BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Seton Hall University and Hackensack University Medical Center have agreed to collaborate on building a private medical school.

The school would be built at the former Hoffman-La Roche facility in Nutley and Clifton.

“We are excited to be taking this next step with Seton Hall University,’’ Hackensack University CEO Robert Garrett said, according to NorthJersey.com. “Our academic reputations, combined with our clinical expertise, will guarantee the establishment of a world-class academic institution in the Garden State.”

The move also gives Seton Hall the chance to expand its graduate level programs.

NorthJersey.com reports that the school is expected to boost the economy in the area, and help a critical shortage of physicians in the state. It is estimated that New Jersey will be short about 2,400 physicians by 2020.

Hackensack and Seton Hall officials said the private school could create 400 to 500 jobs for the area, along with hundreds of other jobs through other outlets of the campus, NJBIZ reported. Also, Roche said the school would get favorable lease terms from the project developer.

And the alliance of two highly regarded institutions should provide the next generation opportunities and incentives to go into medicine for a career, shu.edu believes. Gov. Chris Christie, appearing at the alliance announcement said, “We know that by continuing to grow our academic core, we are going to grow our economic core as well.”

The private school is looking to open in 2017.