SUMMIT, NJ — On Oct, 25, Summit Councilmember Robert Rubino was appointed to the Board of Directors of University Hospital by Gov. Christie on Thursday, Oct. 20 according to a press release from the city of Summit. Rubino is the CEO of Rubino OBGYN Group, which consists of 10 doctors
and five offices. He’s involved in clinical research as well as providing medical care.
“I was involved in clinical research to find minimally invasive ways to treat female disorders such as hemorrhaging,” Rubino told LocalSource. “A nationally funded experiment was published in the Feb. 2015 edition of The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology where we used a procedure to remove uterine polyps and myomas without opening the abdomen.”
Rubino previously served as Summit’s Board of Health president. Summit Mayor Nora Radest is confident that Rubino will be successful in his new role. His current role as a member of the city’s council is just one of the ways he works to benefit the community.
“I was pleased to learn of the direct appointment of Dr. Rubino to the University Hospital Board of Directors by Gov. Christie,” Summit Mayor Nora Radest told LocalSource in an email. “His work as a councilmember and passionate advocate for Summit benefits our community in many ways. I am certain that Dr. Rubino will be a tremendous asset to the University Hospital board.”
Rubino is an alumnus of Rutgers Medical School and completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at University Hospital. According to the University Hospital website, the independent medical center, located in Newark, is owned by the State of New Jersey, with 519 licensed beds, an active medical staff of more than 600 and more than 3,100 employees. University Hospital is home to northern New Jersey’s Level I Trauma Center.
Rubino has been active on many initiatives for Summit including the community center renovation and Glenside parking expansion projects, the downtown parklet and ridesharing pilot programs, establishing bike lanes on DeForest Avenue and the Summit Park Line project to convert abandoned rail lines for use by pedestrians and cyclists. Rubino is a committed advocate for Summit at a county level, frequently representing the city at Union County Freeholder meetings. Summit Common Council President Mike McTernan believes Rubino will be an asset to the board because he is committed to serving the public.
“The governor has made an excellent choice in appointing Dr. Rubino to the University Hospital Board of Directors,” Summit Common Council President Mike McTernan told LocalSource in an email. “Dr. Rubino is that rare individual who can balance being at the top of his profession with a commitment to giving back to the community he lives in. The Hospital Board will benefit, as has the city of Summit, by his service.”
Rubino plans to use his experience in a clinical hospital setting as well as his role in government to set and interpret policies at a larger level. He plans to listen and learn about his new hospital setting before taking initiative and offering his experience and set of skills.
“I hope to add value and perspective in my new role,” Rubino told LocalSource over the phone. “With the recent merger between University Hospital, JFK and St. Barnabas, I hope to further the goals of the organization.”
Being appointed to the role by Christie was a huge honor for Rubino. He feels his experience in business, government and medicine have prepared him to become a member of the board.
“I’m honored and humbled that Christie would put his confidence in me for such an important role,” Rubino told LocalSource over the phone. “During my residency at University Hospital, I saw everything one would hope to see in training, from the common to the rare. The patient population was great, and I made lifelong connections. I had a particular fondness for the professors and nurses. There were long work weeks at this busy inner city hospital. Through my experience in government, I’ve shown that I’m capable of getting things done and can work with others to achieve a common goal for an institution. I met my wife at University Hospital, so I have a particular fondness for this institution.”