Breakthrough medicine. Powered by Penn State. | Penn State Health

Breakthrough medicine. Powered by Penn State. | Penn State Health Breakthrough medicine. Powered by Penn State. Advancing care and connecting communities Penn State Health Penn State College of Medicine World-class care delivered close to home Penn State Health is uniquely positioned to turn new discoveries into patient breakthroughs – by uniting our academic medical center with our community hospitals to deliver innovation close to home. From primary care in local communities to nationally recognized quaternary care in Hershey, Penn State Health covers the full spectrum. Patients don’t need to leave central Pennsylvania for advanced options like GammaTile brain therapy, congenital heart surgery or precision cancer trials because those are already here. Penn State Health is not just a health system; it is directly linked to Penn State College of Medicine. That integration means patients have access to the latest research, clinical trials and physician-scientists working on the front lines of discovery, while also benefiting from the compassionate, community-based care of a regional health system. Few systems can claim both. While many competitors are based in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, Penn State Health is of and for central Pennsylvania. It invests in local hospitals, practices and outreach programs while still offering access to a world-class academic medical center at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Discover how our breakthroughs in medicine and the power of Penn State benefits you. Saving lives with science Making the trip worth every mile Ford was your typical toddler – until he was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Fortunately, Ford's family found Giselle Sholler, MD, who discovered the only drug to treat his cancer, making the trip from Pittsburgh to Hershey worth every mile. Read Ford's story Beating the odds through expert care Cameron’s life was changed after a tragic car accident, but thanks to the expert care provided at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and powered by Penn State College of Medicine, he is back to playing the sports he loves. Read Cameron's story Breakthrough brain tumor treatment gives woman hope for the future After years of fighting a recurring brain tumor, Amanda Rinehart found herself at another crossroads. When the tumor returned for the third time in 2022, she was determined to explore new options. Read Amanda's story Healing faster with Penn State innovation An accomplished multi-sport endurance athlete, Nancy was only one mile from finishing a 51-mile bike tour when she was involved in a near-fatal collision, changing her life in an instant. Read Nancy's story Inspiring videos Ford Bartle was a typical toddler when he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that mostly affects children under 6. Cameron Wamsher was 8 years old when he was hit by a car and landed on another before being airlifted to Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital. Amanda's world was changed forever when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After multiple recurrences and aggressive treatments, a new approach was needed. Nancy Rehm suffered more than 20 broken bones after being struck by an SUV. Her life was saved by a breakthrough approach developed at Penn State College of Medicine: RibFix Advantage™ Behind the breakthroughs Providing the best care possible for the kids Matt Swift, RN, understands that words alone aren’t enough. He must prove through his actions that he has the knowledge to help a child recover. Read Matt Swift's story Enhancing care with patience and creativity By remembering the small things like what type of room they like, Julie Bender, RN, helps ease patient's anxiety. Read Julie Bender's story Making a difference one patient at a time With more than two decades of experience, Anthony Tsai, MD, has developed the skills needed to handle complex cases like Cameron's. Read Dr. Tsai's story The turning point All of the children that we treat are so important. Research and medical innovations are helping to make their lives better. Read Dr. Sholler's story Building a Nationwide Network Giselle Saulnier Sholler, MD envisioned bridging the gap between research and clinical care through innovative translational research programs. Read Dr. Sholler's story Restoring lives with neurosurgical precision Christopher Zacko, MD, thrives on the challenge of treating brain injuries caused by trauma; each case demanding quick thinking. Read Dr. Zacko’s story Advancing patient-centered brain tumor care Dr. Brad Zacharia's early fascination with the brain made neurosurgery a natural career choice. Read Dr. Zacharia’s story Combining clinical skill with deep compassion Alexa Lantz is a steady source of support and education for patients in their most difficult moments. Read Alexa’s story Redefining care through compassion and innovation Dr. Sean Mahase helped build a program that provides a personalized approach to care and leading-edge medicine. Read Dr. Mahase’s story Highlighting our staff and students Finding solutions for patients in their time of need Kelsey Miller takes pride in connecting with patients in their time of need. Read Kelsey's story Empowering the community to help one another Sunny Goodyear leads safety programs across communities in Penn State Health’s five-county area. Read Sunny's story Changing lives by creating a positive experience Jodi Bracken understands the importance of seeing patients for more than just their medical