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.

As you may have heard on the news, there has been a major cyberattack affecting national health care companies. On February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare, an Optum company that processes pharmacy claims nationwide, was hit by a cyberattack that has affected the ability for patients across the nation to fill prescriptions. Optum is owned by United Healthcare, the nation’s largest health insurance company, and is one of the largest clearinghouses for medical claims for both health care providers and health insurers. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care earned an A+ credit rating from Fitch Ratings (Fitch), an award-winning credit rating agency. This follows two credit upgrades from S&P Global and Moody’s since 2022. This new credit rating represents a double, or two-level, upgrade over Cooper’s 2022 rating.

“This A+ rating marks a remarkable turnaround for Cooper University Health Care from near bankruptcy at the turn of the century to today’s strong financial position,” said George E. Read more.

In recognition of National Heart Month, the Cooper Innovation Center, in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Agency, Johnson & Johnson and the Foundation for Health Advancement/FVCG/NJHF, will host a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Innovation Symposium from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2024, featuring a panel of leading physician innovators who will share their inventive technologies to improve cardiovascular and thoracic care. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care has been recognized as a Surgical Quality Partner by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), highlighting the institution’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards of surgical care.

“Our designation as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner underscores our dedication to adhering to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality,” said Francis R. Spitz, MD, FACS, Head, Division of General Surgery, Cooper University Health Care. Read more.