You Make Us Greater!
I cannot possibly recount all the ways your support, time, expertise and advocacy have made a difference...
I’ve said it before, and it remains true: you are an important part of our team! In their 2021 Report, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy has once again recognized Penn State Health and the College of Medicine as a “High Performer: Overall” and “High Performer: Healthcare System.”
While we have earned national accolades, I am most proud of the direct impact we make for patients, families, communities, students, faculty, researchers and staff. I am moved by the stories I hear, and I want to sincerely thank you for helping us give so many people the gift of health and education.
Kelly Altland • AVP for Development and Chief Development Officer, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine
It has been my honor to chair the campaign for Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine...
June 2022 not only marked the end of Penn State’s most successful multi-year campaign, A Greater Penn State, but it also marked the most successful single fundraising year in Penn State’s history. At Penn State Health and the College of Medicine, you gave $46.3 million in fiscal year 2022. Time and again, you have demonstrated your commitment to improving health in remarkable ways. I am proud of what we have accomplished, thanks to your support.
Peter G. Tombros • Penn State Health and College of Medicine Chair, Greater Penn State Campaign; Member, Boards of Directors, Penn State Health and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Fiscal Year '22 Commitments (7/1/21—6/30/22)
Leaving a Legacy
Planned gifts signify hope for the future – they ensure the quality of our work forever.
Dave's Story
Last year, grateful patient David Rickert made a bequest in his estate plans to benefit research at Penn State Cancer Institute. This planned gift is a show of appreciation for his care team’s strong dedication and compassion. (Read more below)
Photo caption: Dr. Patrick Ma, associate director for translational research, disease team leader of the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology team and co-leader of the next generation therapies program at Penn State Cancer Institute, conducts cancer research in the lab.
Dave's relationship with Penn State Health began when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, after nine years of treatments and three clinical trials at Johns Hopkins for uveitis, a form of eye inflammation. Two years later, he was further diagnosed with melanoma and stage 1 lung cancer.
In late 2014, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor removed the lower half of his left lung, and by early 2015, Dave was cancer free. Over the years, Dave has continued to have regular check-ups with a large team of Penn State Health specialists and nurses. Dave jokes that with the amount of time spent at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, he has earned his own parking spot!
Dave understands that progress in medicine can only be made through investments in research and education, and his future support will strengthen cancer care for other patients in need.
Education
The past few years have been filled with uncertainty, which is exactly why the strong support of our donors has been so important...
As the world keeps changing, it’s a tremendous relief to know we can count on people like you. You have reduced our students’ debt, enhanced their education journey and invested in research that will improve care for all. I am beyond grateful for your trust in our faculty, students and staff to transform health.
Kevin Black, MD • Interim Dean, Penn State College of Medicine • Vice Dean, University Park Regional Medical Campus
Scholarships broaden horizons and inspire achievement for the next generation.
In FY 2022, benefactors:
- Created seven new scholarships.
- Brought eight scholarships to the minimum activation level.
- Increased the total number of active scholarships, awards and fellowships to 191.
For the current 2022-2023 academic year, these funds will enable the college to award more than $3 million to 300+ medical, graduate and physician assistant students in Hershey and State College throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Learn about the Incoming MD Class here.
While at Penn State College of Medicine, I have had the opportunity to get my Master of Public Health degree in health systems and policy while working towards my medical degree. I feel the college has uniquely prepared me to face the many future challenges in health care. Scholarship support to help aspiring physicians, such as myself, achieve our goals means more than I can express.
Holly Wisnousky, Fairfax, IA • MPH/MD student • Class of 2023
Braund Family Scholarship • Jeffries Family International Health Scholarship
Non-traditional students like Cain Dudek, for whom medicine is a second career, face many challenges in pursuing their vocational dreams. Once they have fulfilled the necessary academic prerequisites, they may be burdened by balancing family needs and financial realities. Cain shares:
I chose to attend Penn State College of Medicine because of their focus on humanities and evidence-based medicine. As my family and I wrestle with the challenge that is tuition…I continue to work part-time in hospital management to make ends meet. Your gracious gifts afford me the opportunity to spend time with my wife and son without constantly worrying about financial hardships. I am beyond grateful for your support.
Cain Dudek, South Williamsport, PA • 2nd-yr medical student
Children’s Miracle Network Educational Equity Scholarship • Jeffries Educational Equity Scholarship for the College of Medicine • John and Margaret Reilly and Edith Laval Scholarship • Vu-Liu Family Educational Equity Scholarship
I am applying to psychiatry residencies to pursue my passion for mental health and medicine. This scholarship support is an incredible gift after 2.5 unprecedented years of medical education during a pandemic with many unexpected challenges and costs. This gift will allow me to apply to residencies and pursue opportunities like the global health scholars program rotation in Ghana without as much of a financial burden. Thank you for contributing to my education and allowing me to focus on my true passions so that I can become a better physician for my patients.
