Mission

The UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine is dedicated to providing excellence in medical education, research and health care for New Jersey and the nation. An emphasis on primary health care and community health services reflects the School’s osteopathic philosophy, with specialty care and centers of excellence demonstrating our commitment to innovation and quality in all endeavors. The School seeks to develop clinically skillful, compassionate and culturally competent physicians from diverse backgrounds, who are prepared to become leaders in their communities.

Vision

To be the best osteopathic medical school in the nation by providing a premier, dynamic academic environment that attracts and nurtures outstanding faculty, staff, and students who are dedicated to our mission to promote health and treat illness.

Essential Values and Guiding Principles

Collegiality - Promote mutual respect, reward collaboration, encourage the open exchange of ideas, and facilitate the growth and advancement of individuals.

Guiding Principle:  We recognize that it is outstanding, innovative, dedicated people, working as a team, who make our mission, vision, and values a reality.

Compassion -Be aware of, accept and respond to the physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs of others.

Guiding Principle:  We consider the well-being of people to be preeminent in all of our activities.

Diversity - Support and foster tolerance, cross-cultural awareness and the dignity of all, regardless of race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, gender, pregnancy or reproductive status, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital, familial or domestic partner or civil union status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or physical ability.

Guiding Principle:  We embrace all individuals in our communities and are committed to enhancing their health, knowledge, overall well-being, and opportunities.

Excellence - Provide superior education, patient care, and research.

Guiding Principle:  We are committed to excellence in osteopathic medical education, research, and clinical care, especially acknowledging the importance of our major partnerships in the fulfillment of our mission.  We measure our excellence against other outstanding academic health centers with a similar tripartite mission.

Innovation –Discover new ideas and develop cutting-edge knowledge to enhance the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease.

Guiding Principle: We are committed to innovation and collaboration across all aspects of our mission in the creation, discovery, delivery, and dissemination of new knowledge. 

Integrity - Demonstrate fairness, honesty, sincerity, professionalism, and a consistent commitment to our mission, vision, and values.

Guiding Principle:  e hold ourselves accountable for incorporating our mission, vision, and values into all operational processes, decision making, actions, and partnerships of the School.

Strategic Goals & Objectives, AY/FY 2011-2013

1. Goal 1. Implement coordinated growth in all mission domains, consistent with need, resources and quality

   1. Undergraduate Medical Education
      1. Complete implementation of class size expansion to approved maximum as supported by resources (funding, facilities, faculty) adequate to maintain quality
      2. Develop new opportunities for clinical education
         1. Forge new partnerships to support increased need for clinical education
         2. Expand opportunities for inter-professional education on the Stratford campus
         3. Develop new types of electives, e.g., Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s), managed care, public health, etc.
      3. Assess feasibility of branch campus
      4. Identify new curricular pathways to address physician need and reduce student debt
   2. Graduate Medical Education (GME)
      1. Develop existing and new GME programs and partnerships consistent with need, funding and accreditation
      2. Align new GME programs with class size expansion
   3. Clinical Services
      1. Continue to appoint highly qualified permanent chairs to strengthen and stabilize clinical leadership
      2. Strengthen UMDNJ-SOM’s market position in Southern NJ
      3. Improve quality through best practices
      4. Integrate clinical departments into a single, multispecialty faculty practice plan
      5. Integrate Kennedy (KUH) and UMDNJ-SOM services
         1. Pursue development of an accountable care organization (ACO) and medical home strategies
         2. Integrate clinical services from a patient-centered perspective (e.g., primary and specialty care, inpatient and outpatient care, medical and behavioral health care)
         3. Maximize the opportunities associated with the co-located academic health center in Stratford
   4. Research and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
      1. Focus research endeavors to develop critical mass in selected areas, e.g., neurosciences
      2. Pursue research related to Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM)
      3. Develop inter-disciplinary and collaborative research
      4. Provide research opportunities to meet the interests of undergraduate medical students
      5. Continue growth in GSBS programs, consistent with other educational and research commitments of basic science faculty
      6. Develop collaborative and dual-degree programs between GSBS-Stratford and industry and academic partners
   5. Statewide, regional and national role and partnerships
      1. Take leadership role in inter-professional education, research and care, in collaboration with other UMDNJ schools in Stratford
      2. Pursue opportunities for expanded statewide roles – Centers of Excellence, Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), etc.
      3. Strengthen partnerships with professional associations such as New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons (NJAOPS), the American Osteopathic Assn. (AOA), and others
   6. Faculty Recruitment and Retention
      1. Recruit and retain adequate number, mix and diversity of faculty to deliver the mission
      2. Utilize GME as a “farm system” for future faculty

2. Goal 2. Improve UMDNJ-SOM’s image and brand recognition

   1. Differentiate UMDNJ-SOM from other medical schools and health care providers in the market
   2. Brand UMDNJ-SOM & Kennedy as Southern New Jersey’s academic health center (AHC)
      1. Develop a shared AHC vision with Kennedy
      2. Leverage UMDNJ-SOM/KUH strengths to address possible Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
   3. Strengthen The University Doctors brand
   4. Utilize electronic technologies (web, social media, etc.) for marketing and branding

3. Goal 3. Improve service to internal and external customers

   1. Improve service to current and prospective patients
      1. Improve “front end” experience
      2. Improve “back end” experience
      3. Increase use of flexible hours to meet patient needs
      4. Improve patient flow
      5. Improve waiting room and office ambience
      6. Improve personal contact during visit
      7. Promote loyalty to Faculty Practice Plan (FPP), not just individual doctors
   2. Improve service to current and prospective students
      1. Continue to develop Center for Teaching and Learning
      2. Create a Center for Student Services to enhance campus community for students
   3. Improve service to current and prospective faculty
      1. Increase avenues for faculty involvement in decision making
      2. Create supportive environment for faculty
      3. Continue to improve faculty “on-boarding” process
   4. Improve community relations
      1. Work with Community Advisory Board and community partners to advance the mission, recognition and image of UMDNJ-SOM
      2. Work closely with host community of Stratford

4. Goal 4. Diversify revenue base to promote stability and provide funding for growth

   1. Strengthen academic health center funding relationship with Kennedy
   2. Assess feasibility of new business models with Kennedy
   3. Augment research revenue and training grant support, e.g.,Title VII
   4. Explore contractual uses for Vivarium
   5. Increase endowments and gifts from philanthropic sources, working with Foundation of UMDNJ
   6. Develop non-traditional revenue generating programs, independently or in collaboration with other schools of UMDNJ

5. Goal 5. Invest in infrastructure to support growth and quality improvement

   1. Implement electronic medical record (EMR) and advanced information technology
   2. Provide needed research facilities and services
      1. Increase biostatistical support
   3. Move ahead with the Campus Facilities Master Plan
      1. Proceed with planning for the Stratford Campus Access Improvement Project (SCAIP)
      2. Provide facilities required for new class size
   4. Improve data resources and applications for decision-making
      1. Track student outcomes and success predictors
      2. Develop markers for institutional assessment of missions, consistent with the requirements of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and Middle States Commission on Higher Education
      3. Assess patient needs/wants/opinions – current users and non-users, including online ratings of University Doctors
      4. Compile, analyze and apply market data for FPP and with Kennedy
      5. Compile, analyze and apply clinical outcome data for FPP and with Kennedy
      6. Compile, analyze and apply clinical productivity data
      7. Compile, analyze and apply data on FPP referral patterns