Student Experience
Access a world of opportunities, resources, and services to support your well-being, academic success, campus life, and personal growth.
Resources for Current Students
Find additional information for current students, including program information, forms, resources, and more on the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Intranet.
Office for Student Affairs
The Office for Student Affairs at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School champions inclusivity and diversity through robust collaboration spanning the school, Rutgers Health, and Rutgers University. It plays a pivotal role in easing students' transitions by offering comprehensive orientation content tailored across all academic years. Moreover, it actively facilitates access to crucial resources such as financial aid, student health services, and wellness programs, ensuring students thrive both academically and personally.
In addition to aiding students in securing scholarships and research opportunities through tailored letters of support, the office fosters a vibrant community by collaborating closely with the Student Government Association (SGA) and supporting over 50 student groups. Furthermore, it provides funding for student travel, enabling them to showcase their research at various forums. Leading the charge in guiding students' academic journeys, the office spearheads the THRIVE curriculum and initiatives through our learning communities and our Advising in Medical Specialties (AiMS) program, ensuring every student receives personalized support and guidance.
Student Affairs Deans are available for academic and career counseling via scheduled appointments, walk-in and virtual visits, email, or telephone calls. The Office of Student Affairs assesses issues that impact performance, oversees a flexible curriculum, administers the Student Scholar Program, manages leaves of absence, and facilitates transfers and withdrawals.
THRIVE Curriculum
The Togetherness for Health, Resilience, Inclusivity, Vitality and Equity (THRIVE) Curriculum, managed by the Office for Student Affairs, offers regular sessions covering wellbeing, career advising, and equity topics through large group, small group and peer sessions that celebrate our vibrant and diverse Robert Wood Johnson Medical School community. These sessions deliver relevant and timely career advice, promote health equity and inclusion, and provide resources for physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
THRIVE sessions are facilitated by Student Affairs Deans, mental health clinicians, students, and faculty across multiple departments. Topics include CV and personal statement workshops, peer sessions discussing impostor syndrome and transition to the clinical years, and financial literacy 101.
College Advising Program
The College Advising Program (CAP) was established by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in August 2011 to provide comprehensive support for students. CAP is organized into three “colleges” that serve academic, social, and professional purposes, offering mentorship from Peer Mentors, alumni, a Student Affairs Dean, and at least five faculty members, including Physicianship Development and Practice (PDP) facilitators. Structured around PDP Groups assigned in the M1 year and persisting through all four years of medical school, the colleges foster camaraderie and academic growth.
The three CAP "colleges" were created as learning communities, each named after influential faculty members in the school's history: Pamela C. Champe, PhD; Robert L. Trelstad, MD; and Parvin Saidi, MD. Each college is distinguished by a unique color, mascot, and motto that embody the virtues of its namesake. CAP's major events aim to introduce students to various medical fields, connect them with faculty mentors and senior peers, and promote camaraderie through extracurricular activities.
Peer Mentors
In addition to Student Affairs Deans, Peer Mentors provide advising from a student perspective. Beginning at first-year orientation, students are placed into small groups which are led by second-year student Peer Mentors. Peer Mentors help ease the transition of the first-year students. They are well-versed in the school's resources and they refer students to appropriate resources as needed. The Peer Mentors also facilitate socialization with faculty and students from all classes.
Students interested in becoming Peer Mentors may apply at the end of their first year of medical school. Peer Mentors attend a retreat where they receive training in leadership, team building, listening skills, and self-assessment.
Advising in Medical Specialties (AiMS) Program
Our Advising in Medical Specialties (AiMS) program, anchored by the renowned Careers in Medicine initiative by the Association of American Medical Colleges, offers comprehensive support to medical students as they navigate their career paths. Led by AiMS Faculty Champions and a dedicated team of trained specialty advisors, students receive personalized guidance at every stage of their journey. Whether in the preclinical or clinical years, students benefit from invaluable resources and mentorship to explore and discern their ideal specialties.
AiMS programming encompasses career fairs, student mentorship opportunities, and clinical shadowing experiences, providing students with firsthand insights and connections within various medical specialties. With AiMS, students find a supportive community and the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of residency selection and pursue their professional aspirations with confidence.
About the Office
The Office of Multicultural Affairs was established in 1996. Its mission and goals are to assist students at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School by preparing them to become competent, compassionate, culturally aware and sensitive physicians in our increasingly diverse society. The office sponsors and supports educational and cultural programs to enhance awareness of and sensitivity to race, gender, religion, ethnicity and culture and to promote culturally competent health care as well as respect for all communities.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School offers a comprehensive approach to increasing diversity in the health professions with the ultimate goal of eliminating healthcare disparities through educational programs, community outreach and healthcare promotion and awareness activities. We offer several high school and undergraduate pathway pre-medical programs.
