(Camden, New Jersey) Trick of Treat? Give me something nutritious to eat. On Wednesday, October 29 at noon, Cooper University Hospital’s new Health eTalk online forum will be discussing tips on “Healthy Eating for Children on Halloween and Year-Round.” Maryann Codd, M.S., R.D., CDE, of Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, will host this month’s session and answer any questions people may have relating to this topic of interest. “I want to provide parents with healthy meal planning tips that they can use with their children,” said Maryann. “Halloween can also be a challenge for parents with children with diabetes, so I will have some fun ideas in dealing with this day as well.

(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper Cancer Institute (CCI) has been named a model for “Best Practices”, for performance improvement by The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. This selection means that Cooper will serve as a model in performance improvement monitoring and reporting for other programs nationwide who are interested in building their cancer program.

(Camden, New Jersey) The Cooper Bone and Joint Institute has expanded its physician faculty with the appointment of Dino Nicol E. De Jesus, D.O. Dr. De Jesus joins the Cooper University Hospital orthopedic surgical team while providing patients with a full range of joint replacement options including weight-bearing surfaces such as metal-on-metal and ceramic joints. In addition, Dr. De Jesus has a special interest in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee and a vascular necrosis of the hip. Dr. De Jesus completed his fellowship at Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa, Florida. Prior to that, he completed his residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey. During his fellowship and residency, he received state-of-the-art training in reconstructive surgery of the hip and knee utilizing minimally invasive techniques.

(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital is pleased to announce that the Patient-Family Centered Care Program will receive a 2008 Spirit of Planetree Award for Cooper’s 2007 annual report and the creation of “Our Journey to Patient Family Centered Care” DVD. Only eleven awards are given out each year to affiliates across the United States. “Cooper University Hospital prides itself on the importance of patient and family support within the hospital; and continues to work with our employees on providing a level of compassion to not only patients, but family members and fellow employees,” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of Cooper University Hospital.

(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital has won the coveted 2008/2009 Consumer Choice award by the National Research Corporation (NRC). Cooper is recognized along with such prestigious hospitals as Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic and is the only hospital in the Delaware Valley to receive this honor four years in a row. “Our patients have spoken,” said George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of the Board at Cooper. “Receiving this award four years in a row distinguishes Cooper as the consistent provider of premier healthcare. Consumers are savvier than ever and are making informed decisions when it comes to where they go, and what caregivers they chose for a loved one.” The award identifies hospitals which healthcare consumers have chosen as having the highest quality and image ratings in over 250 markets throughout the U.S. This is the thirteenth year the NRC has awarded hospitals whose consumers have recognized them for providing the highest quality healthcare.

(Camden, New Jersey) The Cooper Health System has appointed Dennis A. Pettigrew as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Pettigrew has over 35 years experience in management positions. He has served as a Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer during his career. As an accomplished healthcare executive, Mr. Pettigrew will lead the financial team at Cooper.

(Camden, New Jersey) With influenza (“the flu”) season just around the corner, people are encouraged to get their influenza vaccine as soon as possible. Influenza (“the flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and can lead to death. National statistics show that on average 5 to 20 percent of the population of the United States gets the flu each year and that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. About 36,000 die from flu and its complications each year in the United States. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea also can occur but are more common in children than in adults.

(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Edwards will give the keynote address at Cooper for Women’s health and wellness conference “Breakthrough! Energy, Attitude and Good Health for Women 50+.” The event is Saturday, September 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Westin Mount Laurel. "We are delighted that Mrs. Edwards is bringing her positive, inspirational message to the women of South Jersey,” says Rosemarie Leuzzi, MD, an internal medicine physician and medical director of Cooper for Women.

(Camden, New Jersey) The Cooper Cancer Institute welcomes Priya Singh, M.D., as an attending physician in the division of hematology/medical oncology. She joins Cooper after completing her fellowship in medical oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Singh received her medical degree from New Jersey Medical School, Newark, N.J., and completed her internship and residency at University Hospital, in Newark. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Singh has participated in several cancer research projects and has been published in peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Journal of Urology and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

(Camden, New Jersey) Whether you are relaxing at home in your pajama’s or at work searching the web while enjoying an afternoon lunch, patients can receive fast and accurate answers to medical questions just by visiting Cooperhealth.org. Cooper University Hospital has created a remarkable new online chat where individuals can discuss medical issues and related topics with physicians and other health-care experts through the internet. At least two days a month, for thirty minutes a session, different physicians will host chats discussing a new topic of interest. In the coming months, Health eTalk will feature discussions ranging from general topics, such as women’s health and sports medicine, to specific discussions about the latest procedures and services available at Cooper University Hospital. Questions can be submitted in advance of the scheduled chat and, if a patient is not available when the live chat is happening, a complete transcript of each chat will be available immediately following the event.