Penn State Health Children's Hospital

Captain America, Spiderman and Superman used their superpowers to bring a SUPER surprise to pediatric patients and families at Penn State Health Children's Hospital today!

The heroic window washers rappeled down the side of Children’s Hospital Thursday to the cheers of patients, families and onlookers. Thanks for dropping in, heroes.🦸‍♂️🕷️🛡️

It was a great day at Penn State Health Children's Hospital, hands down 👐

Hyundai Hope On Wheels presented Four Diamonds researcher Dr. Chandrika Behura a generous $400,000 grant to bolster pediatric oncology research at Penn State College of Medicine today.

Children in treatment for pediatric cancer were invited to add their special handprints to a Hyundai sedan following the check presentation and remarks — with a few extra freshly painted handprints added to a special white coat for Behura.

Since 2011, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and the College of Medicine have received more than $3 million in grants from Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

We're so grateful for the opportunity to connect with this year's Penn State THON Executive Committee for an uplifting two-day training in Hershey! THON received a tour of Penn State Health Children's Hospital, learned more about leading-edge pediatric cancer research at Penn State College of Medicine and met with Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini, hearing more about why our work with Four Diamonds to conquer childhood cancer is so important. 💠 ❤️

Did you spot the familiar face making a difference on Good Day PA on ABC27 !

Katie Anderson, director of Children's Miracle Network Hershey , recently visited the show to spotlight an upcoming NICU Awareness Campaign. This initiative will aim to raise $25,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, which provides lifesaving care to the most vulnerable newborns. Thanks to The Hershey Company’s matching donation offer of up to $25,000, your support can go even further 🚀

Check out the segment and learn more about how you can get involved: https://bit.ly/4fSBxb9

“Imagine for a week, a child with cancer can be free!”💛

From Aug. 11-17, the stunning Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center became Camp Can Do Forever, a special retreat for kids with cancer. With generous support from Four Diamonds, this free weeklong camp combines adventure with expert medical care, tailored just for young campers with cancer.

This camp is more than fun and adventure; it’s rooted in the 15 Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer. Camps for kids with cancer are shown to improve emotional well-being by providing social support and reducing anxiety and isolation through shared experiences.

The Force was strong at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.

Spencer Wilding, famed for his his roles as Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Remus Lupin's werewolf in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, made an unforgettable visit. His appearance not only thrilled our young patients but also brought a wave of support for our mission.

This year, Children's Miracle Network Hershey's Official Extra Life proudly served as the charity partner for Hershey Comic Con, raising funds to support children at our hospital. Spencer shared his support for this cause with nearly 3,000 Comic Con attendees, highlighting the impact of on pediatric care.

As summer winds down, the back-to-school rush can be overwhelming.

Dr. Kate Sanchez, a pediatrician at Penn State Health and a mother of three, offers thoughts about what parents need to know and do to make this year’s transition a little easier:

The Medical Minute: Back to school health tips for parents School is right around the corner. Are you and your child ready for the new year? A Penn State Health expert offers a rundown of everything you need to keep your child healthy for 2024-2025.

🏐🌟 Serving up smiles at Penn State Health Children's Hospital!

Last Wednesday, the Penn State Women's Volleyball team brought their energy to Olympic Bingo and crafts with our kids. Featuring Penn State alumni on the USA Volleyball teams and Baron the facility dog adding extra warmth, it was a day filled with excitement.

In 2015 Dr. Thomas Chin of the Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center, the Children's Heart Group, and Ellie's Heart Foundation began discussions on starting a summer camp program for children with heart conditions. From there, Camp Lionheart was born.

From July 28 to August 2, Camp LionHeart provided a special mix of expert education and traditional summer fun, giving these young individuals a refreshing break from their medical routines. Through camp activities and new friendships, they experienced a week of genuine normalcy and joy.

