News & Stories

The Cooper Red Hot Gala is happening this weekend, and below is more information about those physicians and staff supporting its cause, the Cooper Simulation Laboratory.

*

Dr. Jeffrey Carpenter is a world-renowned vascular and endovascular surgeon, author, and speaker. He currently serves as Professor and Chief of the Department of Surgery at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Chief of Surgery for the Cooper Health System.

Dr. Carpenter came to Cooper in 2008, and has more than two decades of experience in the field, during which time he made history as the first surgeon in the Delaware Valley to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm using endovascular technique. He also pioneered the development and use of magnetic resonance angiography. Dr. Carpenter has been active in the development of minimally invasive endovascular techniques for vascular surgery. He holds patents for several endovascular devices and methods, and serves as the principal investigator of numerous endovascular device trials. He also serves on the scientific advisory boards of many endovascular device manufacturers, including Endologix, WL Gore and Associates, Edwards Lifesciences, St. Jude Medical, Embrella Cardiovascular, and Cryolife.

Dr. Carpenter recently hosted a PBS special on aortic aneurysm disease for the “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” series entitled “AAA: The Silent Killer.” He has been honored by America’s Top Doctors, Best Doctors in America, America’s Top Surgeons, Philadelphia Magazine’s “Top Doctor” award and numerous other clinical and professional awards. He has authored over 200 scientific publications and serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious trade journals, including Vascular, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Journal of Endovascular Therapy, and Journal of Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Carpenter received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. He completed his surgery residency and vascular fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Beyond these accomplishments and accolades, Dr. Carpenter is known by his colleagues as an even-tempered leader who listens before he speaks. His compassion and respect, for patients and co-workers alike, is obvious to anyone who meets him. As one colleague stated, “He clearly loves what he does.”

*

Peggy Burgoyne, CRNA graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania’s School of Nurse Anesthesia in 1977. She earned a BS in Health Education from Ottawa University in 1984 and an MS in Health Education from Beaver College in 1987. She has worked in the Department of Anesthesiology since November 1987.

“I have been blessed to work with wonderful surgeons and practitioners of medicine. I have been privileged to volunteer overseas with physicians from the Cooper family as we attempted to improve the world one patient at a time,” said Peggy. “I will now witness the building of our Medical School and the growth of our medical and nursing programs.”

Peggy describes the Sim Lab as an important priority for the hospital. “I look forward to seeing everyone at the Gala, as we strive to create more funding for simulation education. Simulation is a safe and exciting way to practice as well as teach future health care providers!”

*
Ogelue Ezeife-Ugorji’s first experience at Cooper was as a student. At the time, she was pursuing her Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Drexel University School of Anesthesia. She also earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2000.

She enjoyed her time in the Department of Anesthesiology so much that she applied to work at Cooper full-time, and was hired in May 2005. One co-worker, praising Ogelue’s efforts, explains that it’s common for Cooper to attract the best CRNAs through these types of positive educational experiences.

Ogelue works with colleagues and patients at One Cooper Plaza in Camden, as well as the Cooper Surgery Center in Voorhees and the Endoscopy Center in Mount Laurel. In addition to her New Jersey state license, she holds current licenses in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

*
Heather Tsiotsias, CRNA began her career at Cooper in 1998 as a Rutgers nurse extern in the operating room. Little did she know she would meet her husband-to-be there a few years later.

Dr. Tsiotsias came to Cooper as a Trauma Department resident in 2003, following medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also completed a fellowship in Cooper’s Trauma Department before being appointed as an attending physician in 2007.

Heather continued to work in the Trauma Department while earning her CRNA from UMDNJ-Newark. Heather then moved to the Anesthesiology Department in 2007. She and Dr. Tsiotsias married in August 2005 and have two children.

Dr. Tsiotsias is board-certified in Surgery and instructs at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Among his clinical interests is Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training, which he conducts for doctors, nurses, and residents at Cooper.

*
Besides being an attending anesthesiologist, Dr. Ronak Desai serves the Department of Anesthesiology as Director of Rotating/Visiting Residents. He also is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Camden.

Before coming to Cooper in August 2006, Dr. Desai earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internship at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and a residency (in which he served as Chief Resident his final year) at University of Chicago Hospitals.

Dr. Desai belongs to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the International Anesthesia Research Society, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, the Illinois Society of Anesthesiologists, the New Jersey Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Osteopathic Association. His primary clinical interests include cardiovascular anesthesia and regional anesthesia.

*
If you ask Dr. Mark Nemiroff the question “How did you come to Cooper?” you will get some version of this delightful response.

“In 1987, at a meeting in New York, I was very impressed to hear a young anesthesiologist from Jefferson present a paper. I took him out for lunch, and a few months later, Mike Goldberg and I formed a new private practice group together…We’ve been friends ever since. When Mike left our group to begin his long-overdue academic career at Cooper, I stayed on in private practice. … In the winter of 2007, we had lunch with Mike and his wife Melody while we were at a yearly New York meeting. Mike suggested that I leave my private group and rejoin him at Cooper. … After about 15 seconds of contemplation, and an elbow from my wife, I said yes. I resigned from my group the very next day.”

Dr. Nemiroff has practiced anesthesiology for over 30 years in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He joined Cooper in 2008 and serves as Director of the Pre-Admission Testing Clinic. He is also an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

*
Robert F. Ostrum, M.D. serves Cooper as Director of Orthopaedic Trauma and is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He graduated from Temple University Medical School and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center. He then completed a Trauma fellowship, having trained in Switzerland and Germany. Before coming to Cooper in 2003, he served in similar positions at Ohio State University and at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Ostrum is actively involved in research and has authored more than 40 chapters and peer-reviewed articles in Orthopaedic Trauma. He is a member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association where he serves on the Board of Directors. Dr. Ostrum has been recognized numerous times as a “Top Doc” in several regional publications.

*
Dr. Marc Torjman is a Professor of Anesthesiology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Director of the Division of Research in the Department of Anesthesiology. He is a physiologist with expertise in the areas of bioenergetics, drug delivery, clinical monitoring, and all phases of clinical drug testing. The Research Division has multiple investigator-initiated clinical studies under his direction.

Dr. Torjman created the Anesthesiology Program for Translational Research (APTR) at Thomas Jefferson University. The program integrates laboratory and clinical research with a link to the graduate and medical schools. He has created a similar program at Cooper, and has a long history of mentoring young Anesthesiology faculty, residents, and graduate and undergraduate students in research.

Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Torjman is a co-founder of the Diabetes Technology Society and serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. He also sits on the Cooper Institutional Review Board, the Cooper Research Oversight Committee, and the Cooper-Rowan Research Committee.

*
Since joining the Department of Anesthesiology in August 2005, teaching and learning has been important to Dr. Keyur Trivedi. With a strong interest in transesophageal echocardiography, he has taken the lead in helping to teach residents and other department members in the technique. Dr. Trivedi serves as Director of Medical Student Education for the department, with responsibility for all junior and senior medical students from both within and outside the UMDNJ system who rotate through the department.

He earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed his internship at Cabrini Medical Center via Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and completed a residency at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Trivedi was appointed Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology for UMDNJ in October 2007. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesia. Dr. Trivedi is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiologists.

*

Much more information about the Cooper Red Hot Gala is available by visiting the Red Hot Gala web page at cooperhealth.org/redhot!