Happy about Hampden: Dr. James Leaming, director of emergency medicine, interim vice president for medical affairs, Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center

Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center will bring primary, specialty and acute care services closer to home for residents of the West Shore and surrounding communities when it opens later this year. That’s good news for the people who live there and for their health care providers – many of whom are also residents and eager to serve their neighbors.

In the coming months, we will highlight many of the people working hard, but happily, to make Hampden Medical Center a reality.

This month, we highlight Dr. James Leaming, director of emergency medicine, interim vice president for medical affairs at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center. Leaming continues to oversee emergency medicine at Holy Spirit Medical Center in addition to his Hampden roles. After a long day of work, he unwinds amid the rolling hills of his 10-acre farm – and re-energizes for another day in the West Shore community he has come to know and love.

What makes you happy about being part of Hampden Medical Center?

We are providing the ability for residents of the West Shore to get the kind of care they want, where they want it, with access to world-class care previously only available across the river. “The river” represents this bizarre but very tangible divide… I’m a believer that this hospital can bridge that for many people.

Why is the Penn State Health name important?

For decades, Penn State Health has been very well known in our region and state as a premier academic medical center with access to the research and technology needed to provide the best in care. As an emergency physician, I’ve gotten to know a lot of community physicians who have a real heart for their patients’ care that they can’t alone achieve. I think there are great things to come on the West Shore, backed by the power of Penn State Health.

What makes you happy about working for Penn State Health?

It’s the quality and the character of the people who make up Penn State Health coupled with the team coming together at Hampden, who will strive to set new levels of service, excellence in care and collaboration with community providers to really grow the legacy of Penn State Health.

What makes you happy about working in Hampden?

I’ve gotten to know the community – not just the EMS workers and people I’ve treated, but community members through outreach activities – and they are wonderful people. This is a beautiful community – there’s a reason why people continue to flock to the West Shore to live.

What should people be happy about Hampden?

We are providing an unbelievably beautiful facility that that will meet their needs and make them feel comfortable from the moment they walk in the door. Now, patients will have ample access to Penn State Health where they want it, Camp Hill or Mechanicsburg, and backed by the advanced expertise of our colleagues in Hershey. What more could you want?

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