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Virtua Holds Grand Opening for Camden Health & Wellness Center

Hundreds of local residents, dignitaries, and Virtua employees recently celebrated the opening of Virtua’s newest addition to its Camden campus: the Virtua Health & Wellness Center – Camden.

Virtua President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, speaks during the opening ceremony for the Virtua Health & Wellness Center – Camden. The building’s exterior can be seen on the screen beside him. (All photos provided)

Camden, N.J. Hundreds of local residents, dignitaries, and Virtua employees recently celebrated the opening of Virtua’s newest addition to its Camden campus — the Virtua Health & Wellness Center – Camden.


“Virtua has long been a mainstay in Camden City, with roots going back more than 130 years,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, Virtua’s president and CEO. “The new Virtua Camden Health & Wellness Center not only continues our service, it expands our commitment to give the people of Camden the best opportunities to live healthy lives.”

Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting, staff and community members passed a glowing lantern from person to person—culminating with the illumination of a lighthouse mural in the building’s lobby. This symbolizes Virtua’s continuing role as a vital beacon for the Camden community.   

“This is truly awesome for the city of Camden,” said resident Jerome Martin, a longtime Virtua-Camden patient. The husband and father credits Virtua with helping him to overcome serious health problems. “You can feel the love here,” said Martin as he toured the new building. “I just can’t wait to use this!” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. also praised the center: “It’s an amazing investment in Camden City, so I commend Virtua for its commitment to the city.”


Virtua patient Jerome Martin (left) hands a lantern to Virtua President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, as part of a light-passing ceremony to open the new Health & Wellness Center. The ceremony—which culminated with the illumination of a lighthouse mural—symbolizes Virtua’s continuing role as a vital beacon for the Camden community. (Photo provided) 

The 34,500-square-foot building is a modern addition to Virtua’s longtime campus at Mt. Ephraim and Atlantic avenues—enabling Virtua to enhance and expand its services.

New services include a behavioral health program and a food pantry—which will fill “prescriptions” for free, healthy food. Expanded services include a larger primary-care practice, a larger dental practice, and enhanced meeting space for community education and neighborhood group activities.


Visitors learn about the Food Pantry inside the new Health & Wellness Center. There, patients can pick up free produce “prescribed” to them by their Virtua physician.

In addition, the new building will offer physical therapy and rehabilitation, podiatry, lab services, and other specialties. 

Virtua leaders gather in the lobby of the new building. From left: John J. Parker, chairman of the Virtua Foundation Board of Trustees; David Kindlick, chairman of the Virtua Board of Trustees; Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, Virtua president and CEO; John Matsinger, DO, MBA, Virtua executive vice president and chief clinical officer; and Robert Segin, CPA, Virtua executive vice president and chief financial officer.

The two-story Health & Wellness Center is part of a city block of Virtua facilities, including a full-service emergency department and the Virtua CASTLE children’s behavioral health program. 

Lighting the way at the new center (from left): Debra Moran, Virtua’s vice president of community-based services; Virtua physicians Amit Bhalodia, DO, and Julius Brooks, MD; Joan Gray, Virtua’s assistant vice president of ambulatory services; Barbara Murphy, Virtua Foundation board member and Auxiliary Board president; and Virtua dentist Tejal Vohera, DMD.

More than a dozen community-service organizations are also located on the campus, including Active Day adult daycare, Providence Pediatric Medical Day Care, Freedom Prep Charter School, and Liberty Park Neighborhood Association.

Spreading the light: Barbara Murphy (center), a member of the Virtua Foundation Board of Trustees and president of the Auxiliary Board to Virtua Berlin, Virtua Camden, Virtua Marlton and Virtua Voorhees; John J. Parker (left), chairman of the Virtua Foundation Board of Trustees; and Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, Virtua president and CEO.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 888-VIRTUA-3 (888-847-8823) or visit Virtua.org.

Virtua President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, greets employees and guests at the grand opening of the Virtua Health & Wellness Center – Camden.