Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Encyclopedia
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, located in Hershey
, Pennsylvania
, 10 miles (17 km) east of Harrisburg, is Penn State’s
medical school
and academic medical center, and is the only medical school and university hospital
in Pennsylvania located outside the urban areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with the exceptions of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
in Erie
and the Commonwealth Medical College
located in Scranton, Pennsylvania
.
offered $50 million to the Pennsylvania State University
to establish a medical school
and teaching hospital
in Hershey, Pennsylvania. With this grant and $21.3 million from the U.S. Public Health Service, the University built a medical school, teaching hospital, and research center. Ground was broken in 1966 and Penn State's College of Medicine opened its doors to the first class of students in 1967. Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center accepted its first patients in 1970.
The original buildings at Penn State Hershey Medical Center included the Medical Science Building and medical center, Animal Research Farm, Laundry and Steam Plant, and University Manor Apartments. Since 1970, the campus has grown from 318 to 550 acres (2.2 km²). Many additions have been made to the academic and patient-care facilities.
Today, Penn State Hershey Medical Center has completed several carefully planned construction projects. Additions were made to reflect a steady increase in patient demand for services and to expand research and teaching programs.
Penn State College of Medicine students have gone on to become productive physicians and scientists. As of May 2011, the College of Medicine has granted 3,904 medical degrees and 1,004 graduate degrees. The College of Medicine offers degree programs in anatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology, bioengineering, cell and molecular biology, genetics, integrative biosciences, microbiology and immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology, and two postdoctoral programs leading to an M.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Medicine, the only such program in the Commonwealth
, and an M.S. in Public Health Sciences. Each year, more than 550 resident physicians are trained in medical specialties at the Medical Center.
Nursing students from Penn State College of Health and Human Development B.S. degree program rotate through the Medical Center for clinical courses each term, and students from other Penn State health-related programs and other institutions come to the campus for clinical experience. The extended B.S. degree program for nurses is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.
Continuing education programs serve Penn State Hershey Medical Center and health-care professionals throughout Pennsylvania, with enrollments exceeding 51,000 each year.
Basic and clinical research is conducted at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and is supported by more than $100 million in awards from federal, state, and private agencies, businesses, and individuals.
At the end of June, 2010, Penn State Hershey Medical Center admitted nearly 27,000 patients and provided care through over 854,000 outpatient and 57,000 emergency-service visits. Penn State Hershey Medical Center has over 8,800 employees, 400 volunteers, and the College of Medicine enrolls more than 800 students annually.
, bioengineering, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics
and genomics
, genetics
, immunology
and infectious diseases, integrative biosciences, molecular medicine
, molecular toxicology, neuroscience
, pharmacology
, and physiology
. Two postdoctoral programs leading to an M.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Medicine, the only such program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Public Health Sciences. Each year, more than 550 resident physician
s are trained in medical specialties at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Nursing students from Penn State College of Health and Human Development B.S. degree program rotate through the Medical Center for clinical courses each term, and students from other Penn State health-related programs and other institutions come to the campus for clinical experience. The extended B.S. degree program for nurses is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.
College of Medicine statistics: (as of 2010)
Doctor of Medicine - '10
Resident and Fellowship Programs – '10
Graduate Programs – '10
Research
located in South Central Pennsylvania
and maintains the region's only Level I (highest level), state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU). The pediatric intensive care unit
(PICU) at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital received the highest rating for its care to medical, surgical, and trauma patients by the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Evaluations. This ranks the PICU among the top in the United States
. The hospital is a leader in several specialties including neonatal care
, pediatric oncology, pediatric cardiology
, pediatric surgery
, and pediatric trauma
. The Children's Hospital houses 131 beds and treats more than 125,000 patients annually.
Statistics FY ‘10
In 2008 and 2011, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital was listed in U.S. News & World Report
as one of America's Best Children's Hospitals.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 10 miles (17 km) east of Harrisburg, is Penn State’s
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
and academic medical center, and is the only medical school and university hospital
University hospital
A university hospital is an institution which combines the services of a hospital with the education of medical students and with medical research. These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university...
in Pennsylvania located outside the urban areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with the exceptions of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is a private, graduate school of medicine and pharmacy and is currently the largest medical college in the country. Founded in 1992 in Erie, Pennsylvania., LECOM is a member of the Millcreek Health System in partnership with Millcreek Geriatric...
in Erie
Erie
Erie is a city in Pennsylvania, United States.Erie may also refer to:*Erie , a tribe of Native Americans-Places:*Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes of North America*Erie Canal, a canal running from the Hudson River to Lake Erie...
and the Commonwealth Medical College
The Commonwealth Medical College
The Commonwealth Medical College is a new medical school that serves all of northeastern and part of north-central Pennsylvania. It accepted its first class of MD and MBS students in fall 2009. The college initially operated from Lackawanna College, but now educates students in its very own state...
located in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
.
