BROWNS MILLS, N.J. - (Business Wire) Officials from Wakefern Food Corporation/ShopRite officially dedicated a brand-new, state-of-the-art electrophysiology suite today at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey. Funded with more than one million dollars raised through Wakefern/ShopRite’s fundraising efforts, these monies will help continue Deborah’s on-going mission of never billing a patient, because “there is no price on life.” “Deborah, like Wakefern and ShopRite, is an integral part of its community,” said Joseph Colalillo, CEO and chairman of Wakefern Food Corporation. “For more than 50 years, we’ve been proud supporters of Deborah and this new wing will help them continue in their mission for years to come.”
Colalillo, Wakefern President Dean Janeway, and other Wakefern/ShopRite corporate executives including Joe Sheridan, Executive Vice President; Jeff Reagan, Vice President Corporate Merchandising and Advertising; and Jim Tracy, Vice President Dairy Deli/Frozen Foods joined Deborah Heart and Lung Center executives and medical staff, John R. Ernst, President and CEO; Paul Stendardi, Chairman of the Boards; Dr. Lynn McGrath, Vice President Medical Affairs and Chair, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Dr. Raffaele Corbisiero, Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing; Joseph Chirichella, Vice President, Operations-COO; Joseph Manni, COO-DHF at the dedication ceremony.
The brand-new suite will diagnose and treat a variety of heart rhythm and electrical problems affecting the heart – including atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. With the most sophisticated equipment found on the East Coast, Deborah’s team can implant defibrillators, pacemakers, and perform complex ablations to help correct the heart’s rhythm.
Wakefern/ShopRite is the largest food retail cooperative in the U.S., having grown from its original eight founding members in 1946 to 45 member companies who operate more than 200 ShopRite stores in six states. The organization is one of New Jersey’s largest employers and is committed to the communities it serves.
“Having a caring partner like Wakefern/ShopRite has made our mission possible year after year,” said Deborah President and CEO John R. Ernst. “Not only do we provide an enormous amount of charity care each year, for both uninsured and underinsured patients, but we believe that at the same time these patients still deserve the very best care available in the United States. So even with our mission we continue to press forward with bringing the most advanced technology and best-skilled professionals to the hospital. This would not be possible without the generous support of our corporate sponsors.”
About Wakefern Food Corp.
From a small, struggling cooperative with eight members – all owners of their own grocery stores – Wakefern Food Corporation has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and one of the largest employers in New Jersey. The cooperative is comprised of 45 members who individually own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern, the merchandising and distribution arm of the company, and the more than 200 ShopRite stores located throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland employ more than 50,000 people.
About Deborah
Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Browns Mills, NJ is a 139-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart, lung and vascular diseases in adults, as well as providing outpatient cardiology services for children. For more information, visit www.deborah.org.
For Deborah Heart and Lung Center
Laura Finlayson, 201-465-8007
lfinlayson@beckermanpr.com
