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CAMDEN, N.J.— Vincent Pannone, BSN, RN, of Sicklerville, N.J., was named Nurse of the Year tonight during the 2018 Nursing Excellence Awards hosted by The Cooper Foundation and Cooper University Health Care.

Pannone joined Cooper in 2016 and is an operating room nurse. He received the Cooper Nurse of the Year Award and The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing.

“Vinnie, as he is known to all of us, is the model of a perioperative nurse. He is highly clinical, compassionate, humble, positive and a strong leader,” said Adrienne Kirby, PhD, Executive Chairman and CEO, Cooper University Health Care.  “I congratulate Vinnie and all of our winners for the outstanding care they provide to our patients and their families in their time of need.”

The 2018 Nursing Excellence Awards honored 22 nurses and collaborative care providers and teams for their outstanding contributions to excellence in patient care. Award winners were nominated by their colleagues for their commitment to upholding the Cooper mission “to serve, to heal, to educate.”

“Cooper nurses provide the highest level of quality care and service and are committed to ensuring an exceptional patient experience,” said Anthony Mazzarelli, MD, Co-President, Cooper University Health Care. “We are grateful for their dedication to our patients and their families and to helping make Cooper a healthcare leader.”

More than 250 guests attended the awards dinner, which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill.

“Our nurses are on the frontlines of healthcare every day,” said Kevin O’Dowd, Co-President, Cooper University Health Care. “Their contributions enhance patient care and safety and are a key reason why Cooper is one of the most trusted health systems in the region.”

The theme for this year’s Nursing Excellence Awards is “A Hero Lies in You.”  The awards are supported by donations to The Cooper Foundation, which help assist the winners with education and training.

“Cooper nurses are true lifesavers, and a hero lies in each and every one one of them, ” said Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO, The Cooper Foundation. “We wish our winners continued success and are grateful to our award sponsors for their generous contributions and ongoing support for Cooper nurses.”

A complete list of the 2018 Nursing Excellence Awards winners follows:

• Marc Angud, MSN, APN-C, AGACNP-BC, PCCN-CMC, of Philadelphia – Advanced Practice Nurse, Cardiology/Electrophysiology, The Cooper Heart Institute & The Heart House Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing

• Taylor Barger, BSN, RN, of Haddon Township, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Pediatrics, Dr. Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing

• Ashley Celeste, BSN, RN, of Williamstown, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Pavilion 6, Selma and Martin Hirsch Award for Excellence in Medical Surgical Nursing

• MaryKate Coyne, BSN, RN, of King of Prussia, Pa. – Staff Nurse, Emergency Department Lynn Nelson Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing

• Patricia Crosby, BSN, RN, of Voorhees, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Maternal Fetal Care, Charlotte Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing

• Nora Damian, BSN, RN, Sewell, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Pavilion 5, Rose Smith & Sue Zamitis Memorial Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing

• Maria Eastlack, BSN, RN, CAPA, of Wenonah, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Surgical Care Unit/Short Procedure Unit, Women’s Board of Cooper University Health Care Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Nursing

• Jackie Ficerai Tedeschi, BSN, RN, CPN, of Haddonfield, N.J. – Associate Clinical Director, Pediatrics/Pediatric ICU, Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Mentorship

• John Hall, RN, of Marlton, N.J.  – Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing

• Michelle Mento, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA, of West Berlin, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, William and Eileen Archer Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing

• Mary Mesisca, RN, CCRN, of Medford, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing

• Vincent Pannone, BSN, RN, of Sicklerville, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Operating Room, Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing

• Jena Quinn, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, of Haddon Heights, N.J. – Pediatric Patient Care Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Women’s Board of Cooper Hospital Allied Health Professional Excellence Award (Non-Nursing)

• Shantā Rembert, EMT, of Haddon Township, N.J. – ED Technician, Emergency Department Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Service (Non-Nursing)

• Nicole Scully, of Clementon, N.J. – Critical Care Technician, Pavilion 6, Carol G. Tracey Compassion Award

• Rachel Sensenig, MD, FACS, of Philadelphia, Pa. –Medical Director, Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Associate Trauma Director, Department of Surgery/Trauma, Nursing Alumni Excellence Award for Nursing-Physician Partnership

• Maria Sevitski, RN, CNRN, of Glenside, Pa. – Clinical Practice Manager, Neurosurgery, Shaina Horton Memorial Award for Excellence in Service

• Renee Smith, BSN, RNC-NIC, CBC, of Voorhees, N.J. – Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Excellence in Neonatal Nursing

• Dawn Stepnowski, DNP, APN-C, CBN, NEA-BC, of Cinnaminson, N.J. – Director, Bariatric Surgical Services & Research, Department of Surgery/Bariatric, Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing

• Chris Stonis, BSN, RN, of Sicklerville, N.J. – Associate Clinical Director, Emergency Department, Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Nurse Leadership

• Linda Valenti, RN, MSN/MBA/HCA, of Cherry Hill, N.J. – Blackbelt Process Improvement Specialist, Operational Excellence, Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Research

• Post Anesthesia Care Unit – Outstanding Team Award

About the Cooper Foundation/Cooper University Health Care

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. It is the premier university hospital serving South Jersey and the Delaware Valley. Cooper has reaffirmed its role as a leader in medical education and research with the opening of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in 2012, the first four-year allopathic medical school in South Jersey. Cooper is renowned for signature programs in cardiology, cancer, critical care, pediatrics, trauma, orthopedics and neurosciences. Cooper is also home to the only state-designated Children’s Hospital in South Jersey—the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper. Over the last decade, Cooper has transformed its Camden City neighborhood into the Cooper Health Sciences Campus. In October 2013, the new MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, a free-standing cancer center for comprehensive care, opened on the Health Sciences Campus.

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