Cooper Medical School of Rowan Univerisity
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Medical School Board

The Medical School Board of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) is a group of individuals strongly committed to the mission and vision of CMSRU. This Board serves as the general oversight body of the medical school, acting at all times, subject to the reserve powers of the Rowan University Board of Trustees.

The Medical School Board is responsible for approving the mission and goals of CMSRU, advising the Dean, supporting and enhancing CMSRU's image among key constituent groups, monitoring the operations and execution of the Educational Program, as well as many other review and approval duties as directed by the Rowan University Board of Trustees.

The Board meets quarterly, with additional work carried out in committees that may include faculty, staff, and others as non-voting representatives.

Members of the 2020-21 Medical School Board

Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD
Full bio		 Colleen Bonner
Full bio
Amanda Burden, MD
Full bio		 Mark Byrne, PhD
Full bio
Jason D. Gonzalez
Full bio		 George C. Hill, PhD
Full bio
Charles Imbesi
Full bio		 Mary Louise Kerwin, PhD
Full bio
Eileen Kostic
Full bio
 Martin F. McKernan, Jr., Esq.
Full bio
Steven R. Peikin, MD, FACG, AGAF
Full bio
 Annette C. Reboli, MD (ex officio)
Full bio
Steven E. Ross, MD
Full bio
 Rita Salva
Full bio
Edward D. Viner, MD
Full bio		  
   

We are Grateful for the Leadership of our Past Members of the CMSRU MSB

M. Brownell Anderson, MEd
Francis J. Bonner, MD
Sandy Hoeppner Brown
Tabbetha A. Dobbins, PhD
Jonathan W. Jernigan
Calvin H. Knowlton, PhD
Lawrence Kull
Naomi Lawrence, MD
George Lynn
DeMond Miller, PhD
Johnathan H. Orenstein, DMD
William G. Sharrar, MD
Manning J. Smith
Albert R. Tama, MD (deceased)

Colleen Bonner

After graduating from Rutgers Camden with a degree in Nursing, Colleen worked as a staff nurse, at a home health agency, then helped to assist with the establishment of a highly successful agency, and was involved in the start-up of a new acute care rehabilitation hospital from the Certificate of Need Process through opening. In addition, Colleen has been an invaluable volunteer in her communities as a school nurse and community hospital fundraiser. Colleen is a proud parent of a recent CMSRU alumnus.

Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD

Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD, is a board certified anatomic and clinical pathologist. Most recently, Dr. Amenta served as President and CEO of the Harvard Medical School affiliate, Joslin Diabetes Center (2015–2019), the world-renowned institute centered on diabetes care and research.

Dr. Amenta also served as Dean of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) 2006 – 2013, the founding dean of the new Rutgers-RWJMS in 2013; and concurrently the CEO of the RWJ Medical Faculty Practice. He was a faculty member/practitioner of Rutgers-RWJMS and RWJ University Hospital from 1989 to 2015.

During his 26-plus years at RWJMS and University Hospital, Dr. Amenta held a number of key administrative positions, including Chief of the Pathology Service and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff at RWJUH, as well as Residency Program Director and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at RWJMS. He was the founding Director of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Immunohistochemistry Shared Resource, and a member of the Cancer Institute’s Scientific Council and Internal Advisory Board.  Dr. Amenta served on the Editorial Board of Human Pathology and as a reviewer for a number of other clinical and research journals. He has published more than 175 manuscripts, chapters and abstracts, including co-editing the textbook Histology-From Normal Microanatomy to Pathology.

Dr. Amenta holds a bachelor of science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received his medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA, where he also obtained his PhD in anatomy.

Mary Louise Kerwin, PhD

Rowan University’s Department Head for Psychology, Professor Kerwin earned her BA, MA, and PhD degrees from University of Notre Dame. Dr. Kerwin’s current research interest focuses on evaluating the effect of behavioral interventions for a variety of issues and problems including pediatric feeding disorders, autism, and drug addiction, especially for mothers.

Steven R. Peikin, MD, FACG, AGAF

For almost 40 years, Dr. Peikin has been committed to advancing the practice of gastroenterology. Dr. Peikin graduated from Jefferson Medical College and eventually began his career at Cooper University Health Care. In 2019, Dr. Peikin stepped down as Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease at Cooper. Steve continues to practice at Cooper Hospital and has enthusiastically embraced his new role as Professor of Medicine, teaching medical students and providing future physicians in training to advance world-class care for patients with GI disorders.

Amanda Burden, MD

Dr. Amanda Burden is a Board certified anesthesiologist and pediatric anesthesiologist at Cooper University Health Care as well as Director of CMSRU’s Simulation Center. Amanda is a graduate of Drexel University College of Medicine. As Director of the CMSRU Simulation Center, she leads an exceptional team that creates and supports programming for all students across the entire curricular spectrum (M1 – M4) and conducts innovative research into patient safety, medical education, simulation theory, practice, and technology.

