Cooper Norcross Health earned the top recognition in the American Medical Association's (AMA) Joy in Medicine program, the health system announced Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Camden-based system operates The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, a substance-abuse rehabilitation and inpatient treatment facility.

Gold is the program's highest tier. Cooper Norcross is among 21 health systems earning Gold in the 2026–2027 cycle, according to the announcement. The AMA recognized 92 organizations in all: 60 at Bronze, 11 at Silver and 21 at Gold.

The AMA launched the Joy in Medicine program in 2019 to push health systems to make lasting changes that reduce physician burnout. The program evaluates organizations in six areas: assessment, commitment, practice-environment efficiency, teamwork, leadership and support.

George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper Norcross Health's Board of Trustees, said the Gold designation reflects the organization's commitment to supporting its physicians and care teams. Co-CEO Anthony J. Mazzarelli called physician well-being central to the system's mission. "Taking care of the people who care for our patients is fundamental to who we are," Mazzarelli said in the announcement.

The health system said its well-being efforts include physician leadership training and coaching, expanded documentation tools to reduce administrative work, and peer-support and mental health services for staff. A Clinician Joy in Practice Committee guided the Gold application.

Cooper Norcross Health, formerly Cooper University Health Care, is affiliated with Cooper Norcross Medical School of Rowan University. The AMA's recognized-organizations page still lists the system under its former name alongside Gold recipients such as Boston Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine and UC San Diego Health.

The recognition is valid for two years. Of the 92 organizations honored in 2026, 53 are returning recipients and 39 are first-time honorees. The announcement did not specify which category Cooper Norcross falls into.