TUBERCULUSIS: The New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute

The New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute is a force in the effort to conquer and cure tuberculosis worldwide. The Institute plays a leading role in the international arena, providing expertise in program development, education and training and research to ministers of health, national TB programs and healthcare providers around the globe.
The Institute’s work has no borders. Battling TB on the front lines, it has a proven track record in building the political will and international cooperation needed to relegate this disease to the history books, where it belongs.
A History of Excellence
TB disease in the United States soared to unprecedented levels during the early 1990s because of neglect. In response to this resurgence, the New Jersey Medical School National Tuberculosis Center was established in 1993. Under the direction of Lee B. Reichman, MD, MPH, it achieved federal designation as a national Model Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Center in 1994, indicating its success in delivering state-of-the-art treatment, providing education and training and conducting cutting-edge research. To reflect this expanding commitment to stamp out the disease even in the most remote locales, the Center changed its name to the Global Tuberculosis Institute in 2006.
Mission and Goals
The Global Tuberculosis Institute is located at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), the nation’s largest health sciences university. The Institute is a founding component of the International Center for Public Health and is strategically positioned to respond to the global tuberculosis emergency.
The mission of the Global Tuberculosis Institute is to advance tuberculosis care through excellence in research, practice and teaching. The Institute’s goals are to:
Decrease tuberculosis morbidity through state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment and prevention programs
Create a cadre of interacting clinical and research scientists with a prime interest in the intersection of basic science, clinical and epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis
Develop and apply innovative diagnostic, therapeutic, behavioral, preventive and educational modalities for tuberculosis
Provide an internationally recognized training center offering courses and affiliations at all levels to improve the skills needed by physicians, nurses, epidemiologists and other health-related professionals
Success has been achieved through the realization of these goals. The Institute has developed proven effective practices, which are shared with others involved in the fight against tuberculosis.
State-of-the-Art Care
The Institute provides outpatient services at its new state-of-the-art clinical facility designed from the ground up specifically for safe and effective treatment of tuberculosis. Renowned pulmonary and infectious disease specialists treat patients in the Waymon C. Lattimore Practice. Patient-centered care is provided through a multi-disciplinary team approach to address the complex clinical, social and cultural issues that impact the prevention, control and elimination of tuberculosis. Specialized care is given to children with tuberculosis, patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and those co-infected with HIV.
Opening the Door to New Treatments and Practices
The Institute is at the forefront of finding more effective ways to prevent and treat tuberculosis through research. As early as 1970, its staff members were conducting clinical trials and doing studies in tuberculosis surveillance, patient behavior and epidemiology. Currently, the Institute is participating in the study of new drug regimens that could shorten tuberculosis treatment. It is a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuberculosis Trials Consortium and Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium. The Institute also collaborates closely with several of UMDNJ’s centers and departments, including the Center for Emerging Pathogens and the Public Health Research Institute. These relationships create a unique synergy in which TB elimination can become a reality.
Education and Training
The Institute’s education and training staff uses its wealth of knowledge and experience to develop educational resources, training programs and distance learning opportunities. Training courses and individualized programs on specific tuberculosis-related topics are presented to physicians, nurses, healthcare workers and government leaders across the country and around the world. New, Web-based educational updates are available for those who may not be able to travel, yet desire the latest tuberculosis information. The Institute Website houses an extensive collection of downloadable and adaptable resources and the training staff provides technical assistance to a variety of providers and TB programs to develop and integrate training into their own unique circumstances.
Key Program Contacts
Lee B. Reichman, MD, MPH - Executive Director
Reynard J. McDonald, MD - Medical Director
Bonita T. Mangura, MD - Director of Research
Eileen C. Napolitano - Deputy Director
Nisha Ahamed, MPH - Program Director, Education and Training
Lillian T. Pirog, RN, BSN, PNP - Nurse Manager
Cora Q. Leus, RN, BSN - Research Manager
Mark S. Wolman, MPH, MA – ProgramManager,TB Control
Alfred S. Paspe - User Support Specialist/Webmaster
http://www.umdnj.edu/globaltb/home.htm