Cooper University Hospital would like to congratulate gretchen Lawhon, RN, PhD, Clinical Nurse Scientist at the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, for receiving the “Advancement in Clinical Applications” award by the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter.

This award honors nurses throughout New Jersey who have demonstrated excellence in the practice of nursing; and contribute through research, community services, education, and advocacy to give all people a fighting chance against the threats to their health.

Dr. Lawhon is the Developmental Specialist in the Division of Neonatology at Cooper, and the Director of the Mid Atlantic NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) Center. A multidisciplinary approach to care, NIDCAP is supportive of each infant and their family. The program works in developing an individualized, developmentally appropriate method of support to maximize physical, mental, and emotional growth and health and to improve long-term outcomes for preterm and high medical risk newborns. Dr. Lawhon led the efforts of the Cooper Newborn Intensive Care Unit to achieve NIDCAP Nursery Certification in 2009, becoming the second nursery in the world to be certified by the NIDCAP Federation.

Read the full story

Robin L. Perry, MD, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cooper, is one of four South Jersey Physicians to have received the March of Dimes’ Born To Shine Award in recognition of their outstanding work in maternal and infant care.

Dr. Perry and John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO at Cooper, discuss her role within the department and the connection she makes with each and every patient in this video produced for the awards ceremony.

Joshua Hoffman of Weston, Florida

You may see a small but mighty young man walking through Cooper’s halls on Wednesday, March 24. March of Dimes 2010 National Ambassador, seven-year-old Joshua Hoffman of Weston, Florida will visit Cooper’s level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which cares for more than 300 premature and sick babies per year. It is a unit that Joshua and his family know all too well—he was born prematurely, weighing only 1 pound, 11 ounces. He fought hard to survive, spending 14 weeks in a newborn intensive care unit, where he received treatment for serious breathing, heart and vision problems.

As the 2010 National Ambassador, Joshua and his family are traveling the country to share his inspiring story, help raise awareness of premature birth and encourage families and companies to walk with them in the March for Babies.

The March for Babies is the March of Dimes’ annual fundraising walk that supports the organization’s mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

So if you see Ambassador Joshua and his family tomorrow, be sure to give them a warm welcome to Cooper!