Rowan, rutgers, camden county college partner on health sciences

  With a ceremonial groundbreaking on Oct. 19, 2017, local, state and federal officials are joining with the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors (Joint Board of Governors) to celebrate the beginning of construction of the Joint Health Sciences Center, an innovative facility that will provide unique education and training opportunities to a new generation of health care providers.

“The next generation of health care professionals from New Jersey’s finest institutions will join forces at this state-of-the-art center in Camden, where they will be educated and trained to save, protect and change countless lives,” Governor Christie said. “This bipartisan development is a national model, leveraging the resources of several medical schools, universities and colleges to save taxpayers and students money. We are again breaking new ground to bolster the regional economy, create jobs and continue transforming Camden into a medical and health sciences center for New Jersey. Don’t blink, because City Invincible will soon be renowned as America’s hub of health care innovation.”
The construction of the 95,000 square-foot building will generate approximately $72 million in economic impact in the City of Camden alone. Even more importantly, the education and training that will take place in the Center will prepare generations of area residents for meaningful careers in health care and biomedical research.
Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. talked about the overall impact to the city and the region this new venture will deliver to the county.
“The Joint Health Sciences Center is already benefitting our community economically, and will grow to do much more in the future” Cappelli said. “This project will bring the best and brightest to Camden to specialize in research and scientific innovation. In the years to come, the two buildings will have to hire staff and educators and work with local contractors for a variety of services as well. This will facilitate new job growth for residents and new revenue opportunities for existing businesses.”
Set to open in the spring of 2019 at the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Broadway in downtown Camden, the Joint Health Sciences Center will be the first of its kind in New Jersey.
“We’re seeing the future of science, the future of medicine and the future of education right here in Camden,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Thanks to the collaborations between our South Jersey institutions, Camden is both attracting and retaining great students and educators. This center will bring world-class research and hundreds of jobs to our area and I look forward to seeing our Eds and Meds Corridor continue to grow.”
The Joint Health Sciences Center is designed to co-locate students from different academic disciplines to share laboratories, equipment and classrooms, exposing students to a broader educational experience and encouraging the connection of talents, goods and services. Rutgers-Camden, Rowan University, the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Camden County College and Joint Board of Governors administrators will all have a presence in the Center. Approximately two-thirds of the space will be dedicated to research, multi-purpose rooms and offices focused on biomedical research.
“Thanks to Governor Chris Christie, Congressman Donald Norcross and Senate President Steve Sweeney, for the first time in New Jersey, one facility will co-locate important functions of two, four-year institutions, two medical schools and a county college, all with the goal of providing a continuum of research, education and training opportunities,” said Kris Kolluri, Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Board of Governors.
The Joint Board of Governors believes that an integrated facility like the Joint Health Sciences Center will serve as a model for how other state-funded institutions could avoid the need for duplicative facilities, thus lowering the burden on taxpayers.
The Joint Board of Governors received full approval for all the grant funds in the summer of 2016.