Medicine

Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine to be host to commonwealth secretary

Pedro A. Cortés, Pennsylvania secretary of commonwealth and a Penn State graduate, will be the guest speaker at noon Sept. 10, in the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Auditorium, during Hispanic Month Celebration at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. His topic will be "Health Needs for the Hispanic Population in the State of Pennsylvania."

Sponsored by the Dean's Council on Diversity, all the events are open to the public.

Cortés is the first confirmed Hispanic Cabinet member in Pennsylvania history. Prior to his current position, Cortes was executive director of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, serving as the liaison to the Latino community, advising the governor on policies, procedures and legislation that would enhance the status of Pennsylvania's fastest-growing community.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, he also holds a master's degree in public administration from Penn State and a law degree from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University.

The secretary of the commonwealth's responsibilities include processing filings concerning business entities and overseeing the commonwealth's electoral process, as well campaign finance, registering licensed charities operating in the state, overseeing the state athletic commission, administering trademark registrations and providing public access to all of this information.

The celebration includes a Hispanic Food Day on Sept. 16 at the cafeteria of Hershey Medical Center and a Hispanic Heritage Display.

Last Updated March 20, 2009