Press Releases

Eagle Scout Candidate Donates Blankets to Cooper Cancer Institute

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On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, Chris Gunderson, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout candidate from Mount Laurel, N.J., donated 30 blankets to the Cooper Cancer Institute. These blankets will benefit cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Gunderson is a member of Boy Scout Troop 44 in Moorestown, N.J. He is working toward achieving Eagle Scout status - the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Cooper Appoints New Chief Information Officer

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Cooper University Hospital is proud to appoint Michael Sinno as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. “It’s an honor and humbling experience to be selected as CIO of Cooper University Hospital,” said Sinno. “It’s a reward in itself to be able to come to work each day doing something that I truly love.”

Cooper’s Senior VP for Academic and Medical Affairs Appointed to Chief Medical Officer

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Cooper University Hospital is proud to appoint Carolyn E. Bekes, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. “Dr. Bekes has had a very successful career at Cooper and has served in many and varied capacities. Through effective leadership and hard work, I am confident that she will continue to excel within this new position.” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer.

Cooper Goes Smoke-Free

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Cooper University Hospital has taken the positive step of officially becoming a smoke-free campus for all employees, patients and visitors to all of our inpatient, outpatient and business offices. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Each year more than 400,000 lives lost – 25 percent of all deaths—are related to tobacco use. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy non-smokers.

Cooper’s Chief of Surgery Appointed to Vice President of Perioperative Services

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(CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY) Cooper University Hospital has appointed Jeffrey P. Carpenter, M.D., as Vice President for Perioperative Services. “Dr. Carpenter has superior clinical, academic and administrative skills,” says John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident that he will provide effective leadership that will contribute to the achievement of the overall strategic mission, productivity standards and expense management.”

Cooper University Hospital and Nurses Union Reach Tentative Agreement

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(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital and the Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE), the union representing Cooper nurses, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The contract is scheduled to be voted on by nurses Tuesday, May 26, 2009. "People turn to Cooper for their health care needs when they face the most serious injuries and medical conditions. And when they come to Cooper, very often, the first health professional they meet are the outstanding Cooper nurses," said George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cooper. "This tentative contract agreement proves our continued commitment to our nurses."

Cooper Celebrates Opening of the Healing Garden in Voorhees, New Jersey

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(Voorhees, New Jersey) On Thursday, May 7, 2009, the Cooper Cancer Institute celebrated the opening of the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine Program Healing Garden with a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Approximately 100 donors attended the Healing Garden event, donating commemorative pavers, benches and trees. One of the focal points of the garden is a water sculpture donated by Michael and Brian Keenan, in memory of their mother Mrs. Barbara Keenan, a former patient of Dr. Generosa Grana, Director of the Cooper Cancer Institute.

Cooper University Hospital “Goes Live” With EPIC Electronic Health Record System

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(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital has launched its new electronic health record system, EPIC, going “live” throughout the hospital on April 30, 2009. Cooper is the first hospital in South Jersey to adopt an electronic health record for all of its patients. This new, health-information system allows physicians to access all of their patients’ electronic medical records whether they are in the main hospital, the emergency department or one of Cooper’s four outpatient offices. It can be used for order entry, results review, prescription printing, discharge instructions, surgery scheduling and documentation, charging, nursing assessments and more.

Cancer Surgery Expands at Cooper with Renown Surgeon

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(Camden, New Jersey) — Cooper University Hospital welcomes Francis R. Spitz, M.D., as Vice Chief of Surgery, Head of the Division of General Surgery and Deputy Director of the Cooper Cancer Institute. Dr. Spitz is a leading surgical oncologist with expertise in gastrointestinal cancers including esophageal, pancreatic, gastric, and hepatobiliary. He also specializes in primary and metastatic melanoma. “With an expanding cancer program, it is imperative that we have the best surgical options for our patients who are undergoing cancer treatments,” said Jeffrey P. Carpenter, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Cooper. “Dr. Spitz brings a new set of highly technical skills for some of the most complex surgeries for cancer patients.”

New Jersey Trauma Center Council Participates in “We Don’t Need Your Business” Campaign

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(Camden, New Jersey) - New Jersey Health Statistics reports that unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for residents age 1 through 44. Nearly 600 fatalities occurred on New Jersey roadways in 2008; and falls, pedestrian crossing and bike crashes are on the rise. This year, the New Jersey Trauma Center Council will participate in National Trauma Awareness Month by addressing Trauma Injury Prevention with a statewide poster campaign. The theme, “We Don’t Need Your Business!” will highlight seat belt use, pedestrian safety, fall prevention and the use of helmets.