Appointments of Chancellor Brian Strom and SVP Christopher Molloy

July 18, 2013

Members of the Rutgers Community:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Brian L. Strom, M.D., M.P.H. as the inaugural Chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), effective December 2, 2013. Dr. Strom is an internationally recognized scholar, an award-winning educator, and a visionary academic leader, and his deep understanding of the 21st-century medical education landscape makes him the ideal chancellor to establish RBHS as a model for research and education in the biomedical and health sciences.

An eminent clinical epidemiologist, Dr. Strom is a founder of the field of pharmacoepidemiology—the application of epidemiologic methods to the study of drug use and effects—the author of the field’s major reference book, and the editor-in-chief of its journal. He pioneered the use of large automated databases as a research tool and conducted research critical to the rewriting of American Heart Association guidelines for prevention of infective endocarditis. Dr. Strom is currently Executive Vice Dean for Institutional Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he has been on the faculty since 1980. He was the founding chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, founding director of the Graduate Group in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and the founding director of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Penn, which includes more than 550 faculty, research and support staff, and trainees, and has a budget of approximately $67 million.

At Penn, Dr. Strom established a pioneering masters program in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, oversaw a multi-institutional program called Bridging the Gaps, which addresses the needs of underserved populations while training community health and social service professionals, and developed a university-wide program in global health. He was also instrumental in founding the International Clinical Epidemiology Network, an organization designed to help clinical faculty in developing nations to better understand the impact of disease and improve national health. More recently, Dr. Strom has been working to strengthen clinical care, research, and leadership within the Penn-affiliated Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In his current position, his responsibilities include recruiting outstanding senior faculty to the Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Strom is George S. Pepper Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Pharmacology at Penn, and he also maintains a primary care practice as a general internist. He holds a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, an M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley. Among his many positions leading national and international organizations, his awards, and his honors, Dr. Strom was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2001.

I would like to thank the search committee for delivering an exceptionally talented pool of candidates for this critical leadership position. Among a truly stellar group of finalists, Dr. Strom stood out not only for his wealth of scholarly and administrative accomplishments, but also for his insightful analysis of the critical issues facing the new Rutgers following the July 1 integration with the former UMDNJ. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Strom as he establishes RBHS as a national leader in biomedical and health sciences education.

I am also pleased to announce that Dr. Christopher Molloy has been appointed Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the completion of his service as Interim Chancellor of RBHS. This university-wide position, reporting directly to my office, is critical in ensuring we take full advantage of the research potential of our newly expanded university.

As Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Dr. Molloy’s responsibilities will include oversight and strategic planning for the university’s $700 million in annual research expenditures and management of the many institutional offices and resources that support Rutgers research activities. His office will also focus on three significant initiatives: expanding the commercialization of our research through patents, start-ups, and the transfer of technology to industry; maximizing our ability to conduct clinical trials and other critical R&D functions; and leading the formation of public-private partnerships that will bring new jobs to Rutgers University and to the State of New Jersey.

Dr. Molloy, who has served as dean of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, worked tirelessly as the Interim Provost for Biomedical and Health Sciences in leading the integration with the former UMDNJ. He has considerable experience in the corporate sector at Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers-Squibb, and he is dedicated to creating collaborative partnerships between Rutgers and New Jersey’s business community. I will be offering further details on Dr. Molloy and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development in the months to come.

This is an exciting and historic time for Rutgers, and I know we will gain immeasurably from the addition of Brian Strom to our leadership team. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Strom to Rutgers and in offering support to him and to Dr. Molloy as they take on these crucial new challenges.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Barchi
President