Penn State Health has once again been nationally recognized for its commitment to supporting veterans, service members and military families in the workplace. For the fourth consecutive year, Penn State Health received the 3-Star Employer Award from the 2026 VETS Indexes Employer Awards program. In addition, Penn State College of Medicine earned a Recognized Employer Award in its first year participating in the program. This recognition reflects our continued efforts to foster a veteran-inclusive culture through recruitment, retention, professional development and support for military-connected employees and their families. We are grateful to the veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and families who strengthen our organization and communities every day.
Four Penn State Health hospitals earned an “A” safety grade for spring 2026 from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center, Lancaster Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center each earned the highest distinction with an “A” grade. Holy Spirit Medical Center received a “B.” Penn State Health maintains a robust patient safety framework that reflects consistent adherence to evidence‑based protocols that are proven to prevent harm during a hospital stay.
Ten Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine employees and teams were recognized as Health Care Heroes in Central Penn Business Journal’s (CPBJ) 2026 awards program. They were honored by local health care industry leaders at an April 9 awards event. The Health Care Heroes awards recognize excellence, promote innovation, educate the region on health care issues and honor organizations and individuals who are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in central Pennsylvania. The following were named winners of CPBJ’s Health Care Heroes awards: Advancements and Innovation in Health Care Erika Swift, Penn State College of Medicine Trauma Surgery Unit, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Allied Health Hero Penn State Health Child Life and Integrative Therapies Community Outreach and Education Hero Katie Savory, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Lifetime Achievement Pamela Smith, Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital Management Eunice Maingi, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Joseph Wysock III, Penn State Health Nurse of the Year Cassie Appleby, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Ellen Guido, BSN RN CEN SANE-A, Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center Maria Kelly, Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital
Advanced MRI-guided technology provides a new option for patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease Penn State Health is now offering focused ultrasound, an advanced, incisionless treatment option for patients with essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms have not improved with medication. The treatment uses sound waves guided by MRI to precisely target a small area deep in the brain responsible for tremor. Because the procedure does not require surgical incisions or permanent implants, most patients experience a lower risk of infection and bleeding and can return home the same day. Read more.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was named among the top 50 hospitals in the United States in Newsweek’s “World’s Best Hospitals 2026.” Milton S. Hershey Medical Center ranked third in Pennsylvania and 48th overall. The hospital was also recognized as a leader in infection prevention and patient experience. “Being named one of Newsweek’s Best Hospitals is a meaningful endorsement of the exceptional quality our community has come to expect from us,” said Don McKenna, president, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “I am so grateful for our team’s deep commitment to setting the standard for health care in our region through their expertise, compassion and relentless pursuit of excellence.” This year, more than 2,500 hospitals were evaluated across 32 countries.
Donald H. Bucher has received the 2026 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Award for Outstanding Contributions for Pennsylvania. Presented annually to one nurse practitioner in each state, the award honors individuals who have significantly advanced health care through clinical practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership. Bucher serves as vice chair of advanced practice in the Department of Medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and as an assistant professor at Penn State College of Medicine. His career reflects more than a decade of clinical excellence combined with sustained leadership at both the institutional and statewide levels. In addition to his executive leadership role within Penn State Health, Bucher is a former president of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and a longstanding advocate for policies that expand access to high‑quality, equitable care for patients across the Commonwealth. Bucher will be formally recognized during the Salute to the States Award Ceremony at the AANP National Conference in June in Las Vegas.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Progressive Care Unit (HVPCU) has earned the Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This national honor recognizes units that demonstrate exceptional patient care, sustained clinical outcomes and a healthy, supportive work environment. The HVPCU has maintained its status as a Beacon unit since 2015. “This award showcases the exceptional work our staff do each and every day,” said Abby Rudy, vice president of Nursing Critical Care Services. “Their commitment to positive patient outcomes and to creating a healthy, collaborative workplace is reflected throughout this Beacon Award.” Several standout initiatives contributed to the HVPCU’s Silver Award achievement, including a strong mentorship program, enhanced orientation processes, staffing excellence, staff recognition efforts and focused quality initiatives such as alarm‑fatigue reduction and fall prevention. When the award submission was sent in, HVPCU had gone 435 days without a fall with injury, a major factor in its recognition. The HVPCU is known for its welcoming culture and dedication to growth. Nearly 69% of the unit’s nurses hold professional certification, far exceeding the AACN national average of 38%. Team members regularly support one another’s professional advancement and take pride in mentoring high school and nursing students.
Two Penn State Health hospitals have once again been recognized among the nation’s top-performing hospitals, earning spots on Healthgrades’ America’s Best Hospitals list for 2026. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for the third year in a row, placing it among the top 1% in the nation for overall clinical excellence year over year. Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center was recognized as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, for the second year in a row, placing it in the top 5% in the nation for overall clinical excellence. In addition to hospital performance, Penn State Health also ranked in several specialty award categories, recognizing superior patient outcomes among key service lines
When Emonie Castro, a registered nurse (RN), started her nursing career in adult critical care, she thought she had found her long-term path. Then she discovered the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey – and everything shifted. A third-generation nurse, Emonie followed the same calling as her mother and grandmother. “I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse until my last semester of nursing school,” she said. “We went to the adult ICU, and I thought that was something I was never going to want to do — until clinical.” That experience led her to a hospital with an adult step-down unit where she built a strong critical care foundation. But her heart stayed with mothers and babies, and she still craved the complexity of intensive care. That mix is what drew her to Hershey. “Rather than doing an internal transfer at my previous job, I wanted to come to Penn State Health’s Level IV NICU. I’m a Penn State grad, so it felt nice to choose Penn State academically and then professionally as well,” she said. “I was nervous about making the transition,” Emonie admitted. “Adult and pediatric worlds are so different. But the nurses who trained me truly made it as easy as possible and really helped facilitate the education process.” Click the photo to read more.
Construction is officially underway on a new Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center — a major milestone in expanding advanced newborn care for families in Lancaster County. The new unit, which is expected to open this fall, will include three beds and provide specialized support for newborns who require more specialized care than is available in a standard newborn nursery. The Level II NICU will serve infants who are: - Born at 32 weeks’ gestation or later, or who weigh 1,500 grams (approximately three pounds, five ounces) or more - Mildly to moderately ill with conditions expected to resolve quickly - Not anticipated to need urgent subspecialty services - In need of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or short-term mechanical ventilation - Transferred back from higher-level facilities for convalescent care With 24/7 staffing, seamless access from Labor and Delivery, and the full support of the Level IV NICU team at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, the new unit will ensure newborns receive timely, continuous and coordinated care from the moment they are born. The NICU is being built at the center of the hospital’s Family Birthing Suite, allowing parents to remain close to their baby.
