You Move Us Forward!
Through the last campaign, you made us greater, and I am continually amazed by your unwavering investment of resources, time, expertise and advocacy that moves us forward.
You embraced our vision of A Greater Penn State, and every day we see new evidence of what’s possible. Thanks to you, our students can worry less about paying for their education and focus more on changing lives. Our faculty can devote more time to scholarship that enhances their field and their teaching. Our researchers can make critical discoveries on the way toward better care and cures. And our extraordinary care teams can offer the hope of improved health and well-being to more people across our community.
I know that your passion for improving lives motivates your engagement, and I am moved by your stories and the ones you become part of. Thank you for being a valued part of our family. Simply put, your generosity in every way continues to power our progress and change lives for the better. WE ARE beyond grateful!
Kelly Altland • AVP for Development and Chief Development Officer, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine
Fiscal Year '23 Commitments (7/1/22—6/30/23)
Leaving a Legacy
Planned gifts are an enduring commitment to our shared values and aspirations.
Dr. Algin Garrett, a 1978 alumnus of Penn State College of Medicine and national leader in the field of dermatology believes the best way to give back is to perpetuate knowledge.
In 2022, he and his wife, Mary-Cate, made a generous planned gift commitment to establish the Algin B. Garrett, MD, Professorship in the Department of Dermatology. Thanks to their decision to early-activate the fund with additional support now, Dr. Charlene Lam, Mohs surgeon and associate professor of dermatology, has been appointed as the inaugural holder of the Garrett Professorship.
Dr. Garrett began the Mohs Fellowship program at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he served as faculty for 35 years. Through this named professorship, he is advancing our interrelated education, research, care and outreach missions and making a positive and lasting impact on our faculty, students, alumni and all those they serve.
Photo caption: Algin Garrett, MD '78
Vali and Pari Kermani have a clear goal: honor their son’s memory by bringing personalized health care to more patients.
The Kermanis formed the Kia Kermani Foundation in 2019 following the passing of their son, Kia, at age 33. And the following year, they created the Kia Kermani Foundation Research Fund for Personalized Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. Now, Kia’s parents have committed to furthering his legacy — and the fund bearing his name — with a gift to be made through their own estate. The Kermanis’ generous new commitment will deepen the impact of the Kia Kermani Foundation Research Fund by increasing the number of stipends available to research fellows in the college’s Institute for Personalized Medicine. The Kermanis’ philanthropy also helps to grow the network of personalized medicine researchers and may eventually expand applications for personalized care across specialties. READ MORE.
Photo caption: Dr. and Mrs. Vali and Pari Kermani with their son, Kia.
Education
As we show the world what medicine means, we can never stop evolving and adapting to meet the next challenge, which is exactly why we are so grateful for the steadfast support of our donors...
In my first few months as dean, I have witnessed the drive, determination, creativity and pursuit of excellence that define our students, faculty and staff and honor all those we serve. Clearly, what makes us great are the people of Penn State College of Medicine – and that includes you! I am deeply grateful for your investment and belief in us. I know that with your support and the dedication of our teams, we can continue to define our unwavering commitment to serve our increasingly diverse population, train the next generation of scholars, providers and educators and support field-defining research to push the boundaries of medicine for the betterment of humanity.
Karen E. Kim, MD, MS • Dean, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Rural Health Research and Professor, Penn State College of Medicine • Physician-in-Chief, Penn State and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
You help us define what medicine means.
Special Thanks
Dr. Kevin Black’s tenure as interim dean concluded on August 31, 2023, after serving four years and leading the College through many successes and challenges – namely, the global COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, Dr. Black consistently offered steady and transformative leadership that helped the College advance its reputation for excellence in academics, clinical care and research. We offer our sincere thanks to Dr. Black for all he has done and continues to do to help us show the world what medicine means.
Photo caption: Dr. Kevin Black is recognized by colleagues during Dean Karen Kim's address to the College on December 14, 2023.
