Toward the end of last school year, while most students were busy planning pool parties and other summer activities with friends, 12-year-old Jessica Baals from Minotola, NJ, had something else on her mind — giving back.

An Information Technology project at Cooper University Hospital was featured in an article in CMIO magazine. Cooper’s Information Technology department received a “Health IT Innovation Award” for Implementation of cardiology PACS and cardiovascular information system (CVIS) on a virtualized server solution.

Joan Watt, RN, a hematology and oncology nurse at Cooper, was recently honored at the Cherry Hill Mall for her service to the community. The event, “A Tribute to Nurses,” was organized by PREIT Company, who encouraged shoppers to nominate nurses who have made a difference.

On Sunday, August 22, an Op-Ed article about the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University by Donald J. Farish, PhD, President of Rowan University was featured in the Courier-Post. In the article, Dr. Farish asserted that despite the current economic climate in New Jersey, conditions are optimal for building a new medical school in South Jersey.

The One Cooper Campus initiated a single stream recycling program in January. Reviewing the numbers for the first two quarters, it is clear that Cooper has begun to make an overall improvement in managing its waste.

On behalf of the Department of Pastoral Care, Robert L. Lumpe, Director, extends his thanks and appreciation to two employees, who wish to remain anonymous, for their donation of $500 to Pastoral Care. The funds were raised through a group of employees who participated in a self-generated, weight-loss contest.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010 graduates of Center for Allied Health Education, School of Diagnostic Imaging/Medical Radiography at Cooper University Hospital. This class graduated on August 26, 2010 with a certificate in Medical Radiography. The graduation was held at Auleutto’s Caterers in Almonesson.

A few months ago, employees were given complementary zinnia flower seeds to promote the launch of our new rewards and recognition program. Richard Handschumacher, an Employee/Labor Relations Manager in the Human Relations department, recently sent along these photos from his home where those original seeds are now in full bloom. Nice work!

Sports medicine professionals from the Cooper Bone & Joint Institute of Cooper University Hospital are advising parents, athletes and coaches to educate themselves about head injury and concussion before the start of the fall and winter sports seasons. They also recommend baseline brain function testing for all athletes prior to the season, and within days after a head injury.

Cutting-edge research being published tomorrow in a leading journal of neurophathology suggests a link between concussions and other brain trauma and the diagnosis of amyotrohic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. R. Robert Franks, DO, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine and Director of the Concussion Program for the Cooper Bone and Joint Institute, explains the research and what it means for current concussion management.