Honoring a Legacy: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine to Host Second Annual Bonita Stanton, M.D., Memorial 5K Run and Walk

Funds raised to support scholarships for the next generation of physicians

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is pleased to host its second annual Bonita Stanton, M.D., Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, October 27 at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield. Proceeds from the Bonita Stanton, M.D., Memorial 5K will directly benefit the established Bonita Stanton, M.D., Scholarship Fund at the  Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, which will provide important scholarships to future physicians accepted into the highly-sought-after medical school. 

Hackensack Meridian Health lost a beloved leader and true friend when Bonita Stanton, M.D., the founding dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and president of its Academic Enterprise, unexpectedly passed away in January 2022. Dean Stanton was a prolific researcher, author and educator committed to health care equality. Her legacy extends from the impoverished corners of the globe to the most prestigious halls of academia, including the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine - the medical school she helped create in a new mold amid the promise of a better 21st century future. 

Dean Stanton’s leadership and mission has structured the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine’s unique curriculum to foster teamwork and a humanistic focus on community wellness through its Human Dimension program. The program integrates biomedical science, the social determinants of health and population sciences and is always taught in the context of underserved families and communities across New Jersey.

“We are delighted to once again host the Bonita Stanton, M.D., 5K Run/Walk this year in memory of Dean Stanton,” said Sheila Wolfinger, executive director at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “She was an incredible inspiration to her colleagues and students, whose lives she touched deeply with her wisdom, compassion and vision. Dean Stanton is deeply missed, and this event is a heartfelt way to honor her legacy. It will be a wonderful way as we come together to raise funds that will provide scholarships to the next generation of physicians, carrying forward the mission she was so passionate about.”

"As a trailblazer in health care and education, as well as a dedicated runner, Bonnie Stanton’s legacy lives on through this fantastic event," said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., the current president and dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. "It is a meaningful way to celebrate her impact while helping physicians of tomorrow grow through the school she built with such heart and vision.”

The Bonita Stanton 5K Run/Walk is a family friendly event suited for all ages and is sanctioned by the USA Track and Field.

To register or purchase a sponsorship, visit GiveHMH.org/Stanton5K. To learn more about the event or how you can support the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, please contact Sheila Wolfinger at sheila.wolfinger@hmhn.org.