Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center

10/30/2025

Early detection saves lives — and today’s mammograms make it easier than ever. 💗

At the Penn State Health Breast Center, our radiologists and technologists use advanced 3D mammography to find even the smallest signs of breast cancer — often before symptoms appear.

“The images offer more sophisticated views of breast tissue than ever before,” said Dr. Alison Chetlen, diagnostic radiologist at Penn State Health Breast Center. “We’re able to find more cancers and recall fewer women for follow-up imaging, giving patients greater confidence in their results.”

The process is simple, quick and precise — four images, a few seconds of compression and about 10 minutes start to finish.

➡️ Learn more about what to expect during a 3D mammogram and why it remains the gold standard for breast cancer detection: https://bit.ly/47b4xbQ

10/30/2025

10/29/2025

Today was a proud and joyful day at Penn State Health Children's Hospital as we celebrated a transformational gift that will shape the future of children’s health.

Dr. Michael Kupferman, CEO of Penn State Health; Neeli Bendapudi, president of Penn State; Dr. Karen Kim, dean of Penn State College of Medicine; and Dr. Sarah Iriana, interim chair of pediatrics at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine, joined patients, families and team members to highlight the impact of Tom Golisano’s $50 million gift to name Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital.

This historic contribution will expand access to care, strengthen pediatric programs and fuel innovation across our health system — helping us continue to deliver the very best for every child who needs us.

10/28/2025

Tom Golisano commits $50 million to Penn State Health Children's Hospital

Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine announced a transformative $50 million gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano to name our nationally recognized Children’s Hospital. This landmark contribution will expand multidisciplinary pediatric care, support education and research, and connect our hospital with leading institutions nationwide through the Golisano Children’s Alliance.

“This gift will help catalyze meaningful growth for our system and accelerate our drive toward the highest levels of care, service and discovery – all leading to a healthier future for children across Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Dr. Michael Kupferman, CEO of Penn State Health.

Learn more about this historic gift: https://bit.ly/48LsiZc

10/27/2025

Today marks a major milestone for patients on the West Shore — the new Penn State Health Cancer Center at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center is now open.

This state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot facility brings physician appointments, diagnostics, lab services, infusion, radiation, breast care and clinical trials together under one roof — providing easier access and better coordination right in the community.

As a university-affiliated health system, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine are combining research, education and clinical care to advance cancer treatment in central Pennsylvania.

Welcome to your new destination for cancer care. 💙

10/27/2025

Today marks a major milestone for patients on the West Shore — the new Penn State Health Cancer Center at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center is now open.

This state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot facility brings physician appointments, diagnostics, lab services, infusion, radiation, breast care and clinical trials together under one roof — providing easier access and better coordination right in the community.

As a university-affiliated health system, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine are combining research, education and clinical care to advance cancer treatment in central Pennsylvania.

Welcome to your new destination for cancer care. 💙

10/27/2025

Advancing Cancer Care
📺 Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. on abc27 News

Take an inside look at the new Penn State Health Cancer Center at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center — where advanced cancer care, research and education come together under one roof and closer to home for patients on the West Shore.

Physicians and care teams from Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine share the latest innovations in cancer detection and treatment, the importance of screenings, and how this new center is transforming cancer care across our region.

👉 Tune in to see how Penn State Health is advancing cancer care in central Pennsylvania.

10/25/2025

Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine recently celebrated 26 graduates of the 11th annual Academic Healthcare Leadership Academy — a custom program developed in partnership with the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

The Academy brings together leaders from across our academic health system to strengthen collaboration and strategic thinking, with a focus on navigating the evolving landscape of academic medicine.

Throughout the program, participants explored the integrated strategy that connects Penn State Health and the College of Medicine, developed leadership skills to support their teams and colleagues and learned to build shared foundations that bridge departments and disciplines.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates for their dedication to advancing leadership excellence in academic health care.

