Penn powers the future of science at the Franklin Institute
A cavernous, walk-through human heart has entertained 70 years of curiosity, from school trips to international visitors. The Franklin Institute’s…
Category: Medicine
The physical therapist behind Philly’s marathon mom
Katie Florio sought treatment from Claire Todd, PT, DPT, PRPC to help build pelvic floor strength while pregnant and training…
I’m an OCD specialist–then OCD emerged at home
By Emily Becker-Haimes, PhD As a pediatric clinical psychologist who specializes in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), much of my time…
The key to nursing across three continents? Empathy
Abheena Jacob, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, an award-winning night shift nurse in Pennsylvania Hospital’s Medical-Surgical unit, joined Penn Medicine in 2017.…
Breaking through the mysteries of predicting coma recovery
In November 2023, Cassie Wolfe had not regained consciousness. Her mother, Ann Louise, spent long, agonizing days by her bed,…
not your typical primary care
Travel back in time to 2017—even though it wasn’t that long ago, the world of health care looked different than…
This HR leader hears, heeds, and helps those who heal others
By Abby Alten Schwartz There’s a radiance that beams from Kenya Pitt, MA, MBA, chief human resources (HR) officer for…
A medical student learns the meaning of patient trust
By Ella Eisinger Ella Eisinger Ella Eisinger is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of…
Gender-affirming care and a future “not in the shadows”
Klauser performing earlier this year. Photo by Eric Lee. As a lifelong performer who began her professional career singing opera…
Charting a new frontier with psychedelic drugs
Are psychedelic drugs about to begin a long, strange trip toward use in a clinical setting? Or do the challenges…
Welcoming the first babies from Penn Fertility in Lancaster
Ashlee (right) is holding Eleanor who is two years old this month and her partner Lauren (left) is holding Edie…
How adverse childhood events can exacerbate substance use
Physical and sexual abuse, having parents who misuse substances, and witnessing violent crime are tragic events that don’t remain locked…
The art and science of cancer care
Photo by © ASCO/Phil McCarten 2024 Lynn Schuchter, MD, recently completed her term as the 2023-2024 President of the American…
Stream Award-Winning Documentary on Penn’s CAR T Cancer Cure
The award-winning documentary “Of Medicine and Miracles” details the emotional journey of one family alongside a team of Penn Medicine…
How ‘invitations’ brought mammogram rates up
The first few waves of COVID-19 slowed life across the United States, affecting everything from attending school to eating out…
Providing medical care on professional golf’s biggest stage
U.S. Women’s Open Trophy at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, PA. Copyright USGA/ Jason E. Miczek Beginning May 28, more…
Trust, equity, and hospitals’ ‘front door’
Emergency departments are hospitals’ “front door,” so Penn Medicine is doing everything it can to make them a trusted space…
Concrete steps to preventing violence in the workplace
By Kevin B. Mahoney Chief Executive Officer University of Pennsylvania Health System The statistics are daunting: U.S. health care workers are five…
How nurses and other staff are training to de-escalate threats
By Abby Alten Schwartz You’re an emergency department (ED) nurse on a hectic Saturday night. A patient has been waiting…
It’s all in the family for these bone marrow transplant nurses
“Each member of the family—Jackie, Rachel, and Kim—touched an important part of this patient’s care journey,” said David Porter, MD,…
How Portable is a Cake Disposable?
Cake Disposable A Cake Disposable is a great option for those who want to experience the full benefits of Delta…
One patient’s gene mutation could save others from ‘2nd skeleton’
Fred Kaplan, MD “I’ve seen about a thousand patients worldwide with FOP,” said Fred Kaplan, MD, a professor of Orthopaedic…
A Penn team’s push to make research more inclusive
Research is a driving force of medical progress—but is it truly inclusive of the voices and experiences of those it…
When studies conflict, how can you know which meds work?
