Atlantic Health System Public Relations Department
Karen Zatorski
Supports efforts to enlist racial and ethnic minority groups in New Jersey
October 12, 2023, Morristown, New Jersey – Atlantic Health System announced that it has awarded its first annual Morristown Medical Center School of Cardiovascular Technology diversity scholarships to two individuals to support its efforts to enlist and embrace members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The two awardees are Walter Murudumbay from Landing, NJ and Quintina Hatten, from South Orange, NJ.
Full tuition for both scholarships is generously funded through the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center and the Overlook Foundation and includes the entire cost of the program plus uniforms and learning materials. The 18-month program started in early September, with a post-graduation, two-year employment commitment to a related role at Atlantic Health System. All lectures and classroom training are held at the School of Cardiovascular Technology at 200 South Street, Morristown, NJ, as well as the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute located within the Morristown Medical Center, with clinical rotations taking place at Overlook Medical Center and other Atlantic Health System medical center and outpatient imaging locations, as well as other clinical affiliation sites.
“As home to the largest cardiac surgery and invasive cardiology programs in New Jersey we are incredibly proud to offer the most up-to-date cardiac technologies available to our patients,” said Linda Gillam, MD, MPH, FACC, the Dorothy and Lloyd Huck Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine, Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for Atlantic Health System, and Professor of Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. “We are thrilled to offer this advanced educational opportunity to two members of our community and are grateful for the generous support of our Morristown and Overlook foundations that made these scholarships possible.”
Under Dr. Gillam’s leadership, Atlantic Health System has become nationally recognized as a leader in cardiology, attracting best-in-class talent, state-of-the-art technology and clinical trials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to grow 10% from 2022-2032.
The school received initial accreditation on April 27, 1996 and is one of 106 accredited cardiovascular programs in the United States and the only school in New Jersey to offer three specialty tracks: echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound), peripheral vascular imaging and invasive cardiology. The program includes classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences such as learning how to monitor patients, administer care and perform or assist with diagnostic procedures. Students will also learn how to gather, calculate and analyze data and how to maintain and troubleshoot diagnostic equipment.
Founded at Morristown Medical Center in 1976, the goal of the Cardiovascular Technology program was to meet the growing demand for cardiovascular technologists. It is the only program in the State of New Jersey that offers three clinical tracks accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Pictured left to right: Susan Smith, Program Director,
Morristown Medical Center School of Cardiovascular Technology; Walter Murudumbay; Quintina Hatten; Stephen J. Horgan, MD, Medical Director, Morristown Medical Center School of Cardiovascular Technology
About Heart Care at Atlantic Health System
Morristown Medical Center, the hub of heart care at Atlantic Health System, is one of the top 50 programs in the country for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery (U.S. News & World Report). Its expert team presents research across the world and is comprised of interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, heart failure experts, advanced imagers and cardiac surgeons.
The program also offers specialty care in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, sports cardiology, cardio-oncology, pediatric cardiology, and heart disease in women. The team collaborates with community cardiologists who provide a medical home for patients with heart disease.
Atlantic Health System Heart Care is focused on offering minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures that help patients return to their lives faster. The state’s largest valve replacement/repair program offers valve therapy options for the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves, and is helping advance the radial (wrist) approach for coronary procedures with a dedicated lounge for post-procedure recovery.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 19,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 12 counties and 6.2 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.
The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.