Cooper University Health Care announced that Shaan Mody, a senior biology major at Rutgers University–Camden, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Cooper Civic Leadership Award. The award, presented at a recent student ceremony on the Rutgers–Camden campus, honors a student who exemplifies outstanding civic leadership and service to the Camden community.
Established in 2018, the Cooper Civic Leadership Award celebrates students whose work reflects a deep commitment to community engagement and transformative change. Mody, an honors student and aspiring osteopathic physician, has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to addressing systemic disparities and improving community well-being.
As founder and chair of the Rutgers–Camden Student Wellness Center’s Advisory Board, Mody has led initiatives to enhance the physical, mental and social wellness of more than 6,000 students. His leadership has been pivotal in advocating for menstrual equity on campus, including legislative collaboration with New Jersey Assemblywoman Andrea Katz to increase access to menstrual products in higher education institutions statewide.
Mody also co-founded Caring for Camden, a grassroots initiative addressing homelessness and health inequities. Through this effort, he has organized food, hygiene and clothing drives, partnered with local schools and fostered citywide collaboration.
His academic research further reflects his service-driven mission, from a study resulting in more than 20 campus infrastructure improvements to a statewide project on water pollution’s impact on communities.
Currently vice president of the Rutgers–Camden Student Governing Association, Mody has championed disability accommodations, improved student housing and launched the university’s first Pre-Health Committee. As an EMT and volunteer leader, he also manages the New Jersey Vrajdham Health Fair, expanding health-care access for more than 300 individuals annually.
“Shaan Mody’s extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to civic engagement exemplify the very spirit of this award,” said Anthony Welch, vice president of government and community relations at Cooper University Health Care, who presented the award. “He’s not only making a difference here in Camden but setting a standard for what it means to serve with compassion, purpose and vision.”
