Jefferson Health – New Jersey Chief Nursing Officer Named ‘Woman of Achievement’ by Garden State Council of Boy Scouts

VOORHEES, NJ, December 10, 2020 — The Garden State Council of the Boy Scouts of America has recognized Jefferson Health – New Jersey’s Senior VP & Chief Nursing Officer, Helene Burns, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, as the 2020 Woman of Achievement for Camden County.

Dr. Burns was one of seven women honored at the Women of Achievement event, held virtually this year on December 10.

Now in its 9th year, the annual event recognizes outstanding women leaders in the South Jersey counties of Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, for their commitment to the communities they serve, and for exemplifying the ideals of the Scout oath and law.

An innovative and inspiring nurse leader, Dr. Burns led Jefferson Health – New Jersey to receive its first Magnet® designation in August 2018, considered the gold standard for nursing excellence. Dr. Burns has overall responsibility for patient care services and nursing operations at Jefferson in New Jersey, with oversight of its more than 1,400 RNs and Department of Nursing staff.

A resident of Berlin, NJ, Dr. Burns is actively involved in community outreach, with the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” event a key activity each year.

She was nominated for the “Women of Achievement” recognition by fellow Jefferson New Jersey nurses, Gwyn Parris-Atwell and Barbara McCormick, themselves both former recipients of the award.

“I’m honored to be among the elite group selected as ‘Women of Achievement’ in South Jersey,” Dr. Burns said. “Over the past several years, dozens of women have been honored by the Boy Scouts
through this recognition, and I’m proud to be among them now.”

About Jefferson Health

Jefferson Health, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is reimagining health care in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey.

Jefferson’s dedicated team of doctors, nurses, health professionals, and staff provides a range of primary to highly-specialized care through 14 hospitals (seven are Magnet®-designated by the ANCC for nursing excellence), more than 40 outpatient and urgent care locations, the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Magee Rehabilitation and the JeffConnect® telemedicine program.

For 2020-2021, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in nine specialities by U.S. News & World Report.

Jefferson Health’s mission is to improve the lives of patients in the communities it is privileged to serve through safe, effective, equitable, compassionate care.