New Jersey medical, dental school picks ex-insurance executive as president.

Publication: The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2004 The Record

Byline: Patricia Alex

Nov. 18--Former insurance executive and state political insider John J. Petillo has been tapped to head the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Petillo, 57, will be the third president of the state's sprawling public health-sciences university and the first who does not have a medical degree. At an annual salary of $575,000, Petillo will be the highest-paid public employee in the state. He'll also get a state car and several other perks.

In granting him a 3-year contract, trustees at the university said Petillo's high-profile administrative experience trumped that of other applicants with medical degrees and renowned research resumes.

Sonia Delgado, chairwoman of the board of trustees, said the search committee never discussed Petillo's lack of medical credentials.

"He is bringing an established...

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