News & Stories

CAMDEN, N.J. — Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO of The Cooper Foundation, announced today that the Ninth Annual Pink Roses Teal Magnolias Brunch raised $850,000 for breast and gynecologic cancer research and clinical programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.

“The money raised through Pink Roses Teal Magnolias supports women in the fight against breast and gynecologic cancer and benefits patients and their families right here in our South Jersey community,” said Levin, an ovarian cancer survivor. “We have made tremendous strides in diagnosing and treating breast and gynecologic cancer, but we know there is still much more work to be done. We cannot rest until we conquer cancer once and for all.”

More than 700 people attended this year’s brunch held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, N.J.  The event honored Dianne Hyman, RN, Transition Care Manager; Pallav Mehta, MD, Director, Integrative Oncology, and Roland Schwarting, MD, Chairman and Chief, Department of Pathology. (Bios are below.)

“With the support of Pink Roses Teal Magnolias we are able to fund innovative research that results in better treatments and brings us closer to a cure,” said Generosa Grana, MD, Executive Director of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. “Pink Roses Teal Magnolias also helps support critical programs, such as the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine Program, which helps heal the body and mind.”

This year’s fundraising event included a Survivors March to recognize all cancer survivors in attendance, a health fair, raffles, a silent auction and an online quilt auction. The event also featured inspiring stories from four cancer survivors Cathy Crawford, Claire Davis, Jan Emanuel-Costley and Phyllis Markoff.  (Bios are below.)

Since the first brunch in 2010, fundraising for Pink Roses Teal Magnolias has totaled $5.35 million. Funds have been used to support research; new technology; the Patient In Need Fund; the Survivorship Program, and the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine program, including the Tea Cart, in which employees volunteer to serve snacks to patients and their families during chemotherapy.

“MD Anderson at Cooper is transforming cancer care for the people of South Jersey and the region,” said George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of Cooper University Health Care. “I am tremendously grateful for the contributions of our community and for the support that has helped make MD Anderson at Cooper the leading cancer center in South Jersey.”

The brunch was co-chaired by community members Donna Forman, Cherry Hill; Ilene Grossman,

Voorhees; Janet Knowles, Moorestown, and Carolyn Shelby, Westampton, along with MD Anderson at Cooper leaders Generosa Grana, MD, Kristin Brill MD, Francis Spitz, MD, David Warshal, MD, and Anthony Dragun, MD.

Pink and Teal Hero Bios

Dianne L. Hyman, MSN, RN, OCN, CN-BN, Transition Care Manager Dianne L. Hyman, MSN, RN, OCN, CN-BN, knew since she was a little girl that she wanted to be a nurse. Becoming a nurse had once been her mother’s dream, but raising seven children took priority, leaving it to Dianne to turn the dream into a reality.

As a certified oncology nurse and the Transition Care Manager at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Dianne helps newly diagnosed patients understand and navigate their care, and transition between the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Dianne has worked at Cooper for more than 18 years. She is a staunch advocate for her patients and is dedicated to the equitable care of the underserved community through promotion and education about early detection and screening for cancer.

In 2001, Dianne created “Sister Will You Help Me?”, a breast cancer support group that welcomes women of color and faith to share their stories and encourage their peers through support and prayer. The group meets monthly in Camden and Willingboro.

Here’s something you might not know about Dianne – she was voted homecoming queen and student with the sunniest smile in her senior year at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden.

Pallav K. Mehta, MD, Director, Integrative Oncology To Pallav K. Mehta, MD, oncology is the perfect meld of the intellectual and personal sides of medicine. With a background in athletics, his interest in the effects of exercise on cancer led Dr. Mehta to specialize in integrative medicine, which encompasses exercise, nutrition and stress reduction. Today, he is a breast cancer specialist and Director of Integrative Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.

Dr. Mehta’s family emigrated from India to the United States when he was just a young boy.  His family expected him to become a doctor. However, he was more interested in sports, and after graduating college, he worked in a gym as a personal trainer for several years – and then he went to Jefferson Medical College.

Dr. Mehta completed his residency in internal medicine at Temple University Hospital and a fellowship in hematology-oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Mehta is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, hematology and integrative medicine.

Here’s something you might not know about Dr. Mehta – he is a fan of stand-up comedy and actually has a stand-up routine of his own.

