Surgery Chair's Message

Welcome to the Department of Surgery. Since its establishment by Dr. John Waldhausen in 1969, our department has been dedicated to providing high-quality surgical care, the education of future surgeons and translational research. We offer a wide range of services using state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures and surgical techniques.

Penn State Health is experiencing unprecedented growth. In 2017, the system partnered with Highmark Health to facilitate creation of a value-based, community care network in the region. Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Berks County joined Penn State Health in 2015. Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill and its outpatient practices became part of the Penn State Health system in October 2020. Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, an adult acute care hospital in Cumberland County, opened in 2021, followed by Penn State Health Pediatric Center in June 2022 and Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center in East Hempfield Township in fall 2022.

As the Penn State system expands, we remain focused on providing patient-centered care and multidisciplinary collaboration. Our teams of physicians and specialists, nurses and other health care professionals assure the best care possible in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

As part of Penn State’s commitment to research, the department is involved in innovative clinical research and technology transfer with an active bioengineering research and device development group. Faculty in the department contribute to clinical trials in the Penn State Cancer Institute and collaborate with industry sponsors to bring cutting-edge treatment to central Pennsylvania.

Behzad Soleimani, MD
John Anton and Marian Trescher Waldhausen Chair in Surgery
Chair, Department of Surgery
Vice President, Cardiovascular Surgery Line