Leslie Lenert has been appointed as the inaugural director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Health Artificial Intelligence (BMIHAI) at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. Lenert will also serve as a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Lenert comes to Rutgers from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he was a distinguished professor of internal medicine and held several leadership roles, including associate vice president of data science and informatics, chief research information officer, and director of the Biomedical Informatics Center. His background includes experience in information technology, artificial intelligence, health policy, and public health administration.
His research has focused on applying data science and interoperability tools within health systems. He has contributed to developing mobile health applications, population health tools, and decision support systems aimed at improving patient engagement and care coordination.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Leslie Lenert to Rutgers,” said Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Health. “His leadership will help position the new center at the forefront of the fields of biomedical informatics and health-related AI, nationally and internationally.”
During his time at MUSC, Lenert established a clinical trials unit supporting remote research and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Network studies. He also helped found a joint PhD program in data science and biomedical informatics with Clemson University and led efforts to create a statewide quality improvement and research database in South Carolina.
Lenert played a key role as associate director of the South Carolina Translational Research Institute by helping secure $26 million in Clinical and Translational Sciences Award funding for MUSC in 2025. In 2024, he served as lead informatics principal investigator for Science and Technology Research (STAR) Partnership, which received $26.5 million from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. That same year, he secured a $1.2 million equipment grant from NIH for MUSC’s first shared high performance computing resource.
“Dr. Lenert is a visionary leader who brings a wealth of expertise in biomedical informatics and AI research to Rutgers,” said Tobias Gerhard, director of IFH. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Lenert to the Institute for Health and are confident that he will lead BMIHAI to success through cutting-edge research and new collaborations.”
In addition to his academic roles, Lenert was founding director of the National Center for Public Health Informatics at the Centers for Disease Control. He served two terms on the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is also an associate editor of the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
“My career began in medical AI, and it’s exciting to be able to join Rutgers and focus my career on AI in this revolutionary era,” Lenert said. “By combining AI and Learning Health Systems methods with a LivingLabs model of spaces to focus our work on solving real-world problems, our center will aim to transform both science and healthcare – starting in New Jersey, but with impacts that reach far beyond.”
Lenert holds degrees from University of California Riverside (B.S., biomedical sciences), University of California Los Angeles (M.D.), and Stanford University (M.S., medical information science). He is board certified in internal medicine as well as being a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and American College of Medical Informatics.
The BMIHAI is supported by funding from Rutgers Roadmaps for Collective Academic Excellence along with substantial backing from Rutgers Health chancellor’s office. The center aims to bring together education, training, and research efforts related to data science and artificial intelligence across health disciplines under one organization.
“Our goal is simple: to put Rutgers on the map as a national and international leader in health AI,” said Antonina Mitrofanova, an associate professor with Rutgers School of Health Professions.
“Through Dr. Lenert’s senior leadership and collaboration, we’ll establish Rutgers as a leader in biomedical data science and health AI, from research to the clinic,” said Evan Johnson, professor of medicine & Director for Data Science at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
David Foran added: “Given the depth and scope of Dr. Lenert’s clinical & research accomplishments & experience I have every confidence that he will flourish at Rutgers while facilitating collaboration innovation & discovery.” Foran serves as Chief Information Officer & Director Biomedical Informatics at Rutgers Cancer Institute—the state’s only National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—and Chief Research Informatics Officer at Rutgers Health.
Since its establishment in 2024, BMIHAI has received 18 pilot grant applications & 17 postdoctoral collaboration proposals; hosted seven summer internships; organized a bootcamp; conducted two community-building symposiums; & launched industry collaborations. Committees are working on curricula for new master’s degree & doctoral programs in biomedical informatics & health AI.
“I deeply appreciate the incredible efforts of my colleagues Drs Mitrofanova Evans & Foran in laying foundation for BMIHAI through Roadmaps program & look forward working with them other leaders at Rutgers RWJBarnabas Health build BMIHAI into national center excellence,” Lenert said.
