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.

In a study using trained residents, Dr. Winter, along with several other experts, found that a targeted breastfeeding curriculum for residents in pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology improves knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding management in residents. It also increases exclusive breastfeeding in their patients.

Thanks to all of our doctors, nurses and employees who joined us this past Sunday at Six Flags Great Adventure for the annual Cooper Family Picnic!

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University took a major step today with a ceremony to begin clearing the physical site for the new medical school building. Camden Mayor Dana Redd; Cooper University Hospital President and CEO John P. Sheridan, Jr.; Rowan University President Dr. Donald Farish; Rowan University Board Chair Helene Reed; and Founding Dean of the Medical School Paul Katz, MD, put on their hard hats as an excavator with grapple began taking down a vacant building, marking the official start of construction on the site in Camden.

On Thursday, the Asbury Park Press published an article about a medical exercise hosted by The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center known as Eagle Flag. During the drill, various local, state and federal agencies — from municipal first-aid squads to the Federal Emergency Management Agency — respond to a scenario in which a category 3 hurricane hits the Garden State.

A recent edition of SNJ Business People published an article featuring John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO at Cooper. Mr. Sheridan spoke of several different business issues including investments in healthcare facilities and consolidation in the regional health care market.

In its fifth year, The Cooper Summer Reading Institute at the Lanning Square School is keeping kids academically connected through a fun and friendly summer reading camp. On Thursday August 5, the program was showcased to the community.

On August 4th at 4:30am, Cooper University Hospital reached a significant milestone in the journey of maturing the Electronic Health Record (Epic) by taking a giant step toward the goal of a paperless record. I’m pleased to report that all Physician Documentation within the hospital is now being done with the EHR, placing Cooper in the forefront of a paperless record not only within the Delaware Valley, but the entire nation.

A panel of renowned medical experts in the field of sports related concussion presented the latest scientific evidence in practical concussion management techniques, at the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) 2010 Sports Concussion Summit in Plainsboro.