Getting to Know Dr. Jack Cooke

The Barber Banner - Character Interviews - Collingswood

By E. Wenham - Staff Reporter - Collingswood Bureau

Collingswood has a new doctor. He grew up here, left, served his country, saw the world, and came back. Dr. Jack Cooke recently took over the practice of longtime town physician Dr. Wilson, and he sat down with the Banner to talk about where he's from, what brought him home, and what kind of doctor he plans to be.

The Banner: The Cooke family has a long history in Collingswood. Give us the short version.

Dr. Cooke: Sure. My parents met in Illinois - my mother's family is from a small town outside Chicago called Windford, my father's family is from here. My father was stationed at Scott Air Force Base and my mother was an art major at the University of Illinois. They married shortly after they met and both my brother Chance and I were born in Windford. When my father's parents' health began to fail, we relocated here to Collingswood, where my brothers Paxton, Drew, Owen, Gavin, and Jakob were all born. My dad deployed frequently, and my mother relied heavily on family and this community to help her bring up seven unruly boys.

The Banner: And your parents now?

Dr. Cooke: They're back in Windford. When my mother's parents passed, they moved to the Harper family homestead.

The Banner: All seven of you served in the military?

Dr. Cooke: We did. All of us did at least one tour in the Air Force. My brother Jakob is still active in the Reserves.

The Banner: What was your role?

Dr. Cooke: I was a flight surgeon - providing care for injured troops as we transported them from the front to Ramstein Air Force Base.

The Banner: You've lived all over the world. Why come back to Collingswood?

Dr. Cooke: It feels good to come back to my roots. I've lived many places, but I knew I wanted to spend the later part of my career here - re-establish relationships with family, enjoy the slower pace.

The Banner: What kind of doctor will you be for this community?

Dr. Cooke: Of course I'm committed to caring for people when they're sick or injured. But I want it to be more than that. I'd like to develop a health partnership with residents so we work together to stay healthy. I don't just want to see people when they're feeling poorly.

The Banner: One last question. What's your one vice - the thing you love that you probably shouldn't?

Dr. Cooke: (laughs) I eat way too many Doritos.

The Banner welcomes Dr. Cooke back to Collingswood. His practice at Dr. Wilson's former offices is now accepting new patients.