CNBNews

(CAMDEN and CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ) — Cooper University Health Care has announced the recipients of the 2025 Nurses of the Year Awards: Raymond Duma, BSN, RN, who works on a medical-surgical unit at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, and Yulia Schaffer, BSN, RN, CMC, CCRN, a critical care nurse at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House.

Raymond Duma received the William A. Schwartz, Jr. Nurse of the Year Award, named in honor of the late William A. Schwartz, a long-time member of Cooper’s Board of Trustees who dedicated significant time and talents to the organization. Schwartz was especially passionate about supporting Cooper nurses and their commitment to patient care.

Yulia Schaffer was honored with the Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Nurse of the Year Award. This award was made possible through the generous proceeds of the annual 5K Run for Nurses, hosted by Sea Isle City’s well-known Dalrymple’s Card & Gift Shoppe. All proceeds from the run benefit frontline nurses through donations to the Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional Foundation.

Both awards were presented during Cooper’s Annual Nursing Excellence Awards held in conjunction with National Nurses Week (May 6–12), a celebration of outstanding professional and advanced practice nurses, as well as the collaborative care teams that support them across the health system.

In addition to being named Nurses of the Year, both honorees received individual awards recognizing their excellence in specialized areas of practice. Schaffer received the Charles and Barbara Dalrymple Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing, while Duma was honored with the Lori Osinski Award for Excellence in Self Care and Wellness.

“Raymond and Yulia exemplify the highest standards of nursing excellence, and we are incredibly proud to recognize their dedication, compassion, and leadership,” said Kathy Devine, DrNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Cooper. “Both have made a lasting impact on their patients and colleagues, and their commitment to advancing nursing practice is truly inspiring.”

Recognizing the importance of teamwork in health care, each year Cooper also honors an outstanding team in addition to the individual awards. In 2025, the Cardiac Catheterization Unit at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, was named Team of the Year.

“I congratulate the Cardiac Cath Lab team for being named Team of the Year in recognition of their exceptional commitment to patient-centered care and clinical excellence. Their dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes and providing the highest level of care to our patients is reflected in every aspect of their work,” said Dr. Devine.

"With unwavering dedication and courage, Cooper nurses continue to set the gold standard in patient care. This Nurses Week, we honor the profound impact each nurse has on our patients, our community, and the legacy of excellence they uphold every day," said George E. Norcross III, chairman of the Cooper Board of Trustees. "Congratulations to this year's winners, who each deliver the high quality care every patient deserves."

"This year's award winners exemplify the heart and soul of nursing: skillful leadership, boundless compassion, and commitment to healing. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and thank all Cooper nurses for the extraordinary care they provide," said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, co-CEO at Cooper.

“The strength, empathy, and expertise of Cooper nurses shine brightly across the entire health system. As we celebrate the Nursing Excellence Award winners today, we also express our deepest gratitude to all Cooper nurses for their tireless devotion to those they serve," said Kevin M. O'Dowd, JD, co-CEO at Cooper.

Award winners were nominated by their colleagues for their commitment to upholding the Cooper mission: “To serve, to heal, to educate” and are supported by gifts from generous donors to The Cooper Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Cooper University Health Care.

"Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our donors, these awards continue to highlight the exceptional contributions of Cooper's nurses. Their support enables us to honor their dedication in a truly meaningful way," said Philip A. Norcross, Esq., chairman of The Cooper Foundation Board of Trustees.