Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen and Councilman Angel Fuentes have proudly renamed a Camden City street to honor the invaluable contributions of Josefina “Josie” Rosa to Camden and to Cooper.
Josefina Rosa Way will stand as a lasting tribute to a woman whose dedication, compassion, and resilience have deeply touched the Cooper community and beyond.
Josie first joined the Cooper family as a front desk team member on February 12, 2001. After retiring, she couldn’t stay away and returned part time as an ambulatory concierge – continuing to brighten lives and offer unwavering support to patients and colleagues.
“Josie is a true patient advocate,” said Cindy Garretson, a clinical educator at Cooper. “Patients who come in for clinical education consistently tell us how kind and wonderful she is.”
But Josie’s legacy stretches far beyond Cooper’s walls.
A committed community advocate, she serves as an officer in The Leathers Jeep Club, coordinating awareness events for causes close to her heart, including cancer and autism. She has rallied support from local businesses, such as Old San Juan Restaurant, J&C Trucking, and Mister Meats Grocery Store, as well as city officials, to champion parades, marches, and fundraisers. Josie has even hosted civic gatherings at her home, welcoming the mayor and other dignitaries. Her close friendship with Mayor Carstarphen, along with her advisory role, was instrumental in earning this well-deserved recognition. In 2024, Josie was named the Camden County Prominent Hispanic Award winner. Click here to read more about Josie’s involvement in the community.
Josie is also a breast cancer survivor whose openness about her journey has inspired many. As a longtime patient of Dr. Generosa Grana, her resilience and positivity continue to shine through in every aspect of her life. Josie is a source of strength, compassion, and unwavering hope for our patients. Having walked the path herself, Josie offers her own story – not as a tale of hardship, but as a testament to her resilience as a survivor. Her words and presence bring comfort to our patients, and they look forward to her smile and peaceful manner when they arrive for their oncology visits.
According to Kaitlyn Antenucci, Director of Ambulatory Operations at MD Anderson at Cooper, “Josie is such a special person—an incredible friend, colleague, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
“Josie has a natural ability to connect with people. She speaks to everyone with such warmth and familiarity that it often feels like they’ve known each other for years. It’s a rare gift, and one that patients and coworkers alike recognize and appreciate.
“Before retiring and returning as an Ambulatory Concierge, Josie spent many years as a patient service representative in Behavioral Health, where she made a lasting impact. I’ll never forget walking into the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and seeing her at the front desk, chatting with a patient. When a patient learned of our working relationship, he pulled me aside to share how much she meant to him. He told me that during his time in Behavioral Health, Josie’s kindness and encouragement were what kept him coming back. And now, years later, she was once again a source of comfort for him.”
Join us in celebrating Josie and all the ways she’s made Cooper and Camden stronger, brighter, and more connected.