Mark Byrne, PhD

An educator and researcher, Rowan University named Mark, just last year, professor and inaugural chairman of the new Biomedical Engineering Department in its nationally recognized College of Engineering. Byrne earned his Ph.D. and M.S.Ch.E. in chemical engineering from Purdue University and his B.S. in chemical engineering with a biomedical engineering minor from Carnegie Mellon University. Mark is an inventor and entrepreneur too with a number of issued patents and others pending. Also, Mark is co-founder and chief technology officer of OcuMedic, Inc., a drug-delivery company in Auburn, Alabama.

Jason Gonzalez

Mr. Gonzalez is Government Affairs Manager, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, for DuPont. In this role, he leads advocacy, public policy, and business collaboration activities in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Prior to joining DuPont in 2010, Mr. Gonzalez was Director of Government Affairs for New Jersey American Water, the state’s largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility. He has also held positions with the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office, the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee, and with New Jersey Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts. Mr. Gonzalez is active in the local community and serves as a Commissioner for the Camden County Improvement Authority. He is a former member of the Camden City Board of Education.

George C. Hill, PhD

A native of Camden, Dr. Hill is the Levi Watkins Jr. Professor and Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM). Formerly Associate Dean for Diversity in Medical Education at VUSM, he became Assistant Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs and Special Assistant to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs in late 2012. Under Dr. Hill’s leadership, VUSM made significant progress toward increasing the diversity of its medical school class to more broadly represent different races/ethnicities, sexual orientations, economic backgrounds, religious backgrounds, and rural/urban populations.

Charles Imbesi

Charles has dedicated himself to learning and educating others about history. Currently, a manager with Patriarch Management, Charles has worked as a teacher and advancement director. Today, he continues to volunteer his time toward initiatives and programs that support and advance non-profit causes, especially global and international education. Charles earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Villanova University and a master’s degree at Drexel University, where he has established a Travel Fund that provides financial support to faculty and students traveling to China for educational purposes.

Jonathan W. Jernigan

Since graduating from The Restaurant School of Philadelphia in 1987, Jonathan W. Jernigan has served as Executive Chef and Manager at multiple restaurants in South Jersey. In 2002, he opened his own catering company which specializes in a variety of ethnic cuisines and caters to both small and large parties providing healthy, personalized, yet affordable, menu varieties. In addition, Chef Jernigan has been featured in SJ Magazine multiple times as a Roundtable member and has made the list of “Men of the Year” on several occasions. In 2014, Chef Jernigan was awarded with a Humanitarian Award by the Ree Wynn Foundation for his community efforts. Currently Chef Jernigan oversees food service operations and teaches a culinary arts program to educate and serve the community of Camden County at the Cathedral Kitchen.

Eileen Kostic

Eileen is the parent of a Rowan alumna and is a recently retired administrator from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, Eileen is the President of a non-profit, the John E. Kostic Memorial Foundation, named in honor and memory of her son. This Foundation works to improve the lives of young people in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. It is among the largest diabetes scholarship organizations in New Jersey; it supports hospital enrichment programs; and it fosters scholarships.

Naomi Lawrence, MD

Dr. Lawrence is a Professor of Medicine at CMSRU and Head, Division of Dermatology Section of Procedural Dermatology at Cooper University Health Care. She earned her BA degree from Tulane University, and her MD from the Tulane University School of Medicine. She has served on the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Board of Directors as secretary of the executive board, and currently is President of ASDS. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American College of Mohs Surgery. Dr. Lawrence has published medical studies in the leading journals of dermatology and has presented papers at major conferences in her field. She has been listed in the Philadelphia Magazine, New Jersey Magazine and South Jersey Magazine as a “top Doc” from 1999-Current.

DeMond Miller, PhD

Dr. Miller is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Institute for Research and Community Service at Rowan University. He has worked as principal investigator to facilitate research projects involving natural and human-induced ecological disasters, environmental issues, and community satisfaction. A clinical substance abuse counselor and applied sociologist, Dr. Miller’s primary area of study is environmental sociology (disaster studies and the study of the social construction of place), community development and community organizing, and social impact assessment. His principal areas of teaching are Environmental Sociology, Medical Sociology, Clinical Sociology, and Applied Community Development.

Martin F. McKernan, Jr., Esq.

Mr. McKernan is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rowan University. A graduate of St. Joseph’s University, he received his JD from Georgetown University and is Senior Partner with McKernan, McKernan and Godino in Camden. Mr. McKernan has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Camden Free Library and as a member of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, the Executive Committee of the National Diocesan Attorneys Association, and the Public Policy Committee of the New Jersey Catholic Conference.