History
In 1963, the M. S. Hershey FoundationHershey Trust Company
Hershey Trust Company was created in 1905, as Milton S. Hershey was organized to create the Milton Hershey School. In 1909, when he founded the school, Hershey appointed the Trust as administrator of the school trust...
offered $50 million to the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
to establish a medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
and teaching hospital
Teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients...
in Hershey, Pennsylvania. With this grant and $21.3 million from the U.S. Public Health Service, the University built a medical school, teaching hospital, and research center. Ground was broken in 1966 and Penn State's College of Medicine opened its doors to the first class of students in 1967. Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center accepted its first patients in 1970.
The original buildings at Penn State Hershey Medical Center included the Medical Science Building and medical center, Animal Research Farm, Laundry and Steam Plant, and University Manor Apartments. Since 1970, the campus has grown from 318 to 550 acres (2.2 km²). Many additions have been made to the academic and patient-care facilities.
Today, Penn State Hershey Medical Center has completed several carefully planned construction projects. Additions were made to reflect a steady increase in patient demand for services and to expand research and teaching programs.
Penn State College of Medicine students have gone on to become productive physicians and scientists. As of May 2011, the College of Medicine has granted 3,904 medical degrees and 1,004 graduate degrees. The College of Medicine offers degree programs in anatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology, bioengineering, cell and molecular biology, genetics, integrative biosciences, microbiology and immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology, and two postdoctoral programs leading to an M.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Medicine, the only such program in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)
Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia....
, and an M.S. in Public Health Sciences. Each year, more than 550 resident physicians are trained in medical specialties at the Medical Center.
Nursing students from Penn State College of Health and Human Development B.S. degree program rotate through the Medical Center for clinical courses each term, and students from other Penn State health-related programs and other institutions come to the campus for clinical experience. The extended B.S. degree program for nurses is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.
Continuing education programs serve Penn State Hershey Medical Center and health-care professionals throughout Pennsylvania, with enrollments exceeding 51,000 each year.
Basic and clinical research is conducted at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and is supported by more than $100 million in awards from federal, state, and private agencies, businesses, and individuals.
At the end of June, 2010, Penn State Hershey Medical Center admitted nearly 27,000 patients and provided care through over 854,000 outpatient and 57,000 emergency-service visits. Penn State Hershey Medical Center has over 8,800 employees, 400 volunteers, and the College of Medicine enrolls more than 800 students annually.
Penn State College of Medicine
As of May 2011, the Penn State College of Medicine has graduated 3,907 physicians (M.D.) and 1,004 scientists with Ph.D. or M.S. degrees. The College of Medicine offers degree programs in anatomyAnatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, bioengineering, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
and genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
, genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
and infectious diseases, integrative biosciences, molecular medicine
Molecular medicine
Molecular medicine is a broad field, where physical, chemical, biological and medical techniques are used to describe molecular structures and mechanisms, identify fundamental molecular and genetic errors of disease, and to develop molecular interventions to correct them...
, molecular toxicology, neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
, and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
. Two postdoctoral programs leading to an M.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Medicine, the only such program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Public Health Sciences. Each year, more than 550 resident physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s are trained in medical specialties at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Nursing students from Penn State College of Health and Human Development B.S. degree program rotate through the Medical Center for clinical courses each term, and students from other Penn State health-related programs and other institutions come to the campus for clinical experience. The extended B.S. degree program for nurses is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.
College of Medicine statistics: (as of 2010)
Doctor of Medicine - '10
- Nearly 1 in 6 applicants to U.S. medical schools applies to Penn State College of Medicine.
- 7,649 applicants sought entry into the program’s Class of 2013. Of that figure, 144 students matriculated.
- The entering class population is 51 percent female, 49 percent male, and 9 percent under-represented minorities.
- 796 full-time and 55 part-time faculty members.
- Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000; 91 percent of our students receive financial aid.
- 3,907 alumni
Resident and Fellowship Programs – '10
- 22 residency/fellowship programs
- 33 sub-specialty programs
- 5 affiliated hospitals for residents
- 3,474 medical residency alumni
Graduate Programs – '10
- 337 applicants sought entry for the 2008-09 school year with 203 currently pursuing graduate degrees.
- 218 College of Medicine staff members serve as Penn State’s graduate faculty as teachers, thesis advisors, and mentors for graduate students.
- Most full-time students receive graduate assistantships, including a stipend; tuition remission; and health, vision, and dental insurance. Students supported by Penn State College of Medicine receive assistantships of at least $23,028, and all Ph.D. students receive a stipend and tuition remission.
- 1,004 alumni
Research
- In the 1980s, College of Medicine researchers led by John Kreider and Mary Kay Howett and funded by the Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Foundation perfected a technique for propagating the human papilloma virus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. This and other lab techniques and materials developed by microbiologists in the college helped lead to vaccines against HPV, the first of which earned FDA approval in 2006.