Scholarships ensure that tomorrow’s health care leaders find open doors to opportunity today.
In FY 2023, benefactors:
- Created eight new scholarships.
- Brought an additional seven scholarships to the minimum activation level.
- Increased the total number of active scholarships, awards and fellowships to 198.
For the current 2023-2024 academic year, these funds will enable the college to award more than $3.1 million to 350+ medical, graduate and physician assistant students in Hershey and State College throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Penn State College of Medicine students come from diverse educational, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Explore profiles of our recent entering classes:
Photo caption: Outgoing interim dean, Dr. Kevin Black, and incoming dean, Dr. Karen Kim, congratulate members of the entering medical class of 2023 at the White Coat Ceremony on July 21.
Reflecting on where I came from and the conditions that shaped my early life, I cannot help but recognize the transformative power of education and the opportunities it affords. Thank you for believing in my potential and contributing to my journey through medical school. Your generosity is a cornerstone in the foundation of my future career, and I will always carry your belief with me as I work to improve the lives of others.
Samuel Ajamu, Breinigsville, PA • 4th-yr medical student
Dwight and Lorna Davis Medical Student Scholarship • John E. Morgan Foundation and Penn State College of Medicine Scholarship • Jeffries Family International Health Scholarship
This scholarship has not only been a tremendous boost to my morale but has also reaffirmed my passion for scientific inquiry and dedication to advancing medical knowledge, all while lightening the financial burden of my educational journey. Thank you for your generosity and support. I am eager to make the most of them as I progress in my medical education and research career.
Madison Crago, Moon Township, PA • 2nd-yr medical student
Bedrick Family Medical Student Research Program Award
From a young age, I have always known I wanted to pursue medicine as a career and after many years of hard work, I finally reached my goal of being in a prestigious PA program. Although many feats along the way made this dream seem out of reach, scholarships such as this one are the reason I could continue and be as successful as I am today. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and the doors you have opened for me with this scholarship.
Gracie Chaires, Darlington, MD • 1st-yr physician assistant student • Class of 2025
College of Medicine Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship
Support for resident education helps early-career physicians hone their practice of medicine and advance their professional development.
In FY 2023, benefactors:
- Created seven new endowments to support resident education in the areas of pathology, surgery, ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and global health.
- Contributed to the Dr. Jennifer Miller Pediatric Residency Diversity Fund in memory of their late colleague and friend, who established the fund through her estate. This fund enables residents to engage in diversity education and network with peers at professional meetings.
- Expanded opportunity for residents to participate in clinical and academic global medical experiences in foreign countries or culturally underserved areas in the U.S. through the Jeffries Global Health Travel Endowment for Residents. Dr. Graham Jeffries, founding chair of the Department of Medicine and champion for global health, passed away in July 2023 at the age of 94.
Photo caption: Counselor Dr. Jake Beerel, left, a third-year pediatric resident at Penn State Health Children's Hospital, teaches the workings of a pig heart to Camp Lionheart camper H Byrd, while other campers watch in August 2023. The instructors at the annual summer camp for children with heart disease teach about the human heart using the pig heart as an example.
Robust faculty and program resources are the foundation for lasting academic excellence.
In FY 2023:
- There were 14 new endowed faculty appointments.
- One new professorship was established, the Algin B. Garrett Professorship in Dermatology. In September, Dr. Charlene Lam was appointed as the inaugural Garrett Professor.
- Donor support activated two new lectureships: the Ann Ouyang, MD Lecture in Gastroenterology and the Dr. Robert E. Harbaugh Lectureship in Neurosurgery.
- Dr. David Goldenberg, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology ─ Head and Neck Surgery at Penn State College of Medicine and vice president of otolaryngology ─ head and neck surgery services for Penn State Health Medical Group, presented the inaugural Ellie Goldenberg Memorial Lecture on May 8. Goldenberg and his wife, Dr. Renee Flax-Goldenberg, created the endowed fund to honor the life and legacy of their daughter.
