Cooper Norcross Health has earned Gold-level recognition from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program, placing it among an elite group of healthcare organizations nationwide honored for their commitment to supporting clinician well-being.
The Gold designation is the highest tier of recognition awarded through the program. Cooper Norcross Health is one of only 21 organizations in the nation to achieve Gold status for the 2026–2027 cohort, which includes 92 total recognized health systems across Bronze, Silver, and Gold categories. The designation remains valid for two years.
The AMA launched the Joy in Medicine program in 2019 to encourage healthcare networks to implement sustainable, system-level changes that tackle the root causes of clinician burnout. Organizations are evaluated across six core criteria: assessment, commitment, efficiency of the practice environment, teamwork, leadership, and support.
“Being recognized at the highest level of the AMA’s Joy in Medicine program is a reflection of the culture we are committed to building at Cooper Norcross Health,” George Norcross III, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said. “Our physicians and care teams are at the heart of everything we do, and ensuring they have the support, resources, and environment to thrive is essential to delivering the exceptional care our patients deserve.”
Leadership emphasized that investment in workforce well-being directly reinforces the health system’s clinical mission.
“Taking care of the people who care for our patients is fundamental to who we are,” Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, JD, MBE, co-CEO of Cooper Norcross Health, said. “Our teams bring extraordinary skill, compassion, and dedication to their work every day. Supporting their well-being is essential to our mission to serve, to heal, and to educate.”
Cooper Norcross Health’s application was led by its Clinician Joy in Practice Committee, which coordinates ongoing system-wide well-being initiatives. Key strategies implemented by the system include:
- Leadership Development: Investing in career growth opportunities, leadership training, and executive coaching programs for physicians.
- Administrative Burden Reduction: Expanding specialized documentation tools to streamline workflows, cut down on paperwork, and allow clinicians more direct time with patients.
- Data-Driven Practice Improvement: Utilizing workforce metrics and direct physician feedback to tailor continuous practice adjustments.
- Comprehensive Support Systems: Enhancing mental health services, peer support networks, and programs designed to promote connection and resilience.
“Physician well-being is closely connected to the health of our entire organization and, ultimately, to the care we provide our patients,” Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper Norcross Health, said. “We want our physicians and team members to feel supported, valued, and connected to the purpose that brought them to health care in the first place.”
Formerly known as Cooper University Health Care, Cooper Norcross Health is a major academic healthcare provider affiliated with the Cooper Norcross Medical School of Rowan University. Generating over $3 billion in annual revenue, the system holds A+ credit ratings from both S&P and Fitch Ratings.
The network employs nearly 14,000 team members—including more than 1,200 employed physicians across 95 specialties, 2,200 nurses, and 700 advanced practice providers. Its facilities include its 663-bed flagship Cooper Norcross University Hospital in Camden (South Jersey’s only Level 1 Trauma Center), MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Cooper Norcross University Hospital Cape Regional, Children’s Hospital at Cooper Norcross Health, and The Recovery Village Cherry Hill.
Serving over 2.54 million patient visits each year across four hospitals, seven urgent care centers, three outpatient surgery centers, and more than 130 medical offices, Cooper Norcross Health was also recently named one of Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers for 2026, ranking in the top 200 nationally.