- A group of basic and clinical scientists secured the College of Medicine’s largest ever nongovernmental grant to support their work related to diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is a leading cause of blindness. The nearly $9 million from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International will help our researchers translate what they learn in the lab into better diagnostic tests and treatments for patients.
- The College of Medicine received a $2.8 million federal matching grant to enlarge the existing Drug Discovery Core Facility The new facility will promote the translation of advances in basic biomedical research and clinical investigation into new agents that will improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of disease and the promotion of good health. The grant, supported with ARRA (“stimulus”) funds, will enable renovation of a 6600 square feet (613.2 m²) facility in the Biomedical Research Building and 1700 square feet (157.9 m²) of related workspace to support the Drug Discovery Program.
- A team of Penn State Hershey scientists and physicians have been awarded a 7-year, $53.9 million grant to support the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for AsthmaNet, a nationwide clinical research network that will develop and conduct clinical trials to address important questions regarding the clinical management of patients with asthma and the development and evaluation of novel therapies. The DCC will have a central role in all stages of AsthmaNet studies, from design and development to implementation, data analysis, and interpretation, and dissemination of the results.
- The Food and Drug Administration has funded a 3-year, 1.2 million phase 3 clinical trial at Penn State Hershey to evaluate the use of calfactant in reducing mortality among children with Acute Lung Injury, a common life-threatening complication among pediatric leukemia and lymphoma and hematopoetic stem cell transplant recipients. As more effective therapies are developed for the prevention and treatment of acute lung injury, outcomes will continue to improve for pediatric cancers which are responsible for more deaths in children over one year of age than any other disease.
- Penn State Hershey investigators are working on a 5-year, $2.3 million study from the Centers for Disease Control to evaluate low cost interventions to enhance a state-wide program of post-natal parent education about violent infant shaking. The goal is to appreciably reduce the incidence of abusive head trauma in Pennsylvania. Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of traumatic deaths and injury to young children and infants.
- The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awarded a $7.5 million grant to Penn State Hershey investigators to study the effect of a low dose of antiestrogen medications and omega-3 fatty acids on reducing high breast density, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Supported by a $3.2 million Department of Defense appropriation, the Penn State Center for Pharmacogenetics will create a repository of samples from patients treated at the Cancer Institute to study individual responses to therapeutic drugs and environmental toxins. Researchers will use the repository to identify specific gene variations, or molecular signatures, in cancer cells and use that knowledge to accelerate the identification of new molecular entities and ultimately develop more effective and personalized ways to prevent and treat cancer.
Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital
Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center is the only children's hospitalChildren's hospital
A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children . The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties...
located in South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes the fourteen counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and York....
and maintains the region's only Level I (highest level), state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit
Neonatal intensive care unit
A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit —also called a Special Care Nursery, newborn intensive care unit, intensive care nursery , and special care baby unit —is an intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.The problem of premature and congenitally ill infants is not a...
(NICU). The pediatric intensive care unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
(PICU) at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital received the highest rating for its care to medical, surgical, and trauma patients by the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Evaluations. This ranks the PICU among the top in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The hospital is a leader in several specialties including neonatal care
Neonatology
Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn infant. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practiced in neonatal intensive care units...
, pediatric oncology, pediatric cardiology
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, pediatric surgery
Pediatric surgery
Pediatric surgery or paediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults...
, and pediatric trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
. The Children's Hospital houses 131 beds and treats more than 125,000 patients annually.
- Construction is underway on the new 252000 square feet (23,411.6 m²) Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The 5-story building with an additional floor below ground is adjacent to the Medical Center’s main entrance. The facility will include surgical suites, private pediatric and adolescent patient rooms, outpatient clinics for children with cancer, and a new pediatric radiology unit. A live webcam of the new Penn State Children's Hospital can be seen at http://pennstatehershey.org/web/construction/webcam
- It is the region’s only children’s hospital and only Level 1 pediatric trauma center. The Children’s Hospital also performs the region’s only bone marrow stem cell and kidney transplants for pediatric patients.
- The Children’s Hospital consists of more than 150 pediatric medical and surgical specialists renowned in disciplines such as cancer, cardiology, and critical care.
- The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is the only fully equipped and staffed academic level IIIC (highest level possible) NICU between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
- The Children’s Hospital was selected as one of Aetna’s Institutes of Excellence TM Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery facilities.
Statistics FY ‘10
- Pediatric beds (total) - 131
- Pediatric medical/surgical beds - 41
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit beds - 12
- Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit beds - 16
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit beds - 36
- Rehabilitation beds - 10
- Child psychiatry beds - 16
- Children’s Hospital discharges - 6,000
- Births - 1,700
- Pediatric outpatient visits - 307,281
In 2008 and 2011, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital was listed in U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
as one of America's Best Children's Hospitals.
See also
- List of hospitals in Harrisburg
- Penn State Cancer InstitutePenn State Cancer InstituteThe Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute is a cancer research center of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Institute provides clinical care, research, education and community outreach services throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania...
- Medical schools in Pennsylvania