Carin & Roger Ehrenberg Continue Foundational Support for the Human Dimension Program at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine with $3 Million Gift

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation is pleased to announce a $3 million leadership gift from Carin and Roger Ehrenberg to support the Human Dimension program at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. The Human Dimension program is foundational to the curriculum and connects students with people in the community to understand the social determinants of health (SDOH) that greatly impact health outcomes.

“The Human Dimension program is the cornerstone of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine’s innovative curriculum and prepares the next generation of physicians to excel in a new state of healthcare,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are deeply grateful for the continued support of Roger and Carin Ehrenberg which helps us reach our goals to expand access to care and build healthier communities.

By interacting with underserved people throughout the entirety of their education, medical students gain a greater understanding of financial and housing instability and other socio-economic challenges that greatly impact health.

Since the launch of the school in 2018, 590 students have cared for nearly 600 families in nine communities across five counties. Students have partnered with more than 200 community organizations, have nearly 100 community health projects and have completed 278 individual capstone projects focused on creating health care solutions.

“The Human Dimension program is the heart of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine’s mission and ensures that our students embody humanism, cultural humility, leadership and a strong commitment to equity in their patient care,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., president and dean, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “This program significantly impacts patient outcomes, and we thank the Ehrenbergs for their generous commitment. It will be instrumental in advancing our efforts to shape the next generation of esteemed physicians who bring excellence, empathy and advocacy into their practice while expanding access to care to those who need it most.”

In 2022, the Ehrenbergs donated $1 million as seed capital to support the Human Dimension program at the School of Medicine. With their support, the Human Dimension program has advanced to include new initiatives, including:

• the continued development of the program and its impact by working to support the continuously-evolving curriculum to meet the needs of surrounding communities;
• the expansion of the program into Hackensack Meridian Health’s network programs including graduate medical training programs;
• representation in medical literature regarding community engaged medical education;
• the development of a new initiative entitled Support our Schools Mental Health Collaboratory in which public school leads from across the state work together to address the emotional health challenges facing our youth; and
• increased support for families and communities in need, including the provision of transportation for individuals to participate in the Human Dimension program or attend other important appointments through a partnership with Lyft, emergency assistance, community engagement on campus and in the community, and lastly, community education events.

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