New Brunswick, NJ: Ashley S. Roman, MD, MPH, board-certified in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) and obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), will join Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as the chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. She will also serve as chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Roman, a nationally renowned obstetrician who specializes in caring for women experiencing complications during pregnancy, as chair of our Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences,” says Amy P. Murtha, MD, dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Dr. Roman is an extraordinary clinician and educator who fosters an environment that supports the delivery of comprehensive, innovative, and equitable healthcare for women at every stage of life. Her clinical expertise and leadership in operational innovation make her an exceptional addition to our OB/GYN leadership team.”
Dr. Roman joins the award-winning Women’s Health team at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and RWJUH from NYU Langone Health, where she serves as the Silverman Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is also chief of obstetrics at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital and vice chair of clinical affairs in Obstetrics for the health system.
“Dr. Roman is the right leader to help us expand our lifecycle services in the Women’s Health program,” said Suzanne Spernal, senior vice president, Women’s Health, RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH. “She is joining us at a time of tremendous opportunity to conduct and participate in research that can change patient outcomes and enhance quality of life for women and families in our communities. Her reputation as a clinician, teacher and researcher will help us attract top talent to New Jersey.”
“What attracted me to Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health is their unparalleled commitment to enhancing women’s health across all phases of life,” Dr. Roman explains. “There is a singular focus on developing innovative programs targeting significant health issues affecting pregnancy and quality of life.”
At NYU Langone, Dr. Roman led several transformative initiatives that strengthened clinical care, patient safety, and the overall experience for pregnant individuals and their families. She developed and executed the strategic plan for a comprehensive fetal diagnosis and treatment center in partnership with pediatric surgery, including a program for first trimester fetal echocardiogram; designed and launched a new independent midwifery program at Tisch Hospital; and redesigned the hospital’s obstetrical safety program, resulting in improved outcomes and a “high performance” designation from U.S. News & World Report.
Advancing Rutgers’ Legacy of Innovation
A respected educator and mentor for more than two decades, Dr. Roman has trained generations of residents, fellows, and junior faculty. She previously served as director of the division of Maternal Fetal Medicine for eight years and program director of the Maternal–Fetal Medicine Fellowship for five years at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
“I look forward to developing new curricula to educate our future physicians, whether it’s expanding novel simulation models to assist with training or developing or identifying new rotations for residents, fellows, and medical students,” Dr. Roman says. “Here, there is a commitment to growth, world-class excellence, the people of New Jersey, and our physicians and learners.”
Dr. Roman is recognized nationally for her leadership in the field. She is an elected member of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, a distinction reserved for individuals who have achieved national prominence in scholarship in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health. Since 2018, she has served as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Obstetrics Specialty Exam. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the New York Obstetrical Society.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Roman has authored nearly 120 peer‑reviewed publications and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for seven scientific journals, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing maternal–fetal medicine. Most recently, she worked to enhance neonatal outcomes by researching ways to identify genetic disorders, such as vasa previa, early in pregnancy. In this rare but serious complication, fetal blood vessels—normally protected within the umbilical cord or placenta—grow through the membranes directly over the cervical opening.
“When it comes to research, I have an interest in leveling the field when it comes to ensuring the best outcomes for all patients,” Dr. Roman explains. “I hope to grow Rutgers’ research mission by recruiting world-class researchers and identifying researchers of tomorrow–people fresh out of residency or fellowship who want help starting their research careers.”
Dr. Roman holds a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health with a focus on maternal and child health, both from Tulane University in New Orleans. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Medical Center and her fellowship in maternal–fetal medicine at NYU Medical Center.
She will join Rutgers in May and will be a member of the RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group.
