Penn State College of Medicine

11/14/2025

Students, faculty and families came together yesterday for the College of Medicine’s Anatomical Donor Memorial — a heartfelt ceremony honoring individuals who made the extraordinary decision to donate their bodies to science.

Second-year medical students and first-year physician assistant students shared music, poetry and reflections as they expressed their deep gratitude to donors and their families.

Their generosity forms the foundation of medical education at Penn State College of Medicine and leaves a lasting impact on the physicians, scientists and clinicians these students will become.

11/12/2025

Siblings, scholars and now classmates 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Lindsay and Anton Aluquin never expected to attend medical school together — but now they can’t imagine it any other way. Both Schreyer Scholars and members of the Presidential Leadership Academy, they’re tackling Penn State College of Medicine side by side.

Lindsay is focused on public health and pediatrics while Anton is pursuing infectious diseases and community advocacy. As siblings and classmates, they support each other every step of the way — from celebrating wins to navigating the challenges of medical school.

“Being in med school together has definitely helped me feel less isolated,” Anton says. Lindsay adds, “The biggest support was my brother being there.”

Their shared journey strengthens their collaboration, fuels their growth and makes their medical school experience uniquely rewarding.

⬇️ Read more about their story in the comments.

11/11/2025

Heart & Mind: Connecting Science and Compassion

The Emeritus Faculty Organization’s Fall Scientific Meeting brought the Penn State College of Medicine community together for a day of learning, connection and inspiration.

Presentations explored breakthroughs in atrial fibrillation and inherited cardiomyopathy, as well as the psychological effects of living with heart failure — showing how science and compassion advance care.

Dean Karen Kim closed the program with updates on the College and a look ahead, reminding us how heart and mind truly connect at Penn State College of Medicine.

11/08/2025

Study Opportunity: How Social Media Shapes Perceptions of Beauty 💻✨

Are you a woman aged 21–25? Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine are exploring how engagement with beauty-focused social media may influence interest in cosmetic procedures such as Botox or fillers.

📝 Participate in a brief 5-minute online survey
💬 Option to join a short Zoom interview to discuss your responses
👩‍🎓 Open to female students, staff, and community members
🎯 Help researchers understand how social media impacts decision-making

📌 Interested in participating? Email bnaqvi@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

11/07/2025

Members from the Pennsylvania House Cancer Caucus visited Penn State College of Medicine and the Penn State Cancer Institute to learn how researchers and clinicians are advancing cancer prevention, treatment and outreach across Pennsylvania.

The visit highlighted cancer-related research, treatments, access and services across Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Cancer Institute, showcasing how our integrated system serves patients throughout the commonwealth.

11/06/2025

WE ARE proud of Dr. McShane and our Penn State College of Medicine students for bringing health care directly to rural communities through the LION Mobile Clinic — ensuring patients get the care they need, wherever they are.

Penn State is addressing a rural health care crisis with innovative approaches to training doctors, gathering data, and delivering treatment to the state’s most vulnerable communities.

11/05/2025

Congratulations to Nirnimesh Pandey, MD, and Aoife Semar, MD, for being recognized through the Exceptional Moments in Teaching program for November!

🎉 Dr. Pandey, assistant professor of radiology, was praised for engaging students beyond observation and encouraging them to think critically in every procedure. A diagnostic and interventional radiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, he brings both advanced procedural expertise and a compassionate, patient-focused approach to his teaching.

🎉 Dr. Semar, a second-year psychiatry resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, was recognized for her dedication to guiding students through the nuances of psychiatric care and helping them connect with patients through empathy and understanding. She’s passionate about uniting the science and art of psychiatry to promote health equity, with special interests in psychotic disorders and community psychiatry.

We’re honored to share their stories and celebrate these exceptional educators. Learn more about what makes them outstanding: https://bit.ly/4hLfNiO

11/04/2025

🕊️ A lasting tribute to a pioneering leader and educator

A portrait honoring the life and legacy of Rodrigue Mortel, MD — humanitarian, longtime Penn State College of Medicine faculty member and founding director of Penn State Cancer Institute — now graces the Cancer Institute’s lobby.

Dr. Mortel’s journey from a one-room home in Haiti to becoming the nation’s first Black, foreign-educated chair of a U.S. medical school department of obstetrics and gynecology stands as a testament to perseverance, vision and service. His impact extended far beyond the lab and classroom — from advancing uterine cancer research to founding the Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation, which continues to educate more than 1,500 students today.

The new portrait serves as a lasting reminder of his dedication to medicine, education and humanity.

➡️ Read more about Dr. Mortel’s extraordinary legacy: https://bit.ly/3LJ7VCf

11/03/2025

🧠 How does the brain really grow and adapt after birth?

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and the Allen Institute have created the first high-resolution 3D brain growth atlas in mice — offering unprecedented insight into how the brain develops, adapts to sensory input and lays the foundation for lifelong function.

The study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on how specific brain regions and cell types change in those critical early days — discoveries that could help advance understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

🔗 Explore how this groundbreaking work is mapping the brain in new ways: https://bit.ly/47TkrYu

10/30/2025

A 19-year-old’s life-threatening brain hemorrhage became a powerful lesson in resilience and care at the 7th annual Neurocritical Care Conference, where Leo Hernandez and his family shared their experiences with health care teams.

Leo, who suffered a large intracranial hemorrhage on Christmas Day 2024, joined the panel with his sister Elly and mother Jessica Himes to discuss the long-term physical, cognitive and emotional effects of critical neurologic illness. Their story highlighted the importance of empathy, communication and family-centered care in neurocritical care practices.

After the panel, a DAISY Award celebration honored the Neuro Critical Care Unit staff, nominated by Leo’s family in recognition of their exceptional care and dedication during his hospitalization.

Through patient stories and expert-led sessions, the conference provided physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists and other providers with the knowledge and insight to improve outcomes for neurocritical care patients.