South Middlesex Times

Denise Rodgers, the Vice Chancellor for Interprofessional Programs at Rutgers Health, has been honored with the 2025 MLK Jr. Steward of the Dream Award. This accolade, presented by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark's NAACP chapter, recognizes her efforts to address health disparities affecting African American communities.

"Martin Luther King Jr. has been a hero for most of my life," Rodgers expressed. "To receive an award in his name is particularly meaningful."

The Steward of the Dream Award celebrates leaders who contribute significantly to African American communities and those in greater Newark. Previous recipients include former New Jersey state senator Ronald L. Rice, A. Zachary Yamba, ex-president of Essex County College, and Mamie Bridgeforth, a former Newark councilwoman.

Rodgers discusses her journey into family medicine: "I’m fortunate to have grown up with a father who was a Ph.D. psychologist and a mother who was a nurse... They instilled that in me, and it’s part of why I went into family medicine."

Rodgers highlights her role in preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in homeless shelters as her proudest achievement. As chair of the Newark Homelessness Commission since 2019, she coordinated efforts to protect this vulnerable population when COVID-19 emerged. The city rented out a Holiday Inn to house individuals hesitant to enter shelters due to substance use disorders or mental illnesses.

"If you can’t access fresh food, if you can’t buy medicines, if you don’t have adequate housing or a safe neighborhood where you can walk, you’re at a distinct health disadvantage," Rodgers stated.

Rodgers emphasizes that social determinants significantly affect health outcomes more than medical interventions alone. She stresses racism's impact on health disparities among African Americans: "Racism is a foundational contributor to many of the problems that result in the health disparities that we see."

Her work includes educating others about these issues despite challenges: "There are now states where I can’t give that talk... That’s tragic to me and a disservice to learners."

Rodgers channels her anger into advocacy: "That anger fuels my passion to continue to speak out." She mentions concerns about potential reductions in care access for marginalized populations amid pushback against diversity initiatives in higher education institutions.