On July 1, Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) will assume full financial responsibility of Seton Hall’s new Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Interim president Dr. Mary Meehan shared in an email that this agreement between the university and HMH was made to lower the financial burden imposed upon SHU. However, the change does not affect the College of Nursing or School of Health and Medical Sciences.
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Photo via Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) will assume full financial responsibility of Seton Hall’s new Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine on July 1.[/caption]
When asked why this decision was made, Meehan said that SHU wanted to avoid the financial risk the university would assume if it continued with the original agreement. Seton Hall and Hackensack Meridian officials struck a deal that would allow the same resources to prospective students, while lowering the financial strain for Seton Hall. Meehan said that they were pleased to have reached this outcome and strengthen ties with HMH.
Meehan also shared that HMH will eventually assume academic responsibility in the future, something that will not happen for another three to five years.
“Even after full sponsorship is turned over to HMH, we will maintain the provisions of our current relationship,” Meehan said. “The College of Nursing and SHMS will remain at the IHS site, and all other partnership arrangements will remain in effect. The College of Nursing and SHMS are accredited through Seton Hall and this will not change.”
HMH is a statewide system with 16 hospitals and health care providers consisting of about 35,000 employees, said Dr. Bonita Stanton, dean of the School of Medicine. HMH has been collaborating with SHU to create the new Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Nutley-Clifton.
University spokesperson Laurie Pines said in an email that Seton Hall would still remain the accreditor and academic manager of the SOM (School of Medicine). According to Pines, this means the university will still manage deans, transcripts, curriculum, etc. Pine assured this decision would not affect dean Stanton’s position.
“This is a win-win for us relieving the University of a very large financial commitment while still giving us all the benefits of the SOM [School of Medicine],” Pines said.
Another negotiation made between SHU and HMH, according to Pines, is the guaranteed continuation of clinical and residency placements for students.
HMH is allowing for 25 percent of the incoming class to be reserved solely to Seton Hall graduating applicants, Meehan stated.
Stanton also shared that applicants will be contacted this week to receive their admittance status. The first inaugural class of 55 students is expected to start classes this July.
Hannah Sakha can be reached hannah.sakha@student.shu.edu.
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