Lavi Ben Moshe was born with Canavan disease, a rare,inherited neurological disorder caused by a defective genefound primarily in those of Ashkenazi Jewish and SaudiArabian heritage. His parents were told that Lavi wouldnot be able to see or hear and would most likely not liveto be 48 months old.

When they received that devastating diagnosis, Gili andYulia Ben Moshe began searching the Internet for treatmentoptions. They learned about Paola Leone, PhD, associateprofessor of cell biology and director of the cell and genetherapy center (CGTC) at the School of OsteopathicMedicine, who has made astounding progress in treatingthe disease by combining stem cell and gene therapy toreplace compromised brain cells with healthy cells.

They flew from Israel to see Dr. Leone. After five weeks of pharmacologic treatments,Lavi was smiling, hearing and reacting. At 22 months old, he now sees Dr. Leoneevery three months for follow up treatment while awaiting a revolutionary stem cellprocedure that she is developing.

The Ben Moshe family started a campaign to help advance Dr. Leone’s research. Theyhave 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 anddeep friendship,” explained Mr. Ben Moshe. “We have a deep appreciation for theinvaluable work that Dr. Leone has done with Lavi and other children like him.”

Family Builds LifetimePartnership with SOM Doctor

A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

OutlookSpring 2010

(l-r) Yulia Ben Moshewith son Lavi andDr. Paola Leone

Dr. Leone’s research also has implications for new treatments for other neurologicaldiseases like Tay Sachs, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

To help, contact Farah Stith, director of development, at (856) 282-4417 orfstith@njhf.org.

You can help . . .

Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

2

Preparing Future PublicHealth LeadersTo Dr. Mark Robson, professor of environmental and occupational health at theUMDNJ-School of Public Health (SPH), receiving the prestigious 2009 Association ofSchools 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 ofUMDNJ, to be used primarily toward the Robson Scholarship Fund,which helps public health students in financial need meet theireducational objectives. The fund was established in 2006 by CharlesBrown, the father of one of Dr. Robson’s students.

Dr. Robson also designated a portion of the award to the internationalhealth program that is part of the UMDNJ Fogarty ITREOH Center inThailand for work at the College of Public Health Sciences atChulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

“I hope other faculty members follow my lead,” said Dr. Robson. “Somestudents have incredible needs, and what may seem like a small amountto us can make all the difference in whether they are able to completetheir educations and advance their careers.”

Dr. Robson cites not just financial support, but the importance of mentors inencouraging 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 RutgersUniversity, is widely recognized by his national and international colleagues for thequality of his teaching and mentoring skills that have and will continue to prepareour future public health leaders,” said Dean Audrey R. Gotsch, DrPH, CHES. “Weare delighted that he received this notable honor, and that he has made a verygenerous leadership gift dedicated for student scholarships.”

(l-r) Dr. Mark Robson,Dr. George F. Heinrich,Dr. Audrey Gotsch

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

George F. Heinrich, MDVice Chairman and CEOJames M. GolubieskiPresidentDale R. HefflerVice President, Communications

Writing by: Dennis Tartaglia,Mindy WaizerDesign by: Alexander & RichardsonPhotographs by: Chris HerderPhotography/Jacob’s Cure;Al Sundstrom Photography;Robert McBride

Newark. New Brunswick. StratfordToll-free (866) 44-UMDNJwww.umdnj.edu/foundation

Please send comments to:dheffler@njhf.org

You can help . . .

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3

Delta Dental:Guarding Dental Care in NJSome would call them the guardian angels of New Jerseydentistry. They call themselves Delta Dental of New Jersey.

Supporters of UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (NJDS) and theUMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions since 1991, DeltaDental of New Jersey has contributed more than $4 million for avariety of programs, including grants to fund research, studentscholarships and programs that enhance patient care.

They have provided the Dental School with the largest gift in itshistory to build and equip the Delta Dental Educational ConferenceCenter in Newark, which has hosted hundreds of events for dentalprofessionals, students and community residents.

In addition to special projects, Delta Dental has continued itson-going support by providing a number of annual scholarship awards:

n A $5,000 grant to NJDS will provide student scholarships and support the 21stAnnual Deckle McLean Memorial Lecture, providing an opportunity to dentalprofessionals throughout NJ to learn more about geriatric dentistry.

n A $20,000 gift to the School of Health Related Professions will fund scholarshipsfor dental hygiene and dental assisting students. An average of 10 students peryear have received scholarships through this program since 2002, thanks toDelta Dental’s ongoing support.