Photo caption: Dr. David Goldenberg presents the inaugural Ellie Goldenberg Memorial Lecture.
Hitting a new High(mark)
Penn State Cancer Institute is central Pennsylvania’s only academic and clinical cancer research center, offering access to world-class treatment and care for 3,000 new patients each year. As it pursues designation as a National Cancer Institute, support from insurance industry leader and longtime partner Highmark Blue Shield is ensuring that top researchers have the resources and support they need to lead the fight against cancer, both in our region and beyond. Three endowed faculty positions, funded in part by a $25 million grant, were appointed for the first time in fall 2022.
As the Endowed Chair in Cancer Clinical Research, Dr. Mitchell Machtay brings expertise in radiation oncology to teams focused on cancers of the brain, head and neck, lung, and more.
Dr. Cheryl Thompson, the Endowed Chair in Cancer Population Sciences Research, is a genetic and molecular epidemiologist who studies the causes of cancer development and progress.
The Endowed Professor in Cancer Clinical Investigation, Dr. Monika Joshi, investigates therapies targeting cancers of the bladder, prostate, and kidney.
Photo caption: Left to right, Dr. Monika Joshi, Dr. Cheryl Thompson and Dr. Mitchell Machtay.
Research
In an academic health system, research unites all missions – education, patient care and community engagement – and philanthropy serves as a vital catalyst for our progress.
In addition to significant funding from state and federal sources, including the National Institutes of Health, our research efforts were bolstered by industry partners and your generous support. Your critical funding will help us investigate cancer, neurological disease, health disparities, substance use disorders, infectious diseases, genetics and cellular mechanisms that influence health, leading to breakthroughs that will change the future of medicine. Research support also enables our students to participate alongside our faculty to tackle the most important scientific and public health issues of our time while learning problem-solving skills that will benefit their career development.
Leslie Parent, MD • Associate Vice President, Health Sciences Research, Penn State • Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, and Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine
Support transforms scientific inquiry into groundbreaking discovery and innovation.
In FY 2023:
- The College of Medicine obtained a record $159.8 million in research funding, securing the college’s position as the top research-funded college at Penn State for the third consecutive year.
- Individual donors and corporate and foundation partners contributed $10 million in philanthropic support for research.
- Seven new endowed or named annual research funds were created in cancer, pulmonology, reproductive health and cardiology.
Photo caption: Dr. Elisa Bradley, director, Penn State Health Congenital Heart Disease Center and associate professor of medicine (cardiology) and cellular and molecular physiology, Penn State College of Medicine
Research Spotlights
A team of researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Cancer Institute investigating why some bladder cancer tumors are resistant to certain immunotherapies have found that genetic and pathologic diversity in tumor cells may be partially responsible.
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine brought an international research consortium led by Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler to Hershey to strengthen their fight against childhood cancer. In December 2023, the FDA approved the first pediatric neuroblastoma drug to reduce the risk of relapse for patients fighting the disease based on research and clinical trials Sholler led through the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium.
Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State’s Clinical Translational Science Institute collaborated to improve rural health and address health disparities through community informed research and outreach.
The newly established Rice Family Foundation Cancer Institute Director's Endowment will support the most promising cancer research through seed and bridge funding for new and ongoing research and flexible resources for future faculty recruitment and meeting the Cancer Institute’s most pressing needs.
Physician-scientist Dr. Elisa Bradley (pictured above) is investigating specific types of heart disease that affect women. Some of her recent work has studied the relationship between pre-eclampsia and maternal heart failure. Research has shown a potential link between genetic variants responsible for cardiomyopathy and pre-eclampsia, however Dr. Bradley’s lab at Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute is the first to study the impact of these changes on heart function.
Photo caption: Dr. Joshua Warrick, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and urology at Penn State College of Medicine, is part of the team striving to find new preventive strategies and treatments for bladder cancer.
