Medicine

Penn State Hershey recognizes community service efforts

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine recently recognized several faculty, staff, medical students and local community members for their outstanding efforts in community service. As an academic medical center, service to the community is integral to the organization’s mission and is offered through health education, patient care, community activities and applications of research.

The following individuals were recognized for their selfless service to the community:

-- Elizabeth Bates, School of Nursing, community work around social justice and health disparities

-- Melissa Carmen, community member, Brain Injury Support Group

-- Christine Homcha, medical student, Operation Smile

-- Russell Knapp, Safety Department, officer and volunteer for the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company

The following initiatives were recognized for outreach to the community:

-- Kiss Hershey Back (Clint Ellingson, founder) – An annual Derry Township-wide cleanup effort led by College of Medicine students.

-- Farmers Market in Hershey (Wade Edris and Daniel George, co-founders) – 2010 was the inaugural season of the weekly farmer’s market which connects the Derry Township community to Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural history by offering healthy, locally grown food and products.

-- Salvation Army Angel Tree (Steve Holzman, organizer) – Beginning in 2001, Penn State Hershey staff began participating in the Angel Tree Program, run by the Salvation Army. In 2009, Penn State Hershey filled gift requests for more than 350 children associated with the Salvation Army of Lebanon.

-- THON (Kristen Kelly) – The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon that raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund to help fight childhood cancer.

-- Lion Care – a nonprofit, student-run medical clinic that serves homeless men and women in the greater Harrisburg area.

-- Support for Haiti Team – Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center aligned with Partners in Health and Operation Smile to deliver medical resources to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

-- Surgery Live – an innovative program between Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Whitaker Center to stimulate the interest of middle/high school students in health care careers.

For more information about Penn State Hershey’s community service efforts, please visit http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/guest/community.

Last Updated November 17, 2010

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