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Dr. Robert Zelis Sr., 1939-2021

Dr. Robert Zelis Sr. passed away Aug. 20, 2021. A faculty member at Hershey Medical Center and the College of Medicine for 40 years, Zelis retired in 2014. He began his career as the second chief of cardiology in 1974 and was also a professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology.

Throughout his career, Zelis emphasized the importance of excellence in research, clinical care and medical education. He published more than 340 scientific papers, mainly in the field of circulatory physiology and heart failure, and received the Penn State Career Citation Milestone Award.

Zelis taught generations of Penn State College of Medicine students about electrocardiography and clinical cardiology. His efforts earned him the Distinguished Educator Award in 2003. In 1997, he received the Howard B. Palmer Mentoring Award from Penn State.

View his full obituary here

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