✨ Relive the magic of Four Diamonds Mini-THON Leadership Summit! ✨

These photos capture the heart of a day filled with inspiration last week. Students from all corners of Pennsylvania and beyond gathered to celebrate an extraordinary achievement — raising $6,272,608.32 in the fight against childhood cancer — and to look ahead to planning another successful school year turning hope into meaningful action.

In her eight years at Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Kaia, a beloved facility dog professionally trained to work in a health care setting, had touched countless lives with her comforting presence, providing courage to young patients.

Though we deeply mourn her unexpected passing earlier this summer, Kaia's legacy lives on through the facility dogs who now continue a mission to help and heal. Learn more:

Tail-blazers: Facility dog Kaia paved way for enduring care program at Penn State Health - TheBurg In her first week of work at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center about eight years ago, Kaia—a golden retriever—showed a 5-year-old boy in the radiology unit how to endure a CT scan with a brave face. “I cried. The physician cried. The parents were so happy that it was done, and we didn’t h...

🚨 Breaking: Mini-THON Leadership Summit Unveils a Phenomenal Total!

Students from hundreds of schools across Pennsylvania and beyond came together in Hershey to celebrate an astonishing $6,272,608.32 raised this year in the fight against childhood cancer.

This total will empower Four Diamonds to continue providing critical support at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and advance lifesaving research.

Want to learn more about this amazing milestone? Check out the full article: https://bit.ly/4fnE0u1

"I think living with a heart condition makes a human more compassionate," says Carl Thompson, a former camper and now a counselor at Camp Lionheart, our unique summer camp dedicated to kids with heart disease.

This year, campers and counselors were invited to paint what they believe their hearts look like. For Carl, now 20, Camp Lionheart has been more than just a place to learn about physical health. It’s been a gateway to a world where he discovered he wasn’t alone in his journey.

Life Lion lands at Camp Lionheart! 🚁

Today, campers had a thrilling experience — an up-close tour of the Penn State Health Life Lion helicopter. Now in its eighth year, Camp Lionheart offers children with heart disease a chance to enjoy typical camp activities under the care of top physicians and experts. Moments like these make their camp experience even more memorable and special.

These adventures are made possible by our partnership with Ellie’s Heart Foundation and the generous support of Children's Miracle Network Hershey.

In Lebanon County, 20.5% of respondents to Penn State Health’s 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment said they had cancer, second only to Perry County among the six counties surveyed. Cancer was listed as the eighth highest health concern among respondents to the survey.

By beginning to teach kids about sun protection now, Penn State Dermatology’s community service committee hopes to lay a foundation for sun safety for years to come.

‘Reapply so you don’t fry’: Penn State Dermatology educates kids about sunscreen When the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center dermatology team gathers at a local school, it’s a lot of fun — and it carries and important message.

Grab your spoons, because TODAY is Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen! 🍨

Let's scoop up some smiles. When you purchase a Blizzard® Treat at participating U.S. Dairy Queen locations, $1 or more will be donated to local children’s hospitals, including Penn State Health Children's Hospital's Children's Miracle Network Hershey. Your support provides critical funding for lifesaving treatments and essential services, ensuring that every child in our community receives the gift of growing up!

Susan Craft is not employed by Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health or Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She is a former Hershey Medical Center employee who left in 2019. The personal or political views of an individual do not reflect the views of our organizations. Political violence of any kind toward any individual regardless of their political views is wrong and irresponsible.

Steve Massini, chief executive officer of Penn State Health since 2019 and the first Penn State alumnus to lead the University’s health system, has announced he will retire effective Oct. 1.

“He has been a transformational leader, driving expansion of the health system’s clinical presence across central Pennsylvania and the development of innovative partnerships, including our continued collaboration with Highmark Health.”
— Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi

Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini to retire Steve Massini, chief executive officer since 2019 and the first Penn State alumnus to lead the University’s health system, has announced he will retire effective Oct. 1.

The work of Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler has helped make Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health a destination for pediatric cancer patients worldwide.

