Karen Cooper says one should expect to have a blast when attending GroundWorks DanceTheater’s It Takes Two Benefit.
“It’s the best party in town!” says Cooper, who will dance with GroundWorks artist Damien Highfield during the April 28 gala at the Cleveland Museum of Art. “I’ve been attending for several years and now I’ll be participating. I can’t wait!”
Cooper has been an avid supporter of GroundWorks ever since her sister, Donna Kohl (who participated as a Celebrity Dancer in 2010), introduced her to the company. She’s also loves to dance. In fact, movement is not only a big part of her life, it is her passion both personally and professionally. As director of obesity management at the Women’s Health Institute, she is an advocate for exercise, activity and health & wellness.
In addition to practicing bariatric medicine, Dr. Cooper is passionate about public health and participates in medical mission trips every year. She has traveled to Nicaragua and Guatemala and especially enjoys returning to her home country of Guyana to give back to her community. Locally, she is involved with the Minority Men’s Health Fair, the Physician Diversity Scholars Program and VeloSano, an annual bike ride to fund a cure for cancer.
“Community outreach is significantly important,” she says. “It’s very rewarding and tremendously exciting. It’s something I was really struck with about GroundWorks – it’s about much more than dance and performance, but also about giving back. I love how GroundWorks is so beautifully intertwined with its community. And I feel great about contributing to that vision.”