When Sandy Kowal, RN, School Nurse for Cherry Hill High School West, attended her first symposium for Cooper in Schools on childhood diabetes nearly three years ago, she immediately knew it was something that she wanted to get involved in long-term.
“I was absolutely amazed with the presenter and how timely the topics were,” said Kowal. “As soon as the program was over, I went directly up to the individual responsible for organizing the symposium and said I would like to be a point person for the Cherry Hill School District. I wanted my staff to get an opportunity to be a part of this unique educational program.”
At every stage of life, children deserve the best tools and resources available for living happy, healthy lives. Cooper in Schools provides nurses, counselors, coaches, athletic trainers, teachers and allied healthcare professionals with the information necessary to ensure students are getting the best care possible and that their medical needs are being addressed. From childhood obesity to recognizing the signs of depression, keeping kids healthy “Inside and Out” is the Cooper in Schools theme during the 2011-2012 school year.
“Having worked in the healthcare industry for many years now, I know first-hand that medicine and nursing practices change on an almost everyday basis, so it’s important to learn how to adapt quickly to these changes,” continued Kowal. “Cooper in Schools provides timely resources from experts at Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, allowing our faculty at Cherry Hill West to get the information they need and to expand their knowledge base.”
Cooper in Schools also offers free tours that highlight Cooper’s new $220M Patient Pavilion. During each tour, students, school faculty and aspiring healthcare professionals visit The DiFlorio Family Healing Garden, Pediatric Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, the Simulation Laboratory and Cooper’s Level 1 Trauma helipad.
“Whether we give a tour at the hospital or present a symposium at a local school, we find a way to conveniently bring needed information to the targeted audience,” said Michael Goodman, MD, Chief, Department of Pediatrics and Medical Director for Cooper in Schools. “It is part of our mission to educate the community so that children of all ages will have the support and the resources they need to live safe, healthy and productive lives.”
To schedule a tour or educational sessions for your school, contact Cooper in Schools at cooperinschools@cooperhealth.edu