condition. Read Jodi's story Designed a disabilities curriculum Lydia Smeltz developed a curriculum for students at Penn State College of Medicine. Read Lydia's story Welcoming every patient Eric Wayman describes his role as Lancaster Pediatric Center’s official greeter as the joy of his life. Read Eric's story Reaching out to a community in need Tara Simmons understands people just want to be heard, taken care of and loved. Read Tara's Advocating for her beloved profession Kelsey Barrett is passionate about providing expert and compassionate patient care. Read Kelsey’s story Breaking down barriers to care Angela Shuman gives marginalized populations the time and respect they need to feel valued. Read Angela's story Advocating for patient care excellence Aileen McCormick is resilient, able to switch gears quickly and always ready to help. Read Aileen’s story Ensuring every patient gets the care they need Leah Holmberg understands that supporting staff is essential to providing quality care for patients. Read Leah’s story Practicing global health in her backyard Leesha Helm, MD, is dedicated to helping patients who face barriers to care. Read Dr. Helm’s story Inventing the future of reconstructive surgery Dr. Dino Ravnic thrives in a dual role that allows him to blend clinical practice with research. Read Dr. Ravnic’s story Striving to make every patient feel valued Nate Oster ensures patients have the services and supports they need. Read Nathan’s story Bringing people together Wendy Marumoto-Vlahos enjoys planning creative events that show support for her department. Read Wendy’s story Supporting cancer patients at every step Rebecca Gingrich focuses on every patient having a positive experience. Read Rebecca’s story Sharing her experience for the benefit of others Doris Shank understands the importance of clinical trials in advancing cancer care. Read Doris’s story Helping kids be kids, even in the hospital Pam Baranowski does everything she can to ensure patients and their parents have a positive experience. Read Pam’s story Improving lives as a humanitarian first Saul Elertas treats patients with comfort and compassion. Read Saul’s story Inspiring the next generation of medical professionals Osiris Martinez Urquilla uses her leadership role to inspire technicians and students. Read Osiris’s story Training the Next Generation in Medicine Dr. Burrows believes the institution’s commitment helped shape him into a compassionate physician. Read Dr. Burrows's story Turning a Passion into Practice Riley Gerber chose Penn State because it wasn’t just about earning a degree. Read Riley's story Where Purpose Meets Possibility Dr. Maglakelidze's education allowed her to approach patient care through scientific rigor. Read Dr. Maglakelidze story Building meaningful connections with every candidate Patty Shipton believes the best part of her job is getting to know the candidates and their stories. Read Patty's story From Pennsylvania, For Pennsylvania Dr. Mark Stephens is guided by his rural Pennsylvania roots and lifelong commitment to service. Read Dr. Stephens’ story Answering the call Sister Rose Dvorak tends to the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff. Read Sister Rose’s story Providing compassionate care, one call at a time Cindy Rivera is a source of reassurance, guidance and compassion. Read Cindy’s story Building meaningful patient relationships Lisa Duncan enjoys making a positive difference in the lives of her patients. Read Lisa’s story Guided by one unwavering principle Dr. Marc Rovito strives to provide exceptional patient care. Read Dr. Rovito’s story Where medicine meets innovation Third-year medical student Sai Kurapati works to bridge health disparities. Read Sai’s story Preparing students to deliver the highest level of care Phillip Stark helps students develop critical thinking skills, knowledge and confidence. Read Phillip’s story Educating and improving patient care Gretchen Ramsey spends her days coaching providers on how to connect with patients and family members. Read Gretchen’s story A sense of family working on the third shift Greg Mull and his coworkers share a bond built on laughter, mutual support and patient care. Read Greg’s story Supporting health equity in our communities Jessica Wadsworth believes everyone deserves access to quality health care. Read Jessica’s story A journey of resilience and purpose Alison Smolinski is dedicated to supporting the next generation of physician-scientists. Read Alison’s story Giving back one patient at a time Jennifer Ovechka connects with patients in a way that few people can. Read Jennifer’s story Taking care of our neighbors Manny Isherwood pushes to do what is best for patients. Read Manny’s story Educating the next generation of physicians Dr. Aghazarian is passionate about teaching complex surgical concepts and hands-on skills. Read Dr. Aghazarian’s story Improving patient care through innovation Dr. Jonathan Ken studies the evidence behind new technology to benefit patients and the health system. Read Dr. Ken’s story Building connections that go beyond the job Alex Blackwood wants to be the first person on the scene to help patients in an emergency. Read Alex’s story Serving patients with purpose Jatin Patel is committed to supporting patients in any way he can. Read Jatin’s story Empowering patients in critical moments Nirmala Dahal is fulfilling her promise to pursue a career helping those in need. Read Nirmala’s story Restoring function and quality of life Dr. Jessyka Lighthall brings life-changing care to patients who once had limited options. Read Dr. Lighthall’s story