Dr. Amenta, a Cooper Board Member since 2006, is a Professor of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Rowan University. He most recently served as the President and CEO of Joslin Diabetes Center (2015–2019), the world-renowned institute centered on diabetes treatment and research. A former member of Joslin’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Amenta is also a well-known clinician and scientist with significant administrative experience in medical education, clinical management, and research development.
Dr. Amenta served as the Dean of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) and became the founding dean of Rutgers-RWJMS in 2013; the CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group, the faculty medical practice and a faculty member/practitioner of Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and University Hospital from 1989 to 2015, respectively.
During his 26-plus years at RWJMS and the University Hospital, Dr. Amenta held a number of key administrative positions, including Residency Program Director, Chief of the Pathology Service and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff at RWJUH, and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at RWJMS. He was the founding Director of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Immunohistochemistry Shared Resource, and a member of the Cancer Institute’s Scientific Council and Internal Advisory Board. He is a board certified anatomic and clinical pathologist. His research contributed to our understanding of novel connective tissue components during development and disease, as well as the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases. He served on the Editorial Board of Human Pathology and as a reviewer for a number of other clinical and research journals. He has published more than 175 manuscripts, chapters and abstracts, including co-editing the textbook Histology-From Normal Microanatomy to Pathology. He was also a member at large of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Dr. Amenta holds a bachelor of science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received his medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA, where he also obtained his PhD in anatomy.