From left, Dr. William Owen Jr., dean and chancellor, Ross University School of Medicine and Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University, sign an agreement to increase pathways to medical school at Saint Peter’s campus on August 14.
Jersey City, N.J. – August 14, 2019 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that it has signed an agreement with Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) to create an educational pathway program that makes it easier for Saint Peter’s graduates to study medicine at RUSM. Through the agreement, qualified Saint Peter’s students who earn full acceptance into the medical school will receive a scholarship covering full tuition for the first semester. This partnership was developed in an effort to drive diversity in the U.S. physician workforce, particularly among the country’s Hispanic population, as Saint Peter’s has been designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) for more than 20 years.
“Student success is not only measured by what our students accomplish while they are here, but what they go on to accomplish after graduation,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “This partnership with RUSM exemplifies our mission to find new pathways to employment and career advancement for our diverse student population.”
As a HSI, Saint Peter’s has been consistently recognized for its commitment to serving Latino students. In 2016 Saint Peter’s was awarded the Title III HSI STEM grant for $3.8 million to support SURGE (STEM Undergraduate Retention, Graduation, and Empowerment) that provides opportunities for research. In 2018 Saint Peter’s also received the NSF’s first ever Hispanic-serving grant for $1.5 million to build STEM internship experiences. Most recently Saint Peter’s was selected as one of 20 nationwide finalists to receive a Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit organization that seeks to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.
“The U.S. needs more Hispanic and Latino physicians if the medical profession is to serve our communities effectively,” said William F. Owen, Jr., M.D., FACP, dean and chancellor of RUSM. “The lack of a diverse physician workforce negatively impacts healthcare outcomes in Hispanic communities and communities of color that are typically prone to high rates of chronic diseases. We’re working to address that long overdue challenge to increase the diversity of our nation’s physicians by partnering with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), using novel student engagements, validated support programs and senior-level commitments to success.”
Representatives from Saint Peter’s and RUSM officially signed the agreement at an event today on the Saint Peter’s campus.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
The mission of Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is to prepare highly dedicated students to become effective, successful physicians by focusing on imparting the knowledge, skills and values required to establish a successful and satisfying career. Comprised of a medical campus in Barbados, administrative offices in Florida and affiliate teaching hospitals throughout the U.S., RUSM is committed to educating a diverse group of skilled physicians. Founded in 1978, RUSM is part of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), a leading workforce solutions provider headquartered in the U.S. For more information on our accreditation, please visit: medical.rossu.edu/accreditation.
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