1. A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Outlook
Spring 2010
Family Builds Lifetime
Partnership with SOM Doctor
Lavi Ben Moshe was born with Canavan disease, a rare,
inherited neurological disorder caused by a defective gene
found primarily in those of Ashkenazi Jewish and Saudi
Arabian heritage. His parents were told that Lavi would
not be able to see or hear and would most likely not live
to be 48 months old.
When they received that devastating diagnosis, Gili and
Yulia Ben Moshe began searching the Internet for treatment
options. They learned about Paola Leone, PhD, associate
professor of cell biology and director of the cell and gene
therapy center (CGTC) at the School of Osteopathic
Medicine, who has made astounding progress in treating
the disease by combining stem cell and gene therapy to
replace compromised brain cells with healthy cells.
(l-r) Yulia Ben Moshe They flew from Israel to see Dr. Leone. After five weeks of pharmacologic treatments,
with son Lavi and Lavi was smiling, hearing and reacting. At 22 months old, he now sees Dr. Leone
Dr. Paola Leone every three months for follow up treatment while awaiting a revolutionary stem cell
procedure that she is developing.
The Ben Moshe family started a campaign to help advance Dr. Leone’s research. They
have raised $284,000 toward a goal of $1.5 million through www.give2lavi.org.
“We have a lifetime partnership with Dr. Leone that involves complete trust and
deep friendship,” explained Mr. Ben Moshe. “We have a deep appreciation for the
invaluable work that Dr. Leone has done with Lavi and other children like him.”
You can help ...
Dr. Leone’s research also has implications for new treatments for other neurological
diseases like Tay Sachs, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
To help, contact Farah Stith, director of development, at (856) 282-4417 or
fstith@njhf.org.

2. Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Preparing Future Public
Health Leaders
To Dr. Mark Robson, professor of environmental and occupational health at the
UMDNJ-School of Public Health (SPH), receiving the prestigious 2009 Association of
Schools of Public Health (ASPH)/ Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence in Public
Health was not just about him. He also feels it’s “about the students.”
That’s why he donated the $10,000 cash prize to the Foundation of
UMDNJ, to be used primarily toward the Robson Scholarship Fund,
which helps public health students in financial need meet their
educational objectives. The fund was established in 2006 by Charles
Brown, the father of one of Dr. Robson’s students.
Dr. Robson also designated a portion of the award to the international
health program that is part of the UMDNJ Fogarty ITREOH Center in
Thailand for work at the College of Public Health Sciences at
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
“I hope other faculty members follow my lead,” said Dr. Robson. “Some
students have incredible needs, and what may seem like a small amount
to us can make all the difference in whether they are able to complete
(l-r) Dr. Mark Robson, their educations and advance their careers.”
Dr. George F. Heinrich, Dr. Robson cites not just financial support, but the importance of mentors in
Dr. Audrey Gotsch encouraging the next generation of public health educators and leaders. For example,
Dr. Robson mentored Dr. David Rich, who is now on the SPH epidemiology faculty.
“Dr. Robson, who is also the Dean of Agricultural and Urban Programs at Rutgers
University, is widely recognized by his national and international colleagues for the
quality of his teaching and mentoring skills that have and will continue to prepare
our future public health leaders,” said Dean Audrey R. Gotsch, DrPH, CHES. “We
are delighted that he received this notable honor, and that he has made a very
generous leadership gift dedicated for student scholarships.”
You can help ...
To support students at the School of Public Health, contact Jackie Quigley,
director of development, at (908) 731-6590 or jquigley@njhf.org.
The Foundation of UMDNJ Writing by: Dennis Tartaglia, Newark. New Brunswick. Stratford
George F. Heinrich, MD Mindy Waizer Toll-free (866) 44-UMDNJ
Vice Chairman and CEO Design by: Alexander & Richardson www.umdnj.edu/foundation
James M. Golubieski Photographs by: Chris Herder Please send comments to:
President Photography/Jacob’s Cure; dheffler@njhf.org
Dale R. Heffler Al Sundstrom Photography;
Vice President, Communications Robert McBride
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3. Outlook
Delta Dental:
Guarding Dental Care in NJ
Some would call them the guardian angels of New Jersey
dentistry. They call themselves Delta Dental of New Jersey.