Inclusion and Diversity
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's Office of Inclusion and Diversity is responsible for creating a vision and strategy to support our commitment to being an inclusive and diverse learning, teaching, and working environment.
Multicultural Student Interest Groups
- American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
- American Medical Women’s Association
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
- Christian Medical Association
- Global Health Interest Group
- Human Rights Initiative
- Integrative Medicine Interest Group
- Islamic Medical Association of North America
- Jewish Medical Student Society
- Latino Medical Student Association
- Medical Mandarin
- Sex & Gender Alliance
- Student National Medical Association
- White Coats for Black Lives
Student Handbook
View the academic calendar, find information about student supports and resources, learn about our programs and policies, and more in our student handbook.
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) oversees all student interest groups and serves as the liaison between the student body and administration, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Student Organizations
Accordion Content
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students engage in multiple interests through the many student-run organizations enriching campus life. The student leaders of these organizations meet regularly with the deans at Student Leader Meetings to discuss issues important to the entire student body. Students are encouraged to create their own student-run organizations if their interests are not represented. These are just some of the diverse opportunities currently available to our students.
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- American Medical Association
- American Medical Student Association
- Bioethics Interest Group
- Biomedical Entrepreneurship Network
- BLAST Anatomy Program
- Culinary Medicine
- Financial Literacy Interest Group
- Golf Club
- Arbor Vitae Literary Society
- Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
- Medical Students For Choice
- Miles of Smiles
- Mind-Body Medicine Interest Group
- Project Sunshine
- Reach out and Read
- Students Interested in Research
- Substance Use Interest Group
- Ultrasounds, A Cappella Group
- Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance
- Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
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- AI in Medicine
- American Physician Scientist Association
- Anatomy Lunch Lecture
- Cancer and Oncology Interest Group
- Dermatology Interest Group
- Emergency Medicine Interest Group
- Exploring Pharmaceutical Industry Careers
- Family Medicine Interest Group
- Health Policy/Managed Care
- Internal Medicine Interest Group
- Medical Genetics
- Pathology Interest Group
- Pediatric to Adult Transition in Healthcare
- Pediatrics Interest Group
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Interest Group
- Preventive Medicine Interest Group
- Psychiatry Student Interest Group
- Radiation Oncology Interest Group
- Radiology Interest Group
- Sports Medicine Interest Group
- Student Interest Group in Neurology
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- American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
- American Medical Women’s Association
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
- Christian Medical Association
- Global Health Interest Group
- Human Rights Initiative
- Integrative Medicine Interest Group
- Islamic Medical Association of North America
- Jewish Medical Student Society
- Latino Medical Student Association
- Medical Mandarin
- Sex & Gender Alliance
- Student National Medical Association
- White Coats for Black Lives
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- Anesthesiology Interest Group
- Association of Women Surgeons
- Cardiothoracic surgery interest group
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Interest Group
- Global Surgery Student Alliance
- Neurosurgery Interest Group
- OB/GYN Interest Group
- Ophthalmology Interest Group
- Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group
- Urology Interest Group
- Vascular Surgery Interest Group
- VMott Surgical Society
College Advising Program
About CAP
Within the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School College Advising Program, students are assigned to one of three “colleges” that serve as learning communities with academic, social, and professional purposes. Students learn from and connect with peers, mentors, alumni, and dedicated faculty throughout their medical school journey.
Cognitive Skills Program
The Cognitive Skills Program is an academic support program which is available to students in all four years of medical school. It provides services to students who may be experiencing academic difficulty and to students who wish to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of their study and test taking strategies. Program services are offered through individual consultation tailored to a student's specific needs and integrated with course curricula.
Philosophy
The philosophy of the program is based upon the research findings of cognitive and educational psychology. The principles which have the most direct applicability are:
- The goal of instruction is to promote independent, self-directed learning that continues across the life span.
- Students are active, constructive learners, not passive recipients of information.
- Learning with understanding is a generative process in which students reformulate information to achieve deeper meaning.
- Instruction in efficient cognitive processing strategies and self regulatory skills can be effective in increasing students' control of their learning.
Services
- Individual Consultation
- Confidential individual consultation regarding learning, time management and academic performance.
- Diagnostic evaluation of study practices and their effectiveness.
- Structured intervention to increase learning productivity and efficiency.
