Recognizing Excellence in Nursing
Cooper University Health Care recognizes nurses, collaborative care providers, and teams for their commitment to Cooper's mission.
Cooper University Health Care recognizes nurses, collaborative care providers, and teams throughout the year.
Cooper's Annual Nursing Excellence Awards recipients are nominated by their colleagues for their commitment to upholding the Cooper mission: To serve, to heal, to educate.
Click here to see past recipients.
The DAISY Award is an international program to reward excellence in the nursing profession. It was created by the DAISY Foundation to recognize the extraordinary compassion, outstanding clinical skills and personalized care exhibited by nurses every day. Cooper University Health Care is proud to be a DAISY Award Partner. Click here to see past recipients.
2026 Nursing Excellence Award Recipients
| Jamie Slemmon, BSN, RN | 2026 William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year |
|---|---|
| Stacey Simmerman, MSN, RN, CEN | 2026 Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Nurse of the Year |
| Kacey Zorzi, BSN, RN - Intensive Care Unit, Cooper Camden | The William and Eileen Archer Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing |
| Samantha Roshkoff, BSN, RN - Coronary Care Unit, Cooper Camden | The Lori Osinski Rising Star Award |
| Kathryn Reifsnyder, BSN, RN, CGRN - Cooper Digestive Health Institute | The Lori Osinski Award for Excellence in Procedural Nursing |
| Bianca Mattia, BSN, RN - MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Cooper Camden | The Women’s Board Committee of The Cooper Foundation Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Nursing |
| Alyssa Player, BSN, RN - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cooper Camden | The Dr. Ronald Bernardin Memorial Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing |
| Alyssa Kostiuk, BSN, RN - Labor and Delivery, Cooper Camden | The Charlotte Tobiason Memorial Award for Excellence in Obstetrical Nursing |
| Jamie Healy, BSN, RN - MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Cooper Camden | The Franklin Morse Archer, Jr. and Mary Joy Reeve Archer Memorial Award for Excellence in Outpatient Oncology Nursing |
| Vincent Cucunato, BSN, RN - Cardiac Cath Lab, Cooper Camden | The Cooper Heart Institute and The Heart House Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Nursing |
| Jamie Slemmon, BSN, RN - Pavilion 5, Cooper Camden | The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Mentorship |
| Noah Tamaska, BSN, RN - Kelemen 9, Cooper Camden | The Selma and Martin Hirsch Award for Excellence in Medical Surgical Nursing |
| Andrew Introcaso, BSN, RN - Emergency Department, Cooper Camden | The Lynn Nelson Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing |
| Ellen Boales, BSN, RNC-HRO - Labor and Delivery, Cooper Camden | The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Nurse Leadership |
| Paige Fearon, BSN, RN, TCRN - Trauma Surgical ICU, Cooper Camden | The Award for Excellence in Trauma Nursing |
| Candace Yates, BSN, RN - Patient Care Services Pool, Cooper Camden | The Carol G. Tracey Compassion Award |
| Matthew Caverow, PT, DPT - Physical Therapy, Cooper Camden | The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Service (Non-Nursing) |
| Colleen Radtke, MSN, RN - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cooper Camden | The John Henry Kronenberger Memorial Award for Excellence in Neonatal Nursing |
| Kyla Fellon, BSN, RN - Pavillion 5, Cooper Camden | The Rose Smith and Sue Zamitis Memorial Award for Excellence in Inpatient Oncology Nursing |
| Danielle Behrens, DO - Hematology/Oncology, Cooper Camden | The Nursing Alumni Excellence Award for Nursing-Physician Partnership |
| Brittany Flanders, BSN, RN - Trauma Step Down Unit, Cooper Camden | The Shaina Horton Memorial Award for Excellence in Service |
| Mary Jane Durkin, MSN, RN, OCN - Clinical Education, Cooper Camden | The Barbara and Jack Tarditi Award for Excellence in Nursing Research |
| Sharice Gerber, MSN, APN, AOCNP - Radiation Oncology, Cooper Camden | The Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing |
| Doreen Morales, BSN, RN, CNOR - Operating Room, Cooper Camden | The Philip and Carole Norcross Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing |
| Lisa Mclaughlin, LCWS, MSW - MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Cooper Camden | The Women’s Board Committee of The Cooper Foundation Professional Excellence Award (Non-Nursing) |
| Mikaela Wright, BSN, RN - Kelemen 9, Cooper Camden | The Ruth Parry/Moorestown Auxiliary Award for Excellence in Geriatric Nursing |
| Brienne Definis, BSN, RN - Med-Surg Trauma, Cooper Camden | The Lori Osinski Award Excellence in Self Care and Wellness |
| Joseph Martinelli - Patient Care Services Pool, Cooper Camden | The Miss Donna Glover Memorial Award |
| Andres Pelaez - Patient Care Technician, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Service (Non-Nursing) |
| Alyssa Bakley, BSN, RN - Progressive Care Unit, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Progressive Care Nursing |
| Jennifer Lim, MSN, RN - Surgical Services, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing |
| Dawn Ablett, RN - Two East, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Medical Surgical Nursing |
| Stacey Simmerman, MSN, RN, CEN - Emergency Department, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing |
| Stephanie Lewis, RN - Critical Care, Cooper Cape | The Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing |
| Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - Cooper Camden | Outstanding Team Award |
2026 DAISY Award Recipients
| Recipient | Month |
|---|---|
| Markayla Anderson, BSN, RN (Camden Campus) and Katie DiFalco, RN (Cape Campus) | January |
| Anthony DiAmore, BSN, RN (Camden Campus) and Faith Shaw, RN (Cape Campus) | February |
| Lauren McGrath, BSN, RN (Camden Campus) | March |
| Katie DiFalco, RN (Cape Campus) | Q1 2026 |
| Thomas Conroy, BSN, RN (Camden Campus) | April |