“What we learn from patients, we bring to the lab and what we learn in the lab, we bring back to patients. It’s critical for finding new therapies for kids with cancer and for understanding cancer better.”

This recent Q&A shares what inspires her work, the profound impact of research on pediatric cancer patients and more: https://bit.ly/3Y5b9o6

Missed International Paramedics Day? It's never too late to express appreciation! Hats off to our Penn State Health Life Lion team, embodying bravery and dedication every day. Show some love for our paramedics in the comments!

According to the American Heart Association, walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. It's low impact, joint-friendly and research has shown it can even add hours to your life.

Improve your health and well-being by joining Dr. Tim Riley from Penn State Health for Walk with a Doc, hosted by Dauphin County Parks & Recreation, on Thursday, July 11 at 6 p.m. You will explore a scenic section of the Capital Area Greenbelt adjacent to the park, while Dr. Riley discusses the importance of mindfulness.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to take a step towards better health. Register now: https://bit.ly/45ZBmpG

An emotional reunion recently unfolded at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as Tom Buck, a flight paramedic with Life Lion, was surprised by 6-year-old Izabella Rivera and her family at the Life Lion hangar.

When Izabella was just six months old, Tom's quick actions during a critical flight from Reading to Hershey saved her life after she suffered multiple heart attacks and aspirated upon arrival. Today, Izabella continues her journey at Penn State Health Children's Hospital for a congenital heart condition.

The Rivera family surprised "Grandpa Tom" and his crew with a batch of chocolate chip cookies, spreading joy on their way to the annual Hershey Symphony concert.

Happy Fourth of July from Penn State Health Children's Hospital! 🎆🇺🇸

As we gear up for the festivities, we want everyone to have fun and stay safe. Whether spending time with loved ones or relaxing alone, remember to take care and enjoy responsibly.

After officially knocking cancer out of the park on June 14, Four Diamonds child Bentley had the opportunity to celebrate his birthday at the Reading Fightin Phils. Way to go, Bentley!

Don't let a trip to the Emergency Department ruin your Fourth of July festivities. See how you can celebrate responsibly in this week's Medical Minute: https://bit.ly/3RFXDmv

Our first-ever Storywalk at Detweiler Park alongside Dauphin County Parks & Recreation exceeded all expectations.

Families had a fantastic time exploring the David's Field Loop Trail while getting a sneak peek at the book "Bear's Bicycle" by Laura Renauld. This initiative offers a wonderful opportunity for the entire family to come together and enjoy quality time outdoors. Not only does walking in nature alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, but it also enhances memory and promotes a healthy heart.

Liam Kauffman, a little boy who has known only tubes, hospital rooms and a struggle for survival, took his first step into a new world Tuesday. The now-former patient of Penn State Health Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit went home for the first time since his birth eight months ago. His Penn State Health Children’s Hospital family saw him off and his actual family — Kristen Kuhn and Josh Kauffman of Bendersville, Adams County — welcomed him home for the first time.

Penn State Health is thrilled to congratulate the Hershey Bears for successfully "repeating the roar" and bringing the Calder Cup back to Hershey this year.

Let's hear it for the B-E-A-R-S, BEARS, BEARS, BEARS!🐻🏆

Take a trip down memory lane with us this , as we revisit this adorable moment. This month in 2018, a visitor at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center noticed a mother duck and her nine precious ducklings and stoped to assist them crossing Academic Drive. 🦆🐤🐤🐤

We hope this moment captured in time brings a smile to your face and spreads happiness throughout your entire weekend.

Welcome to the world, Rosemary Jane! And congratulations to parents Darian and Chad Burger and big brothers Juliano, Mitchell, Jacob and Maxwell. Rosemary Jane was the first baby delivered in one of the birthing tubs at Lancaster Medical Center’s Family Birthing Suite. Thank you, Darian and Chad, for trusting us to help bring your precious baby girl into the world! https://bit.ly/3Vo6UAZ