Last year, Delta Dental helped to meet an urgent need when it awarded a $25,000grant to sustain a hygiene program for patients in the Special Care Treatment Centerat the Dental School, which provides dental care to patients with special needs.Without this grant, the Treatment Center would have been faced with cutting orreducing 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 forresidents throughout the state,” explained Gerald Sydell, DDS, chair of the boardof Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. “A partnership with New Jersey Dental Schooland the School of Health Related Professions, which both share that charge, enablesus to all work together to improve the dental health of thousands of residents inNew Jersey.”

Dr. Steven Toth withstudent Isabel Martins

To support students, research and patient care programs at NJDS, contactAndrea West, director of development, at (973) 679-4693 or awest@njhf.org.

You can help . . .

Small Gift Makes Large ImpactA small seed grant can grow to make a significant difference.

That is what Charles Steiner, DO, imagined when he gave $5,000 two yearsago 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 demonstratethe effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which usesnon-invasive techniques to ease pain, promote healing and increase mobility.

“Clinical evidence is not enough,” he said. “It’s important for us to producemeasurable data.”

Thanks to that grant, Randel Swanson, PhD, could branch off from his originalresearch 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 AmericanOsteopathic Association (JAOA) earlier this year. The paper examines the use ofOMM to treat a movement disorder known as Trendelenburg gait.

“As a basic researcher, I had no experience on the clinical side,” saidDr. Swanson’s mentor, Venkat Venkataraman, PhD, a neuroscientist. “Dr. Steiner’sgift enabled us to develop research questions related to OMM, how mechanicalalterations produce disability and how they can be reversed.”

Dr. Steiner’s gift also allowed Drs. Swanson and Venkataraman to successfullycompete for two $10,000 grants from the Osteopathic Heritage FoundationEndowment for Primary Care Research at SOM, enabling them to pursue theresearch published in JAOA. They have taken their ideas even further and arewriting a proposal to the National Institutes of Health for additional funding.

And, Dr. Steiner’s grant encouraged groups that hadn’t interacted before — cellbiologists and practicing osteopathic physicians — to work together on ongoingOMM research.

“This began as a side project for me; now it is a major focus of my research,” saidDr. Swanson. “His gift has made a tremendous difference for me and my careeras a scientist.”

Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

4

(l-r) Drs. Swanson,Venkataraman andSteiner (seated)

To promote the osteopathic sciences at SOM, you can fund:

n OMM research by facultyn OMM research by DO/PhD studentsn The endowment campaign to perpetually support an OMM resident

For more information, contact June Hampson, PhD, vice president fordevelopment, at (856) 282-4415 or jhampson@njhf.org.

You can help . . .

Outlook

5

To Keep Doctors in New JerseyA report by the New Jersey Council on Teaching Hospitals that revealed ananticipated shortage of 2,800 doctors in New Jersey by 2020 prompted theEdward 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 withscholarships to help New Jersey recruit and keep top doctors.

Three scholarships were awarded, all to UMDNJ students whodemonstrated excellence in academics, a commitment to thecommunity and financial need. Robert Paul Bonitz fromNew Jersey Medical School, Noreen Kelly of Robert WoodJohnson Medical School and Natalie Hyppolite from the Schoolof Osteopathic Medicine each received $10,000 scholarships tosupport their studies.

“At a time when medical schools across the state are facingsignificant budget cutbacks, I am pleased to have forged apartnership with MDAdvantage and the Edward J. Ill Excellencein Medicine Foundation,” said George F. Heinrich, MD, vice chairman andCEO of the Foundation of UMDNJ. “We all share a common goal: to recruitthe best and brightest to New Jersey and to keep them practicing here.”

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 inways that set the national standard. While the longstanding awards program hasbeen honoring physicians since 1939, it did not take on a charitable purpose untilit 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 thedevelopment and education of physicians so New Jersey families can continue tohave access to the high quality health care to which we have become accustomed.”

Scholarship winners(l-r) Noreen Kelly,

Robert Paul Bonitz,Natalie Hyppolite

You can help a UMDNJ student achieve his or her dream by establishing ascholarship 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 orheinrich@umdnj.edu for more information.

You can help . . .

Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

6

Donor Gift Advances Spinal CordInjury Research in NJMS Lab

Tim Reynolds, co-founder of Jane Street Capital, is passionate about finding acure 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 atUMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS).

