichs and his team on this incredible achievement, which is a major step forward for cancer treatment. 🎉

11/18/2025

A new Rutgers-led study shows that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act significantly increased access to PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV infection, among high-risk populations.

However, gains in access to PrEP were greater for white populations compared to Black, Hispanic, and Latino populations, indicating that racial disparities persist.

“These disparities highlight the limitations of relying solely on state-by-state insurance expansion to close gaps in HIV prevention,” says Rutgers Health expert, Elizabeth Stone.

“We need policy interventions that address the social and systemic factors driving inequities in PrEP access."

11/17/2025

An outstanding achievement. Congratulations, Omar! 🎉

Omar M. Abuattieh, a Rutgers doctoral student at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, has been selected as a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, earning one of the most prestigious international academic honors available to college graduates.

11/17/2025

To help limit the spread of respiratory viruses this winter, Rutgers Health pediatric nurse practitioner and educator, Meghan Faulkner, shares tips for prevention, symptom management, and when to seek medical care.

🤒 Avoid contact with others until your (or your child’s) fever has subsided for over 24 hours without medication.

🧼 Partake in excellent hand hygiene and masking while respiratory symptoms persist.

💉 Obtain annual COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

Learn more in the full Q&A: go.rutgers.edu/jhxd8ks1

11/14/2025

Teens and young adults who see alcohol promotions in their social media feeds are more likely to drink and binge drink, according to a Rutgers Health review of 31 studies that tracked links between exposure to digital alcohol marketing and real-world alcohol use.

“There’s growing evidence that it’s not how long you spend on social media but what content you see that affects you,” says Jon-Patrick Allem, a professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

“Young people being exposed to alcohol promotions online is associated with alcohol use across different contexts and populations.”

A Rutgers Health meta-analysis links digital alcohol marketing to higher odds of drinking among teens and young adults.