The healthcare industry is at an all time high, and the outlook for medical-related careers seems to only go upward. If you’re looking to broaden your medical resume or are interested in finding a state to continue your studies or take your residency, New Jersey is well worth considering. Here are the top six reasons you should study medicine in New Jersey.
New Jersey has options for medical school
One benefit of studying medicine in New Jersey is that it offers students four great schools to choose from. It is also worth noting that each of New Jersey’s four medical schools is state-run. Of course, finding the right fit in a school is important, so if you’re seeking an M.D. from an allopathic medical school, you’ll want to look into Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Not interested in pursuing an M.D.? The Rowan University of Osteopathic Medicine may also be a contender, as it offers D.O. degrees.
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University is the newest of New Jersey’s medical schools. Started in 2012, CMSRU is the only medical school in South Jersey, and is affiliated with Cooper University Health Care. The school frequently sends its graduates to top residency programs across the country.
In addition to offering graduating students an MD, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School also offers the dual degrees of MD/PhD and MD/MPH. Featuring some of New Jersey’s top doctors and renowned research scientists, Rutgers has the nation’s oldest clinic run by students, and features an impressive array of over thirty institutes and centers. From learning facts about prostate cancer in their Cancer Oncology lab to studying neurological and cardiovascular diseases or infection at the Public Health Research Institute Center, Rutgers’ advanced biomedical research is sure to attract some ambitious students. Their excellent dental school is also worth pursuing dentistry at, with graduates practicing dentistry and dental implants in Jersey City, NJ and throughout other areas of the state.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is also a great choice in New Jersey. Located in New Brunswick, this school is unique in offering experience in clinical programs early to first year students through a course on Patient Centered Medicine. Besides earning your MD from RWJMS, dual degrees for students interested in earning their MD/PhD, MD/Masters, MD/MBA, and MD/JD are also available from the school. If you’re a student interested in getting involved with a women’s health practice in New Jersey, RWJMS’ focus on patients early-on may be a great fit.
For students seeking their DO, Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine is a great choice. Located in Stratford, New Jersey, this public college is the only school of osteopathic medicine in the state. Emphasizing primary care, students at ROWANSOM get a multidisciplinary approach to medicine, with graduates receiving assistance in finding fellowships following graduation.
Beyond the high caliber of training you’ll receive at New Jersey medical schools, it’s important to look at the other educational benefits that the state offers its students. For example, New Jersey is often chosen as a site for clinical trials, meaning that you’ll be on the cutting edge of the latest treatments and medicines if you attend school there. Additionally, its thirteen teaching hospitals offer current and future doctors a place to research, learn, and grow as medical practitioners.
New Jersey is preparing to launch a fifth medical school
As if four quality schools for medicine isn’t enough, New Jersey is currently in the works to launch a fifth medical school. A partnership between Hackensack Meridian Health and Seton Hall University is creating the first private medical school in the state. Benefits of this partnership include a dynamic combination of the research and clinical expertise from Hackensack Meridian and the academic rigor of Seton Hall. The new sixteen-acre campus illustrates New Jersey’s lasting commitment to healthcare, one of the state’s key industries which shows no signs of slowing.
Physicians in New Jersey make a good living
New Jersey physicians make a solid living when compared to other areas of the country, and that’s because New Jersey’s dense population is relatively affluent. In fact, three counties in New Jersey—Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset—have been named some of the wealthiest counties in the country by Forbes magazine. This carries over to most salary statistics for physicians in New Jersey, too. The average salary for a generalist in New Jersey according to Salary.com was $226,000 in 2018. These numbers are higher than the national average of $200,000, making New Jersey an attractive area to study and practice medicine. Specialists make even more in the state, with dermatologists bringing in $377,000 on average a year. Overall, the networking and residency opportunities within the state for those studying in New Jersey make it a desirable place to learn, and an even more desirable place to continue practicing medicine.
New Jersey has options for non-doctoral students
Of course, becoming a doctor is not everyone’s goal, even if they are interested in studying medicine. Thankfully, New Jersey offers plenty of options for students eager to make a difference to the state’s citizens without spending years in schools. One way students can get involved is by attending a Medical Assistant Diploma Program in New Jersey. A medical assistant diploma is crucial to the success of a variety of health care associations, assisting with clinical duties with patients as well as administrative tasks within a health organization. Earning a medical assistant diploma or associates degree is a much shorter time commitment than pursuing a doctoral degree, while still letting you get involved with the medical field.
Home healthcare is another pathway fully embraced in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Human Services features a variety of assistance programs as well as resources for selecting everything from home healthcare in Englewood, NJ to support services for the aged in Camden, NJ. Resources like the Department of Human Services ensure that home caregivers and their patients can connect in beneficial ways. New Jersey’s Office of Home & Community-Based Services Quality Assurance ensures that these programs are run efficiently and effectively, and also administers state-funded programs, giving home health care providers a strong network for success in New Jersey.
New Jersey offers alternative medicine options
Another great aspect of studying medicine in New Jersey is the ability for doctors to practice and offer treatment as they deem appropriate. This extends to areas of alternative medicine, where patients may find pain relief and management through means like medical marijuana. The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act allows for medical marijuana to be prescribed for patients with conditions where such treatment can provide an effective way of achieving wellness. Filtration for Hemp and CBD Oil Extraction from marijuana are other cutting-edge strategies physicians in New Jersey may be able to explore, thanks to state law, offering maximum flexibility in treatment.
Alternative medicine in New Jersey extends beyond horticulture, too. Natural treatments supported by physicians and health centers throughout the state include chiropractic adjustments, natural nutrition, biofeedback, and types of Chinese medicine. Overall, holistic medicine is widely supported in New Jersey, making it an ideal area to practice these forms of treatment.
New Jersey offers a lot to its residents
Of course, it’s important to look at academics and prestige when considering where to study medicine; however, the environment that you live in also has a major impact on how well you do in school. New Jersey is called the “Garden State,” for a reason, and there are tons of reasons to live in New Jersey, even if only for the time you’re in school. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, meaning you’re bound to meet tons of interesting people in the state, especially in New Jersey’s many urban areas. There are also plenty of attractions throughout the state, from Atlantic City to Liberty State Park, Cape May County Park and Zoo, and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. For history buffs, fans of nature, or those looking for ocean views, New Jersey is a great place to consider studying.
From top-notch schools with real-world help to those looking to grow their career in one of New Jersey’s many burgeoning cities, New Jersey has a lot to offer medical students. If you’re looking for a degree in an area that is as great to study in as it is to practice medicine in, it’s hard to imagine a better state to choose than New Jersey. Consider visiting one of the state’s four public medical schools to learn more about their program offerings and get a feel for if the state is a good fit for you and your goals.
