Dr. Morris Cohen to be Honored at March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gourmet Gala

The March of Dimes is proud to announce that Morris Cohen, M.D., Director, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Co-Director, Regional Perinatal Center, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, will be the 2015 Honoree at March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gourmet Gala. The event will be held on Monday, November 2, 2015 at The Terrace at Biagio’s Restaurant in Paramus.

The March of Dimes, along with sponsors confirmed to date - Barnabas Health, The Children’s Hospital at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, PSEG, KPMG and UnitedHealthcare - will be raising money to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

“Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, affiliated with Barnabas Health, continues to be a wonderful supporter of the March of Dimes and we are especially thrilled to honor Dr. Morris Cohen,” said Gina Radice, March of Dimes executive director of the North Jersey Division. “Dr. Cohen’s presence and expertise in his field of Neonatology coupled with his generosity and heartfelt support will help increase awareness of our mission and bring much success to this event. We are so thankful to Dr. Cohen for accepting this role as our 2015 Honoree.”

Dr. Cohen has served as Director of Neonatal Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of NJ and Co-Director of the Regional Perinatal Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center since 1986. He is also the Patient Safety and Quality Officer for Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cohen is the Chair of the New Jersey NICU Collaborative and has led the effort to implement Quality Improvement changes across the state.

He is past President of the Gateway Maternal Child Health Consortium and is currently on the Board and Executive Committee of the Partnership for Maternal Child Health of Northern NJ. His prior State representation include: The Governor’s Council on Prevention of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities; Metropolitan Regional Child Fatality and Neonatal Fatality Review Board; Statewide Parent Child Health Task Force; Maternal Child Health Task Force (LAB III), Board of the North NJ March of Dimes.

Dr. Cohen is currently on the Executive Committee of Children’s Hospital of NJ (CHoNJ) and Chair of the Children’s Hospital of NJ Peer Review Committee. He also currently sits on the Executive Committee at Trinitas Regional Medical Center and is the Chair of their Department of Pediatrics. He has served on the Executive Committee of Newark Beth Israel Medical Staff. He has been instrumental in promoting the CHoNJ NICU Quality Improvement Program, developing the research effort of the Division of Neonatal Medicine and bringing state-of-the-art neonatal therapies to CHoNJ. Since 2001 he and the research team have focused on fetal growth and the potential long term effects that aberrant growth may have on chronic adult diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. He is the recipient of several NIH and other research grants.

The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gourmet Gala is an elegant, upscale event of fine dining featuring the skills and creativity of approximately 25 – 30 of the finest chefs and hottest restaurants in North Jersey. This gourmet extravaganza will include top of the line and the newest of wines, spirits and micro-brews. Bud Maltin and his orchestra will be on hand for dancing with a floor show featuring the Divas of Soul from Broadway. Attendees can bid on incredible, creative and unique silent auction items which include culinary packages of fabulous cuisine, fine wine, vacation getaways of travel and hotel stays and entertainment.

Restaurants and establishments that have committed to date (with more to come) include Axia Taverna, Ben & Jerry’s of Ridgewood, Bibi’z Restaurant & Lounge, Blue Morel Restaurant & Wine Bar, Carlo Russo’s Wine & Spirit World, Chakra, David Ellis Events, Fire & Oak, Havens Riverfront Restaurant, Liberty House Restaurant, Luciano’s Italian Ristorante & Lounge, Noodles & Company, Off the Hook Seafood, Picnic on the Square, Stone House at Stirling Ridge, Talde Jersey City, The Estate at Florentine Gardens, The Plum and The Pear, The Ryland Inn, and The Terrace at Biagio’s.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit marchofdimes.org/newjersey or contact Carol Roberts at croberts@marchofdimes.org (973) 296-8808.