Care & Community
Last year, steadfast partners like you helped us move forward in meaningful and momentous ways…
You joined us to celebrate milestones of enduring service and important firsts. Your gifts helped enhance healing, honor loved ones through support of vital programs and show your appreciation for our extraordinary care teams. On behalf of our patients and the entire Penn State Health community, thank you for your continuing support.
Steve Massini • CEO, Penn State Health
Support for infrastructure, patient services and outreach expands quality care close to home.
In 2023:
- U.S. News & World Report recognized Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center as some of best in the nation in its annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings. The magazine also rated these three hospitals as high performing in multiple specialties. The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and the Neuroscience Institute were also recognized for excellence.
- Hampden Medical Center employees and leaders celebrated the one-year anniversary of the hospital that reaches residents of Cumberland and Perry counties and surrounding areas.
- Lancaster Medical Center welcomed its first patients in October 2022 and recently celebrated one year of service to people in Lancaster and York counties.
- On August 22, St. Joseph Medical Center marked 150 years of providing skilled and compassionate care to patients throughout the Berks region. Donors came together in fun and meaningful ways to celebrate this milestone, contributing more than $100,000 through its annual Golf Tournament and Charity Ball to support the acquisition of new medical equipment and technology needs at the hospital.
Photo caption: Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, right, talks with staff during the 150th anniversary celebration at St. Joseph Medical Center in August 2023.
Care & Community Spotlights
We welcomed golden retrievers Skye and Thor to our facility dog team at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Their canine colleagues Kaia, Captain and Pilot work exclusively with kids in our care. Skye joins our staff-assigned chaplains to provide comfort and support to caregivers – staff and patients’ loved ones alike. Thor expands the program’s reach to adult patients in cancer and acute care at Hershey Medical Center. Skye and Thor joined the facility dog program thanks to support from JP and Teresa Bilbrey, the Simpson Family Facility Dog Program Endowment and Barbara Dashiell. The program is sustained by ongoing funding from these and other donors, including Spirit of Children, Hope in the Air and the inaugural anonymous benefactor who established the Kelso Facility Dog Endowment that helped launch the program.
PNC’s wide-ranging community investments are helping central Pennsylvanians learn, grow and live healthier lives. Through the Growing Up Stem: Powered by PNC program, students in kindergarten through 3rd grade enjoy free STEM lessons focused on making connections between learning and health care careers as well as topics including body systems, healthy eating and preventing the spread of germs. And the PNC Community Health Impact Endowment has enabled our Community Health Team to provide important expertise, resources and trauma-informed training for care providers throughout the region.
Photo caption: Facility Dog Skye joins in the “Heroes’ Welcome” for nurses and staff at Hershey Medical Center during the 2023 Nurses' and Hospital Week celebrations in May.
In May, thanks to a health system-wide effort, we proudly displayed more than 460 American flags across all community hospital locations as part of our Flags of Honor program. Hundreds of donors contributed nearly $5,000 to recognize friends, family members and colleagues who have served or are currently serving in the military. These meaningful gifts support each hospital’s area of greatest need.
Photo caption: Flags surround the lion statue at St. Joseph Medical Center.
No Shave November
Every November since 2016, Penn State Health has partnered with Mid Penn Bank for "No Shave November," realizing steady growth each year. In 2023, Mid Penn Bank committed to support a campaign over the next four years that will bring their fundraising total since 2020 to $1.1 million, and in October, Penn State Health dedicated the newly named Mid Penn Bank Outpatient Clinic on the second floor of the Penn State Cancer Institute building in Hershey in recognition of the bank’s leadership and financial commitment to this fundraising effort.
Money raised supports the Department of Urology’s involvement in the Pennsylvania Urologic Regional Collaborative (PURC), a quality-improvement initiative that connects urology practices in a physician-led, data-sharing and improvement collaborative aimed at advancing the quality of diagnosis and care for patients with prostate cancer. It also helps provide free prostate cancer screenings for the community, supports mission-based work by the department to underserved areas regionally and nationally and makes available educational conferences for patients and health care professionals covering elements of cancer prevention and screening.
