Col. John Chovanes, DO, FACS, USAR
Col. John Chovanes, DO, FACS, USAR MC, is a surgeon in the Department of Surgery in the Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care of Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. Dr. Chovanes has been at Cooper Trauma since 2010 and is the founding Medical Director and Chief Surgeon of Cooper’s Section of Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs. This section helps conduct intense clinical trauma training for our Nation’s elite commando and diplomatic special operations forces.
Dr. Chovanes completed a double fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he completed his internship and residency in general surgery and served as Chief Intern and Chief Surgical Resident. Prior to his surgical education, Dr. Chovanes was an EMT, paramedic, and registered nurse with various emergency medical units throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Dr. Chovanes was one of the youngest EMTs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and one of the original flight paramedics with University MedEvac, the first medical evacuation helicopter servicing Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a life member of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Narberth and Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Chovanes is a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve Medical Corps. Since joining the reserves in 2001, Dr. Chovanes has completed six tours of duty in support of a variety of U.S. military operations. He served as a military trauma surgeon with the 325th Combat Support Hospital on Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, in 2007. He has served as both a trauma surgeon and the Deputy Commander of Clinical Services at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khowst, Afghanistan, in both 2010 and 2012. In 2016, Dr. Chovanes was a trauma surgeon at Camp Manion with the 948th Forward Surgical Team during the Third Battle of Fallujah. Dr. Chovanes has received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service after successfully removing an unexploded rifle-propelled grenade from a U.S. Soldier. He also received the U.S. Army Soldier’s Medal for Heroism after the 2001 World Trade Center attacks for providing field surgical care for a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer trapped in the collapsed basement of the World Trade Center. He was recently awarded a 2017 Veteran of Influence Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Timothy Galvin, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Maj., DANG
Administrator
Galvin-Timothy@cooperhealth.edu
Timothy Galvin, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Maj., is the Administrator for the Section of Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs at Cooper University Health Care. Mr. Galvin has served in various health care leadership and management roles at multiple major academic university hospitals. Mr. Galvin has experience as a critical care nurse, as Nursing Director at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Cooper University Health Care, and as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt on a dynamic Operational Excellence team prior to his current role.
For the past 20 years, Mr. Galvin has served in various leadership roles in the Delaware Air National Guard. His current role includes serving as a Clinical Nurse, 166th Medical Group, 166 Airlift Wing in New Castle, DE and is designated as the Assistant Chief Nurse, Medical Group Patient Safety Officer, Officer in Charge (OIC) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS), and OIC of the Expeditionary Medical Support.
Mr. Galvin is a graduate of Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, receiving both a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Leadership and Health Systems Management and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). He also holds a degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Allied Health Sciences.
SFC Corey F. Terry
On-site Preceptor, Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) Course Field Internship
Corey F. Terry is a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) with more than 24 years of military service experience, including deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and Europe. He has served as Senior Medical Sergeant for Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) 10, a detachment Level 1 Sniper, SOCM Instructor, Special Forces Team Sergeant, Special Operation Combat Medic Skills Sustainment Course (SOCMSSC) Instructor, and Director for SOCMSSC.
SFC Terry completed his training for the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) in 2006, after which he was assigned to Fort Bragg, NC as medical support/cadre. He later deployed to Iraq for Medical Proficiency Training (MPT) at the Air Force Theater Medical Treatment Facility. He is an advanced tactical paramedic (ATP) with certifications in advanced cardiovascular life support, EMT, pre-hospital trauma life support, and advanced life support/PEPP.
SFC Terry has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, and U.S. Army Excellence in Competition Badge (Bronze, Rifle).
SFC Terry completed advanced training in the following U.S. Army specialized schools: Armored Reconnaissance Specialist, Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course, Arabic Special Operations Language Training Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) Level C, Basic Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Special Forces Sniper Course, Army Basic Instructor Course, and Small Group Instructor Training Course.
