Newswise — NEWARK-- Stuart D. Cook, MD, Professor of Neurosciences at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ-NJMS), a past president of UMDNJ and a distinguished researcher and clinician in the area of Multiple Sclerosis, has been nominated by Governor Chris Christie to serve on the newly formed New Jersey Multiple Sclerosis Task Force. The Task Force, created by a law passed by the State Legislature and signed this past January by the Governor, is charged with responsibilities that include identifying the unmet needs of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and working toward providing greater access to treatments and other therapeutic options that might be available.

Dr. Cook, a professor at UMDNJ since 1971, has earned numerous awards during his career, including the New Jersey Hospital Association Health Care Professional of the Year (2004), UMDNJ-University Hospital’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2004), and New Jersey Medicine Person of the Year (2001). He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Neurology, and author of extensive research both on the nature of Multiple Sclerosis and on potential treatments for the disease.

Of his nomination to the New Jersey Multiple Sclerosis Task Force, Dr. Cook says, “It is gratifying that New Jersey’s political leadership has seen fit to focus so strongly on the needs of people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis by forming this Task Force. I hope the Task Force will become an important resource for MS patients throughout the State as we do our best to enhance their ability to live successfully with the disease as so many people now can.”

Dr. Cook is one of eight people newly nominated to serve on the Task Force. All must be confirmed by the State Senate.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is New Jersey’s only health sciences university with more than 6,000 students on five campuses attending three medical schools, the State’s only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and New Jersey’s only school of public health. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, which provides a continuum of healthcare services with multiple locations throughout the State.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is New Jersey’s only health sciences university with more than 6,000 students on five campuses attending three medical schools, the State’s only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and New Jersey’s only school of public health. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, which provides a continuum of healthcare services with multiple locations throughout the State.