2024 Nursing Excellence Awards

The recipients of the 2024 Nursing Excellence Awards are recognized for their expertise, compassion, teamwork, and commitment to our patients, each other, and the communities we serve.

Kathy Devine, DrNP, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, and Timothy D. Marks, DNP, MBA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, Vice President and Associate Chief Nurse Officer, congratulate all our outstanding Cooper nurses and interprofessional team members.

Thank you to the members of the Professional Development & Recognition Council for all your hard work associated with the Nursing Excellence Awards.  

The 2024 William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year Award is a special recognition that will be announced at the Nursing Excellence Awards Reception on May 1, 2024.

The Nursing Excellence Awards are supported by generous gifts from donors to The Cooper Foundation. The donor gifts go toward furthering the professional development of nurses. 

The 2024 Nursing Excellence Awards recipients are:

Kaleem Gibbs, Kelemen 8, is the recipient of The Carol G. Tracey Compassion Award.

Rori Dajao, MD, FACOG, Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the recipient of The Nursing Alumni Excellence Award for Nursing-Physician Partnership.

Richard Heffernan, Jr., BS, Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs, is the recipient of The Women’s Board of Cooper Hospital Allied Health Professional Excellence Award (Non-Nursing).

Walter Faber, CCMA, CPT, CET, HC, Pavilion 9, is the recipient of The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Service (Non-Nursing).

Ian Griffiths, BSN, RN, Kelemen 9, is the recipient of The Shaina Horton Memorial Award for Excellence in Service.

Nicole Kipp, BSN, RN, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, is the recipient of the Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Mentorship.

Dominic Parone, MSN, RN, CLN, CFRN, Air Transport Services, is the recipient of The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Nurse Leadership.

Ashley Weinmann, MSN, APN-C, Palliative Care, is the recipient of The Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing.

Jennifer Colona, MSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN, Clinical Education, is the recipient of The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Research.

Deborah Klanchar, MSN, APN-C, General Surgery, is the recipient of The Franklin Morse Archer, Jr., and Mary Joy Reeve Archer Memorial Award for Excellence in Outpatient Oncology Nursing.

Haylee Loveland, BSN, RN, Pavilion 5, is the recipient of The Rose Smith and Sue Zamitis Memorial Award for Excellence in Inpatient Oncology Nursing.

Clare Hansen, BSN, RN, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, is the recipient of The Women’s Board of Cooper University Health Care Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Nursing.

Genalyn Vargas, MSN, RN-BC, Trauma Step Down Unit, is the recipient of The Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing.

Megan Bean, BSN, RN, Operating Room, is the recipient of The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing.

Lilly Tkacz, BSN, RN, Pavilion 6, is the recipient of The Selma and Martin Hirsch Award for Excellence in Medical Surgical Nursing.

Kelly Welch, BSN, RN, Emergency Department, is the recipient of The Lynn Nelson Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing.

Veronica Mallamaci, BSN, RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is the recipient of The John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Excellence in Neonatal Nursing. 

Samantha Wirsch, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN, Trauma Surgical ICU, is the recipient of The Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing.

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

Youngseog Kim, BSN, RN, Pavilion 9, is the recipient of The Cooper Heart Institute and The Heart House Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing.

Elizabeth Teti, BSN, RN, Mother Infant Unit, is the recipient of The Charlotte Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing.

Emmalee Love, BSN, RN, CPN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, is the recipient of The Dr. Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing.

Dino Ripa, BSN, RN, RCIS, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, is the recipient of the Lori Osinski Award for Excellence in Procedural Nursing.

Andrew Chillari, Jr., RN, Clinical Decision Unit, is the recipient of the Lori Osinski Rising Star Award. 

Yocelyn Hernandez, BSN, RN, Patient Care Services Pool, is the recipient of The Lori Osinski Award for Excellence in Self Care and Wellness.

Antonio Ferrer, Patient Care Services Pool, is the recipient of The Miss Donna Glover Memorial Award.

Pavilion 5 is the recipient of the Outstanding Team Award.

The William A. Schwartz, Jr., Nurse of the Year is Genalyn Vargas, MSN, RN-BC.