Every May, the Professional Council of the Department of Patient Care Services recognizes 16 nurses and other members of the healthcare delivery team at Cooper University Hospital for their hard work and dedication. These prestigious, peer-nominated awards honor the work of the recipients, whose leadership and practice promote the delivery of quality healthcare at Cooper. Each award, together with Nurse of the Year, has its own set of criteria for eligibility, including three letters of recommendation from staff within each nominee’s clinical discipline.
“Nurses are a cornerstone of this institution and are essential to the minute-to-minute care and support provided to our patients and their families,” said Dianne S. Charsha, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “They exemplify leadership, compassion, and loyalty towards each and every patient they care for and go above and beyond their job requirements to make sure all their needs are fulfilled.”
Cooper has more than 1200 registered nurses working in various areas of medical expertise within the hospital. To further their knowledge and enhance performance, Cooper offers educational courses to both employees and nursing students. The number of nurses employed at Cooper continues to grow each year.
The 2010 Nurse of the Year Award has been given to Patricia Pearlman, R.N., staff nurse in Cooper’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Pearlman, of Cherry Hill, N.J., is extremely active in patient and nurse advocacy and continues to create better ways to promote family-patient centered care within the NICU department. Two years ago, she began “Clare’s Cupboard”, a non-profit organization that helps raise money to be used towards the purchase of basic baby supplies such as diapers, bottles, formula, clothing and other essentials for NICU patients and their families. To date, the program has helped over 100 families and raised more than $50,000. .
Cooper’s 2010 Winners and Awards are as follows:
Charlotte E. Tobiason Memorial Award:
Margaret Stager, R.N.C., from Pitman, N.J. – Maternal Intermediate Care Unit
The UC/CADV Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing Practice:
Debbie Shannon, R.N., from Albion, N.J. – Cardiac Catheterization Lab
The Selma & Martin Hirsch Clinical Excellence Award:
Dawn Davila-Blake, R.N., B.S.N., from Smyrna, D.E. – ICU/CCU
Cooper Nursing Alumni Clinical Nurse Excellence Award:
Kathryn Dunn, R.N., from Blackwood, N.J. – Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Carol Tracy Compassion Award:
Lisa Passero, R.N., SDS/SPU/PAT, from Turnersville, N.J. – Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusion
The Moorestown Auxiliary Memorial Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing:
Mary DiBenedetto, R.N., CAPA, SDS/SPU/PAT, from Cinnaminson, N.J. – Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusion
John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Neonatal Nursing:
Patricia Pearlman, R.N., from Cherry Hill, N.J. – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Nurse Leadership:
Lisa Geoghegan, R.N., SDS/SPU/PAT, from Delran, N.J. – Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusion
The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Award for Nurse Mentorship:
Tony Solomon, R.N., from Williamstown, N.J. – Emergency Department
The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Family Excellence Award for Nurse Research:
Beth Sherman, R.N., B.S.N., CEN, from Mickleton, N.J. – Emergency Department
The Philip & Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice:
Jennifer Kubat, R.N., B.S.N., from Pitman, N.J. – North/South 9
The Moorestown Auxiliary Memorial Award for Excellence in Outpatient Nursing:
Lisa Passero, R.N., SDS/SPU/PAT, from Turnersville, N.J. – Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusion
Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Pediatric Nursing:
Janet Ezekial, R.N., B.S.N., from Audubon, N.J. – Outpatient Pediatrics
Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing:
Elizabeth Maryanski, R.N., SDS/SPU/PAT, from Pennsauken, N.J. – Outpatient Chemotherapy Infusion
Award for Excellence in Perioperative Surgical Technology Practice:
Andrea Reeve, R.T., from Cherry Hill, N.J. – Cardiac Catheterization Lab
The Lynn Nelson Memorial Award of Excellence:
Jack Leshnov, B.A., C.S.W., from Merchantville, N.J. – Emergency Department
Excellence in Trauma Nursing Practice:
Sherry Wright, R.N.-C., from Pennsauken, N.J. – Trauma Services
The Barbara & Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Patient Care (NON-NURSE):
Edward Lemmo, R.T., (RO) (ARRT), from Mount Royal, N.J. – Emergency Department
The prizes and commemorative plaques were presented to each of the award winners at a formal recognition dinner on May 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill.