Family Medicine and Community Health Divisions

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has a clearly stated commitment to the improvement of community health and community service as one of our four core missions. The Office of Community Health has responsibility for the development, implementation, and oversight of many of the school's community health initiatives.

More on the Office of Community Health

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Hospital Medicine Division encompasses a team of highly skilled board-certified physicians and advanced practice providers, serving a diverse high volume patient population within the hospital on a 24/7 schedule.

We are based at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, an academic medical center that serves as a flagship for the RWJ Barnabas healthcare system and Rutgers Health. This tertiary-quaternary care facility provides advanced, comprehensive services for complex medical conditions in which our team plays a major role.  Our strong commitment to deliver patient-centered high-quality care in an academic institution through innovative research and strategies has been serving our diverse community for almost two decades.

Our Hospital Medicine Division faculty and staff provide inpatient management services for a variety of specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, renal transplant, gastroenterology, vascular, neurology, among many others. We also care for oncology patients who are affiliated with the National Cancer Institute designated Rutgers Cancer Institute and the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. These services primarily include hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, hematology malignancies, solid tumors, and clinical research trials.

Our goal is to continually raise the standard of care to achieve excellent patient outcomes including patient satisfaction scores, safe disposition for discharge to home and reduced hospital length of stays for our high acuity patients. Our collaborative team-based approach interfaces with multi-disciplinary care providers, which include but are not limited to social workers, case managers, nurses, physical therapists, and other specialty consultants during daily rounds. 

We welcome you to our Hospital Medicine Division services at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where patient care is our top priority!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” - Helen Keller 

Maria Espinar Ho, MD
, FAAFP
Assistant Professor and Division Chief

Maria Elena Espinar Ho, MD
Division Chief
me365@rwjms.rutgers.edu

Vacant
Supervisor of APNs
 

Explore the list of accomplished faculty comprising the Division of Hospital Medicine.

View Our Faculty List

Contact the Division

The Division of Sports Medicine specializes in the evaluation of musculoskeletal pain and disorders in patients of all ages and athletic backgrounds. From the young athlete to the elder patient with osteoarthritis, we customize a detailed nonoperative treatment plan to improve our patients’ function and pain. Our faculty serve as Team Physicians for the Rutgers Athletics sports programs providing office and sideline coverage to care for the needs of these elite athletes. In addition to our collegiate responsibilities, we provide sports medicine care to multiple local high schools in Middlesex county. Through medications, detailed physical therapy prescription, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and injection therapy including cortisone, hyaluronic acid, nerve hydro-dissection and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), we strive to provide the most cutting edge and evidence-based treatments to our patients.

Beyond clinical care, the Division of Sports Medicine is committed to improving and expanding knowledge in musculoskeletal medicine at all levels of medical education. The Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship sponsors two fellows each year to be trained to not only become proficient physicians but leaders in the field of sports medicine. Faculty are highly involved in the musculoskeletal training of residents across many disciplines and are charged with musculoskeletal education of medical students.

Please take time to explore the Division of Sports Medicine through our web pages and if you would like to take advantage of our clinical services or educational opportunities, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Jason Womack, MD
Division Chief

Explore the list of accomplished faculty comprising the Division of Sports Medicine

Jason Womack, MD

Dr. Jason Womack is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He serves as Chief to the Division of Sports Medicine and Head Team Physician for Rutgers University Athletics. He has been on faculty in the department of family medicine since 2008.  He graduated from Rutgers University and attended medical school at Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. Dr. Womack pursued a residency in family medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and was elected chief resident. He returned to Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson for fellowship in sports medicine prior to being recruited as faculty. He currently educates leaners at all levels of medical education and is involved in sports medicine research including but not limited to concussion and cardiac issues in sport.  Clinically he provides primary and sports medicine care for patients of all ages specializing in musculoskeletal ultrasound and advanced therapeutic injections.

Kinshasa Morton, MD

Kinshasa Morton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Dr. Morton pursued his medical education at Howard University College of Medicine, earning his M.D. in 2003. He then completed his residency in Family Medicine at tRutgers-RWJMS from 2003 to 2006. Following his residency, Dr. Morton undertook a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Rutgers-RWJMS, specializing in primary care sports medicine, which he completed in 2007. He then joined the faculty in 2007 

Since joining the faculty, he has helped to transform the sports medicine education for the residents and medical students. He helps organize sports medicine electives for residents and students as well. He is a regular preceptor for the residents for both outpatient and inpatient family medicine at our Family Medicine at Monument Square office and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Jill Kropa, MD

Dr. Jill Kropa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the program director of the primary care sports medicine fellowship. 

Dr. Kropa completed her undergraduate studies at Villanova University, earning a BS in Biology. She then pursued her medical degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Following medical school, Dr. Kropa completed her residency in Family Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she also pursued a fellowship in Sports Medicine.

She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine.

Aixa Navia, MD

Dr. Aixa Navia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She is board certified in family medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine, and serves as a team physician for Rutgers Athletics. She is the associate program director of the primary care sports medicine fellowship.She directs medical student elective rotations in sports medicine, advises the Sports Medicine Interest Group, and has published on topics including COVID-19 and return to play in Division I athletes

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The Division of Sports Medicine is highly committed to education of fellows, residents from all specialties, and medical students.

Robert Wood Johnson medical students are eligible to take a two-week elective in the third and fourth year. The elective is available through the registrar’s office.

Residents from any specialty are welcome to rotate with our program throughout the year to increase their musculoskeletal knowledge. Residents from outside RWJ are encouraged to inquire about elective as early as possible as approval from our GME office is required.

Learn More About the Sports Medicine Fellowship

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