College Of Medicine To Extend Presence To Centre County

September 8, 2000

University Park, PA -- Penn State University will extend its College of Medicine to Centre County, with a strong satellite presence for education and research programs on the University Park campus, as well as an academic and clinical presence at Centre Community Hospital, according to President Graham Spanier.

The University's College of Medicine, which first opened its doors in Hershey in 1967, has always had research ties with faculty and students at the University Park campus, but the new initiative will significantly boost those collaborative opportunities in a broad variety of ways, Spanier said.

"We will offer expanded educational opportunities for College of Medicine students at University Park, including opportunities for undergraduate medical education and additional joint M.D./Ph.D. programs," he said. "We will expand research ties between Hershey and University Park through the Life Sciences Consortium, facilitated by newly deployed telecommunications technology, and through our initiatives in materials science, environmental studies, and children, youth and families."

The new initiative "will expand opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies of new drugs at Hershey and at other affiliated sites, including Centre County."

Spanier made the announcement as part of his annual State of the University Address delivered today (Sept. 8) in Eisenhower Auditorium and telecast to the institution's other campuses around the Commonwealth.

Spanier announced an expanded relationship with Centre Community Hospital that will allow for much closer ties in the sharing of clinical expertise, academic appointments, continuing medical education, training of medical students and residents, and joint research.

Lance H. Rose, President and CEO of Centre Community Hospital, stated "We are very pleased to work more closely with Penn State and the College of Medicine toward improving patient care for our region. Our patients will benefit from this expanded relationship in many ways including access to more clinical trials and research."

"We will also be cooperating with Centre County physicians and with Centre Community Hospital with the goal of establishing a cancer center funded by the National Cancer Institute," Spanier said. "It is our hope that this could lead to a new facility associated with Centre Community Hospital."

"National Cancer Institute designation for our Cancer Center will give regional residents the ability to participate in clinical trials of the latest cancer therapies and medications close to home. The creation of the Institute and the potential addition of a new facility will have an enormous impact on the treatment of cancer patients in this part of our state," said Rose.

Rose continued, "These overall changes, and in particular the collaboration between Penn State and Centre Community Hospital, will further enhance the quality of health care available to residents of Centre County and the surrounding region."

In addition, Spanier announced establishment of an affiliation agreement to support College of Medicine missions between Centre Medical and Surgical Associates and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Centre.

"Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, based in State College, is one of Pennsylvania's premier physician groups," Spanier said. "A strong relationship with them will be a great benefit to our students and faculty."

"We are looking forward to expanding our relationships with the College of Medicine," said Jonathan Dranov, president of Centre Medical and Surgical Associates. "University medical centers have a great deal to offer a community, particularly when the resources and services can be provided in the community."

"That requires a close working relationship between physicians at both ends," Dranov said. The new initiatives being discussed are exciting for us, and in my mind, will dramatically expand the resources for an already strong medical community and expand the opportunities for even more sophisticated care close to home for residents of Centre County."

Spanier also announced the addition of a third Life Lion medical helicopter to the two already in service at the University's medical campus in Hershey. The new Life Lion helicopter, now being outfitted with state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment, will be based at University Park Airport and will serve Centre County and the surrounding region.

"Whether it is providing our Life Lion helicopter to transport critically ill patients, expanding our ties to Centre Community Hospital and its outstanding physicians, or bringing more of our students to the University Park campus, we see stronger relationships between Penn State's College of Medicine and Hershey Medical Center and our partners in University Park and the Centre County community as win-win for all of us," said Darrell Kirch, senior vice president for health affairs, dean of the College of Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

"There are incredibly exciting possibilities for all of us in education, research, and patient care," Kirch said.

Centre Community Hospital, which will celebrate its 100^th birthday in two years, is located on land donated by Penn State.

Web sites related to this story include:

-- Penn State's College of Medicine, http://www.collmed.psu.edu

-- Centre Community Hospital, http://www.cch1.org

-- Penn State's Life Sciences Consortium, http://www.lsc.psu.edu

-- Penn State's School of Nursing, http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/nurs/nurs.htm

Sources reporters might want to talk to about this news include:

-- Graham Spanier, Penn State president,

-- Lance Rose, Centre Community Hospital President and CEO, 231-7000,

-- Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., Senior Vice President for Health Affairs, Dean of the College of Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, or 717-531--8323

-- Jonathon Dranov, MD, President, Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, P.C., 234-8800

**Bill Mahon**

Contact: Bill Mahon, director of Public Information (814) 865-7517 or