Family and Community Medicine Chair's Message

Welcome to the Department of Family and Community Medicine – a specialty that is the backbone of the U.S. health system – where we provide comprehensive health care to the whole family, across the lifespan.

As family medicine providers, we have the privilege of establishing lifelong, trusting relationships with our patients, their families and communities. Through outpatient and inpatient services, we care for patients at numerous Penn State Health community practice sites and hospitals.

Our distinguished faculty teaches our college's medical students in family medicine, where we’re transforming medical education through accelerated training, allowing medical students to earn a medical degree in three years. We offer innovative longitudinal integrated clerkships; we are proud to be the home of an award-winning, student-run Family Medicine Interest Group.

Three vibrant residency programs offer a supportive academic environment for residents to thrive personally and professionally on their journey to becoming the next generation of full-spectrum family physicians prepared to lead, teach and thrive in a changing health care environment while serving the community.

Our research areas are diverse, addressing the real-life issues of our patients and community to identify the best prevention and treatment strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.

I’m proud of our department and our organization’s commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment that fosters a culture of wellness and embraces diversity.

As you explore our website, you’ll learn more about what makes our dynamic department so unique.

Matthew Silvis, MD
Interim Chair
Family and Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine