Campus Life

Penn State Hershey Medical Center expands pediatric, cancer services

Penn State employees, retirees and their families in the Berks County region now have increased access to specialists from Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute through a growing clinical partnership with St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading.

On Monday, July 5, Penn State Hershey opens the new Penn State Hershey Medical Group -- St. Joseph Medical Center, located on the St. Joseph Medical Center Bern Township campus. By the fall, approximately two dozen Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital physicians in 15 pediatric specialties will see patients at the St. Joseph site Monday through Friday on a rotating basis. A full schedule of services can be found online at http://www.pennstatehershey.org/childrens.

“Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has a long history of outreach in Berks County,” says A. Craig Hillemeier, chair of pediatrics and medical director of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. He points out that the hospital’s Children’s Heart Group has been working collaboratively with Berks county physicians to serve pediatric heart patients and their families for nearly 15 years. “Our goal in opening the new site with St. Joseph is to provide children and families with the specialized care they need as close to home as possible and we want to continue to work collaboratively with community physician to meet the needs of children in this region.”

On July 19, Leonard ‘Lee’ Tuanquin, radiation oncologist, will begin seeing patients at St. Joseph’s. Tuanquin will practice full time in Reading under the auspices of the ongoing affiliation between St Joseph Medical Center and Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. St. Joseph is located just one mile from the Penn State Berks campus.

Tuanquin earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and anthropology from George Washington University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed his residency at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, serving as chief resident during his final year of residency.

He is a member of the American Society of Radiation Oncology and the American Brachytherarpy Society.

“We are committed to providing high-quality cancer care to our Penn State population,” said Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute Director Thomas Loughran. “The recruitment of a skilled cancer specialist who will practice so close to Penn State’s campus in Berks County and just a short drive from our Schuylkill campus means increased access to vital cancer services for Penn State faculty, staff, students, retirees and families.”

Appointments for Tuanquin and Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center can be scheduled by calling 610-378-2117.

Appointments for pediatric specialists at Penn State Hershey Medical Group -- St. Joseph Medical Center can be made by calling 610-898-1800.

Last Updated July 1, 2010

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