Supporters of UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (NJDS) and the
UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions since 1991, Delta
Dental of New Jersey has contributed more than $4 million for a
variety of programs, including grants to fund research, student
scholarships and programs that enhance patient care.
They have provided the Dental School with the largest gift in its
history to build and equip the Delta Dental Educational Conference
Center in Newark, which has hosted hundreds of events for dental
professionals, students and community residents.
In addition to special projects, Delta Dental has continued its Dr. Steven Toth with
on-going support by providing a number of annual scholarship awards: student Isabel Martins
n A $5,000 grant to NJDS will provide student scholarships and support the 21st
Annual Deckle McLean Memorial Lecture, providing an opportunity to dental
professionals throughout NJ to learn more about geriatric dentistry.
n A $20,000 gift to the School of Health Related Professions will fund scholarships
for dental hygiene and dental assisting students. An average of 10 students per
year have received scholarships through this program since 2002, thanks to
Delta Dental’s ongoing support.
Last year, Delta Dental helped to meet an urgent need when it awarded a $25,000
grant to sustain a hygiene program for patients in the Special Care Treatment Center
at the Dental School, which provides dental care to patients with special needs.
Without this grant, the Treatment Center would have been faced with cutting or
reducing this valuable program.
Another gift for $25,000 was just received to maintain the program for another year.
“Delta Dental and its Foundation are committed to improving dental health for
residents throughout the state,” explained Gerald Sydell, DDS, chair of the board
of Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. “A partnership with New Jersey Dental School
and the School of Health Related Professions, which both share that charge, enables
us to all work together to improve the dental health of thousands of residents in
New Jersey.”
You can help ...
To support students, research and patient care programs at NJDS, contact
Andrea West, director of development, at (973) 679-4693 or awest@njhf.org.
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4. Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Small Gift Makes Large Impact
A small seed grant can grow to make a significant difference.
That is what Charles Steiner, DO, imagined when he gave $5,000 two years
ago to support the research of a promising DO/PhD student at the UMDNJ-
School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM).
Dr. Steiner has long believed in the importance of research to demonstrate
the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which uses
non-invasive techniques to ease pain, promote healing and increase mobility.
“Clinical evidence is not enough,” he said. “It’s important for us to produce
measurable data.”
Thanks to that grant, Randel Swanson, PhD, could branch off from his original
research focus on calcium signaling into studies on the science behind OMM.
One result was the publication of a case report in the Journal of the American
Osteopathic Association (JAOA) earlier this year. The paper examines the use of
OMM to treat a movement disorder known as Trendelenburg gait.
(l-r) Drs. Swanson, “As a basic researcher, I had no experience on the clinical side,” said
Venkataraman and Dr. Swanson’s mentor, Venkat Venkataraman, PhD, a neuroscientist. “Dr. Steiner’s
Steiner (seated) gift enabled us to develop research questions related to OMM, how mechanical
alterations produce disability and how they can be reversed.”
Dr. Steiner’s gift also allowed Drs. Swanson and Venkataraman to successfully
compete for two $10,000 grants from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation
Endowment for Primary Care Research at SOM, enabling them to pursue the
research published in JAOA. They have taken their ideas even further and are
writing a proposal to the National Institutes of Health for additional funding.
And, Dr. Steiner’s grant encouraged groups that hadn’t interacted before — cell
biologists and practicing osteopathic physicians — to work together on ongoing
OMM research.
“This began as a side project for me; now it is a major focus of my research,” said
Dr. Swanson. “His gift has made a tremendous difference for me and my career
as a scientist.”
You can help ...
To promote the osteopathic sciences at SOM, you can fund:
n OMM research by faculty
n OMM research by DO/PhD students
n The endowment campaign to perpetually support an OMM resident
For more information, contact June Hampson, PhD, vice president for
development, at (856) 282-4415 or jhampson@njhf.org.
