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Health Systems Science Office

Health Systems Science overview

Developing Systems Thinking in Medicine

A group of medical students are seen in a lecture room, talking together. Dr. Joshua Davis of Penn State College of Medicine is seen in the back, looking over the group.
Medical students discuss health systems science during a workshop.

The Health Systems Science Office is a vital link between the missions of Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health.

The office seeks to equip the healthcare community to investigate, diagnose and treat health systems as they do patients by providing education in and evidence of the best health systems science clinical practices to the community.

The organization’s vision is to become a recognized national leader in using health systems science to power healthcare delivery so that all may “master and design rather than cope with and fight the systems in which we care for patients.”

Since 2014, more than 1,300 medical students, 100 physician assistant students, 20 chaplain residents, 100 resident physicians and nearly 200 faculty and staff at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine have been educated in the principles of health systems science. The organization has been awarded over $2.5 million in grant funds and contributed to the publication of four textbooks that are now used in medical schools nationwide. Finally, in an effort to always keep patients first and foremost in mind, the College of Medicine and Penn State Health have established a program for medical students to work directly with patients to address healthcare inequities and social determinants of health from day one of medical school – a program that has now impacted over 4,300 patient lives.

Nested Applications

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Undergraduate Medical School Curriculum

 First-year medical student Carly Brogan, standing at right, talks with patient Robert Gibbs, who is sitting in a retirement village room.
First-year medical student Carly Brogan checks in with patient Robert Gibbs, a resident at Oak Hill Retirement Village, in March 2023.

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Health Systems Science in the College of Medicine Strategic Plan

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Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

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Staff and Faculty Development

Dr. Elizabeth Werley stands next to a white sheet of paper with illegible writing on it and looks off to her left while she speaks and points, with a blurred man in the foreground.
Dr. Elizabeth Werley helps document better workflow efficiencies during the resident pilot project Feb. 23, 2023.

In 2016, the Health Systems Science Office designed and launched the Health Systems Science Academy (HSSA), a year-long professional development program for Penn State Health faculty and staff to develop skills in health systems science. The longitudinal professional development program aims to improve the health systems science and teaching skills of educators and to advance clinical practice and health outcomes for the patients and populations served by Penn State Health.

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Request for Consultation

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The Health Systems Science Office regularly serves as consultants for U.S. medical schools and residency programs looking to implement health systems science curricula and patient experience programming. For a consultation at no fee, reach out to Director Dr. Ami DeWaters at adewaters@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

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Student Impact: Lydia Smeltz

Meet Lydia Smeltz, third-year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine. Learn how she took advantage of the opportunity to create a curriculum through the College's health system science program and the impact she is having to prepare the future generation of students to care for someone with a disability at the College of Medicine.

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Latest News in Health Systems Science