On May 19, representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of Guard and Reserve program (ESGR) presented Cooper University Hospital with two special awards for its support of employee participation in the Guard and Reserve: the “Patriot Award” and the “Above and Beyond Award.”
The “Patriot Award,” recognizes outstanding employers of Guard and Reserve members. The distinguished “Above and Beyond Award,” recognizes employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty by their employees.
(From Left to Right): Mark Seamon, MD; Tom Conway, Camden County representative for the Department of Defense; George E. Norcross, III, Cooper's Board Chairman; Maj. John Chovanes; Jeffrey Carpenter, MD, Chair of the Department of Surgery; John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of Cooper; Steven Ross, MD, Chief of Trauma; Joel Bryers, Administrator, Department of Surgery
Cooper was nominated for this prestigious recognition by John Chovanes, MD and Major, USAR. Maj. Chovanes, a trauma surgeon, served a tour of duty last fall in a remote combat support hospital near the Afghani/Pakistani border. As a civilian, Dr. Chovanes is a trauma surgeon a Cooper’s Level I Regional Trauma Center.
During his deployment, Dr. Chovanes notes that Cooper was remarkably supportive.
“Cooper has stood beside me – not just with verbal support but by true actions,” he writes in the nomination. “Whether needing an international cell phone to providing an ‘ultra unique’ piece of specialized trauma equipment, the people of Cooper have been there for me, and for the wounded soldier.”