His latest gift of $2.1 million has enabled Robert F. Heary, MD, professor ofneurological surgery and director of The Tim Reynolds Family Spinal Cord InjuryLaboratory, to add staff and assist New Jersey Medical School in achieving a longawaited goal—enhancing the core research facilities.

Continued on next page >

Dr. Kormakur Hognasonand Dr. Robert F. Heary(background)

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7

“Visiting the lab and seeing Dr. Heary’s reports, I’m confident that if anyone can findthe cure for spinal cord injuries, he can,” said Mr. Reynolds. “I’m fortunate to be ina position to be able to support this work, which is so important to me, my familyand others around the world with spinal cord injuries.”

The number of distinguished doctors, researchers, and students working in the labis growing. Stella Elkabes, PhD, an accomplished researcher in the NJMS departmentof Neurology and Neuroscience, has accepted a secondary appointment to thefaculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Elkabes is the first full-timebasic science researcher collaborating and scientifically co-directing the ReynoldsLab. Amanda Meade, PhD, has also recently joined the lab full time, focusing onstem cell and immunological research. In addition, Brian David, PhD, has joined thelab to focus on experimental spinal cord injury work.

“Over the past four years, our lab has been a springboard for the academic careersof many young researchers, and we are building a reputation for excellence withinthe field,” said Dr. Heary. “The best and brightest are now seeking us out. This is agood indicator for our future growth.”

This latest gift from Mr. Reynolds was instrumental in helping New Jersey MedicalSchool receive a $15 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to enhanceits biomedical research capabilities on UMDNJ’s Newark campus.

“ 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.”

— Tim Reynolds

The Reynolds Laboratory offers the opportunity to engage medical students,graduate students, surgical residents, and fellows in the research anddevelopment of new approaches to treating spinal cord injuries. Currently,there are more students interested in working with the laboratory than wecan financially accommodate (i.e. to cover stipends, materials, equipment andsupplies). Donations to the Reynolds Laboratory are gratefully welcomed to helpprepare the next generation of translational neuroscientists.

For more information contact Elizabeth Ketterlinus, vice president fordevelopment, at (973) 679-4684 or eketterlinus@njhf.org.

You can help . . .

Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

8

Grant Will Speed Emergency Carefor Thousands of NJ ResidentsA $142,000 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey can mean thedifference between life and death for thousands of New Jersey residents whodepend on UMDNJ’s University Hospital Emergency Medical Service (UH-EMS) totransport them to hospitals throughout the state.

The University Hospital-EMS Wireless Project will enable the service to transmitlifesaving information to the hospital’s emergency department before patientsarrive. The technology is possible in part because of a unique partnership with theCity of Newark’s emergency telecommunications network.

“This was one of the largest grants we gave last year because it can benefit somany,” said Marsha I. Atkind, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey executive director.

The grant is helping UH-EMS convert to electronic health records, as required bythe New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services. The new technology willprovide first responders — and those at the receiving hospital — access to qualitydiagnostic information while a patient is en route. For suspected heart attackvictims, the technology will transmit electrocardiogram findings directly to the smartphone of a hospital cardiologist, who can determine whether to bring the patientdirectly to the cardiac catheterization lab, bypassing the ER.

“With a brief window of opportunity for heart attack, stroke and other emergencypatients, this grant will enable us to get information to clinicians on the hospitalfloor quickly and accurately,” said Nancy Hamstra, MPA, EMS director, UniversityHospital. “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 differenthospitals throughout the state.The grant will equip all UH-EMS rigs for wirelesscommunication.

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 fordevelopment, at (973) 679-4684 or eketterlinus@njhf.org, to discuss availableoptions.

You can help . . .

“This program has the

potential to benefit

more than 30,000

Newark residents and

many more beyond

the city’s borders.”

— Marsha I. Atkind

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9

Honoring a Friend and Colleague:The Department of Allied Dental Education atUMDNJ-School of Health Related Professionsrecently presented the first awards from theAndrew P. McCormick Memorial Scholarshipand Award Fund to graduating students in thedental hygiene and dental assisting programs.The fund honors the late Andrew P. McCormick,who passed away in 2008. A former detectivewith the Newark Police department, Mr.McCormick served as a sergeant for theUMDNJ Police Department of Scotch Plains,where he received the Dean’s Citation Award in2007. The McCormick Fund was established withthe generous contributions of family, friends andcolleagues from the Scotch Plains campus.

Enhancing the Adolescent Program:The François Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center atthe UMDNJ-School of Nursing receiveda $5,000 grant from The Rite Aid Foundationfor the FXB Clinic Adolescent Initiative, whichhas achieved considerable success in providingsupport to its young adult clients, 98% ofwhom acquired HIV/AIDS as infants. Fundingfrom Rite Aid will allow FXB to provide cashcards for medication and insurance co-payments,and support the expansion of life skills supportprograms and recreational activities.

Promoting Good Science:Supporting UMDNJ is a family affair for theGrover family. In 2007, Dr. Gary and JanisGrover gave $1 million to establish the Janisand Gary Grover Endowed Professorship inPhysiology and Biophysics at Robert WoodJohnson Medical School to help finance researchfor faculty members.

Now, Dr. Edward R. Grover and WatersCorporation, at which he is the bulk synthesisproduction/chemistry technical support manager,have given a gift of equipment valued at $35,000to allow scientists at Snowdon, Inc. to improveupon the speed and quality of its research.

Snowdon, a drug discovery and developmentcompany founded by William Welsh, PhD,holder of the Norman H. Edelman EndowedProfessorship at UMDNJ-Robert Wood JohnsonMedical School, is a UMDNJ start-up companyin which Foundation Venture Capital Group, anaffiliate of New Jersey Health Foundation, invested.

Supporting Implant Dentistry:UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School has received a$50,000 fellowship award from Zimmer, Inc.,in support of the post-graduate program inprosthodontics, specifically in implant dentistry.This is the second fellowship award fromZimmer for this program and testament to thequality program built by Dr. Robert Flinton at theDental School. The fellowship supportsone of 15 post-graduates and helps providecomplex dental care for prosthodontic patients,most of whom are uninsured or underinsured.

Of Special Interest….

Outlook A publication of the Foundation of UMDNJ, a New Jersey Health Foundation Affiliate

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Dr. Richard and Ann Silver Pozen donated $1 million to New Jersey Medical School to help students gainexposure to, and hopefully pursue careers in, community medicine. The Pozen Community Scholars Programprovides stipends for up to 12 first-year medical students to perform six-week community service internships inNewark neighborhoods. At the first Pozen Scholar Day, scholarship winners were pictured with (l-r) Foundationof UMDNJ Vice Chair and CEO Dr. George F. Heinrich; Vice Dean of NJMS Dr. Maria Soto-Green; Dr. Richard andAnn Silver Pozen and NJMS Interim Dean Dr. Robert Johnson.

Connecting you with causes you care about . . .

To make health care more accessible to children inElizabeth, NJ, the Schering-Plough Foundation donated$250,000 to expand the services of the New JerseyChildren’s Health Project, a mobile medical clinic runby the UMDNJ-School of Nursing in partnership withthe Children’s Health Fund. Here, (l-r) Erica Ferry,former president of the Schering-Plough Foundationand Joseph Starkey, executive director of state andcommunity affairs at Schering-Plough, present acheck to Dr. Arturo Brito, chief medical officer of theChildren’s Health Fund and James M. Golubieski,president of the Foundation of UMDNJ.

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11

As part of her Bat Mitzvah preparations,Naomi Schachter, a 12 year old from Summit, NJ,

recently organized Tumbling for Babies to providespecial baby books for the families of infants in

The University Hospital’s neonatal intensive careunit. Naomi and 24 other tumblers raised $2,000.

Naomi is here with (l-r) Theresa Rejrat, JacintaOgbonna and Gloria Igwe, representing the Hospital.

The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation, dedicated tobuilding teen centers in hospitals throughout thearea, recently donated bandana pillows and backpacksfor the Teen Center at The University Hospital, addingto their past support equipping the Center withteen-friendly computers and activity centers.(l-r) Gisele DiNatale and Liz Horvitz, both from theFoundation, presented the gifts to The UniversityHospital representative Ileen Henderson.

The Columbian Foundation, a Clifton, NJ, non-profitorganization founded in 1941 by business and

professional men of Italian descent, awarded $20,000 inscholarships to medical students at the UMDNJ-New

Jersey Medical School. Recipients are (l-r) MichaelScordo, Silvano Samartine, Melissa Appio, Anthony

Scoccimarro and Matthew Moralle.

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDNew Brunswick, NJ

Permit #1

120 Albany StreetTower II, Suite 850New 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 passionswith people at the University who share those same passions. If you want to support the extraordinarywork 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.

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.

And 100 percent of your gift—every dollar—goes directly to the areas you specify.