News & Stories

This year’s winners are outstanding professionals who embody the compassion and resilience essential in nursing. Our industry continues to experience dynamic change, while here at Cooper our patient volumes have hit record highs. Our nurses and collaborative care teams have responded to these challenges with professionalism and solidarity, remaining focused on the safe, high quality care of our patients.

Kathy Devine, RN, DrNP, Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, congratulates all of our exceptional Cooper nurses and collaborative team members. A special audio message from Kathy is available here.

Thank you to the members of the Professional Recognition Council for your hard work in reviewing the nominations and selecting the winners. 

The Nursing Excellence Awards are supported by gifts from generous donors to The Cooper Foundation to assist our phenomenal winners with education and training. 

Elizabeth Moriarty, RN, MSN is Nurse of the Year. Elizabeth is a medical-surgical certified nurse specializing in orthopedic nursing. She currently co-chairs the Pavilion 7 Unit-Based Nursing Council, and is active in the Nursing Excellence Council and Nursing Practice Council.

The Intensive Care Nursing Team won the Outstanding Team Award in honor of the enormous courage and sacrifice they have exhibited throughout Cooper’s COVID-19 response.

Lydia Acevedo, BSN, Emergency Department, is the recipient of The Lynn Nelson Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing.

Catherine Albanese, BSN, RN, Palliative Care, is the recipient of The Franklin Morse Archer, Jr., & Mary Joy Reeve Archer Memorial Award for Excellence in Outpatient Oncology Nursing.

Tracie Alvarez, BSN, RN, Critical Care Unit, is the recipient of The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Mentorship,

Kimberly Bell, LPN, Practice LPN, Gloucester City,is the recipient of The Women’s Board of Cooper University Health Care Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Nursing.

Geraldine Brown, Environmental Services, is the recipient of The Carol G. Tracey Compassion Award.

Dhurata Collaku, MBA, RRT, Respiratory Therapy, is the recipient of The Women’s Board of Cooper Hospital Allied Health Professional Excellence Award (Non-Nursing).

Alyssa Cooper, BSN, RN-C, NICU, is the recipient of The John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Excellence in Neonatal Nursing

Clinical Educators Team, Professional Development, is the recipient of The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Research.

Daniel Dangle, RN, CCRN, Trauma Intensive Care Unit, is the recipient of The Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing.

Monika Dobrowolski, MSN, APN-C, RNFA, Colorectal Surgical Services, is the recipient of The Rose Smith & Sue Zamitis Memorial Award for Excellence in Inpatient Oncology Nursing.

Jennifer Ford, RN, Pediatrics, is the recipient of The Dr. Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing.

Catherine Hassinger, BSN, RN, CGRN, Digestive Health Institute Mount Laurel, is the recipient of The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing.

Daniel Hyman, DO, Physician, Primary Care, is the recipient of The Nursing Alumni Excellence Award for Nursing-Physician Partnership.

Melissa Iannacone, MSN, APN, FNP-BC, Advanced Practice Nurse, CUES, is the recipient of The Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Advanced Practice Nursing.

Kunjunjamma Joseph, BA, Pavilion 7, is the recipient of The Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing.

Kimberly Kadelski, MD Anderson at Cooper call center, is the recipient of The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Service (Non-Nursing).

Kelly Klinger, BSN, Labor and Delivery, is the recipient of The Charlotte Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing.

Theresa Maerten RN, BSN, Medical Informatics, is the recipient of The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Nurse Leadership.

Janine McNamara, BSN, RN, CGRN, Digestive Health Institute, is the recipient of The Shaina Horton Memorial Award for Excellence in Service.

Elizabeth Moriarty, RN, MSN, Pavilion 7 Medical Surgical, is the recipient of The Selma and Martin Hirsch Award for Excellence in Medical Surgical Nursing.

Kay Pine, RN, Cooper Heart Institute/Cardiac Partners at Cooper and Inspira, is the recipient of The Cooper Heart Institute & The Heart House Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing.

Meggan, Zarrella, RN, BSN, Intensive Care Unit, is the recipient of The William and Eileen Archer Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing.

Congratulations and thank you
for everything you do for our patients!