10/24/2025

⚡️ The Medical Minute: E-bike and e-scooter injuries are on the rise among kids

Emergency departments across the U.S. are seeing more serious injuries — and even deaths — linked to electric bikes and scooters. At Penn State Health Children's Hospital, doctors have already treated more children hurt in e-bike and e-scooter accidents this year than in the previous three years combined.

Dr. Bryanna Emr, pediatric trauma medical director, says most serious accidents happen when riders are distracted or not easily visible to drivers. “These devices can reach speeds of 20 miles per hour or more, which increases the risk of severe trauma,” she says.

Parents can help keep kids safe by:
🔹Making sure they always wear a helmet
🔹Avoiding sidewalks and public roads
🔹Following age guidelines — kids under 16 shouldn’t operate motorized scooters or e-bikes
🔹Checking brakes and lights before every ride

Learn more about how to keep your child safe from e-bike and e-scooter injuries in this week’s Medical Minute: https://bit.ly/3Lqljek

10/23/2025

At just 38, Lindsey Dimond wasn’t yet eligible for yearly mammograms. But when her gynecologist found a lump during a routine exam, she urged Lindsey to turn to Penn State Health for advanced, coordinated breast cancer care.

Now cancer-free, Lindsey says her experience taught her the power of listening — to her doctor, her body and her support system. On Saturday, she dropped the puck at the Hershey Bears' Pink the Rink game — a symbol of strength, survival and hope.

Read more about Lindsey's story in this article from WPMT FOX43: https://bit.ly/4ncTbsF

10/22/2025

Safely dispose of unused medications on Saturday, Oct. 25 💊

Got expired or unwanted medications at home? Penn State Health is once again participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day — a safe, easy way to get rid of medications, needles and syringes.

📅 Saturday, Oct. 25
🕙 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
🚗 Drive-through drop-off available

For collection sites, visit: https://bit.ly/3WQpW3U

10/21/2025

The Giant Center was glowing pink as the Hershey Bears and fans came together for Pink the Rink night, supporting breast cancer awareness and honoring everyone affected by the disease. 💗

Penn State Health is proud to sponsor this annual event and stand beside our community in the fight against breast cancer.

10/21/2025

🎗️ A new national clinical trial is giving hope to children and young adults with difficult-to-treat cancers such as neuroblastoma, central nervous system tumors and sarcomas.

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, in collaboration with Aminex Therapeutics and the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium, are studying a promising combination therapy designed to block cancer cell growth and help the immune system fight back.

Led by Dr. Giselle Sholler, chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, the trial will enroll more than 220 patients nationwide.

Learn more about this groundbreaking study and how it’s helping advance care for children with cancer:

➡️Read more about this milestone in pediatric cancer research: https://bit.ly/3Llb7Uo

10/20/2025

Penn State Health is expanding convenient access to comprehensive cancer care on the West Shore with the opening of the new Penn State Health Cancer Center at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center.

Health system officials were joined by representatives from Penn State College of Medicine, Highmark Health, American Cancer Society, and state and local government, along with philanthropic supporters, for a bell-ringing ceremony celebrating the center’s unveiling. The facility opens to patients on Monday, Oct. 27.

Located on the hospital’s ground floor, the new center unites services previously offered at three separate locations, giving patients and families a single, streamlined destination for world-class cancer care close to home.

By connecting research and clinical expertise, Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are advancing the frontiers of cancer care — bringing hope, healing and innovation to patients across our region.

10/18/2025

There’s a special kind of joy in the air in Women’s Health at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center.

Several of our amazing nurses are not only helping families welcome new babies — they’re welcoming little ones of their own! Between caring for patients in the unit and snuggling their newborns at home, this team is living in a world of tiny kicks and big smiles.

Congratulations to all our soon-to-be and new moms. We can’t wait to meet the newest — and cutest — members of our Penn State Health family!

10/17/2025

“Penn State saved my life. Today, I’m thriving, not surviving.”