Roland Schwarting, MD, Chairman and Chief, Department of Pathology Roland Schwarting, MD, grew up in a family of first generation physicians. His mother was a dentist, and his father was an internist. It was only natural that he too would pursue a career in medicine.

Dr. Schwarting first became interested in pathology during medical school, where he developed a fascination with looking at tissues and diseases under the microscope.  As a visual person, he appreciates the ability to make a diagnosis based on what he sees.

Dr. Schwarting earned his medical degree from Kiel University, Germany, in 1981. He subsequently spent three years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center developing tumor markers, some of which have U.S. patents and are distributed worldwide. Dr. Schwarting finished his residency in pathology in Berlin, Germany, and continued as an attending pathologist at Thomas Jefferson University until 2006, when he joined Cooper.

Board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematopathology, Dr. Schwarting is a member of the Cooper Board of Trustees, as well as President of the Cooper Medical Staff and President of the South Jersey Pathology Society.

Dr. Schwarting is married to a physician and is the father of four sons.

Here’s something you might not know about Dr. Schwarting – he is a model train collector, and he even has a train painted Pink and Teal.

Pink and Teal Featured Speaker Bios

Cathy Crawford Cathy Crawford was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in July 2012. She underwent surgery immediately by Dr. David Warshal and credits him – with his exceptional skill and compassion—and his entire team with saving her life. Cathy served as an administrative director at Cooper for three decades, retiring in 2016. She feels fortunate to have had a bird’s eye view of health care and how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together to treat patients comprehensibly. Cathy is a collector of antiquarian books. An expert-level genealogist, she is pursuing professional certification. She also serves as a director on the board of the Jamaica Historical Foundation. Cathy and her partner and their two Labrador Retrievers live in New Jersey and Vermont.

Claire Davis When Claire Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, her surgeon referred her to Dr. Robert Somer, assuring her Dr. Somer was the one of the best. Just four days before Christmas that year, with the support of her family and Dr. Somer and his team, Claire started her treatment journey. Today, she is cancer-free and is committed to giving back to those who supported her when she needed it most. A Deptford resident, Claire is the assistant vice president of loan operations for South Jersey Credit Union. When she’s not working, she enjoys anything outdoors and spending time with her two grandsons.

Jan Emanuel-Costley Just 22 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Jan Emanuel-Costley is the founder and president of Divas for a Cure, a non-profit organization that organizes motorcycle rides to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research.

Since she started Divas for a Cure in 2005, Jan has ridden her Harley Davidson more than 150,000 miles throughout the United States and Canada to support the fight against breast cancer.

Jan, whose road name is “Sunny the Diva” lives in Browns Mills. She is also the co-founder of the United States Black Calvary Family and a retired member of the New Jersey Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club.

Phyllis Markoff Phyllis Markoff was 36 and pregnant with her second child when she found a lump in her breast and knew it was cancer. Her doctor referred her to Dr. Generosa Grana, who explained that Phyllis had an aggressive form of cancer that needed to be treated aggressively.

That was 12 years ago.  Today, Phyllis is a breast cancer survivor.  Her daughter, Samantha, is a sophomore in high school and her son, Jacob, is in 7^th grade. Phyllis and her family live in Cherry Hill, and she works as a teacher in Northeast Philadelphia. Phyllis is thankful to Dr. Grana and the team at Cooper for helping her beat cancer and is grateful to be alive and able to enjoy spending time with her family and friends.

About The Cooper Foundation

The Cooper Foundation serves as the philanthropic, community outreach and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care, one of the largest health systems in southern New Jersey with over 100 outpatient offices and its flagship, Cooper University Hospital located in Camden, N.J.

About MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper

In October 2013, Cooper University Health Care and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, partnered to create MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. MD Anderson is one of the nation’s leading cancer hospitals. This partnership is a full clinical integration between the two programs. MD Anderson at Cooper physicians adhere to the same philosophy, processes and guidelines set by MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, and patients receive the same proven practice standards and treatment plans provided at MD Anderson. Today at MD Anderson at Cooper, patients have access to more clinical trials, as well as a full range of supportive care services. Advanced, comprehensive cancer services are provided at our Camden, Voorhees and Willingboro locations. The Cooper Digestive Health Institute locations are fully accredited MD Anderson at Cooper locations providing innovative gastrointestinal cancer prevention, detection and treatment services. Additional cancer clinical services are provided at multiple locations throughout South Jersey.

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