Bonita Stanton Memorial Run Will Return In Essex County: 2025 Events

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine will host the third annual Bonita Stanton, M.D., Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, Oct. 5 at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield. Proceeds from the run will directly benefit the Bonita Stanton, M.D., Scholarship Fund at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, which will provide scholarships to future physicians accepted into the medical school.

“We are delighted to once again host the Bonita Stanton, M.D., 5K Run/Walk this year in memory of Dean Stanton,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., the president and dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “Dean Stanton was an inspirational leader who passionately believed that everyone with the aptitude to become a physician should have the opportunity. By continuing this run in her honor, we are fulfilling her vision for the medical school and honoring her legacy.”

Dean Stanton was the founding dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. She passed unexpectedly in 2022, but her leadership and mission live on in the programs and curriculum that she established at the school. With a unique curriculum that fosters teamwork and a humanistic focus on community wellness through its Human Dimension program, the school draws aspiring physicians from across the country and internationally.

"Dean Stanton was an avid runner, and to honor her with an annual walk/run for a cause that she was so passionate about is just really fitting,” says Sheila Wolfinger, executive director of development for the School of Medicine. “It has grown every year and we hope that people will come out to join us once again for an event that is not only fun, but also vital to the physicians of tomorrow.”

The Bonita Stanton 5K Run/Walk is a family-friendly event suited for all ages and is sanctioned by USA Track and Field.

To register or purchase a sponsorship, visit GiveHMH.org/Stanton5K. To learn more about the event or how to support the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, contact Sheila Wolfinger at sheila.wolfinger@hmhn.org

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.