Nancy is no stranger to endurance. A multiple-time Ironman finisher and a competitor in the Age Group Multisport World Championships, she was training for a world-level cycling race in Spain when a devastating crash shattered her body, leaving her with more than 20 broken bones and a flail chest — a life-threatening injury that made breathing nearly impossible.

She became a candidate for the RibFix Advantage, a system that allows surgeons to stabilize rib fractures by securing the ribs in place with specialized plates. It was a breakthrough that not only saved her life but helped her return to the sport she loves.

This innovation that helped Nancy breathe, heal, and get back in the race was developed at Penn State College of Medicine, supported by the clinical expertise of Penn State Health. Today, the RibFix Advantage is in the hands of surgeons across the country and beyond.

Nine months after surgery, Nancy returned to the world stage, representing Team USA in the Age Group Multisport World Championships — a testament to the power of collaboration, research, and patient-centered innovation.

Discover how our breakthroughs in medicine — and the power of Penn State — benefit you.

10/16/2025

🎀 Pink Out with Purpose!

We’re sending a big thank-you to the Mechanicsburg Girls Cheerleading Team for their generous $500 donation to our West Shore Oncology Patient Assistance Fund.

Each year, these incredible young women host a Pink Out game and sell T-shirts to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and other cancer-related causes. This year, they chose to support our patients directly — presenting their donation during the Oct. 3 Friday night football game.

Your generosity helps make a real difference for patients facing cancer in our community. Thank you for cheering with heart and purpose! 💗

10/13/2025

Every mammogram is a chance to save a life.

For 17 years, Erin Schaffner, a Penn State Health radiologic technologist, has cared for patients by performing mammograms that can detect breast cancer early and save lives.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, her work takes on special meaning as more women are reminded to “See it Sooner.”

“I’ve been doing mammograms long before I ever needed them myself,” Erin says. “That perspective helps me remember how important empathy is. Some days, humor helps a patient get through the exam. Other times, it’s just listening and offering a hug.”

Early detection saves lives. Schedule your mammogram today: bit.ly/3KhtuJu

10/08/2025

Breaking Through: From Idea to Impact

When a trauma patient arrived with shattered ribs, a Penn State Health surgeon asked a bold question: Could there be a better, less invasive way to repair severe rib fractures?

That question sparked collaboration at Penn State College of Medicine, where a team of clinical scientists and engineers developed the RibFix Advantage — a system for stabilizing rib fractures that’s now FDA-cleared and used in hospitals nationwide.

For Nancy, a Penn State alumna and elite triathlete, RibFix meant more than healing — it meant returning to the sports she loves after a near-fatal cycling accident.

Discover how breakthroughs in medicine — and the power of Penn State — are helping patients heal and thrive: https://bit.ly/4nEBm6y

10/04/2025

✨ Leaders at Penn State Health Holy Spirit and Hampden medical centers recently honored 30 employees whose careers collectively span 870 years of service. Family, friends and colleagues gathered for the annual Service Awards to celebrate employees reaching milestones of 25, 30, 35, 45 and even 50 years.

Among this year’s honorees were Sister Martin Haubrich (Emergency Services) and Mary Zeplin (Quality and Safety), who each marked an incredible 50 years of service to patients and the community.

These awards reflect more than time — they recognize compassion, dedication and excellence that have shaped countless lives.

10/03/2025

Breaking Through: How Penn State Innovation Put an Athlete Back in the Race

When a cycling crash left Ironman competitor and Penn State alumna Nancy with more than 20 broken bones and a shattered ribcage, her outlook was uncertain. Traditional repair methods would have meant long, painful recovery — and potentially a life with limitations.

Thanks to the RibFix Advantage — an innovation developed at Penn State College of Medicine — Nancy’s ribs were stabilized in a less invasive way that allowed her to heal, breathe and ultimately compete again on the world stage.

Discover how our breakthroughs in medicine — and the power of Penn State — benefit you.