Annette C. Reboli, M.D.

Dr. Reboli is a Professor of Medicine and the Dean of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, NJ. As such, she is the Chief Academic Officer with ultimate responsibility for all areas of the school. Prior to this, she was Founding Vice Dean and was responsible for oversight of the LCME accreditation process, undergraduate and graduate medical education, faculty affairs and faculty development, and developing affiliations for the medical school.

Dr. Reboli received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology from Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC. She received her MD degree cum laude from Georgetown University School of Medicine and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society during medical school. She completed an internship, residency, and a year as Chief Medical Resident in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, followed by a three-year clinical and research fellowship in infectious diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to becoming Founding Vice Dean, she served as Interim Dean of CMSRU and was also the Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Deputy Chief for Administration of the Department of Medicine at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, where she also served as the hospital epidemiologist. During her tenure as division head of infectious diseases, she established a comprehensive clinical research program that led the Department of Medicine in external funding. She also served as a consultant to Janssen, Vicuron, Pfizer, and Merck Pharmaceutical Company on antimicrobial drug development and clinical trial design.

Dr. Reboli is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has authored or co-authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and abstracts. Dr. Reboli has been named a “Top Doctor” in a variety of magazines, including New Jersey Monthly, Philadelphia Magazine, South Jersey Magazine, SJ Magazine, and Consumer’s Checkbook. She has been recognized by Who’s Who and Best Doctors in America. She has served on several committees for Camden County and the state of New Jersey, volunteering her expertise in infectious diseases. Dr. Reboli’s main research interest is in candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis. Over the course of her career, she has garnered over $15,000,000.00 in research support from a variety of sources, including NIH, NIAID, HRSA, private foundations, and private industry.

In 2008, she received the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Dean’s Research Award in the faculty-clinical sciences category for research on antifungal therapy that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. She serves on the Candida Infections Guidelines Committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. She has received several teaching awards and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the Philadelphia College of Physicians. She served as the President of the Medical Staff of the Cooper Health System from 2011 to 2015. In 2016, she received the Healthcare Provider of the Year award from the New Jersey Hospital Association. In 2018, she became a voting member of the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), the regulatory body for allopathic medical education in the United States.

Steven E. Ross, MD

Steven E. Ross, MD is a longtime leader of the Cooper University Hospital Trauma Center.  Dr. Ross has dedicated his career to making the Cooper Trauma Center the best it can be and always puts his patients and their families first.  Dr. Ross joined Cooper in 1984 and served as the Trauma Division Head from 1988 through 2015. During that time, Cooper’s Trauma Center achieved national recognition for clinical care, education, and clinical research. The Cooper Trauma Center is the only Level I trauma center in South Jersey.  Dr. Ross now serves as Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Surgical Residency Program Director, and Professor of Surgery at CMSRU.

Rita Salva

A registered dental hygienist and certified dental assistant, Rita is an adjunct faculty member at Rowan Colleg at Burlington County. Rita is a graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Thomas Edison State College and earned her master’s degree from Seton Hall University. Supporting and promoting good health care is important to Rita who has devoutly volunteered her time to promote the value of good oral hygiene to elementary school children and to children with special needs.

Manning J. Smith

Manning J. Smith, is President of Indel, Inc., Rancocas, N.J., a group of engineering and technology-based companies delivering diverse technology and manufacturing a wide variety of capital equipment. Starting as Director of Corporate Development and advancing to Group Vice President and Group President, Mr. Smith has been closely involved with the company’s growth worldwide. He received his BA degree from Dartmouth College and his MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith is a Director of the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University and has been active with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation since 1992. He received the Philadelphia Committee Globe and Anchor Award in 2008.

Edward D. Viner, MD

Dr. Viner is former Chief of the Department of Medicine at Cooper University Hospital. He is currently Professor of Medicine at CMSRU. Dr. Viner received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from Harvard. His postgraduate medical training in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology was obtained at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, he spent twenty-two years practicing Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology at Pennsylvania Hospital, where he was also Head of the Section of Hematology/Oncology, Director of Fellowship training in these disciplines, and Co-Director of the Oncology Research Laboratory. He left Pennsylvania Hospital to assume the Medical Chiefship at Cooper. He is a Master of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Viner has been the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his clinical excellence and teaching skills.

M. Brownell Anderson, MEd

Ms. Anderson has had an impressive career in medical education. A graduate of Washington University with graduate degrees from the University of Illinois, she is an internationally recognized expert in medical school curricula, clinical evaluation, and international medical education. Between 1983 and 2011, Ms. Anderson worked at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in Washington, DC; there, she held numerous administrative positions including Senior Director for Educational Affairs and Project Director for the Macy Foundation Grant - “A Consortium of New and Developing Medical Schools” – in which CMSRU has been an active participant. In 2011, Ms. Anderson joined the National Board of Medical Examiners in Philadelphia, where she is Senior Academic Officer for International and Assessment Programs.

