HackensackUniversity Health Network (HackensackUHN) and Seton Hall University (SHU) announced that the two institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a new, four-year school of medicine.  

This partnership will establish the only private school of medicine currently in the state and provide a significant economic boost to the region. The school intends to locate on the campus of the former Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), a state-of-the-art biomedical facility, in Nutley and Clifton, New Jersey.

Establishing a school of medicine with the backing of two esteemed institutions will attract the best and brightest to the field of medicine in the State of New Jersey and help curb the critical physician shortage that the state and the nation currently face. By 2020, it is estimated there will be a shortage of 2,500 physicians in the Garden State.  HackensackUHN and SHU's joint venture to create a premier academic institution will help combat the physician shortage by providing key educational, research, and career opportunities to incentivize the next generation to pursue a career in medicine.

"We are excited to be taking this next step with Seton Hall University. Our academic reputations, combined with our clinical expertise, will guarantee the establishment of a world-class academic institution in the Garden State," said Robert C. Garrett, president and CEO of HackensackUHN.  "New Jersey has long been known as a home to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and it is imperative we continue to support our future workforce through a premier school of medicine."

"Seton Hall University has always been committed to academic excellence and servant leadership, Hackensack University HealthNetwork has always been committed to healthcare excellence," said Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, president of Seton Hall University. "As a Catholic university with strong programs in the sciences, nursing, health and medical sciences, and health law, we are perfectly poised to create a school of medicine that will educate talented people in the diverse fields of healthcare." Garrett added, "The school of medicine will create thousands of highly skilled jobs for New Jerseyans in the years to come, attracting new businesses to relocate to our great state to take advantage of our highly skilled workforce. I look forward to partnering with Seton Hall University to making this school of medicine among the best in the nation."

The school of medicine will be committed to educational and healthcare excellence, cutting-edge research, high quality care, and the advancement of medical and health science educational imperatives.

Seton Hall's plan to integrate their nursing and allied health programs with the new school of medicine is not only innovative but mirrors how healthcare will be delivered in the future.

HackensackUHN's hospitals will serve as the primary clinical teaching sites for SHU and SHU-affiliated graduate education programs. Access to HackensackUHN's premier healthcare facilities and training programs will provide hands-on experience and incentivize highly-trained researchers and physicians to live and work in New Jersey upon graduation. The first class is expected to begin within the next three years.

"HackensackUHN and Seton Hall's vision to create this school of medicine is truly inspirational. Repurposing Roche's premier state-of-the art facility for this purpose is an excellent fit troche’s purpose of 'Doing now what patients need next,"' said Tom Lyon, vice president and site head, Roche. "Creating a pipeline of future healthcare professionals truly embodies Roche's vision and continues the positive healthcare-related legacy for the local communities. As we divest the site, we look forward to working withHackensackUHN and Seton Hall and the ultimate new owner of the Roche campus to help make the new school of medicine a reality.“

Subject to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) approval, an agreement is expected to be finalized in early 2015.

Hackensack University Health Network is the New Jersey-based parent company of HackensackUMC, the HackensackUMC Foundation, Hackensack University HealthPartners Medical Group, and corporate joint venture partners with LHP Hospital Group (Dallas, TX) in ownership of two hospitals: HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley and HackensackUMC Mountainside.