The transition from Camden to the Jersey Shore is becoming more than just a geographic expansion for Cooper University Health Care. On March 17 the hospital’s popular pediatric outreach initiative, Teddy Goes to Cape, made its official debut at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, welcoming 45 kindergarteners from Wildwood’s Glenwood Avenue Elementary School.
The program, an extension of the long-running “Teddy Goes to Cooper” initiative in Camden, is designed to demystify the hospital experience for young children, replacing medical anxiety with curiosity and confidence.
During the immersive event, each student received a “patient” in the form of a teddy bear and a registration packet. The children then rotated through various interactive stations, “treating” their bears while learning about the different facets of a modern hospital.
The “Medical School” stations included:
- Triage & Physical Exams: Checking vitals and using child-friendly ENT tools.
- Radiology: Performing “X-rays” on their bears to understand bone health.
- Emergency Department: Hands-on demonstrations in bandaging and first-aid.
- EMS Experience: A tour of a Cooper ambulance to learn about emergency response and pulse oximetry.
- Wellness & Prevention: Lessons in hand hygiene, infection prevention, and healthy nutrition.
“When children can explore a hospital in a playful, hands-on way, it helps remove fear,” Max Kursh, administrative director of community and population health at Cooper said. “It shows young students that health care spaces are places of support, learning, and care.”
The expansion of this program follows the high-profile merger between Cooper University Health Care and Cape Regional. It signals a deepening commitment to providing not just clinical care, but community-based wellness resources to families in New Jersey’s southernmost counties.
Philip Norcross, Esq., chairman of The Cooper Foundation Board, emphasized that the program is about meeting families where they live.
“As Cooper continues to grow across South Jersey, expanding initiatives like this from Camden to Cape May County helps ensure children and families throughout the region feel supported and connected to their local hospital,” Norcross said.
The event builds on years of collaboration between the hospital and Glenwood Avenue Elementary. Historically, hospital staff have supported the Wildwood school through toy drives and “Adopt-A-Family” programs. Since the merger, this partnership has evolved to include health seminars and assemblies centered on long-term wellness.
The program was offered free of charge, funded entirely by donors through The Cooper Foundation. Lisa Morina, SVP and chief philanthropy officer, noted that these donor-backed partnerships are what allow the hospital to create such engaging, transformative experiences for Shore-area families.
