In a groundbreaking collaboration, Rutgers University–Camden and Samaritan have joined forces to establish a Premier Partnership, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of shared goals in research, education, and community health. The memorandum of understanding was signed on February 6, 2024, at the Samaritan Inpatient Center in Voorhees, N.J., by Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D., and Samaritan President and CEO Phillip W. Heath, M.S.
Chancellor Tillis expressed his gratitude for the formalized partnership, emphasizing the opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to collaborate with Samaritan’s healthcare professionals in serving the needs of the community in Camden County and throughout South Jersey.
Samaritan President and CEO Phillip W. Heath echoed this sentiment, stating, “Today represents an important milestone for Chancellor Tillis and me, as our shared vision is codified, and we bring together colleagues and key stakeholders to advance the practice of palliative medicine in Camden and the region.”
The collaboration aims to address the needs of the growing population living with serious illness, as highlighted by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. With at least 12 million adults and nearly 400,000 children in the United States currently facing serious illness, the importance of palliative medicine, including specialized medical care, emotional and spiritual support, and pain relief, is recognized. This is further emphasized by the recent Palliative Care Medicaid Bill in New Jersey.
The heart of the partnership focuses on expanding and enhancing palliative medicine services in the City of Camden and the broader region. By engaging with Samaritan’s medical providers, clinical teams, and staff across various service lines, the Premier Partnership aims to increase access to home-based healthcare services and address social determinants of health for underserved populations in Camden City and surrounding areas.
Moreover, the collaboration will provide Rutgers–Camden students in nursing, social work, and psychology with opportunities for clinical rotations and palliative medicine training alongside Samaritan’s interdisciplinary teams. This hands-on experience will better equip future practitioners to meet the needs of the growing aging population.
The partnership will not only contribute to the advancement of palliative medicine but also bridge thought leadership from research and education to implementation at the patient care level. The goal is to improve patient outcomes throughout the city of Camden and the Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester County regions.
For more information about Rutgers–Camden, visit Camden.Rutgers.edu. To learn more about Samaritan, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.
About Rutgers University–Camden: Ranked #49 in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Public Colleges and Universities, Rutgers University–Camden is a diverse, research-intensive campus with approximately 6,100 students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Situated in Camden, N.J., the university is known for its global reach and service to a tight-knit local community. As a U.S. Department of Education-designated Minority Serving Institution, Rutgers–Camden is recognized as a national model for civically engaged urban universities.
About Samaritan: Samaritan, established in 1980 as one of the country’s first hospices, is a not-for-profit, independent organization based in Moorestown, New Jersey. Serving as one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education, and advocacy, Samaritan operates in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties. The organization annually provides nearly $1 million in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Samaritan is a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation and a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. Learn more at www.SamaritanNJ.org.
