Rowan, Cooper Celebrate Medical School Partnership

Hundreds of well-wishers celebrated the partnership October 22 of Rowan University and Cooper University Hospital and the union's highly anticipated result - Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

The partnership, which was announced in late June, developed from an executive order from Gov. Jon Corzine that called upon Rowan and Cooper to develop a four-year allopathic medical school in Camden. The first class of students is expected to begin in 2012.

The celebration, in Cooper's glittering new pavilion lobby in Camden, drew a wide and august guest list that included Gov. Corzine and former Gov. Brendan T. Byrne, whose work in office 29 years ago started the process to create the new school.

Rowan President Donald J. Farish said from the moment Cooper Chairman George E. Norcross III suggested the partnership university officials were thrilled.

"The more we learned about Cooper, the more we were impressed by it," President Farish said.

He noted that Rowan, which in 2009 celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of its Camden campus, now has even more to celebrate.

He thanked Gov. Corzine for creating the opportunity, Rowan's Board of Trustees for embracing it, and Rowan's new educational partner, the world-class physicians, nurses and staff at Cooper.

"This is a venture in higher education that we all share," Pres. Farish said.

State, local and hospital officials said the new medical school will help address a growing shortage of physicians in the state and across America and it will directly improve the quality of health care in the region.

Norcross credited Gov. Corzine, who was treated at the hospital following a near-fatal car crash in 2007, with an act of huge lasting significance.

"Great leaders have a vision and this governor has executed on that vision," he said. "I for one will be eternally grateful for what you have done for the people of South Jersey."

Like other speakers, the Governor referred to the Cooper/Rowan partnership as a marriage, one expected to produce outstanding physicians for decades to come.

"This will be one of the great medical schools in America," the Governor declared.

Referring to New Jersey as "the medicine chest to the world," the Governor said the partnership "is not just about medicine but the science coming out of Rowan University. It will feed our bio-tech and pharmaceutical industries for years to come."

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University will be financed in accordance with Gov. Corzine's Executive Reorganization Plan through the re-allocation of existing resources. Construction of a medical school building is planned for a full block on the west side of Broadway between Benson and Washington Streets in Camden.