Jaime Kuklinski
Administrative Coordinator
Kuklinski-Jaime@cooperhealth.edu
Jaime Kuklinski is the Administrative Coordinator for the Section of the Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs at Cooper University Health Care. Jaime received her Bachelor of Business Administration. Prior to working at Cooper, Ms. Kuklinski work in various administration roles at several health care organizations, providing essential administrative and clerical support in the health care industry. Ms. Kuklinski has an organizational ability with expertise in regulatory compliance and financial documentation. In her current role, she manages day-to-day operations and has a proven track record developing and maintaining working business and interpersonal relationships with clients and organizations. Ms. Kuklinski also serves as the assistant to the Chief Surgeon of the Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs Department.
Paul F. Ostrom FF/EMT
Clinical Operations Liaison
Ostrom-Paul@cooperhealth.edu
Paul Ostrom is a NJ Certified Fire Fighter/EMT. He obtained his NJ EMT and Fire 1 certifications through the Camden County Fire Academy. Mr. Ostrom started his career as a volunteer Fire Fighter/EMT with Westville Fire Department and joined Bellmawr Fire Department in 2002 as a Fire Fighter/EMT. Mr. Ostrom joined the Cooper University Health Care team in 2010 and worked as an Emergency Room Technician. Mr. Ostrom also worked for the City of Camden as an EMT and later became a Field Training Officer (FTO). From 2019 to 2023, Mr. Ostrom worked as a Trauma Technician for Cooper University Health Care. Mr. Ostrom’s current role is serving as a Clinical Operations Liaison for the Section of Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs.
Richard J. Heffernan Jr., BS, PA-EMT, D-ABMDI, CFEI
Field Logistics Operations Coordinator
Heffernan-Richard@cooperhealth.edu
Richard Heffernan is the Field Logistics Operations Coordinator for the Section of Military, Diplomatic and Field Surgical Affairs at Cooper University Health Care. Mr. Heffernan has a successful history in obtaining local, state and federal grants and brings those skills with him in his current position at Cooper. Mr. Heffernan also serves as the Manager of the Field Medical-Surgical Unit (mobile field hospital) at Cooper. Mr. Heffernan received his Bachelor of Science in Forensic Investigation while working for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Delaware County, PA. Mr. Heffernan worked for the County of Delaware’s Emergency Services for more than 20 years and has an extensive history and training in Emergency Management as well as Fire and EMS. Mr. Heffernan also works as a fire investigator part time and is an assistant fire chief in his local community.
John M. Porter, MD
Director, Center for Trauma Services
John M. Porter, MD, is Head, Division of Trauma Surgery in the Department of Surgery and Director of the Center for Trauma Services at Cooper University Health Care. He is also a Professor of Surgery and Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Dr. Porter received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he also conducted his General Surgery internship and residency. He received his fellowship training in Trauma/Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tanya Egodage, MD
Research Director
Tanya Egodage, MD, is a Trauma Surgeon and Associaite Program Director, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Cooper University Health Care and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Dr. Egodage received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean, followed by a General Surgery internship and residency at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, NY. She continued her surgical training with fellowships in Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Surgery, and Burn Surgery at the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, IL.
Ju-Lin Wang, MD
Associate Medical Director
Ju-Lin Wang, MD, is a Trauma Surgeon at Cooper University Health Care and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Dr. Wang received his medical degree at St. Georges University School of Medicine. He conducted his internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, follwed by residency at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. He completed a surgical Critical Care and Trauma fellowship at Cooper University Hospital.
Christopher Derivaux, MD
Military Office Thoracic Surgeon
Christopher Derivaux, MD, FACS, USAR, is a Thoracic Surgeon in the Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Cooper University Health Care. Dr. Derivaux has been at Cooper since 2022 and has been in practice since 2002. He is the Director of Thoracic Trauma in Cooper’s Section of Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs. This section conducts clinical trauma training for our nation’s elite commando and diplomatic special operations forces. Dr. Derivaux is a Lieutenant Coronel in United States Army Reserve Medical Corps assigned to the 378th Medical Detachment.
Dr. Derivaux completed his General Surgery internship and residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, as well as a surgical critical care fellowship. Following this training, he completed a cardiothoracic fellowship at New York University/Bellevue Medical center. Prior to his surgical training, he attended Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Lafayette College. Dr. Derivaux was also a Trauma Technician in Cooper’s Trauma Center while in high school and college.