Photo caption: Left to right, Rory Ritrievi, president and CEO of Mid Penn Bank; Dr. Karen Kim, dean for Penn State College of Medicine; Dr. Jay Raman, interim chair of the Department of Urology and Don McKenna, interim president of Hershey Medical Center, cut the ribbon at the dedication of the Cancer Institute's newly named Mid Penn Bank Outpatient Clinic.
Friends of Penn State Health and the College of Medicine
In 2023, chapters of Friends of Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine volunteered and coordinated social and fundraising activities to help make world-class health care more accessible to people close to their home and enhance education, research and community outreach. Highlights from this year include:
The Association of Faculty and Friends Chapter, supporting Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine raised more than $66,000 through signature events including their annual gala, membership luncheon and Peace Tree celebrations. Funds raised throughout the year support the Association of Faculty and Friends Scholarship at Penn State College of Medicine and various care and community outreach programs, such as palliative care medicine, the Lion’s Share Food Pantry and their annual grant distribution program which supports many departments throughout Hershey Medical Center and the College of Medicine.
The West Shore Friends Chapter, supporting Hampden Medical Center and Holy Spirit Medical Center held its first annual Peace Tree fundraiser in December 2022. To begin 2023 on a high note, volunteers assembled more than 700 distraction kits, containing fun items for pediatric patients who are seen in the Emergency Department. The West Shore Friends joined hospital leaders during National Hospital Week in May to express appreciation for the staff, dispensing treats from a Gratitude Cart and hosted an event in June to raise funds and collect board books to be given to new moms and their babies who make their debut at Hampden Medical Center.
Photo caption: West Shore Friends Chapter volunteers assemble distraction kits for pediatric patients.
Children's Health
Your gifts help our youngest patients and their families grow and thrive.
In 2023:
- Penn State Health dedicated the Behavioral Health Clinic waiting area at Penn State Health Children’s Lancaster Pediatric Center in honor of the High Foundation, which gave $100,000 to support the families of children receiving a range of care services at the center. The gift provides funds to assist with care costs not covered by insurance, such as medication or medical device costs, and vouchers to support meals, gas and other travel expenses.
- The lobby of Lancaster Pediatric Center was named in honor of a gift from Lancaster philanthropist Ann Barshinger.
- The Penn State Nittany Lion football team delighted patients and fans of all ages during their seventh trip to the Children’s Hospital on May 31. This was their first visit since 2019, after the tradition was put on hold for a few years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Kenning family raised $23,550 for hydrocephalus research at Penn State Health Children's Hospital in recognition of the exceptional care twelve-year-old grateful patient Coltin received from pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Elias Rizk.
Photo caption: Left to right, S. Dale High, High Foundation Chairman, poses with colleagues at the dedication of the Behavioral Health Clinic Waiting Area at Lancaster Pediatric Center on July 26, 2023. With him are Dean Glick, director, High Family Office; Robin Stauffer, executive director, High Foundation; Steve Nieli, associate director, High Family Office; Chris Snyder, communications manager, High Family Office and Suzanne High, vice chair, High Foundation.
Photo caption: Penn State Football Coach James Franklin, left, and Abby Hulek surprise the 16-year-old's father, Randy, with a video call while Franklin and members of the football team visited her at Penn State Health Children's Hospital on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Children's Miracle Network
In FY 2023:
- CMN Hershey earned two awards – highest fundraising ($4.4M) and highest fundraising per capita ($2.28M) – of the 53 medium-sized CMN Hospitals.
- November 2022: The 16th annual People's Pay 4 Play on WQXA 105.7 The X raised $352,067 for CMN.
- June 2023: CMN's 39th annual Telethon on WGAL8, presented by The Giant Company, raised $336,556.