One day you hear that red wine is good for your heart. The next day, it’s not. The same goes…
From Lancaster to Peru, a social worker sows seeds of service
Maria Del Carpio grew up in Sabandia, a hilly village in rural Peru, where nearly half of the population lives…
Evolving the use of incentives to treat stimulant use disorder
Are gift cards and cash one way to help ease the drug overdose crisis? The number of overdose deaths in…
Meet the Penn doctor leading the way with TAVR innovation
In the world of cardiovascular medicine, the advent of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure stands as a transformative…
Treating the whole patient: Bridging oncology and wellness
Jennie Barbieri, MD, FACP A cancer diagnosis 20 years, even 10 years ago, meant something different than it does today.…
Princeton Health’s Three Wishes Project fulfills last requests
Overnight, the Three Wishes Project organized a surprise birthday party for patient Devyn. The patient was dying of cancer. All…
How the next generation of physicians will combat climate change
Farah Hussain, MD It started with sea anemones at a college lab. As an undergrad in Swarthmore College’s marine biology…
How Penn Medicine Staff are Making Health Care Sustainable
Mim Lambros, an equipment planning specialist, is repurposing furniture throughout LG Health facilities. Every April, people worldwide come together to…
Answering patients’ cancer questions for 30 years and counting
Heather and Rich Badt in the summer of 2023 When Heather Badt and her husband learned within a week and…
Lessons in empathy and curiosity from Penn’s Trauma Center
During the second semester of their junior year, most high school students are hunkering down as they prepare to apply…
Penn celebrates Match Day 2024
MD/PhD candidate Joseph Aicher, bound for the University of Michigan, hugs his wife Bernadette Bucher, PhD, while Peter (in wagon)…
LG Health employee’s “pawsitively” inspiring volunteer journey
For over 20 years, Maria Wright, BSN, RN has served others as a nurse, first as an LPN and working…
Small gifts spread joy and comfort for hospitalized patients
Vascular surgery patient Debra Samuels, shown here with nurses Sara Tarangelo, left, and Kelsey Long, was always thrilled to receive…
Mapping pancreatic cancer to improve immunotherapy
Penn Medicine researchers are repurposing an old technique in the hopes of improving the success rate of immunotherapy for pancreatic…
Bringing the Hospital Home
Michelle and Steve Lengle Since his 2020 diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Steve Lengle has had good and bad days. The…
A Living Legend of Health Equity in Stroke and Heart Disease
By Queen Muse The name Edward S. Cooper adorns a bustling internal medicine practice at Penn Medicine in University City.…
A personal companion to heart health—starting with your thumbs
Imagine having a personal health companion by your side, guiding you towards a healthier heart every step of the way.…
Penn’s Wheelchair Clinic makes orders easy
Shortly after I was born, my parents noticed I had severe muscle weakness, and I was eventually diagnosed with Central…
The art of cancer recovery
Rohlfing’s paintings are inspired by fallen leaves and petals on her neighborhood walks. Ginger Mimmo Rohlfing was staring down breast…
Gel cu acțiune rapidă pentru dureri musculare
rapidă pentru dureri musculare Indiferent dacă vă doare din cauza depășirii limitelor în timpul unui antrenament sau că vă recuperați…
What Makes a Breakthrough?
In popular culture, scientific discovery is often portrayed in “Eureka!” moments of sudden realization: a lightbulb moment, coming sometimes…
Building a more diverse healthcare workforce
February 13, 2024 | by Jonathan B. Waller Iris Reyes, MD Iris Reyes, MD, helps to open doors for new…
From flatline to the finish line
Oatman and Kohler running together during the 4.3 mile leg of the Ragnar Race Imagine one day you decided to…
Addiction consult team at PPMC combines empathy with medicine
Peer Recovery Specialist Eric Ezzi and his wife with their daughter. For any patient in the hospital, their stay entails…
Penn Medicine earns high Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores
Good health care involves treating the whole person, which includes medical, psychological, and social aspects of care. Patient experience—making sure…
Nurse wins IRONMAN World Championship
Warfel, pictured here, during her IRONMAN race in Kona, Hawai’i in October 2023. On a typical day, Ava Warfel, RN,…
70-year-old bench press competitor tackles rare cancer
In January 2023, 70-year-old fitness coach Howard Aaron was preparing for the Arnold Classic, an international weightlifting competition—one of the…