Olga Prokunina, Rockville, MD • 4th-yr medical student, University Park Campus
Dr. E.W. Cullen and Ann Cullen Tombros Medical Student Scholarship • Jeffries Family International Health Scholarship
As a Black woman who grew up in Baltimore, I have witnessed my communities experience negative health outcomes due to systemic barriers which prevent them from receiving adequate healthcare. I have made it a life goal to combat these rates through accessible care, patient education, and advocacy. Attending a program that wants to educate physician assistants who can provide quality care in underserved areas is very important to me, as I hope to bridge the gap between underserved populations and adequate healthcare. Thank you all for your support! I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without the generosity of people like you.
Kaylan Mayo, Baltimore, MD • 1st-yr physician assistant student • Class of 2024
College of Medicine Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship
Support for faculty and program resources paves the way for world-class learning.
In FY 2022:
- We activated three lectureships: the Dr. Kevin L. Wert Memorial Endowment for Preventative Cardiology; the Noori Family Endowed Lectureship; and the Ellie Goldenberg Memorial Lecture.
- Several departments had their first in-person lecture events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- There were 17 endowed faculty appointments.
- One professorship was established, the Laurence M. Demers Professorship in Pathology. In May, Dr. Michael H. Creer was appointed to the Demers Professorship and gave his inaugural lecture in December.
Photo caption: Dr. Yatin M. Vyas presents his inaugural lecture as the Children's Miracle Network and Four Diamonds Chair in Pediatrics on September 13, 2022. Vyas was appointed to this newly established endowed chair position in November 2021.
Achievements from newly appointed endowed faculty
Dr. Behzad Soleimani, William S. Pierce MD Professor in Cardiothoracic Surgery, led the Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute in achieving a 100% three-year survival rate for the heart transplant program, surpassing the national average by almost 15% and positioning the program as No. 1 in Pennsylvania and No. 2 nationally.
Dr. John Levenick, Margot E. Walrath Career Development Professor in Gastroenterology, was invited to participate on panels during Digestive Disease Week, a scientific conference for gastroenterology and digestive disorders, held in San Diego, California, May 21-24, 2022.
Photo caption: Dr. John Boehmer, left, a cardiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, performs a biopsy on a heart transplant patient.
Research
Innovation requires investment – gifts today lead to better care and cures tomorrow.
In FY 2022:
- Donors gave $7.8 million to research.
- Five new endowed or named annual research funds were created in pulmonology, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, advanced medical technologies and medical innovation.
- Our teams received more than $142 million in total research awards, securing the college’s position as the top-funded college at Penn State for the second consecutive year. The total includes nearly $78 million in awards from the NIH, a new all-time record.
This record-breaking year speaks to the caliber of our research, collaborative momentum of our people and level of support from donors who often provide the necessary seed funding.
Research Spotlights
In the lab of Four Diamonds Epigenetics Program researcher Suming Huang, a team of scientists has uncovered a genetic ‘bridge’ to leukemia progression.
Researchers led by Dr. Yatin Vyas, Children’s Miracle Network and Four Diamonds Endowed Chair, have discovered a complex that plays a critical role in preventing the development of cancers during DNA replication (supported in part by NIH and endowments from the Mary Joy & Jerre Stead Foundation and from Four Diamonds and Children’s Miracle Network).
Photo caption: Dr. Xuemei Huang, distinguished professor of neurology, pharmacology, neurosurgery and kinesiology and chief of the Division of Movement Disorders, will lead a multidisciplinary team that was awarded a $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study if COVID-19 contributes to cognitive decline.
Care & Community
Last year, donors like you wrote an incredible story of caring for our community...
Amid ongoing public health challenges, our teams were still able to celebrate clinical advances, the opening of new facilities, and national rankings for specialty care; we also pursued new healthcare equity and outreach projects across the region. On behalf of our teams, and especially our patients, thank you for your heartfelt support.
Steve Massini • CEO, Penn State Health
Support for infrastructure and outreach means improved health for all.
In FY 2022:
U.S. News & World Report recognized three Penn State Health hospitals in its annual Best Hospitals rankings.
- At Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, community leaders Denny & Patti Brenckle and Kathy Pape & Bob Trinkle named the registration suite and the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) treatment room in the Emergency Department, respectively.
- The High Foundation funded training for 100 participants who enroll in Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center's Community Health Worker training program.
- At St. Joseph Medical Center, Joanne Wolfe and the late Phil Wolfe provided funds for an OCT (optical coherence tomography) intravascular imaging unit. This technology offers extensive information on how to best diagnose and treat cardiac intricacies.
Photo caption: Confetti cannons and sparklers went off during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center on September 28, 2022.
Outreach Spotlights
- Free vegetables and blood pressure screenings are available to the community through Penn State Health and Penn State REACH, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded program awarded to Penn State College of Medicine.
- New grants from the Hamer Foundation will support Penn State programs targeting nature education, community wellness and student veterans. The support will also carry forward the legacy of the late Donald W. Hamer, a Penn State alumnus and supporter and a community leader whose impact continues to be felt across the University and throughout the region.
Photo caption: Milo Lantini, 3, helps his mother, Lucie, pick vegetables at the Chestnut Street Community Center Farmers Market in Lebanon.
Photo caption: Julie Groh, a community health nurse with Penn State Health, gives Grace a free blood pressure screening at the Chestnut Street Community Center Farmers Market in Lebanon.