- Individual preparation programs for course, board, and licensure examinations
- Seminars
- Effective study strategies, test taking and time management.
- Preparation strategies for comprehensive examinations (USMLE, In-training, Certification Boards, Specialty Boards).
- Fees
- Services are free of charge for Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students
- Others may contact Robert Lebeau at 732-235-4129 for information about fees.
Make an Appointment
To make an appointment, please contact Sharri Levine-Drago at levinesa@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
Student Wellness
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School provides free and confidential mental health services for students on the Piscataway/New Brunswick campuses. The Student Wellness Program assists students in adjusting to the stressors and pressures of medical school.
Services include individual, couple and family counseling, medication management, crisis intervention, and prevention-oriented groups and workshops. A diverse staff of mental health professionals who are independent of the medical school provide these services. Participating clinicians do not evaluate students academically or play any role affecting a student's status in school.
Piscataway/New Brunswick Campus
Employee and Student Assistant Program
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Crisis care available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
24-hour Piscataway hotline number: 1-855-515-5700 (Acute Psychiatric Services - APS)
University Behavioral Health Care
242 Old New Brunswick Road, Suite #330
The Walton Building
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
732-235-5933
Student Health Services
On the Piscataway/New Brunswick campuses, student health services are provided by the Department of Family Medicine at Monument Square. Services are provided at no additional cost to the students and include routine physical examinations, preventative care, tuberculosis screening and monitoring, immunization review and health education, women's health services, minor surgery and management of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Students may use the designated site for routine care during regular operating hours.
Department of Family Medicine at Monument Square
317 George Street, First Floor
New Brunswick
732-235-5160
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday
Walk-in and same-day visits are welcome when the office is open and are based on availability. Emergency coverage by on-call physicians is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 723-235-8993.
All student records are kept confidential in accordance with federal law and university policy.
Immunization and Health Requirements
All students must have the following infectious disease screenings and immunizations:
- Annual tuberculosis screening is required of all students with test performance and interpretation following CDC guidelines. If a student tests positive, he/she must provide Student Health Services with the documentation of follow-up.
- Students must complete a series of the Hepatitis B vaccine.
- Influenza vaccine is required of all students who have patient contact by December 1 of that year.
- If the results of the initial history or physical examination of the student prior to matriculation indicate the need for periodic evaluation, the student must provide Student Health Services with a record from the health care provider.
- Tuberculosis screening; Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Hepatis B, and Varicella vaccines with proof of immunity serology; Tdap vaccine; updated COVID 19 vaccine or a primary series with a booster dose, and Meningitis vaccine in some cases.
Find more information and deadlines for submitting proof of your immunization and immunity records, and the link to our Student Immunization Portal. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met the infectious disease screening and immunization guidelines.
Health Insurance
By university policy, health insurance is mandatory for all students. Students have the option of purchasing the University sponsored plan or having and maintaining other insurance coverage. University Health Plans, Inc. (UHP) is the current plan for our medical students. There is an annual fee and co-pay for individual services. Dental insurance is available on a voluntary basis at additional cost.
If You’re the Victim of Sexual Violence…
There is never an excuse for using force, intimidation, or drugs/alcohol to induce someone to perform sexual acts of any kind. If you (or someone you know) have been the victim of sexual violence, on or off-campus, help is available, immediately and in the long-term. You are not alone—there are many sources of confidential help, and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is committed to helping you secure the assistance you need.
Regardless of whether you wish to file a police report, it is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible to receive preventive medication for possible sexually transmitted diseases and be eligible to receive emergency contraception.
Get Immediate Help
- Get to a safe place as soon as you can.
- If the assault has taken place recently, and you are able to do so comfortably, avoid the following activities before deciding whether you will participate in a forensic medical exam: Eating or drinking, bathing, showering, or douching, using the bathroom, changing your clothes.
- Contact Public Safety or the local police:
- Newark Campus
- On Campus: 973-972-4491
- Off Campus: 911 for the local police department
- New Brunswick/Piscataway Campuses
- On Campus: 732-932-7211
- Off Campus: 911 for the local police department
- Newark Campus
- Get medical attention as soon as possible. A medical examination will provide any necessary treatment and collect important evidence. Injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Contact someone you trust, such as a close friend, to be with you and support you.
More Resources for Immediate Help
- Rutgers Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance: Offers counseling and advocacy services, educational programming, and training, consultation and policy development services to all members of the university community. To request services or speak with an advocate now, please contact 848-932-1181
- New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault: 800-601-7200
- Sexual Violence Programs in NJ, by county