Newswise — Four members of the South Jersey-based Schlitt family of physicians, who have dedicated their careers to caring for children in the region, have committed $300,000 to assist students and faculty at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU).

The gift by Dr. Ludwig Schlitt and his children¬–Drs. Michael, Stephanie and Mark, all of Advocare Haddon Pediatric Group in Haddon Heights¬–will be used to establish The Schlitt Family Student Lounge and The Schlitt Family Dean’s Executive Conference Room in CMSRU’s new medical school building in Camden. The building will open this summer when CMSRU welcomes its charter class of 50 students.

The medical school is the first four-year allopathic medical school in three decades in New Jersey and the first one ever in South Jersey.

“Our family has a proud, 50-year history of caring for children in South Jersey,” said Dr. Ludwig Schlitt. “We feel fortunate to help play a role in expanding health care in our state by supporting the medical school.”

“We’re excited about the partnership between Rowan and Cooper and believe in the medical school’s mission to promote the education of primary care physicians in the region,” added Dr. Michael Schlitt.

Given their connection to Cooper Health System, choosing CMSRU as the beneficiary of their generosity was a natural fit for the Schlitt family. Dr. Ludwig Schlitt, a resident of Haddonfield, began his career at Cooper University Hospital in 1960 and some of his five children were born there.

He opened Haddon Pediatrics in 1970, and, in 1998, the practice joined Children’s Health Association. In 2008, the name was changed to Advocare Haddon Pediatric Group. While based in Haddon Heights, the group has a satellite office in Mullica Hill.

Dr. Michael Schlitt joined the practice in 1990. Dr. Stephanie Schlitt joined in 1997 and Dr. Mark Schlitt joined the practice in 2002.

The gift from the Schlitts is the latest for CMSRU as it continues to attract private support from individuals who believe in the medical school’s mission to provide a humanistic education for medical school students in which inclusivity, excellence in patient care, innovative teaching, research and service to the community are valued.

“It is gratifying to see the Schlitts—a family of southern New Jersey physicians—take a leadership role in supporting CMSRU and higher education in the region,” said Paul Katz, MD, Founding Dean of CMSRU. “With our first class of students scheduled to arrive in August, we expect that more people will show their support for the medical school.”

Gifts to CMSRU give donors the chance make a difference in the future of medicine and healthcare in South Jersey and the region, according to R.J. Tallarida, assistant vice president for development and acting executive director of the Rowan University Foundation.

Among previous gifts to the Medical School are a generous contribution from Haddonfield physician Dr. Michael Renzi and his family in 2011 to establish the Renzi Family Clinical Simulation Rooms at CMRSU and a $100,000 pledge from Rowan University alumnus Dr. Marque Allen, a podiatrist in Texas, and his wife, Yvette, to establish the Dr. Richard Meagher Medical Scholarship for CMSRU students.

For information about giving to CMSRU, visit http://www.rufoundation.org and the CMSRU website at http://www.rowan.edu/coopermed.

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South Jersey Family of Pediatricians Supports Cooper Medical School of Rowan University