Improving maternal care for new moms in the Hispanic community
At Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital (CCH), the Maternal Child Health care team is always striving to meet the needs…
Helping Parents Heal After Loss
Candles bearing the names of babies lost during pregnancy or in the days after glow during a remembrance ceremony held…
How simple questions and behavioral nudges are improving care
If opioid use disorder is a disease, then why not treat it with medicine? Although it is a simple question,…
A nurse’s passion for books and babies aids NICU families
The 90 minutes that Whitney Zachritz, MSN, RN, CPNP-BC, spends offering books and snacks to parents of the hospital’s littlest…
Autism study could open new possibilities for parents, caregivers
From a very early age, Scarlett Adams spent a lot of time in what her parents called “Scarlett World,” where…
Why Climate Change Might Be Affecting Your Headaches
Recurring headaches are one of the most common nervous system disorders, with an estimated 45 million, or one in six,…
How You, and Your Computer, Can Play Scientist
Two heads are better than one. The ethos behind the scientific research project Folding@home is that same idea, multiplied: 50,000…
Helping First Responders Avoid On-the-Job Injuries
Lancaster Emergency Medical Services responds to more than 47,000 requests for service each year, treating patients who have experienced everything…
Disparities Among Veteran Alcohol Use Disorders
Americans have a long, complicated and mostly social history with alcohol—from copious consumption during the country’s founding to pandemic-era socializing…
How Penn Medicine Epidemiologists Prepared for Future Pandemics
By: Abby Schwartz To passersby, it simply looked like a group of workers enjoying treats from an ice cream truck…
Reducing Eye Strain from Screen Time
Mina Massaro-Giordano, MD A seemingly endless cycle of switching between your phone, computer, and TV has created a sort of…
Black Scientists Lead the Push for Equity in Science and Medicine
By Tonya Russell Donita Brady, PhD The Juneteenth holiday celebrated on June 19 is one of delayed recognition. It’s a…
Three Penn Teams Awarded for Maternal Health Equity Initiatives
For the past several years, Penn Medicine has been taking bold action to reverse maternal health disparities. In the United…
Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD Hunts for a Cure for Kidney Disease
By Lauren Malecki Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD, a professor of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Genetics at the…
Emergency staff are on a mission: Know My Name
By Abby Alten Schwartz Something as simple as a name can make a big impact. Just ask M. Kit Delgado,…
Breaking Down Barriers to Blood Donation for LGBTQ+ People
For decades, LGBTQ+ patients have faced stringent requirements to donate blood—most gay and bisexual men were not allowed to donate…
Voices of Penn Medicine Pride
June 29, 2023 | by Jonathan B. Waller Dubbed the “Love, Light, and Liberty” March, the demonstration was open to…
Family Challenge Encourages Others to Go Back to School
Regina Whittick, on right, with her daughter Charlotte. Regina Whittick’s journey to a bachelor’s degree started long ago. It ended…
How Dermatology Research Touches More Areas of Medicine
Aimee Payne, MD, PhD, a professor of Dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was…
How Penn’s Lung Rescue team provided a lifeline for failing lungs
Most days began with Joey Porch at his demanding job as the manager of a popular Chislehurst, NJ bagel shop,…
Coping with Anxiety Through Virtual Reality
Picture this: As you float peacefully in a crystal blue sea, dolphins swim gently around you. One performs a slow…
Penn Medicine Partners on Community Cancer Screenings
Rev. Miles in his office at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Leroy Miles has somewhere to be. In fact, he has…
From Aspiring Ballerina to Future Health Care Leader
By Mariel Harden Mariel Harden, MHA, is in her second year of Penn Medicine’s Administrative Fellowship and is pursuing her…
Penn’s mRNA Scientists Get a Delayed Heroes’ Welcome
Dotted amongst a night of stars like Lilly Collins, Mila Kunis, Maria Sharapova, and Kristen Bell sat Drew Weissman, MD,…
Cancer Survivor Comforts Patients With Reiki
Volunteer Reiki practitioner Vince Gilhool provides a session to cancer patient Richard Cummings. At nearly 80 years old, master Reiki…
Hospital Horticulturalists Compete to Sharpen Their Skills
An annual competition at Pennsylvania Hospital helps the Grounds team strengthen their skills and refresh their horticultural knowledge.