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5. Outlook
To Keep Doctors in New Jersey
A report by the New Jersey Council on Teaching Hospitals that revealed an
anticipated shortage of 2,800 doctors in New Jersey by 2020 prompted the
Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation to action.
Working with MDAdvantage to support future doctors in the state,
the Foundation created a fund to provide medical students with
scholarships to help New Jersey recruit and keep top doctors.
Three scholarships were awarded, all to UMDNJ students who
demonstrated excellence in academics, a commitment to the
community and financial need. Robert Paul Bonitz from
New Jersey Medical School, Noreen Kelly of Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School and Natalie Hyppolite from the School
of Osteopathic Medicine each received $10,000 scholarships to
support their studies.
“At a time when medical schools across the state are facing
significant budget cutbacks, I am pleased to have forged a
partnership with MDAdvantage and the Edward J. Ill Excellence Scholarship winners
in Medicine Foundation,” said George F. Heinrich, MD, vice chairman and (l-r) Noreen Kelly,
CEO of the Foundation of UMDNJ. “We all share a common goal: to recruit Robert Paul Bonitz,
the best and brightest to New Jersey and to keep them practicing here.” Natalie Hyppolite
This new fund is a perfect fit with the awards program named after Edward J. Ill,
MD, a New Jersey physician who was a pioneer in promoting medical education in
ways that set the national standard. While the longstanding awards program has
been honoring physicians since 1939, it did not take on a charitable purpose until
it teamed up with MDAdvantage in 2003.
“Our physicians are among the top providers in the nation,” said Patricia A.
Costante, chairman and CEO of MDAdvantage. “We must continue to support the
development and education of physicians so New Jersey families can continue to
have access to the high quality health care to which we have become accustomed.”
You can help ...
You can help a UMDNJ student achieve his or her dream by establishing a
scholarship at any of UMDNJ’s eight schools. Contact George F. Heinrich, MD,
vice chair and CEO of the Foundation of UMDNJ, at (908) 731-6607 or
heinrich@umdnj.edu for more information.
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6. Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Donor Gift Advances Spinal Cord
Injury Research in NJMS Lab
Dr. Kormakur Hognason
and Dr. Robert F. Heary Tim Reynolds, co-founder of Jane Street Capital, is passionate about finding a
(background) cure for spinal cord injuries. To help accomplish that goal, he has donated over
$6 million over the past five years to support spinal cord injury research at
UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS).
His latest gift of $2.1 million has enabled Robert F. Heary, MD, professor of
neurological surgery and director of The Tim Reynolds Family Spinal Cord Injury
Laboratory, to add staff and assist New Jersey Medical School in achieving a long
awaited goal—enhancing the core research facilities.
Continued on next page >
6

7. Outlook
“Visiting the lab and seeing Dr. Heary’s reports, I’m confident that if anyone can find
the cure for spinal cord injuries, he can,” said Mr. Reynolds. “I’m fortunate to be in
a position to be able to support this work, which is so important to me, my family
and others around the world with spinal cord injuries.”
“ I’m fortunate to be in
The number of distinguished doctors, researchers, and students working in the lab
is growing. Stella Elkabes, PhD, an accomplished researcher in the NJMS department a position to be able
of Neurology and Neuroscience, has accepted a secondary appointment to the to support this work,
faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Elkabes is the first full-time
which is so important to
basic science researcher collaborating and scientifically co-directing the Reynolds
Lab. Amanda Meade, PhD, has also recently joined the lab full time, focusing on me, my family
stem cell and immunological research. In addition, Brian David, PhD, has joined the and others around
lab to focus on experimental spinal cord injury work. the world with spinal
“Over the past four years, our lab has been a springboard for the academic careers cord injuries.”
of many young researchers, and we are building a reputation for excellence within
the field,” said Dr. Heary. “The best and brightest are now seeking us out. This is a — Tim Reynolds
good indicator for our future growth.”
