The Cooper Foundation recently announced the recipients of the inaugural Linda Brand Scholarship, a testament to the enduring legacy of a beloved leader and colleague. The scholarship was established by Linda Brand, assistant vice president for patient access and financial navigation at Cooper University Health Care, who sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in October 2023.

“Linda was not only a talented leader but a cherished friend to many at Cooper. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care has named Genalyn Vargas, MSN, RN-BC, of Somerdale, New Jersey, as the recipient of the William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year Award. Vargas, who works in Cooper’s Trauma Step Down Unit, also received The Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing as part of Cooper’s Annual Nursing Excellence Awards presented in conjunction with National Nurses Week (May 6 to 12). Read more.

(CAMDEN, NJ) —MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper successfully attained accreditation at its Camden, Voorhees, and Mount Laurel locations from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence^®. APEx provides external validation that a radiation oncology facility is delivering high-quality patient care.

“Receiving APEx accreditation from ASTRO, the largest radiation oncology society in the world, is an outstanding achievement by our Radiation Oncology team,” said Anthony Dragun, MD, chairman and chief of the Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson at Cooper. Read more.

Haddonfield, NJ – Cooper University Health Care, the region’s leading academic health system, is proud to partner with experienced family practitioners James J. Runfola, MD, and Leonard V. Ridilla, MD, to announce the launch of a primary care practice that redefines patient-provider relationships. Beginning in April, Cooper will offer Direct Primary Care (DPC), a membership-based model designed to provide unparalleled access and personalized care. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care announced today that it has appointed former federal judge John Vazquez to the newly created position of Chief Legal Officer. The position was created due to unprecedented expansion and complexity of issues and challenges facing Cooper as a growing academic health system.

“Cooper’s tremendous growth as a leading academic health system has increased the complexity of issues we are facing, so we are pleased to welcome Judge John Vazquez, whose vast legal experience will help us continue to successfully meet our future business objectives,” said George E. Read more.

The Cooper Foundation has promoted Lisa Morina to senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of The Cooper Foundation. Morina joined The Cooper Foundation in 2023 in the role of vice president of advancement for corporate relations.

“In the past year, Lisa has built strong relationships with our supporters and has demonstrated outstanding leadership. We know that Lisa will excel in this new role as she leads our seasoned team of fundraising professionals as Cooper grows and expands as a leading academic health system in the region,” said Philip A. Read more.

(CAMDEN, NJ) Cooper University Health Care has earned re-certification of The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. This advanced stroke certification is a prestigious designation reserved for institutions with specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.

“Cooper’s designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center for seven consecutive years demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care to patients,” said Tudor G. Read more.

(CAMDEN, NJ) – A team of interventional cardiologists with Cooper and Inspira Cardiac Care is the first in the region, and one of very few in the country, to use the FARAPULSE™ PFA System by Boston Scientific for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), or an irregular or rapid heart rhythm. FARAPULSE™ uses ultra-rapid electrical pulses, called pulsed field ablation (PFA), to treat AFib versus traditional radiofrequency (RF) or cryothermal ablation. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care’s credit rating for bonds issued by Camden County Improvement Authority was upgraded by S&P Global Ratings (S&P) to an “A“ with a positive outlook. This is the second-straight year S&P has increased Cooper’s credit rating. This follows an A+ credit rating from Fitch Ratings earlier in the month.

“S&P’s upgrade for a second year in a row is yet another validation of our thoughtful growth strategies and speaks to a remarkable turnaround for Cooper that was near bankruptcy at the turn of the century and is now a leading academic health system,” said George E. Read more.

Ten-year-old Lily Cuticchia of Haddon Township, NJ, is back at it again, opening her heart and hands to help others in need. The fifth-grade student at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Haddon Township recently visited Cooper University Hospital to donate more than 600 backpacks filled with blankets and personal care items to help patients at Cooper’s Center for Healing who are facing homelessness. Read more.