Photo caption: Miracle Child Daisy Horton participates in the People's Pay 4 Play, hosted by WQXA 105.7 The X.
Enhancing educational opportunity and children's health
Rea Mittal, MD ’23 believes that there is so much value to be gained by making access to medical school more inclusive and equitable. Thanks to the Children’s Miracle Network Educational Equity Scholarship, supported by gifts from The Hershey Company and other donors, Rea was able to finish her medical education and continue living out her dream of becoming a pediatric neurologist.
Photo caption: 3-year-old Amelia sits with her mother, Aimee Loeung, in the pediatric area of the Emergency Department at Hershey Medical Center as Rea Mittal examines her on January 23, 2023.
Meet the Bixlers
Laura Bixler, operations manager for Penn State Health Children's Hospital, has worked with Children's Miracle Network for years. When her daughter Cam was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and needed help from the Patient Assistance Fund, she gained a new appreciation for what CMN Hershey does for families every day.
Photo caption: Laura Bixler, left, and daughter, Cam, thank donors for the gift of growing up.
Meet Benjamin Grumbine: 2023 Miracle Child Champion
Benjamin Grumbine, Harrisburg, PA: When Benjamin was born, doctors told his family that “anything that could go wrong with his lungs was going wrong.” He was transported by a CMN-funded pediatric ambulance to Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, where he received life-saving care.
Four Diamonds
In FY 2023:
Four Diamonds raised $23.5 million in charitable support to benefit children and families impacted by childhood cancer, including a record $15,120,524 through Penn State THON™ and $6,213,735 through Four Diamonds Mini-THON®. These funds provide emotional and financial support, raise awareness and ensure funding for life-saving childhood cancer research.
Photo caption: Four Diamonds child Noah smiles for the camera.
New initiative elevates commitment to curing pediatric cancer
This year, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine approved the creation of the Four Diamonds Initiative for Childhood Cancer Innovation, an expansion of Four Diamonds’ ongoing work to find a cure for all pediatric cancers.
The initiative will enhance Four Diamonds’ work in three areas:
- Patient care. Through advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, providers will strive to identify cancers more precisely, both in the early and established stages, and develop more personalized treatments that lead to better cure rates and survivorship.
- Collaborative opportunities between the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and Penn State Cancer Institute. The two entities will strengthen their partnership to further learning for both pediatric and adult cancers and better the continuity of care.
- Competitive research grants. Penn State Health entities will solicit research requests for proposals with collaborative partners within the health system and College of Medicine, the broader Penn State community and worldwide. The initiative may provide funding for collaborative projects led by College of Medicine investigators with other research institutions.
Photo caption: Four Diamonds researcher Hong-Gang ("HG") Wang, PhD
Hair ties: At THON, families and patients bond over common side effect
Ten-year-old Devin had a ton of hair–she had been growing it since she finished her cancer treatment.
During THON 2023, the 46-hour event that every year culminates efforts to raise millions of dollars for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital to defeat childhood cancer, a barber made a couple of snips and handed Devin several locks of her hair.
When she was four, doctors discovered Devin had a stage 4 Wilms tumor on one of her kidneys. A surgeon at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital removed the organ and started her on chemotherapy. Donating her hair to Wigs for Kids was Devin’s idea. Giving it back has been a goal practically since she lost her first head of hair during treatment.
For some families fighting childhood cancer, what chemotherapy does to hair during treatment is a badge of honor. For some the loss of hair is one of the first signposts on the roughest road of their lives. It’s also in the background of most of the survivor stories. Even though it’s usually temporary, living with the stigma of hair loss for a child ― even the fear of it ― is a link between everyone who has been there.
Devin says she wants to keep helping other kids. She plans to grow her hair long and donate it again.
Read Devin's full story. For more stories, visit FourDiamonds.org or THON.org.
Photo caption: Four Diamonds child Devin Pulaski in 2018, left, and Devin donating her hair at THON 2023 in the Bryce Jordan Center.