Distinction Programs

Distinction in Bioethics students will distinguish themselves by assuming a significant level of responsibility in planning, implementing, and completing a project in Bioethics that is rigorous and scholarly. We conceptualize “bioethics” to be an inclusive term, so that students with varied interests (clinical ethics, public health ethics, global health ethics, research ethics, health issues in public policy, etc.) will be able to engage a supportive community of scholars and mentors.

Students who are accepted into this program and who fulfill all requirements as certified by the Distinction in Bioethics committee will receive diplomas at Commencement stating that they have graduated with “Distinction in Bioethics”. Students who complete the program before August 1st of their graduation year will also have their achievement recognized in their Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) letter. Learn More

Distinction in Inclusion & Diversity will support and recognize Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School students who show exceptional interest, leadership, and commitment to
inclusion and diversity in healthcare. Students will distinguish themselves by integrating the
complexities of diversity and cultural humility in the context of healthcare and develop skills in
the collaborative planning, implementation, participation, and dissemination of a project in the
realm of diversity, inclusion, and health equity. Students who are accepted into this program and
who fulfill all requirements as certified by the Distinction in Inclusion and Diversity committee
will receive diplomas at Commencement stating that they have graduated with "Distinction in
Inclusion and Diversity." Learn More

Distinction in Global Health students will distinguish themselves by assuming a significant level of responsibility in the collaborative planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of a focused, sustainable global health initiative. Students who are accepted into this program and who fulfill all requirements as certified by the DGH committee will receive diplomas at Commencement stating that they have graduated with "Distinction in Global Health." Learn More

Distinction in Leadership in Academic Healthcare joins the four Distinction programs offered to medical students: Distinction in Research, Distinction in Medical Education, Distinction in Global Health, Distinction in Service to the Community, and Distinction in Leadership.Learn More

DIME students must have distinguished themselves by assuming a significant level of responsibility in planning, carrying out and completing a scholarly educational activity. Students who are accepted into this program and who fulfill all requirements as certified by the DIME committee will receive diplomas at Commencement stating that they have graduated with “Distinction in Medical Education.”

The DIME program is designed for students who are interested in teaching, educational scholarship, and a possible career in academic medicine. The opportunities for training, teaching, and participation in a scholarly education project have implications for contributing to the improvement of resident and physician teaching skills. The commitment to and involvement in medical education must be intensive Learn More.

The Distinction in Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DiMIE) aims to provide clinicians-in-training with the knowledge and skills necessary to address endemic problems in healthcare. The DiMIE program will help students understand various models of healthcare delivery, enabling them to identify problems and come up with unique solutions. Students will have an opportunity to develop their ideas in a team-based setting, with the goal of producing an innovation with the potential for implementation/commercialization. Activities such as market analysis, writing a business plan, device prototyping, patent disclosure, and investment pitches will be available for students pursuing this distinction. It is our hope that the newly established DiMIE will enable the next generation of physician innovators to improve the delivery of healthcare Learn More.

Distinction in Research (DIR) is a Rutgers RWJMS program, wherein on completion, medical students who demonstrate commitment to dedicating time to conduct a research project and producing concrete results in the form of a thesis report or publication are granted a diploma and/or recognition in the Medical Student’s Performance Evaluation (MSPE) letter Learn More.

Distinction in Service to the Community is intended to support and recognize Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students who have shown exceptional interest, leadership and commitment to volunteering in the community and working with underserved populations. Students will distinguish themselves by assuming a significant level of responsibility in the collaborative planning, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of a focused, sustainable community health initiative. Students who are accepted into this program and who fulfill all requirements as certified by the DISC committee will receive diplomas at Commencement stating that they have graduated with "Distinction in Service to the Community."

Students who are interested in improving the public health and eliminating health disparities are ideal candidates for DISC. The work students do through community service-learning projects in collaboration with community partners, will contribute to the growing movement to promote evidence-based population-oriented health interventions Learn More.