This latest gift from Mr. Reynolds was instrumental in helping New Jersey Medical
School receive a $15 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to enhance
its biomedical research capabilities on UMDNJ’s Newark campus.
You can help ...
The Reynolds Laboratory offers the opportunity to engage medical students,
graduate students, surgical residents, and fellows in the research and
development of new approaches to treating spinal cord injuries. Currently,
there are more students interested in working with the laboratory than we
can financially accommodate (i.e. to cover stipends, materials, equipment and
supplies). Donations to the Reynolds Laboratory are gratefully welcomed to help
prepare the next generation of translational neuroscientists.
For more information contact Elizabeth Ketterlinus, vice president for
development, at (973) 679-4684 or eketterlinus@njhf.org.
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8. Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Grant Will Speed Emergency Care
for Thousands of NJ Residents
A $142,000 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey can mean the
difference between life and death for thousands of New Jersey residents who
depend on UMDNJ’s University Hospital Emergency Medical Service (UH-EMS) to
transport them to hospitals throughout the state.
“ This program has the The University Hospital-EMS Wireless Project will enable the service to transmit
potential to benefit lifesaving information to the hospital’s emergency department before patients
more than 30,000 arrive. The technology is possible in part because of a unique partnership with the
City of Newark’s emergency telecommunications network.
Newark residents and
“This was one of the largest grants we gave last year because it can benefit so
many more beyond
many,” said Marsha I. Atkind, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey executive director.
the city’s borders.”
The grant is helping UH-EMS convert to electronic health records, as required by
— Marsha I. Atkind the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services. The new technology will
provide first responders — and those at the receiving hospital — access to quality
diagnostic information while a patient is en route. For suspected heart attack
victims, the technology will transmit electrocardiogram findings directly to the smart
phone of a hospital cardiologist, who can determine whether to bring the patient
directly to the cardiac catheterization lab, bypassing the ER.
“With a brief window of opportunity for heart attack, stroke and other emergency
patients, this grant will enable us to get information to clinicians on the hospital
floor quickly and accurately,” said Nancy Hamstra, MPA, EMS director, University
Hospital. “It will also provide critical support should disaster strike in the region.”
The UH-EMS service transports more than 100,000 patients a year to 36 different
hospitals throughout the state.The grant will equip all UH-EMS rigs for wireless
communication.
You can help ...
More than $60,000 has been contributed to a new fund at University Hospital,
the Tree of Life, to support equipment needs at the hospital.
If you would like to help, contact Elizabeth Ketterlinus, vice president for
development, at (973) 679-4684 or eketterlinus@njhf.org, to discuss available
options.
8

9. Outlook
Of Special Interest….
Honoring a Friend and Colleague: Promoting Good Science:
The Department of Allied Dental Education at Supporting UMDNJ is a family affair for the
UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions Grover family. In 2007, Dr. Gary and Janis
recently presented the first awards from the Grover gave $1 million to establish the Janis
Andrew P. McCormick Memorial Scholarship and Gary Grover Endowed Professorship in
and Award Fund to graduating students in the Physiology and Biophysics at Robert Wood
dental hygiene and dental assisting programs. Johnson Medical School to help finance research
The fund honors the late Andrew P. McCormick, for faculty members.
who passed away in 2008. A former detective Now, Dr. Edward R. Grover and Waters
with the Newark Police department, Mr. Corporation, at which he is the bulk synthesis
McCormick served as a sergeant for the production/chemistry technical support manager,
UMDNJ Police Department of Scotch Plains, have given a gift of equipment valued at $35,000
where he received the Dean’s Citation Award in to allow scientists at Snowdon, Inc. to improve
2007 The McCormick Fund was established with
. upon the speed and quality of its research.
the generous contributions of family, friends and
Snowdon, a drug discovery and development
colleagues from the Scotch Plains campus.
company founded by William Welsh, PhD,
Enhancing the Adolescent Program: holder of the Norman H. Edelman Endowed
The François Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center at Professorship at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson
the UMDNJ-School of Nursing received Medical School, is a UMDNJ start-up company
a $5,000 grant from The Rite Aid Foundation in which Foundation Venture Capital Group, an
for the FXB Clinic Adolescent Initiative, which affiliate of New Jersey Health Foundation, invested.
