HERSHEY, Pa. — Dean Kevin Black announced that Kurt Kissinger will be leaving his role as associate vice president for finance and business/controller of Penn State College of Medicine.
Kissinger began his role as associate vice president in April 2021 after serving as interim associate vice president for finance and business/controller since June 2020. In this capacity, Kissinger oversaw the College of Medicine’s annual budget of $430 million, endowments of $700 million, and stewardship of the University’s $2.2 billion physical plant and infrastructure assets at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Kissinger also directly oversaw the College of Medicine’s finance and business operations and the 250 employees that work in the Controller’s Office, Budget Office, Financial Services, Faculty Financial Affairs, Resource Optimization, Facilities and Planning, Housing, and Auxiliary and Business Services units. He also helped oversee the execution of the various Relationship Agreements that define the synergistic operations and funds flow between Penn State Health and the College of Medicine.
Kissinger previously served as associate vice president for finance and business for Penn State and was deputy and chief of staff to the senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer. In this capacity, Kissinger led several initiatives to enhance finance and business operations across the University’s academic and administrative units and Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth Campuses. He was responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the finance and business strategic plan, annual budgeting process and other strategic projects, including the Resource Optimization Initiative, which outlined more than $150 million in annual savings and revenue enhancements. He also served as the administrative liaison to the Finance, Business and Capital Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees and served as the University’s real estate official between 2016 and 2020. Kissinger first joined Penn State in November 2011 as director of operations for the Office of the Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Medicine, where he oversaw strategic planning, budget development and operations management, including the day-to-day functions of the 12 program offices that comprise the research and graduate education missions.
During his time with Penn State College of Medicine, he helped develop the financing strategy and secured Board of Trustees approval for the $37.3 million Comparative Medicine Facility Modernization and Expansion Project — the most significant investment in research infrastructure since the completion of the Biomedical Research Building in 1993. He implemented more than $5 million in recurring cost savings and revenue enhancements associated with relationship agreements with Penn State Health. He assisted with the launch of the University Park Regional Medical Campus student-led Mobile Clinic in underserved areas of Centre County. He developed a funding strategy to increase student aid and endowed scholarships to enhance access and affordability of medical education.
“Kurt has been a huge asset since returning to the College of Medicine,” said Black. “His commitment to our missions and thoughtful leadership have resulted in countless contributions, including the achievement of a balanced general fund operating budget. I am grateful for his partnership and am excited for him to take on this new role.”
“To add to what Kevin Black stated, I wish Kurt nothing but the best in his new role at Mount Nittany Health,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State senior vice president for Finance and Business. “He will be missed on our team.”
Kissinger will be joining Mount Nittany Health as its chief strategy and system development officer. His last day with Penn State will be Feb. 3.