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A Tribute to Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper Honors Pediatric Leaders, Raises $150,000 for Children’s Health Care Programs
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper and The Cooper Foundation of Cooper University Health Care on Thursday, June 4 honored two esteemed South Jersey leaders in pediatric medicine and raised $150,000 to benefit children’s health care programs.
The Fourth Annual Tribute to Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Cooper Learning Center, which provides services in Voorhees and Moorestown to children with learning and reading disabilities, and offers a summer reading program to underserved children in the Camden community.
“When a child is sick or injured, the physicians and staff at Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper are always there,” said Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO of The Cooper Foundation. “The tremendous generosity of our donors demonstrates how important the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper is to our community.”
More than 200 guests attended the event sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill and the Cooper Women’s Board. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Children’s Regional Hospital and four of its special programs: Cooper Learning Center, Child Life Program, Child Abuse Prevention and Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
This year’s honorees were Gary Stahl, MD, Vice Chief, Department of Pediatrics and Head, Division of Neonatology, and Richard Selznick, PhD, Director, Cooper Learning Center.
“Dr. Stahl and Dr. Selznick have helped thousands of children overcome complications of prematurity and disabilities so they could live to see bright futures,” said Michael Goodman, MD, Chairman and Chief of Pediatrics. “We are grateful for their contributions to Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper and for their commitment to advancing the field of pediatric medicine.”
Stahl directs the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cooper, is Professor of Pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and is board certified in certified in both Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
Since joining Cooper 22 years ago, Stahl has led a multidisciplinary NICU team that has provided care for thousands of full-term and premature infants born at or transported to Cooper. Today, the Cooper NICU provides the highest level of care for newborns in southern New Jersey. Cooper’s NICU is the second of only five NICUs in the world certified by the NIDCAP Federation International which promotes developmentally supportive care using the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program.
“I like the close collaborative relationship between all the members of the neonatal intensive care team at Cooper,” said Stahl. “We really are a therapeutic family focused on giving our patients the best care possible. I am proud that we have made significant scientific contributions to the field of Neonatology.”
A psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist specializing in dyslexia, reading issues and related learning disabilities, Selznick’s reputation extends far beyond the region.
He is the author of three books, “The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child,” “School Struggles,” and the more recently published “Dyslexia Screening: Essential Concepts for Schools & Parents.” Selznick is known for presenting complex information to parents in down-to-earth terms.
Selznick is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and an adjunct faculty member of the Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine. Selznick is a featured expert in regional and national media and the host of “School Struggles,” an internet-based radio show.
“I am extremely proud of the Cooper Learning Center,” said Selznick. “I greatly value Cooper’s recognition that learning problems and learning disabilities can profoundly affect the child and family. Every member of our team is a passionate advocate for children and families within the community.”
The Tribute Event was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill and the Cooper Women’s Board. The event co-chairs were Goodman; William Sharrar, MD, Chief Emeritus of Pediatrics; Robyn Harvey, RN, MBA, Executive Director, Women’s & Children’s Institute; Michael Hartung, Trustee of The Cooper Foundation and Amanda Hartung, Trustee of The Cooper Foundation.
About Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper
Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper is committed to excellence in education, research, and high quality, safe care for pediatric patients and their families. As the only state-designated acute children’s hospital in South Jersey, Cooper provides exceptional pediatric primary care and comprehensive specialty care services for every patient, every day, in a safe, patient- and family-centered environment.