(CAMDEN, NJ) — Cooper University Health Care has received a grant of nearly $900,000 over three years through the ALS Association’s Hoffman ALS Clinic Development Award to establish a new multidisciplinary Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic at Cooper. The center will significantly expand access to specialized ALS care for patients across southern New Jersey.
There is evidence that people with ALS live longer and better lives under the care of a multi-disciplinary clinic. Currently, many South Jersey residents living with ALS must travel long distances to receive coordinated, multidisciplinary care, often to northern New Jersey or out of state. These challenges can delay diagnosis and treatment, particularly for patients with Medicaid coverage or limited transportation options.
The initiative will be led by Joseph Campellone, MD, a board-certified neurologist and neuromuscular specialist at Cooper and Inspira Neuroscience who has cared for people with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases for three decades. The new clinic will provide comprehensive ALS care with a team of specialists closer to home for patients.
“Our region has long faced a critical gap in access to multidisciplinary ALS care,” said Dr. Campellone, who also serves as a professor of Neurology at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. “This clinic will ensure that patients, regardless of insurance status or geographic location, can receive the expert, coordinated care they need within their own community.”
Addressing Regional Barriers to Care
Cooper serves a diverse and often underserved population of patients. Many patients face significant obstacles accessing specialized ALS services, including insurance and transportation limitations that prevent patients from receiving care at out-of-state ALS centers, including those in nearby Philadelphia. For some patients, reaching existing ALS clinics can require several hours of travel by public transportation, making routine appointments especially difficult for individuals with advanced mobility limitations.
The planned clinic will bring together specialists in neurology, pulmonology, rehabilitation medicine, and supportive care to deliver evidence-based ALS treatment in a single, coordinated setting with the following goals:
- Reducing time to diagnosis and treatment
- Streamlining appointments to lessen patient burden
- Improving communication among care teams
- Expanding access to on-site evaluations and advanced therapies
- Supporting patients facing financial and transportation barriers
By transitioning from a fragmented care model to a centralized multidisciplinary model, Cooper aims to improve outcomes and enhance the overall care experience for individuals living with ALS. Cooper’s long-term goal is to be the leading ALS care clinic in southern New Jersey and achieve designation as an ALS Association Center of Excellence.
Through integrated clinical care, community engagement, and research participation, the program is designed to provide sustainable, high-quality care for ALS patients throughout the region.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system affiliated with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Cooper, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, has revenues of more than $3 billion and an A+ credit rating from both S&P and Fitch Ratings.
Cooper has nearly 14,000 team members, including more than 2,200 nurses, more than 1,200 employed physicians representing 95 specialties and subspecialties, and more than 700 advanced practice providers.
Cooper operates MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper as well as three hospitals – its 663-bed flagship Cooper University Hospital in Camden, its 229-bed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House, and Children’s Regional Hospital in Camden.
Cooper University Hospital in Camden is the only Level 1 trauma center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. The hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals annual survey for six years.
More than 2.54 million patients visit Cooper’s facilities annually. Cooper’s ambulatory network encompasses three outpatient surgery centers, seven urgent care centers, a wound care center, and more than 130 physician, physical therapy, and radiology offices extending from the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore.
Cooper was named one of America’s Best Large Employers for 2026 by Forbes, ranking among the top 200 in the nation. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.
