With Rutgers as a lead partner, New Jersey's first-of-its-kind facility that will serve as an innovative hub for improving and advancing maternal and infant care is now underway in Trenton.
State officials, including Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, recently broke ground on the $86.7 million Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center at the corner of Pennington Avenue and Warren Street.
The Rutgers School of Nursing will lead the center's work in academic training, research and workforce development in partnership with Mercer County Community College, Stockton University, The College of New Jersey and Thomas Edison State University.
As the cornerstone of Nurture NJ, an initiative led by Tammy Murphy to eliminate racial disparities and improve outcomes for mothers and babies, the facility will bring together clinical services, workforce development, social support and innovation under one roof. The July 22 groundbreaking ceremonially launched construction in the heart of Trenton.
Rutgers is one of three anchor institutions for the center alongside Capital Health and the Trenton Health Team, a nonprofit organization. Julie Blumenfeld, clinical associate professor and nurse-midwifery program director at School of Nursing and a nationally recognized advocate for maternal-child health, will oversee Rutgers' initiatives as the education-focused anchor.
Princeton University is expected to join later to support the center's research and policy efforts. The center's steering committee includes faculty from Rutgers' School of Nursing and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Capital Health will deliver first-in-class family, OB/GYN and pediatric services, mental and behavioral health care, and doula and lactation consultant support.
The Trenton Health Team will address social factors affecting health-such as housing, food, and transportation-through case management, parenting resources, and coordinated services across health, education, and social support systems.
"Rutgers is excited to partner with the state in advancing the health of mothers and infants across New Jersey," said Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV. "This center reflects how Rutgers' innovative research and hands-on health care training are tackling health disparities and strengthening communities statewide."
"We are deeply inspired by the visionary leadership of First Lady Tammy Murphy and Dr. Julie Blumenfeld, whose commitment has shaped a comprehensive, statewide approach to advancing the health and well-being of women and children," said Angela R. Starkweather, dean of the School of Nursing and a professor.
Rutgers representatives at the groundbreaking included Board of Governors Chair Amy Towers and Vicente Gracias, senior vice chancellor for clinical affairs and vice president for health affairs and Rutgers University.
"Today's groundbreaking takes us one step closer to opening the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, which will serve as a unique and pioneering hub dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the maternal health crisis while tackling health care disparities once and for all," Gov. Murphy said during the event.
"This is a transformational day for every mother and baby who deserves a safe, healthy, and strong start in life," Tammy Murphy said. "This center will deliver care and collaboration like never before. It will save lives, raise standards, and show what's possible when equity leads. And with the nation's first strategic innovation center dedicated to maternal and infant health, we're not waiting for change - we're creating it right here."