Carlino Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
In recognition of a $5 million gift from longtime Penn State philanthropists Peter and Marshia Carlino, Penn State Health renamed its inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center in June 2022. The new Carlino Family Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center is the health system's first named center, which brings together experts from multiple specialties to enhance diagnosis and treatment and pursue cures for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
With their newest gift, the Carlinos established two new endowments to support faculty and research infrastructure at Penn State College of Medicine and added to the existing IBD patient support fund they created in 1998.
With previous leadership gifts made over 20+ years, the Carlinos have established five other faculty funds in IBD, including three early career professorships, a research professorship and an endowed chair position. READ MORE
Photo caption: Dr. Walter Koltun, Marshia and Peter Carlino Chair and Carlino Family IBD Center Director, front, left, joins Marshia and Peter Carlino, front; Chair of Medicine Dr. Thomas Ma, back, left; Penn State College of Medicine Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black, back, center and Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini, back, right, to dedicate the newly named center.
The Di and Dallas Krapf Interfaith Chapel
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center dedicated the new Di and Dallas Krapf Interfaith Chapel on July 12, 2022.
Named in honor of a $1 million commitment from the Krapfs, the chapel provides a bright, welcoming and accessible space for emotional and spiritual care for people of all faiths. The chapel is open at all times, and in and out of the chapel, the pastoral services team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide spiritual, emotional and sacramental support. READ MORE
Photo caption: With Di and Dallas Krapf in the background, Rev. Deborah Addo, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Penn State Health, gives a closing prayer during the dedication of the Krapf Interfaith Chapel.
Children's Miracle Network
In FY 2022:
- CMN Hershey earned two awards - highest fundraising ($5.6M) and highest fundraising per capita ($2.87M) of the 53 medium-sized CMN Hospitals.
- November 2021: The 15th annual People's Pay 4 Play on WQXA 105.7 The X raised $310,095 for CMN.
- June 2022: CMN's 38th annual Telethon presented by The Giant Company raised $366,819.
Photo caption: Reality Joy, 20, takes a selfie with, from left, rear: Superman and Spiderman as the superhero window washers rappel down Penn State Health Children's Hospital.
Camp Lionheart is a medical camp for kids with heart disease. Your support of Children's Miracle Network helps to fund camp scholarships so that kids like Kaeden can make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime! Miracle Graduate Kaeden, who has endured multiple heart surgeries in his lifetime, has loved attending Camp Lionheart since he was a kid. This year, Kaeden couldn't wait to conquer the rock wall and the zip line once again - but this time, as a counselor!
Four Diamonds
In FY 2022:
- Four Diamonds raised $20.8 million in charitable support to benefit children and families impacted by childhood cancer, including a record $13,846,634 through Penn State THON™ and $5,708,425 through Four Diamonds Mini-THON®. These funds provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness and ensure funding for critical childhood cancer research.
- Four Diamonds launched Play For The Kids™, the organization’s newest, signature fundraising program.
Photo caption: Four Diamonds child Summer grins for the camera.
Photo caption: Dancers during THON™ 1979.
For the past 50 years, thousands of student volunteers at Penn State have participated in the year-long fundraising efforts of THON to benefit Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.
THON's King
Little fanfare accompanied the return of THON’s King during THON™ 2022, but it was a phenomenon to those who knew.
Jesse King participated in THON 2021 as a healthy, active student volunteer. Days later, his life changed.
In the week following THON 2021, while doctors performed a routine procedure, they discovered the 21-year-old had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As the doctors were removing a tube during the procedure, Jesse’s heart stopped. They managed to restart his heart and then Jesse was flown to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and was put on life support. He was in a coma, spent weeks in intensive care and had to learn to walk again. Doctors tell him it's a miracle he survived.
Amazingly, Jesse was back at THON 2022, elbowing his way into a spot on the floor among 16,000 fellow Penn Staters for one of his great passions — the annual event where his classmates spend 46 hours on their feet to help defeat childhood cancer. This was the 50th anniversary.
Jesse couldn’t quite manage the dance moves this year, so now his friends and family dance for him. Every day they watch him come back a little more. Sometimes the steps are so small only they notice. Sometimes he startles everyone by leaping to his feet and trying to dance. It's a race of inches for now. Those who love him are in it for the marathon. READ MORE
Photo caption: Jesse King clowns around at THON 2022.
Remembering Charles Millard
Four Diamonds co-founder Charles Millard died on Nov. 4, 2021, at the age of 93. He started Four Diamonds with his wife, Irma, in 1972, following their son Christopher’s nearly three-year battle with cancer. The Millards wanted to help other families whose children were fighting cancer at what is now Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. In 50 years, Four Diamonds has raised $275 million to conquer childhood cancer.
The name of Four Diamonds was taken from an essay that Chris Millard wrote shortly before his death at age 14. The story tells of a knight’s quest for four diamonds—courage, wisdom, honesty and strength—needed to overcome an evil sorceress and was symbolic of the characteristics Chris’ family believed were necessary in his cancer battle. In the story, it is thought that Charles was the inspiration for the diamond of honesty.