NEWARK — Part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey should be merged with Rutgers University under recommendations presented to Gov. Chris Christie today.



Rutgers should take over three of UMDNJ's most successful pieces — Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the School of Public Health and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey — in a major realignment of the state's medical education programs, according to the five-member advisory committee convened by the governor.

"This is a critically important issue," Gov. Christie said. "Having spent what feels to me like most of the last 10 years of my life dealing with UMDNJ ... I'm looking forward to providing the kind of certainty to the life sciences that it so desperately needs."



The idea was first proposed earlier this year by a task force headed by former Gov. Tom Kean. Supporters argued giving Rutgers its own medical school would help bring more research funding to New Jersey. But critics said stripping UMDNJ of several of its most successful branches would hurt the Newark-based school's reputation and financial future.



The task force — called the UMDNJ Advisory Committee — said the 13-page report issued today contains its preliminary recommendations. More extensive plans will follow in its final report. Those recommendations may include a dismantling or restructuring of the remaining pieces of UMDNJ and University Hospital in Newark, the report said.



Rutgers officials, who have been lobbying for a medical school, praised the task force's recommendations.



"By any measure, the merger is right for New Jersey," said Rutgers President Richard McCormick.



UMDNJ officials, who have objected to any merger in the past, issued a more tepid statement stressing that the task force's recommendations were not final.



"We all need to carefully examine and understand the implications of the findings and recommendations for the entire UMDNJ community and its mission, as well as the broader medical and health care education and delivery system in New Jersey," UMDNJ's board of trustees said in a statement. "Thus, we will take time to reflect on the recommendations and develop a response for the advisory committee."



It remains unclear exactly how much a merger would cost or how it would be implemented. Previous attempts to merge UMDNJ and Rutgers fell apart after lawmakers objected and the school's governing boards raised questions.



Christie said he plans to submit an executive reorganization plan to the Legislature to begin the merger process.



"We can begin on implementation as soon as possible, that's what I plan to do," Christie said.

By Kelly Heyboer and Ginger Gibson/The Star-Ledger

Previous coverage:

• UMDNJ officials torn over possible dismantling, merger with Rutgers

• In task force report, UMDNJ faces third call to merge with Rutgers University in a decade

• N.J. higher education task force proposes plan to merge Rutgers University, UMDNJ

• Gov. Christie to unveil task force report on higher education, restructuring of UMDNJ, Rutgers, NJIT

• Tight budgets, increased enrollment cause tuition hikes at N.J. county colleges

• Former Gov. Tom Kean will head commission to study merge of UMDNJ with Rutgers, NJIT

• Rutgers, NJIT discuss possible dismantling of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey