Alumna Spotlight - Dr. Pamela Brug DC'84

For Dr. Pamela Brug DC’84, an OBGYN with Robert Wood Johnson, making a difference for her patients requires dedication both inside and outside the office. As a result, Dr. Brug is active not only as a clinician and surgeon, but as a champion of education, community building, and social justice. 

“There are so many things I cherish about being a doctor,” said Dr. Brug. “By going to medical school, I connected my love for science with my desire to help people. Every day I feel like I can make a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s tiny.” 

At Douglass, Dr. Brug earned degrees in biology and sociology. Her interdisciplinary education, both in STEM and humanities, mirrors the ethos of her professional work. In addition to medicine, Dr. Brug has been actively involved in community groups around the state. She started the New Jersey Black Women’s Physicians Association in order to address health disparities in New Jersey, in particular black maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The organization also advocates for advancing women of color in the medical industry. Additionally, she serves as the Co-Chair of Action Together Union County, a grassroots organization that educates the community on a variety of political and social issues such as voter registration. 

Creating ties with fellow community members is essential to Dr. Brug’s mission as a healthcare provider. While on the protest line, she met a woman who would later become her partner in developing Academy for Innovation in Education, a nonprofit that offers STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programming to children who would not otherwise have access. Ultimately, her nonprofit work will culminate in a more diverse cohort of medical professionals, which in turn leads to an improved healthcare system.

“Studies have shown that a more diverse medical industry can lead to a decrease in health disparities,” said Dr. Brug. “And the way we create a more diverse medical industry is by providing all children access to quality educational programming, like STEAM initiatives, at an early age. We want every child to have the tools to succeed in any profession they might choose, including in medicine.”

Dr. Brug’s passion for education, and changing the landscape of the medical industry, also translates in her work with current medical residents. After receiving her own medical degree, she went on to earn a master’s of science in education from New England University. Currently, she serves on the clinical staff at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she guides residents as they develop into experienced healthcare providers. Dr. Brug’s work at Robert Wood Johnson is a critical link in an educational chain that promotes positive, productive, and comprehensive dialogues between doctors and patients.  

“I teach residents who in turn teach and treat their future patients,” she said. “It’s really important to me that we improve services for those with limited resources and access to healthcare. So, by passing down important skills and competencies to young doctors now, I can directly make a difference in the quality of care a patient receives down the line.” 

Dr. Brug has received numerous awards for teaching, mentoring, and community service. In part, Douglass served as the foundation for her outstanding accomplishments as a physician and as an activist. During her time at the College, Dr. Brug developed a worldview guided by exploration and self-discovery. 

“At Douglass, I had the opportunity to become aware of myself as a human being. With so many organizations and causes to join, I felt not only part of Douglass, but part of the larger world.” 

While Dr. Brug has many beautiful memories from her time at Douglass, a particular episode stands out—one fitting for the Valentine’s Day season. During an evening playing Backgammon in a friend’s room, she met a physics major from Rutgers College who would one day become her husband. 

“It’s a classic Douglass woman meets Rutgers man love story,” she said. “I have many great memories from my time on campus, but I have to say, this one really lasted!”

Throughout all she has achieved, and all she will continue to achieve, Douglass has held a special place in Dr. Brug’s heart. 

“Douglass did so much for me—it was one of the best things to ever happen to me,” she said. “There were no limits for what we could do and the possibilities were endless.”