Department of Psychiatry

Matthew Menza, M.D., Interim Chair

Welcome to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Psychiatry website.  I am glad to provide you with a brief introduction to our department and hope that you will explore our website.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School was founded in 1966 and is located adjacent to the Rutgers University Campus. It was originally the Rutgers Medical School but became part of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in 1975.  UMDNJ is the largest health sciences university in the United States. Through its seven schools and three clinical campuses, it has become a national leader in clinical care delivery, health sciences education and bio-medical research.

The Department of Psychiatry has an energetic and productive faculty who are devoted to our core missions of teaching, research, patient care and community service.  We have an excellent student body and a superb group of residents.  Our clinical and research resources are broad based and make for a top notch academic atmosphere.   Here is a brief review of some of the priorities of the Department. 

Training
The Department of Psychiatry has played a major leadership role in curriculum development for our over 400 medical students. Our general psychiatry residency program recruits academically strong, well-rounded trainees who go on to successful careers.  The department offers ACGME accredited fellowships in child/adolescent, geriatric and addiction psychiatry and makes available a postgraduate 4 or 5 year in psychopharmacology research. Finally, a nationally recognized psychology internship is offered through the department and our clinical partner, University Behavioral HealthCare.  We believe our training programs are a real strength and  I hope you will consider further exploring the opportunities that we provide. 

Patient Care
Our patient care activities include state of the art programs in acute services, psychopharmacology and diverse psychotherapy programs in child, adult and geriatric populations. Our department boasts nationally recognized programs in geriatric and addiction psychiatry and offers a full array of services in behavioral medicine, neuropsychiatry and transplantation medicine.

Research
We have, over the past ten years, focused our efforts on clinical research which has allowed our department to move into the top third of Medical Schools in National Institute of Health funding.  These research efforts encompass a wide variety of studies in most important areas of psychiatry – including psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, addictions, tobacco dependence, cultural psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, primary care, and child and adolescent psychiatry.  I am very excited about the future of clinical research at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Department of Psychiatry.

Community Service
Our faculty serve the community through various clinical joint programs with primary care at the Chandler Clinic and with University Behavioral HealthCare. The department makes significant contributions to the needs of the medically underserved and chronically mentally ill population.

So, I am confident that we have a vibrant Department with many strengths.  If you are a potential trainee, be sure that your experience will be second to none.  If you are a patient, we will provide state of the art treatment in a respectful and caring atmosphere.  If you are someone interested in research, we can provide the academic community in which you can prosper. And, if you are interested in community service, we can provide you with the opportunity to contribute to the care of individuals with many needs.