Serving over 27 years as the Director of Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, Dr. Joel Cantor helped establish the Center as one of New Jersey’s most trusted sources of independent health policy research. Under his leadership, the Center expanded its influence through groundbreaking initiatives including work with NJ Medicaid, the NJ Health Study, and the Integrated Population Health Data (iPHD) project, while earning a reputation for rigorous, impartial scholarship that informed policy across the state and beyond. Colleagues consistently credit Joel’s vision, integrity, and commitment to excellence with strengthening both the Center and Rutgers’ standing as a leader in health policy research.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Joel is remembered as an exceptional mentor and collaborator whose generosity, humility, and steady leadership shaped the careers of countless faculty, staff, and students. Across dozens of tributes, colleagues describe him as someone who invested deeply in others, created a culture of collaboration and kindness, welcomed new scholars as valued partners, and inspired those around him through thoughtful guidance and genuine care. Whether reflecting on his mentorship, his humor, or his lasting impact on public policy, the overwhelming sentiment is that Joel’s greatest legacy lies not only in the institutions he built, but also in the people he encouraged, supported, and inspired throughout his career.
Lindsay Lawer Shea, DrPH, MS is the incoming director of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy. Dr. Shea also holds a faculty appointment at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Psychiatry. She is experienced in public health, health services, and disability policy research, with special expertise in the use of large administrative datasets, including national Medicaid claims, to understand population-level trends among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Shea focuses much of her work on improving health outcomes and service systems for autistic adolescents, adults, and older adults, with an emphasis on service access, addressing health disparities, and policy-driven system reform.
Some notable farewells from Bloustein School colleagues
As you ‘retire,’ I just want to say how grateful I am for your continued generosity.
I first encountered you as a Rutgers undergraduate, which I know you don’t remember, in your policy course at Bloustein. Not long after, I spent a year at CSHP under the direction of Dr. Dot Gaboda. While we may not have known each other personally at the time, through CSHP, you played a formative role in launching me into the health field. Then my path came full circle back to Rutgers/Bloustein, where you became my mentor. Over these past four years, having you as my mentor has been an extraordinary privilege. Your calm, thoughtful guidance and steady encouragement have shaped how I approach my work and made a difference in my professional growth. At pivotal moments, your perspective has grounded me and helped me keep moving forward with confidence.
Thank you for being such a consistent and generous force in my journey. I feel incredibly fortunate to learn from you.
With deep appreciation and warmest congratulations,
Shar Williams
Dear Joel,
I first met Joel during my interview for the assistant professor position I now hold. I remember thinking then that, if I joined Rutgers, I hoped to work closely with him. Soon after accepting an offer, my career path aligned naturally with his mentorship first as an LHS Scholar and later as my primary mentor at Bloustein. In the relatively short time I have had the privilege of being guided by him, he has made my transition from social worker to academic not only smoother, but genuinely inspiring. No idea has been dismissed, no opportunity denied, and no aspiration discouraged. I hope to secure my K award, in part so I can look forward to five more years of learning under his mentorship.
Warmly,
Melinda Rushing
Joel, and my very best wishes to you! You will be greatly missed at the Bloustein School.
Your strong mentorship of faculty and insightful guidance and engagement with the program have been such valuable parts of the School. I am glad that your departure won’t be sudden – there’s a lot we need to learn from you still. And, I look forward to continuing a collaborative relationship with between Heldrich and CSHP – maybe someday linking the data!
Warmly,
Andrea Hetling
You will be missed, as a mentor, a colleague, and a source of information! But not as a friend, because I hope we will stay in touch.
Stuart Shapiro
Good luck in your research pursuits, Joel! In my short time of working with you on various IPHD/ Heldrich collaborations, I have been so impressed by the work you have done and excited that our two organizations might work together in the future. Thank you for all the work you’ve done to help and inform the citizens of NJ!
Laurie Harrington
For nearly 30 years, Joel has been an amazing friend and mentor. I am very fortunate to have worked with him all these years.
Derek DeLia
Thank you for the positive impact you’ve had on so many people, and best wishes as you begin this exciting new chapter.
Irina Grafova
Joel has been a really wonderful colleague over my 23 years at the Bloustein School. He is generous, funny, warm and incredibly competent – a real mensch! I will definitely miss seeing him regularly and am already scheming of ways to get him to stay involved with the policy program.
Julia Rubin