Front Page - Penn State Health News

A man is seated, resting his arm on a table as a medical professional in rubber gloves uses a piece of gauze on his arm. A tourniquet is around his arm just above the elbow. Various vials and equipment are in the foreground, out of focus.

Medical Minute

The Medical Minute: From needle to vial, how blood work works

Fluorescent images of ovarian cancer cells

Research

Targeting a key protein may keep ovarian cancer cells from spreading

News

St. Joseph to receive $425,000 gift to build simulation lab for nurses

Three adults and eight young children pose for a photo, standing in a school classroom. In the near background is a “Smart board,” dry erase board and bulletin boards.

Community

Children's Hospital donates 60 bike helmets to Lebanon school students

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Education

Second class of residents graduate from Family and Community Residency program in State College

Latest News

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College of Medicine names interim associate vice president for finance and business

Joseph J. Doncsecz, associate vice president for finance and corporate controller for Penn State, has been named the College of Medicine’s interim associate vice president for finance and business, effective Aug. 1.

Hershey Medical Center and Teamsters Local 776 reach bargaining agreement

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Teamsters Local 776 have reached a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022.

Penn State Health names CFO for Hershey Medical Center, Medical Group

Eric Strucko has accepted the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Medical Group, effective July 1. He joins the finance team led by Paula Tinch, chief financial officer for Penn State Health.

Nittany Lions stop by Children’s Hospital to spend time with patients

The Penn State Nittany Lion football team took a break from speed drills and weight training on June 19 to visit Penn State Children’s Hospital. For the sixth consecutive year, dozens of players, staff and Head Coach James Franklin made the trip from State College to spend time with young patients.

A young child sits at a table with a bowl and a spoon.

Unusual eating behaviors may be a new diagnostic indicator for autism

Atypical eating behaviors may be a sign a child should be screened for autism, according to a new study from Penn State College of Medicine.

Penn State College of Medicine announces collaboration with PA Options for Wellness for medical marijuana research

Penn State College of Medicine and PA Options for Wellness will work together to investigate the potential benefits and risks of using marijuana extracts to treat a variety of health issues.

Community-Engaged Research Day fosters collaborative partnerships

Community leaders and scientists shared breakfast and sought solutions to problems like opioids, obesity and depression June 6 at the Community-Engaged Research Day.

Smoking may impair body's blood pressure autocorrect system

Smokers may be at a higher risk for developing hypertension, and an overactive response to normal drops in blood pressure may help explain why, according to researchers.

Two people sit at a table drinking coffee from paper cups. The near person, out of focus, has the cup raised to their mouth, while the other’s cup is on the table with both hands casually placed around it.

The Medical Minute: Anxious? Cut down on caffeine

Caffeine can boost energy, improve alertness and produce a general feeling of well-being – when used in moderation. Go past the sweet spot though, and that same elixir can cause insomnia, jitteriness and feelings of nervousness.

The Medical Minute: Safe practices around fireworks

In 2014, the most recent year for which data was available, U.S. hospital emergency departments saw an estimated 10,500 people for fireworks-related injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Penn State Health providers share tips on how to prevent such injuries.

The Medical Minute: Don't make your own sunscreen

While some do-it-yourselfers make their own sunscreen to avoid chemicals used to make those found at stores, a surgical oncologist and skin cancer specialist at Penn State Health says that's a bad idea.

The Medical Minute: Surviving summer’s biting bugs

Mosquito, bee and spider bites can bring summer fun to a standstill. While many are simply as annoying as a pesky fly, others can cause more serious conditions.

Dr. Alawia Suliman is pictured next to an image of the Penn State Nittany Lion statue.

Suliman recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching

Dr. Alawia Suliman, a staff physician in the Department of General Pediatrics at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, is featured for July in the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program.

College of Medicine's physician assistant students win 29th annual National Challenge Bowl

On May 20, 2019, Penn State College of Medicine won the 29th annual National Medical Challenge Bowl in Denver, Colo., held during the American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference.

Global Health Exchange Program teaches students diverse approaches to improving worldwide health

Penn State Public Health Sciences has expanded this year’s Global Health Exchange Program from two weeks to three and doubled the number of students involved to 20.

Gordin recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching

Dr. Vitaly Gordin, chief of the Chronic Pain Management Center at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, is featured for June in the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program.

A man in surgical scrubs performs a neurosurgical procedure. He is wearing a surgical smock, mask, cap and gloves and looking into a microscope that is covered with plastic. Next to him is a blue cloth wrapped around the surgical instrument.

Penn State Health and Geisinger Holy Spirit expand access to neurosurgical care

Penn State Health and Geisinger Holy Spirit have signed a physician services agreement that calls for Penn State Health neurosurgeons and advanced practice providers to provide clinical and surgical care to patients at Geisinger Holy Spirit.

And the beat goes on…heart transplant patients, surgeons reunite

Heart transplant patients celebrate the gift of life that Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center gave them at the annual heart transplant reunion.

Hershey Medical Center unveils new app for expectant mothers

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center released MyYoMingo on April 17, a free educational app that offers expectant moms help with topics ranging from prenatal care to child’s first birthday.

An artificial heart saved my life: LVAD patients and families share stories at reunion

Six patients who share a history of severe heart failure celebrated the state-of-the-art device that saved their lives at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s annual Left Ventricular Assist Devices reunion on April 26.

Ask Us Anything About… Stroke and Mini-strokes

We learn about mini-strokes as well as the increasing prevalence of strokes among young people from Penn State Stroke Center program coordinators Alicia Richardson and Cesar Velasco.

Ask Us Anything About… Women and Stress

In this special edition of Ask Us Anything About..., Lanae Ampersand, program manager for Behavioral Health at Penn State Health, addresses questions regarding stress, live from the Business Women’s Forum at Messiah College.

Ask Us Anything About… Sepsis

Sepsis happens when your immune system struggles to fight off infections. In the worst cases, sepsis leads to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure, often referred to as “septic shock,” and even failure of several organs. Bacterial infections are most often to blame. But sepsis can also result from other infections as minor as a scraped knee.