The rot of corruption unfolding at MD Anderson partner hospital Cooper Health in New Jersey isn’t just a coastal problem—it’s a warning shot for every state that values integrity, accountability, and the rule of law. An active indictment against three board members alleges that Cooper Health, a ‘so-called’ nonprofit hospital system, has been hoarding state funds, overcharging patients, and systematically consolidating services in underserved communities. It is a disgraceful display of greed and betrayal, driven by indicted political kingpin, George Norcross, and his cronies on the hospital’s board of trustees. These same trustees, with conflicts of interest as deep as their pockets, have used taxpayer dollars and political influence to enrich themselves and their allies.
The respected Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center, a beacon of innovation and excellence in cancer care, risks being dragged into the muck by its partnership with Cooper Health. MD Anderson Cancer Center has had an established partnership with Cooper Health since 2013. It was originally established to bring MD Anderson’s expertise in cancer treatment, research, and protocols to South Jersey. However, now with Norcross and two other Cooper Health board members under active indictment, MD Anderson’s reputation is unnecessarily on the line.
As Texans, we can’t stand idly by while our cancer care center, one of the best cancer centers in the world, is smeared through the mud because of New Jersey’s disgusting inability to operate with ethics and integrity in the healthcare system. It’s time for Texans like you and me to demand that MD Anderson sever all ties with Cooper Health to protect its reputation and legacy. We must refuse to stand for institutions that partner with those who betray the public trust.
Cooper Health is a case study in what happens when corruption runs wild in organizations meant to serve the public good. The hospital system, entrusted with billions in tax benefits and grants, has weaponized those resources for self-enrichment. Norcross and his allies have manipulated state laws to secure no-bid contracts, redirect state subsidies into their own coffers, and crush competitors to monopolize healthcare in their region—all at the expense of patients and communities. All Texans should take note: when these kinds of abuses go unchecked, they don’t stay contained. Corruption thrives on power and silence, and it’s only a matter of time before such tactics creep into other states, including ours.
The far-left’s playbook is clear: infiltrate institutions, weaponize taxpayer dollars, and manipulate the system to consolidate power. Cooper Health’s scandal is a grotesque example, but it’s part of a larger pattern. Here in Texas, we must demand stronger safeguards against corruption, greater oversight of public funds, and a zero-tolerance policy for cronyism in every corner of our state. If we allow the corruption infecting Cooper Health to take root here by way of MD Anderson, we risk the values that make Texas, Texas. Today, let Cooper Health serve as a lesson, and let Texas stand as the example of how to fight back.
Julia Pierce is a realtor, committee chair for the Dallas County Republican Party and does business development for the Metroplex Civic and Business Association.