Francis J. Bonner, Jr., MD

Dr. Bonner, a nationally known physician leader and entrepreneur, is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Formerly associated with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and the Mediplex Rehabilitation Hospital in Marlton, he founded the Rehabilitation Hospital of South Jersey in 2003. Dr. Bonner has also served as chair of the Department of Physical Medicine at Mt. Sinai and Graduate Hospitals. In 1993, he was a member of the Commission of Presidential Scholars under the appointment of President Bill Clinton. Dr. Bonner is a board member of the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, President of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, and a past member of the National Osteoporosis Foundation Board of Trustees.

Sandy Brown

Sandy Brown is a current Board of Trustees member for multiple organizations, including The Vetri Foundation and Moorestown Friends School, and serves at board advisor for the Kellman Brown Academy. She received her BA in Economics from Dickenson College in 1984, and has since been involved in several strategic plans and reorganizational efforts for educational and religious organizations. Ms. Brown has also been involved in numerous committees focusing on board governance, finance and capital campaigns.

Tabbetha A. Dobbins, PhD

Dr. Dobbins is Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rowan University. A graduate of Lincoln University, she received her MS in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, where she was also awarded a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Dobbins held positions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and faculty positions at Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University prior to coming to Rowan. A well-published scholar, her research interests involve the study of structures and dynamics of materials for biotechnology and alternative energy applications.

Calvin H Knowlton, PhD

Dr. Knowlton is Chairman and CEO of RevolutionCare. He received his pharmacy degree from Temple University, divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and PhD in pharmacoeconomics from the University of Maryland. He was National President for both the American College of Apothecaries and the American Pharmaceutical Association, and was selected as the Most Influential U.S. Pharmacist in 1997. Dr. Knowlton is President of the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and is a member of the board of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Lawrence Kull

Mr. Kull holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Vermont and was an awarded an MBA from Rutgers University's Graduate School of Business. He is President of the Burns Kull Automotive Group, representing a multitude of Dealerships and Body Shops throughout Marlton, Oaklyn, Vineland, and Cape May County, NJ. Mr. Kull has served in many leadership roles on local, regional, and national boards; most notably, he has served on the Board of the Evesham Education Foundation and is currently 2014 Chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA). A Director of AIADA since 2008, Mr. Kull is also Executive Director of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR) and a Director, Founding Member, and former Chairman of the Automotive Free International Trade Political Action Committee.

George F. Lynn

Mr. Lynn is President Emeritus of AtlantiCare in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1993 to 2007. Under his leadership, AtlantiCare underwent a remarkable transformation to a nationally recognized healthcare organization noted for its distinguished success in quality care; thanks to Mr. Lynn’s leadership, AtlantiCare went on to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Award. His commitment to the community is evidenced by Mr. Lynn’s service on multiple boards, by the significant leadership positions he has held nationally, and by the awards and recognition he has received from numerous organizations over the years. Mr. Lynn is Chair of the CMSRU Advisory Board’s Development Committee.

Jonathan H. Orenstein, DMD

Dr. Orenstein, who received his dental degree from Temple University in 1985, is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Orenstein currently holds a clinical faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, where he teaches in the Department of Periodontics. A practitioner in Marlton NJ, Dr. Orenstein is a trustee and former president of the Delaware Valley Academy of Osseointegration and a current member of the American Dental Association, the American College of Prosthodontics, and the Southern New Jersey Dental Society.

William G. Sharrar, MD

Dr. Sharrar is Chief Emeritus of Pediatrics at The Children's Regional Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics of Cooper University Hospital. He is also Professor of Pediatrics at CMSRU. Dr. Sharrar received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Franklin & Marshall College and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, then served two years as Peace Corps Physician in Hargeisa, Somalia, East Africa. He did his pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he served as Chief Resident in 1972-1973. Dr. Sharrar came to Cooper in 1983 to develop the Division of General Pediatrics.

Albert R. Tama, MD

Until his death in April 2018, Dr. Tama had been associated with Cooper University Hospital since 1966, initially as a private attending physician, then as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Executive Vice President/Medical Affairs. He held faculty appointments with University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Hahnemann University, and Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Tama served on UMDNJ’s Board of Trustees and was a Trustee of the University Health System of New Jersey. He also held board positions in the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology. Dr. Tama was a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Physician Executives, and other professional societies. Dr. Tama earned his medical degree and completed his training in obstetrics and gynecology at Hahnemann University.