3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Jeffrey P. Carpenter, MD from Cooper University Health Care

Dr. Jeffrey P. Carpenter, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Cooper University Health Care, tells the Patch about how he fell in love with the Philadelphia-South Jersey area and explains how Cooper sets itself apart from the competition.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and experience?

Dr. Carpenter: I grew up in Central Pennsylvania but fell in love with the Philadelphia-South Jersey area as a boy, from my summers spent working at the shore in Ocean City. I graduated from Amherst College and then Yale University where I earned both my MD and a Master of Divinity degree. I married my wife Judy and returned to Philadelphia to train in Surgery and Vascular Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). I remained at Penn, on the faculty of the Department of Surgery, as a vascular surgeon for 23 years. In 2008, I left the oldest medical school in the country to help start the new Cooper Medical School and to be the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Cooper University Health Care. I have enjoyed a career of patient care, teaching, and research and am pleased to have been named a "Top Doc" in the region and nationally for many years.

Patch: What is your morning routine?

Dr. Carpenter: Surgeons are early risers and I love the quiet of the early morning. I am up by 4:30 or 5 a.m. After a cup of coffee and some quiet time in reading and prayer, I go for a run, just a few miles, each and every morning before heading in to the hospital for the day's work.

Patch: How are you involved in the community?

Dr. Carpenter: I am on the New Jersey Board of Directors of Covenant House, which is a charitable ministry to homeless youth. My wife and I helped to found the Covenant House in Camden. I also sing in the choir of my church in Medford.

Patch: What made you pursue a career in medicine?

Dr. Carpenter: I enjoy all aspects of medicine, teaching, research, and especially patient care. It is truly a privilege for me to be a doctor and it is equally an honor when patients choose me to be their personal physician. I strongly believe that a successful practice of medicine requires building a close relationship with each patient. Patients are unique, they have different goals and ideas for their individual health care needs and it is crucial that I, as their physician, listen and understand and value those goals as well. In my practice, my patients and I make health care decisions together as partners. Their goals will become mine and we will reach them together as a team.

Patch: Why did you choose to specialize in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery?

Dr. Carpenter: I enjoy the challenges of caring for patients with vascular disease. Vascular surgery requires a high level of technical expertise, education, and experience, which I have worked hard to achieve, so that I can offer patients the very best care. Vascular operations make a big difference in the lives of patients, often affording them the ability to avoid the threat of a ruptured aneurysm, a stroke due to carotid artery disease, or the loss of a limb due to arterial blockage. The field offers many opportunities for minimally invasive solutions to be applied and developed. Helping to invent new treatments for vascular disease is among the most rewarding aspects of my career in vascular and endovascular surgery.

Patch: What methods or techniques do you use to deal with the high-stress nature of your job?

Dr. Carpenter: I enjoy time with my family and relaxation at the shore. Daily exercise and quiet time are also relaxing for me. I love listening to classical music and opera. I am fortunate that that often means listening to my children, both of whom are pursuing careers in opera. The rewards of being able to help patients through tough situations help keep my focus positive when I encounter workday stress.

Patch: What are some of the more common conditions you treat?

Dr. Carpenter: I treat all diseases of the arteries. Carotid surgery or angioplasty is used to treat patients at risk for stroke from blocked neck arteries. Aortic aneurysms are common and can usually be treated by minimally invasive procedures requiring only an overnight stay. Leg artery blockages (PAD) can often be treated by minimally invasive outpatient procedures using angioplasty balloons and stents, but may require bypass surgery. In general, I try to perform the least invasive approach shown to be effective in treating the condition, tailoring the treatment to the individual patient's needs and preferences.

Patch: What is your favorite aspect about your job?

Dr. Carpenter: Foremost, I love taking care of vascular patients. I enjoy leading and supporting a team of highly skilled surgeons and practitioners, as well as bright and enthusiastic residents and medical students.

Patch: In your opinion, how does Cooper standout from the competition?

Dr. Carpenter: Cooper University Health Care is South Jersey's only tertiary care academic medical center and is very involved in cutting edge research. We offer access to the most recent devices and treatments available, months or years in advance of other institutions. Our team of physicians and practitioners is highly skilled and the addition of MD Anderson Cancer Center to Cooper allows us to stand out in the area of cancer treatment in South Jersey. Cooper’s Urgent Care facilities are also unique in being staffed by emergency room physicians.

Patch: How can readers contact you or learn more about Cooper?

Dr. Carpenter: Online at http://www.cooperhealth.org/physicians/jeffrey-p-carpenter-md.