Last week at the 2024 Nursing Excellence Awards, Cooper announced the winner of the William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year Award and the Team of the Year. See below for the press release announcing the winners.
Cooper University Health Care Announces Nursing Excellence Award Winners
Cooper University Health Care has named Genalyn Vargas, MSN, RN-BC, of Somerdale, New Jersey, as the recipient of the William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year Award. Vargas, who works in Cooper’s Trauma Step Down Unit, also received The Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing as part of Cooper’s Annual Nursing Excellence Awards presented in conjunction with National Nurses Week (May 6 to 12). The Nursing Excellence Awards recognize exceptional professional nurses and advanced practice nurses throughout the health system, as well as members of the collaborative care teams that support nursing.
The Nurse of the Year Award is named in honor of the late William A. Schwartz, a long-time member of Cooper’s Board of Trustees who committed a significant amount of his time and talents to Cooper. He was particularly passionate about Cooper’s nursing team and supporting them in their service to patients.
“Genalyn is the backbone of the Trauma Step Down Unit night shift. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and is a resource to all staff. She is an exemplar of best practice and how to provide culturally competent, comprehensive patient care,” said Kathy Devine, DrNP, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Cooper. “In addition to her dedication to care of trauma patients, specifically those in the geriatric population, her involvement in various hospital councils and committees helps elevate her practice and the practice of her colleagues.”
Recognizing the importance of teamwork in health care, Cooper also honors an outstanding team each year in addition to the individual awards. In 2024, Cooper’s Roberts Pavilion 5, an inpatient oncology unit at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, was named Team of the Year.
“The entire nursing team on Roberts Pavilion 5 provides not only outstanding care to our cancer patients and their families, but serve as warriors of hope, compassion, and healing in the battle against cancer,” Dr. Devine said.
“Nurses have been a cornerstone of our health care system for more than 137 years, and pillars of strength and courage for our patients,” said George E. Norcross III, Chairman of the Cooper Board of Trustees. “Everyone at Cooper congratulates this year’s award winners and thanks all Cooper nurses, during Nurses Week and every day, for the important contributions they make to Cooper and the community.”
“This year’s Nursing Excellence Award winners inspire us with their dedication, lead us with their knowledge, and comfort us with their compassion. We are proud to call them Cooper nurses,” said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, co-CEO at Cooper.
“Cooper nurses are extraordinary clinicians who provide exceptional care throughout the health system. Today we are proud to celebrate not only the Nursing Excellence Award winners but all Cooper nurses for their tireless efforts, their empathy, and the expertise they bring to serving others each day.” said Kevin M. O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO at Cooper.
Award winners were nominated by their colleagues for their commitment to upholding the Cooper mission: “To serve, to heal, to educate” and are supported by gifts from generous donors to The Cooper Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Cooper University Health Care.
“These awards are made possible by the kindness and generosity of our donors. Their gifts allow us to recognize Cooper’s outstanding nurses in a meaningful way every year,” said Philip A. Norcross, Esq., Chairman of The Cooper Foundation Board of Trustees.
To see the complete list of Cooper Nursing Excellence Awards winners, click here.
Genalyn Vargas, MSN, RN-BC
Roberts Pavilion 5