Massini and Black: Honoring our veterans

Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini and Penn State College of Medicine interim dean Dr. Kevin Black sent a Veterans Day message to employees, faculty and students:

Dear colleagues,

Today is Veterans Day, when we pause to honor and thank the extraordinary individuals who have chosen to serve our country and protect our freedom.

Nearly 400 Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine faculty, staff, residents, students and volunteers have served, or are still serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many others among us grew up in military families, or have loved ones in uniform.

To each of you, we say thank you. We are grateful you are a part of our organization. Your perspective helps us to provide better care to our 19,000 patients who share your military experiences.

We invite you to read two stories about remarkable veterans in our community. The first story features some of our own veterans and how they continue their tradition of service with our patients. The second one – from our This is Penn State Health campaign – tells the story of a young Marine named Paul Brennan who came to us for care while home for Christmas in 2013 and ended up undergoing a liver transplant.

Penn State Health and College of Medicine are developing an organization-wide military/veterans affinity resource network group for faculty and employees who have served or are still serving, and the college also has a military medicine interest group for students. Those with military service or an interest in supporting colleagues with military service are invited to become affiliated with these groups by emailing our Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu to get connected. Veterans are also invited to request a pin that identifies your military service.

To our veterans who have served, and to our future veterans who are still serving – thank you. Happy Veterans Day.

Steve Massini                                                  Kevin Black, MD
CEO                                                                   Interim Dean
Penn State Health                                          Penn State College of Medicine

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