Annette Reboli, Dean, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

In an interview with Invest:, Annette Reboli, dean of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, discussed the school’s key milestones, achievements, and the impact of emerging trends in technology and biotech. “This is a huge area of focus for us. I always tell our students that the rate of change for their generation will be exponential,” she said.

What were some of the key milestones and achievements for Cooper Medical School over the past few years?

There have been quite a few significant milestones. One of the biggest accomplishments was our first reaccreditation by our accrediting body, the LCME, in 2021. We passed with flying colors and received the maximum accreditation period of eight years. The site visit was conducted virtually over three days due to the pandemic, with an in-person visit occurring later. We submitted thousands of pages of documentation, and they reviewed every aspect of our school —12 standards and 93 elements— including our educational program, student support services, and faculty.

Another major milestone came in 2019 when we received the Spencer Foreman Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), our trade organization. This award recognizes a medical school or academic medical center for its commitment to community engagement, and we were honored to be selected from hundreds of institutions. Serving the community is a core part of our mission. Our students not only learn medicine here but often return to practice and teach, reinforcing our commitment to the local population. Each graduating class contributes over 16,000 hours of service to the community. Our admissions process prioritizes students who have a passion for working in urban and underserved areas.

In 2023, we received an award from the AAMC for our career counseling services and have also been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report multiple times for having the highest percentage of graduates entering primary care. In 2023, we led New Jersey and Philadelphia, and the year before, we topped the rankings in the New Jersey and the New York metropolitan areas. Additionally, we have been recognized for our research initiatives, ranking alongside institutions like Drexel and Temple.

As part of our growth, we have launched a Center for Humanism to ensure compassionate care is integrated throughout our curriculum, benefiting not only our medical students but also our residents, faculty, and other healthcare professionals. We are also on the verge of launching a Center for Population Health and another for Global Health. The Global Health initiative recognizes that healthcare is interconnected worldwide, a reality made clear during the pandemic. Our students have opportunities to gain experience abroad under faculty supervision in Africa, Asia, particularly Vietnam, and the Dominican Republic.

What gives Cooper Medical School its competitive edge and industry recognition?

I would say our secret sauce is our people —our faculty, staff, and students. Our faculty and staff are deeply dedicated to our mission, which is centered on serving underserved communities. When we interview prospective students, faculty, or staff, we look for individuals who align with this mission. They could be highly skilled, but if they aren’t committed to working in an urban, underserved environment, this may not be the right place for them.

Our students are creative, energetic, and driven. We are seeing a transformation in Camden. The city faced difficult times, but we believe it’s on an upward trajectory, and we are proud to be part of that progress.

Have demographic changes impacted your enrollment, and what strategies are you using to attract and retain students in this growing region?

About 70% of our students are from New Jersey, which aligns with our responsibility as a state school to produce doctors for the state. Unfortunately, New Jersey faces a projected physician shortage, particularly in primary care and some subspecialties. We are committed to addressing this workforce gap.

Since our first graduating class in 2016, we have seen many alumni return to practice in New Jersey. The earliest they could complete their residency and return was in 2019, and we’ve already observed a significant number of them working at Cooper University Healthcare, our academic partner, as well as at other hospitals in the region. This is a testament to our commitment to repopulating the physician workforce in the state.

How are you implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and how do you expect these efforts to impact both your student body and staff?

We take a broad approach to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that we follow all legal guidelines while actively recruiting students from all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. New Jersey is a highly diverse state, and we aim to prepare our students to serve a wide range of patient populations.

Even if a student does not share the same background as their patients, they receive training in cultural competence and humility. This helps them communicate effectively and provide quality care to individuals from different walks of life. Our students excel in this area because they genuinely care about others and are committed to making a difference.

How have emerging trends in technology and biotech impacted your curriculum and programs?

This is a huge area of focus for us. I always tell our students that the rate of change for their generation will be exponential. Artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence are playing a growing role, not only in clinical settings but also in education.

We already integrate simulation-based learning into our curriculum. Before working with real patients, students practice extensively in our simulation lab using mannequins and standardized patients. AI is expected to enhance efficiency in healthcare, improve access for patients, and accelerate medical research. For example, drug development and vaccine research, which used to take years, can now progress much faster thanks to AI-driven innovations. AI will be critical in education, clinical care, and research.

We are actively contributing to that space. Since 2016, we have been enhancing our research programs and recruiting research-intensive faculty. A major focus has been cancer research, and we are developing a graduate program —a master’s and Ph.D. program in cancer biology— in collaboration with Coriell Institute, one of our partners.

We are also in the process of creating an innovation incubator in partnership with Cooper University Healthcare and Rowan University. New Jersey, particularly South Jersey, has a lot of available land at competitive prices, making it a prime location for technological growth. Some have even speculated that it could become a hub similar to Silicon Valley. Given our proximity to Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C., we have great potential for collaborative research and industry partnerships.

With so many opportunities for expansion, what are some of Cooper Medical School’s growth plans, particularly from a business perspective?

One area of growth is in partnerships. While Cooper University Healthcare has been our primary academic affiliate, last year, we expanded to include Inspira Health, which serves a different population. We are exploring opportunities to establish a regional campus with them.

Additionally, we have partnered with Northbrook, a free-standing psychiatric hospital, to help address the growing need for mental health services. The demand for psychiatrists and mental health professionals is increasing rapidly, and we recently received a state-sponsored grant to encourage college and high-school students to pursue careers in mental health.