has achieved considerable success in providing
Supporting Implant Dentistry:
support to its young adult clients, 98% of
UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School has received a
whom acquired HIV/AIDS as infants. Funding
$50,000 fellowship award from Zimmer, Inc.,
from Rite Aid will allow FXB to provide cash
in support of the post-graduate program in
cards for medication and insurance co-payments,
prosthodontics, specifically in implant dentistry.
and support the expansion of life skills support
This is the second fellowship award from
programs and recreational activities.
Zimmer for this program and testament to the
quality program built by Dr. Robert Flinton at the
Dental School. The fellowship supports
one of 15 post-graduates and helps provide
complex dental care for prosthodontic patients,
most of whom are uninsured or underinsured.
9

10. Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate
Connecting you with causes you care about ...
To make health care more accessible to children in
Elizabeth, NJ, the Schering-Plough Foundation donated
$250,000 to expand the services of the New Jersey
Children’s Health Project, a mobile medical clinic run
by the UMDNJ-School of Nursing in partnership with
the Children’s Health Fund. Here, (l-r) Erica Ferry,
former president of the Schering-Plough Foundation
and Joseph Starkey, executive director of state and
community affairs at Schering-Plough, present a
check to Dr. Arturo Brito, chief medical officer of the
Children’s Health Fund and James M. Golubieski,
president of the Foundation of UMDNJ.
Dr. Richard and Ann Silver Pozen donated $1 million to New Jersey Medical School to help students gain
exposure to, and hopefully pursue careers in, community medicine. The Pozen Community Scholars Program
provides stipends for up to 12 first-year medical students to perform six-week community service internships in
Newark neighborhoods. At the first Pozen Scholar Day, scholarship winners were pictured with (l-r) Foundation
of UMDNJ Vice Chair and CEO Dr. George F. Heinrich; Vice Dean of NJMS Dr. Maria Soto-Green; Dr. Richard and
Ann Silver Pozen and NJMS Interim Dean Dr. Robert Johnson.
10

11. Outlook
As part of her Bat Mitzvah preparations,
Naomi Schachter, a 12 year old from Summit, NJ,
recently organized Tumbling for Babies to provide
special baby books for the families of infants in
The University Hospital’s neonatal intensive care
unit. Naomi and 24 other tumblers raised $2,000.
Naomi is here with (l-r) Theresa Rejrat, Jacinta
Ogbonna and Gloria Igwe, representing the Hospital.
The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation, dedicated to
building teen centers in hospitals throughout the
area, recently donated bandana pillows and backpacks
for the Teen Center at The University Hospital, adding
to their past support equipping the Center with
teen-friendly computers and activity centers.
(l-r) Gisele DiNatale and Liz Horvitz, both from the
Foundation, presented the gifts to The University
Hospital representative Ileen Henderson.
The Columbian Foundation, a Clifton, NJ, non-profit
organization founded in 1941 by business and
professional men of Italian descent, awarded $20,000 in
scholarships to medical students at the UMDNJ-New
Jersey Medical School. Recipients are (l-r) Michael
Scordo, Silvano Samartine, Melissa Appio, Anthony
Scoccimarro and Matthew Moralle.
11

12. Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
New Brunswick, NJ
Permit #1
120 Albany Street
Tower II, Suite 850
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Connecting you with causes you care about ...
At the Foundation of UMDNJ we take great pride in our ability to connect donors and their passions
with people at the University who share those same passions. If you want to support the extraordinary
work being done at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey every day, we can help.
Your gift can help advance medical research, fund scholarships for health care professionals of the future,
support patient care programs or assure that quality health care is available for all who need it.
And 100 percent of your gift — every dollar—goes directly to the areas you specify.
To donate online, visit umdnj.edu/foundation and click on Make a Donation. If you would like more information,
contact our President, Jim Golubieski, at (908) 731-6601 or jgolubieski@njhf.org.