Penn State Children's Hospital exterior building on a sunny day.

Department of Pediatrics

Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine

The Department of Pediatrics is dedicated to providing the very best care for all children. Penn State Children's Hospital research, educational and clinical care programs are consistently recognized as among the best in the country.

Welcome to the Department of Pediatrics. The department is proud of a nearly 50-year tradition of excellence in clinical care, education, research and service at Penn State College of Medicine.

With more than 200 physicians and advanced practice providers throughout 20 divisions, the department provides high-quality clinical care to infants, children and adolescents. Faculty members are active throughout central Pennsylvania, seeing young patients at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey as well as the many Penn State Health outpatient practice sites around the region.

Sarah Iriana, MD, is Interim Chair of the Department of Pediatric at Penn State College of Medicine. She is pictured in a white medical coat against a blue background.
Sarah Iriana, MD, Interim Chair, Pediatrics

Faculty educate future leaders in pediatric medicine, from students enrolled in medical and graduate schools to the many pediatric residents and fellows. The pediatric residency program features an individualized training curriculum that provides outstanding opportunities to learn the skills needed to excel at the modern roles of the pediatrician, all in a balanced and supportive learning environment. The department is also home to seven fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to train physicians in numerous pediatric specialties.

As part of a large research university, the Department of Pediatrics enthusiastically supports the many faculty who engage in basic, translational and clinical research. Students, residents and fellows often collaborate in this research and are important contributors to the department’s research mission. Their advances in research ultimately lead to better understanding and treatment of childhood diseases.

Together, everyone in the department remains committed to improving the lives of children through innovation and outstanding care.

Sarah Iriana, MD
Pediatrics Department Interim Chair
Penn State College of Medicine

Contact us to find out more

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Education in the Department of Pediatrics

The Pediatric Residency Program offers a balance of outpatient and inpatient experiences with the opportunity for an extensive individualized curriculum that goes far beyond the requirements of the ACGME.

Residents in the Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (Med/Peds) Residency Program are trained to the highest standards in pediatrics and internal medicine, so that they will be comfortable in both office and the hospital settings.

The Department of Pediatrics also offers rigorous subspecialty fellowship training programs in several fields. The department and Penn State Children's Hospital are large enough to give residents and fellows a broad scope of training in all aspects of general and sub-specialty pediatrics, yet small enough to provide personal instruction and mentoring.

Research in the Department of Pediatrics

Penn State Children’s Hospital is dedicated to improving the understanding of disease mechanisms and to enhancing treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses through research.

Numerous scientific and philanthropic organizations, including the Children's Miracle Network and the Four Diamonds fund, support basic science and clinical research at the Children's Hospital, allowing for rapid advances in a variety of pediatric fields.

Research programs include:

Department faculty are active in scholarly work; see recent publications here.

Clinical Care in the Department of Pediatrics

Every year, Penn State Children's Hospital is a destination for hope and healing for thousands of children and their families. As the only Level I pediatric trauma center between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the hospital serves the most populous rural regions in the nation, with more than 1 million children in the referral area.

There are more than 20 specialty pediatric patient services in Hershey and numerous specialty services at more than 30 outpatient clinic locations throughout Pennsylvania.

Ramiah Martin sits reclined in a stroller; her sister sits beside her, placing her hand on Ramiah's arm.
Ramiah was born with an extremely rare developmental abnormality called tracheal agenesis, meaning she didn’t have a trachea or windpipe. She is one of only 11 known cases in the world. The Department of Pediatrics and other teams used cutting-edge 3D printing technology to build a splint, supporting what will eventually be a reconstructed airway using her esophagus. After almost a year spent in the hospital (most of her life), Ramiah was able to go home in January 2019.

Explore Programs in Pediatrics

Jobs in Pediatrics

Information on jobs that may be available in the Department of Pediatrics can be found at psu.jobs (for non-clinical positions) or careers.pennstatehealth.org (for clinical positions). All applications must be made through those sites.