Community Refrigerator Offers Cancer Patients Free Prepared Foods
When people become seriously ill, their ability to work may be diminished, and this can often lead to a number…
New Physician Response Vehicle Advances Care in Emergencies
In an emergency, advanced training and equipment can make the difference between life and death. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health…
Chasing the Mysteries of the Microbiome
Maayan Levy, PhD, and Christoph Thaiss, PhD When we hear about gut bacteria, we may think about probiotics and supplements…
Time—and Technology—Heals One Patient’s Wounds
Andrew Holmes Jr. A chronic wound on his leg was gradually eroding away at Andrew Holmes Jr.’s quality of life…
Carl June on The Boundless Potential of CAR T Cell Therapy
Carl June, MD, and Daniel Baker For most of modern medicine, cancer drugs have been developed the same way: by…
Embracing Life’s Rhythm: Kathleen’s Robotic Surgery Journey
Michael Ibrahim, MD, MBBS, PhD Kathleen Tierney had always lived life at full speed. Over a career that spanned over…
Penn Makes Health Care Easier
The modern conveniences of the 21st century have touched most areas of our lives. As just one example, think about…
How Penn Brings Early-Career Nurses to Home Health Care
By Frank Otto and Alex Gardner Carolyn Coladonato, BSN, RN The American “cowboy” image evokes someone who is unapologetically free,…
Should Patients and Clinicians Embrace ChatGPT?
Note: This article was written by a real person. If you ask the artificial intelligence text generator called ChatGPT how…
Meet the Parking Attendant Lifting Patients’ Spirits
Comfort often comes in unexpected places. At Penn Medicine’s 3600 Civic Center Boulevard parking garage, just down the street from…
Meet the AI Expert Using Machines to Drive Medical Advances
César de la Fuente, PhD In an era peppered by breathless discussions about artificial intelligence—pro and con—it makes sense to…
A Day With Nobel Laureates, from Celebration to Inspiration
The morning of October 2nd was an ordinary one at the University of Pennsylvania in many ways. Students strolled the…
Spotlighting primary care triage nurses
By: Christina Smith & Olivia Kimmel The Delancey Internal Medicine Nurse Triage Team Top row (left to right): Jasmine Gaskins,…
A Community Hospital is a Destination for Advanced Cancer Care
Picture this: You are diagnosed with cancer and not only do you have to process your new diagnosis, but you…
A New Tool to Measure Brain Tumor Response to Treatment
Patient Lynn Oxenberg Five years ago, at age 67, Lynn Oxenberg had a seizure, which doctors found to be caused…
Ben Stanger Developmental Biology Q&A
Ben Stanger, MD, PhD Ben Stanger, MD, PhD is a practicing Gastroenterologist at Penn Medicine. He is also the Hanna…
Robot Assistants Are on the Job at Lancaster General Hospital
The nursing staff at Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) has some new helping hands in the form of two robot assistants.…
An Inspiring Journey From PSOM Student to Fulbright Scholar
October 26, 2023 | by Jonathan B. Waller At the outset of Zonía Moore’s application process for the prestigious Fulbright…
Families and Staff Reconnect at PAH’s ICN Reunion
Seventeen years ago, Madaline Bell experienced one of the scariest times of her life, when her twin daughters were born…
From Harm Reduction on the Streets to Research in the ED
By Brittany Salerno Brittany Salerno, MPH, is project manager of Substance Use Research in Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine’s Center…
From High School to the Hospital
Jonathan Szeto at his White Coat Ceremony at the Perelman School of Medicine. How often do high school students get…
Surprise Reunion for Penn Trauma with Fallen Combat Surgeon’s Son
By: Abby Alten Schwartz Photo by Katie Burke Friday, October 6, 2023, was an unforgettable night for the trauma team…
Kidney Donation Bonds Two Veterans Who Were Once Strangers
How did a kidney donation from one veteran to another originate? Morgan Slaughter saw a sign—literally. While scrolling Facebook looking…
Patient’s Story Puts National Spotlight on Cancer Clinical Trials
When Marcy (Martha) and Bill Korson walked onto the Good Morning America stage on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, and—together with…
How Penn Medicine Is Changing the World with mRNA
Vaccines for COVID-19 were the first time that mRNA technology was used to address a worldwide health challenge. The Penn…
Could A Single Shot Heal Heart Disease?
Oftentimes, though, these innovations are first used in relatively rare diseases. What about the most common ones, like the leading…
Parkinsons Support Group Fosters Friendship Among Patients
Meeting Someone Like Me A support group at Pennsylvania Hospital not only provides resources on how to manage symptoms of…
Man Gives 35 Gallons of Blood, 50+ Years of Donations
Marc A. Satalof was recognized by the Red Cross with this framed certificate several years ago after he had given…
The Mind on Mental Health Podcast Gets Personal
Andrew Dean, LCSW The grief of losing a loved one to substance abuse, even if they’re still alive. The terror…