Welcome to the next installment of the “Growing With Cooper” series, where we highlight team members who have grown with Cooper and used its resources to advance their careers. May these extraordinary stories inspire you to take advantage of the variety of resources available to you to grow with Cooper. To submit your own story, please contact coopercom@cooperhealth.edu for a chance to be featured.
Meet your fellow Cooper team member, Marcus Worlds. Currently, Marcus is Assistant Director of Security; however, he first started at Cooper as a security officer more than 16 years ago.
Born and raised in Camden, Marcus has always had a connection to Cooper, though not always a positive one. When Marcus was 22 years old, he came to Cooper’s Trauma Center after learning that his stepsister had been shot. Despite the hospital staff’s best efforts, his stepsister unfortunately passed away.
During this difficult time, Marcus had a negative encounter with the security team, which ultimately led him to make a life-altering decision. In October 2007, Marcus left his previous jobs in customer service and hospitality to become a security officer at Cooper. “After the experience I had, I understood that how you treat and respond to people in times of distress mattered and would have lasting effects on them,” Marcus says. “I wanted to get involved and make a difference so no one would have to go through what I did.”
Marcus was on a mission to change the perception of security and law enforcement in the community in which he lived. During his time at Cooper, he has interacted with his own family members, friends, and other Camden residents who look to him as a familiar and trustworthy figure. Marcus remains active in the Camden community, serving as a trustee for the Camden Corporation Watch and accomplishing a five-year term as a board member of KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy.
Thanks to his background in customer service and hospitality, Marcus has a unique ability to ease tense situations and provide positive outcomes. Nevertheless, he continuously seeks new ways to improve himself.
For example, Marcus uses the Cooper Academy for Learning and Innovation (CALI) professional development classes and the Cooper Learning Network (CLN) to enhance some of his skills and learn more about the health system. “The CALI courses allowed me to engage with different people from various levels of the organization. I heard people’s stories, learned of the different jobs that existed at Cooper, and found out how I could become eligible for more opportunities and positions,” Marcus says. “The networking here at Cooper is amazing.”
To hear Marcus explain his journey in his own words, click here. Learn how late Cooper team member Linda Brand inspired him to pursue more career opportunities, how he used various resources to get to where he is today, and how he “pays it forward” and encourages others to take advantage of these resources.
Marcus is currently using Cooper’s tuition reimbursement program to further his education: He has completed an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences, is in his final year to complete a bachelor’s degree in law and justice studies with a minor in psychology, and plans to pursue a master’s degree. Marcus’ additional education and training have helped him achieve numerous promotions throughout his career, including positions such as Security Officer in Charge, Security Sergeant, Security Lieutenant, and Security Captain. Most recently, he was appointed Assistant Director of Security in April 2023.
When asked if he has any advice for team members who wish to pursue a new path but may be hesitant, Marcus says, “Don’t ever feel like you are ‘stuck’ and cannot grow anymore. Engage with your fellow co-workers, ask questions, and listen to people’s stories. You never know what you may learn or what advice may help you.”
Thank you, Marcus, for letting us share your Cooper growth story. You lead by example and are someone whom not only our organization, but the Camden community as well, take pride in.
