Murtha named dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Maternal-fetal medicine specialist and researcher Dr. Amy Murtha was named dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School on May 16.

Murtha was most recently a professor and chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive services at the University of California San Francisco.

She assumes the role from Robert Johnson, dean of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, who has served as interim dean at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School since the departure of Sherine Gabriel in 2019.

Before University of California, Murtha was a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and department of pediatrics, and past vice chair for research in obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University. She left a lasting mark on the school, leading the establishment and direction of the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s clinical research unit and raising the department’s National Institute of Health’s funding ranking from No. 57 to No. 17, according to her RWJMS hiring announcement.

“I am honored to be offered this opportunity to lead Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and to build on its solid foundation of outstanding clinical care, excellence in research and high-quality education,” said Murtha in a prepared statement. “I am also looking forward to getting to know the community and returning to the East Coast.”

Murtha’s research focuses on preventing premature births. She seeks to identify ways to diagnose and care for patients at risk for preterm birth, especially in cases complicated by the premature rupture of the fetal membranes. By rooting out causes for premature fetal membrane rupture, Murtha seeks to determine strategies for prevention and early detection.

“We are looking forward to Dr. Murtha joining Rutgers, where her primary goal will be to lead the education, faculty development, research, and clinical missions of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,” said Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. “Her record of leadership, extensive scientific expertise, and enthusiasm in nurturing the careers of faculty will further our mission as a nationally recognized and leading academic health center.”