The Diocese of Camden will recognize two individuals’ service to Catholic health care at the annual White Mass for Healthcare Workers on Sunday, in the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden on Sunday, Oct. 23, 1 p.m.
Bishop Dennis Sullivan will be the main celebrant for the liturgy, which will present the Saint Luke Award for leadership in Catholic healthcare in Southern New Jersey to Reginald Blaber, M.D.; and James P. Dwyer, D.O.
Dr. Blaber, a resident of Haddonfield, is executive director of the Lourdes Cardiovascular Institute and vice president of Cardiac Services at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. He also serves as chairman of the Department of Medicine at Lourdes and is a practicing cardiologist.
He was recently named to a two-year term on the New Jersey Cardiovascular Health Advisory Panel, which is charged with providing guidance on issues of cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention, as well as the clinical study of treatment for cardiac diseases.
For years, Dr. Blaber has led Lourdes’ charity care program to ensure that needy individuals had access to appropriate care. In addition, Dr. Blaber has served on the board of The Joseph Fund and organized a group of primarily Lourdes physicians to provide medical care to the homeless residents of Joseph’s House in Camden. For 15 years, Dr. Blaber has worked with a Jamaican cardiologist and the Jamaican embassy to organize transportation and lifesaving cardiac procedures for Jamaican citizens who cannot access or afford medical care in their home country. Dr. Blaber earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Dr. Dwyer is executive coach and consultant for Navipoint LLC, where he assists healthcare organizations in identifying and helping physicians navigate the challenges of the healthcare leadership landscape.
Before establishing Navipoint, he was executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Virtua Memorial. Dwyer was also vice president and chief operating officer at Virtua. Throughout his career, he has continued to practice medicine as a rheumatologist.
Dr. Dwyer graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The White Mass is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Camden and the South Jersey Catholic Medical Association.
A catered reception, sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center will follow the Mass, with guest speaker Richard Fitzgibbons, M.D.
The White Mass is scheduled each year on a Sunday near the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist, who tradition holds was a physician. All healthcare workers and their families are invited to attend.
To R.S.V.P., or for more information, call 856-583-6123 or e-mail Karen.fisher@camdendiocese.org