The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley, N.J. — the first private medical school to open in the state in more than 60 years — is now ready for students.
The medical school, which is a joint venture between Edison, N.J-based Hackensack Meridian Health and South Orange, N.J.-based Seton Hall University, began accepting applications for its first class of 55 students the week of March 19. It is now the only private medical school open in New Jersey.
Students will complete their training at one of 16 hospitals in the Hackensack Meridian Health network. The curriculum will focus on value-based care initiatives and will pair medical students with other health professionals to shadow families living in poor communities to understand the impact the environment has on health. In addition, students will have an option to complete a three-year program, which can significantly reduce expenses.
One of the main goals of the medical school is to reduce the shortage of physicians in New Jersey, which is estimated to reach 3,000 physicians by 2020.
"We've seen a huge exodus from New Jersey with medical students receiving education out of state," Robert Garrett, co-CEO for Hackensack Meridian Health, told The Wall Street Journal. "We're hoping to reverse a talent drain."
Hackensack Meridian Health plans to establish a $100 million endowment fund to provide scholarships to students.
Seton Hall University will also relocate its nursing school and its health sciences school near the medical school to create an interprofessional health sciences campus.