Today, Cooper University Health Care began vaccinating medical students from its medical school affiliate, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU).

Annette C. Reboli, MD, Dean of CMSRU, kicked off the student vaccination clinic by receiving her first dose of the vaccine, administered by third-year medical student Nicholas Daroshefski. Dr. Reboli, an infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist, is a strong advocate for vaccinating medical students in the early phases of vaccine distribution. Read more.

Cooper Care Alliance recently welcomed Justin Schweitzer, DO, to the Cooper team. Dr. Schweitzer is a family physician who provides comprehensive care in a judgment-free atmosphere. As Medical Director for LGBTQ+ Health and Primary Care, his top priority is promoting a healthy lifestyle among his patients and their families, and to increase access of care to LGBTQ+ identifying patients in southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia region. Read more.

I am not sure if I ever will get used to reading about the capacity of Intensive Care Units on the front page of national newspapers.  Part of the travesty of this year is when my specialty made headlines and continues to make the news. Intensivists (someone who cares for the critically ill), are supposed to be invisible, caring for post-operative surgical patients, and those too ill for regular medical floors. Read more.

A South Jersey man is the first patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper to receive Lutathera, an innovative new treatment option for patients with a rare form of cancer.

Lutathera is a targeted radioactive drug approved for the treatment of patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), a rare category of tumors that can form in the pancreas or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care one the first hospitals in New Jersey to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine and began vaccinating its team members on Tuesday, December 15.

“Today is a day filled with hope.  We are 10 months into this COVID war and we can now finally see a clear path to victory.  This virus has caused so much loss and suffering and we are hopeful that today marks the beginning of the end,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper. Read more.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, Cooper University Health Care became one of the first hospitals in the region to begin COVID-19 vaccinations. Find news coverage at the links below:

KYW News Radio

Cooper University Hospital employees receive first COVID vaccinations in South Jersey – Courier-Post (and regional Gannett newspapers including Daily Journal and Burlington County Times)

Regional Stories

Americans willing to take coronavirus vaccine, but some want to wait, according to poll – Philadelphia Inquirer

Cooper Among First NJ Hospitals To Get Coronavirus Vaccine – Patch.com Read more.

Cooper University Health Care, the region’s leading academic health system, hosted Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, and Dr. Deborah Birx from White House Coronavirus Task Force for a roundtable discussion Friday on the response to COVID-19 in Southern New Jersey.

“Having been in government for many years and knowing how thankless a job it can be, I want to offer a special thank you to Governor Murphy, Commissioner Persichilli, and Dr. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care has promoted Robert A. Ortiz Jr., JD, to senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of The Cooper Foundation, the philanthropic, community outreach, and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Ortiz, who has more than 20 years of proven fundraising experience, leading the efforts of The Cooper Foundation,” said Philip A. Read more.

A partnership between Cooper, the Freeholder Board, and the Camden Coalition will oversee the sites

Cooper University Health Care in conjunction with the Camden County Freeholder Board, Camden County Health Department and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers will open three new walk-up testing sites on Wednesday, December 9 in Camden City to provide additional testing capacity.  The three new sites will open in community schools throughout impacted zip codes in Camden City and will be easily accessible by foot, vehicle or public transportation. Read more.

Cooper University Health Care’s Air Medical Services is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of service in South Jersey this month.

Cooper Air Medical Services launched on December 4, 2010. Since launching, Cooper Air Medical Services have provided lifesaving care to the community, transporting nearly 4,000 patients – 2,400 inter-facility transports, and more than 1,500 transports directly from a trauma location to the hospital. Read more.