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Dr. Stuart D. Cook, a nationally
renowned physician, scientist and leader in academic medicine,
was named president of the University of Medicine and Dentistry
of New Jersey on November 23, 1998. He had been acting president
of the University since the previous July.
Dr. Cook came to UMDNJ in 1971 to establish a department
of neurosciences at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He
served as acting dean of that medical school from 1987 to
1989. In more than quarter century at the University as
the first and only chair of the Department of Neurosciences
at New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Cook built a program recognized
as one of the strongest clinical and basic research programs
in the nation.His own research has focused on the origins
and development of multiple sclerosis and Guillain-BarrŽ
syndrome, and he is nationally recognized as a leader in
furthering our understanding of these two neurodegenerative
diseases.
He served as co-medical director of the Neurological Institute
of New Jersey at UMDNJ, established to expand research and
treatment programs in a variety of fields including Alzheimer's
disease, neuro-oncology, neurogenetics, epilepsy, pain management,
and stroke therapy and prevention. In announcing Dr. Cook's
appointment, Isabel Miranda, Esq., chair of the UMDNJ Board
of Trustees, said, "Dr. Cook exceeds in every respect
the standard we set for choosing the next president: outstanding
academic stature, proven leadership, noteworthy accomplishments,
and the administrative and interpersonal skills to take
the University to the next level of excellence."
Dr. Cook believes that UMDNJ can rise into the upper echelons
of American Universities. To get there, he has established
four goals:
- To enhance the University's national reputation as an
academic health center.
- To expand the University's lead in research funding
and pursue other avenues of external financial support.
- To promote a spirit of collegiality and open communication
among administrators, faculty, students and staff.
- To instill an entrepreneurial spirit in the administrative
elements of the University that support academic research
and health care.
Dr. Cook received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis
University in 1957. He received a master of science in neuroanatomy
from the University of Vermont in 1959 and his medical degree
cum laude from that university in 1962. As a medical student
he was invited to membership in the prestigious medical
honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Cook did his internship
at the SUNY Health Sciences Center in Syracuse, N.Y., and
his residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in
New York City. Dr. Cook was named to the list of "Best
Doctors in America" in both 1996 and 1998, and two
years ago was identified by his peers as one of the two
top multiple sclerosis specialists in the country.
Dr. Cook lives in Mendham with his wife, Josie, a librarian
at Drew University. The couple has three sons, one of whom
is a 1991 graduate of UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.
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