Evelyn Robles-Rodriguez, DNP, APN, AOCN
Cooper University Health Care Advanced Practice Nurse Evelyn Robles-Rodriguez, DNP, APN, AOCN, has been named APP of the Year by National APP Week, an organization that honors the contributions of advanced practice providers for their contributions to health care teams across the nation. Robles was selected from among dozens of nominees across the nation. The award was announced during National APP Week, celebrated the fourth week of every September.
Robles, an oncology Advanced Practice Nurse and director of Outreach, Prevention and Survivorship at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, has lead Cooper’s life-saving outreach, prevention, and survivorship programs for more than 20 years as part of the cancer center team.
Advanced practice providers (APPs) include physician assistants/associates, nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified anesthesiologist assistants. APPs are prepared through advanced education and clinical training to provide a wide range of preventive and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. Advanced practice providers are an integral part of the healthcare team at Cooper and more than 500 APPs practice in numerous specialties across the health system.
“We are incredibility proud of Evelyn and the work she does,” said Kathy Devine, DrNP, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Cooper. “A nurse to thousands of cancer patients, her passion is to assure that every patient is receiving the best possible care. She is a role model in nursing and her work has been groundbreaking.”
In the late 1990s, recognizing Camden’s large, underserved population, Robles collaborated with the NJ Department of Health to create the Cancer Education and Early Detection Program at Cooper (CEED). The program provides underinsured and uninsured women and men with free screenings and culturally and linguistically appropriate education. More than 1,300 individuals are screened for breast and prostate cancer annually. In 2006, CEED was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its innovative and successful cancer outreach programs.
Her work within the cancer community includes a special support group, “Sister Will You Help Me.” As co-facilitator of this faith-based group of cancer survivors, she brings support and strength to women of color.
In addition to these programs and other outreach programs, Robles also oversees the MD Anderson at Cooper’s Cancer Survivorship Program, which helps patients who have completed their cancer treatment transition into wellness-focused care. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Robles also volunteered at numerous COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites throughout Camden and South Jersey and provided education to churches and community groups in the Hispanic community.
“We congratulate Evelyn on this national recognition. She is a key member of the team at MD Anderson at Cooper. Thanks to her efforts, she has made a difference in the lives of thousands of patients and their families. This recognition is well deserved,” said Generosa Grana, MD, director of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care, with its MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and affiliation with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, is a leading academic health system. Cooper has 10,000 team members including 1,600 nurses, and more than 900 employed physicians and 500 advanced practice providers. Cooper University Hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals annual survey and has an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
Cooper has revenues of more than $2 billion and has an “A-“rating from S&P Global Ratings and “A3” rating from Moody’s Investors Service. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. Nearly two million patients are served annually at Cooper’s 663-bed flagship hospital, outpatient surgery center, three urgent care centers, and more than 100 ambulatory offices throughout the community. Cooper has been named as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes for two consecutive years.
The Cooper Health Sciences campus in Camden, New Jersey, is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.