Clinical Training Structure Approximately 60% with the Hospital Medicine service at the academic medical center in Hershey 40% in internal medicine subspecialties including Nephrology, Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, Psychiatry, Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Critical Care, and Consult Medicine — all based at the Hershey campus A 4–6 week Community Medicine rotation with hospitalist teams at one of Penn State Health’s community hospitals Curriculum Components Roughly 80% clinical and 20% didactic learning Penn State College of Medicine conferences Internal Medicine Residency lectures Medicine and Advanced Practice Grand Rounds Morbidity and Mortality reviews Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) educational resources, including SHM Boot Camp “Fifth Friday” 4‑hour interdisciplinary didactic sessions with APP fellows from other specialty fellowship programs, promoting enhanced learning, peer connection, and collaboration Interdisciplinary Exposure Observational experiences with therapy services, nutrition, radiology, and patient education teams Schedule & Experience Primarily day‑shift structure with planned night‑shift exposure for comprehensive training Professional Development SHM membership and CME support provided throughout the fellowship year Participation in the institution’s Transition to Practice program for newly hired advanced practice providers, offering structured onboarding, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with other new APPs

Mission The mission of the Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine is to prepare physician assistants and acute care nurse practitioners to deliver exceptional, evidence‑based inpatient care across the spectrum of adult hospital medicine. Through a structured, multidisciplinary 13‑month training program, the fellowship promotes clinical excellence, professional growth, and the development of confident APPs who thrive within complex hospital systems. We are committed to fostering a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes high‑quality patient care, effective teamwork, and lifelong learning. Program Goals Provide a structured transition-to-practice pathway for APPs entering adult inpatient medicine or shifting from outpatient practice. Develop core competencies in hospital medicine through progressive responsibility, supervised clinical care, and exposure to a wide range of internal medicine subspecialties. Strengthen diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, and management of acutely ill adult patients in both tertiary-care academic medical center and community hospital settings. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and effective communication across the care team, including physicians, APPs, nursing, care coordinators, consultants, and support services. Cultivate professional identity, confidence, and leadership skills to prepare fellows for successful long-term careers in hospital medicine. Support academic growth through structured didactics, scholarly inquiry, and CME opportunities provided primarily through Penn State College of Medicine and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM). Align training with the NCCPA Hospital Medicine CAQ blueprint to position fellows for future certification eligibility.

General Applicant Information The Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine is affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and fellows are hired as full‑time employees with benefits, including a Continuing Medical Education allowance. Applicants must be graduates of an accredited physician assistant program or an accredited nurse practitioner program, must be board‑certified through a nationally recognized accrediting body, and NP applicants must hold Acute Care certification (FNP is not accepted). Required Application Materials Section Personal Statement: A statement outlining the applicant’s interest in hospital medicine, purpose in pursuing fellowship training, and future professional goals. Curriculum Vitae: An updated CV that includes all prior clinical experience. Outpatient‑only experience is acceptable for applicants entering hospital medicine for the first time. Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three letters of recommendation, with at least one from the applicant’s program director. Additional letters may come from clinical preceptors, faculty, or supervising physicians/advanced practice clinicians. Application Submission: A completed application submitted through the Penn State Health Careers website when the posting is active. Eligibility Requirements Qualified candidates will: Be graduates of an accredited NP or PA program Hold board certification appropriate to their discipline NP candidates must hold Acute Care NP certification Complete licensure as an NP or PA in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the start of the fellowship Demonstrate strong motivation, professionalism, and commitment to adult inpatient practice Application Timeline Applications for the APP Hospital Medicine Fellowship will generally be accepted beginning inspring, with an anticipated December/January start date. Contact Information Direct any inquiries related to the application process to: Sue Martin, PA-C Physician Assistant Critical Care, Department of Medicine Program Director, Hospital Medicine Advanced Practice Fellowship Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Instructor of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine 500 University Drive PO Box 850 Hershey, PA 17033 Email: smartin28@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Fellowship

Advanced Practice Provider Hospital Medicine

The Advanced Practice Provider Hospital Medicine Fellowship is a 13-month-long program that admits one fellow per year.

The Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine at Penn State Health is a 13‑month, transition‑to‑practice program designed for newly graduated physician assistants and acute care nurse practitioners pursuing a career in adult inpatient medicine. Through comprehensive clinical and didactic training guided by expert hospitalists and subspecialty teams, fellows build strong clinical judgment and a commitment to evidence‑based, team‑oriented practice within the dynamic setting of adult hospital medicine.

Drone view of Penn State Health Hershey, Pa. medical center in the early morning with sun shining off camera to the left.

Program Overview

The 13‑month Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine provides newly graduated physician assistants and acute care nurse practitioners with a structured, immersive transition into adult inpatient practice.

Fellows complete a balanced year of clinical and didactic training across the Hospital Medicine service and key internal medicine subspecialties, with additional opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and professional development.

Learn More About the Program

Clinical Training Structure

Approximately 60% with the Hospital Medicine service at the academic medical center in Hershey
40% in internal medicine subspecialties including Nephrology, Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, Psychiatry, Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Critical Care, and Consult Medicine — all based at the Hershey campus
A 4–6 week Community Medicine rotation with hospitalist teams at one of Penn State Health’s community hospitals

Curriculum Components

Roughly 80% clinical and 20% didactic learning
Penn State College of Medicine conferences
Internal Medicine Residency lectures
Medicine and Advanced Practice Grand Rounds
Morbidity and Mortality reviews
Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) educational resources, including SHM Boot Camp
“Fifth Friday” 4‑hour interdisciplinary didactic sessions with APP fellows from other specialty fellowship programs, promoting enhanced learning, peer connection, and collaboration

Interdisciplinary Exposure

Observational experiences with therapy services, nutrition, radiology, and patient education teams

Schedule & Experience

Primarily day‑shift structure with planned night‑shift exposure for comprehensive training

Professional Development

SHM membership and CME support provided throughout the fellowship year
Participation in the institution’s Transition to Practice program for newly hired advanced practice providers, offering structured onboarding, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with other new APPs

Mission

The mission of the Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine is to prepare physician assistants and acute care nurse practitioners to deliver exceptional, evidence‑based inpatient care across the spectrum of adult hospital medicine. Through a structured, multidisciplinary 13‑month training program, the fellowship promotes clinical excellence, professional growth, and the development of confident APPs who thrive within complex hospital systems. We are committed to fostering a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes high‑quality patient care, effective teamwork, and lifelong learning.

Program Goals

Provide a structured transition-to-practice pathway for APPs entering adult inpatient medicine or shifting from outpatient practice.
Develop core competencies in hospital medicine through progressive responsibility, supervised clinical care, and exposure to a wide range of internal medicine subspecialties.
Strengthen diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, and management of acutely ill adult patients in both tertiary-care academic medical center and community hospital settings.
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and effective communication across the care team, including physicians, APPs, nursing, care coordinators, consultants, and support services.
Cultivate professional identity, confidence, and leadership skills to prepare fellows for successful long-term careers in hospital medicine.
Support academic growth through structured didactics, scholarly inquiry, and CME opportunities provided primarily through Penn State College of Medicine and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM).
Align training with the NCCPA Hospital Medicine CAQ blueprint to position fellows for future certification eligibility.

General Applicant Information

The Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in Hospital Medicine is affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and fellows are hired as full‑time employees with benefits, including a Continuing Medical Education allowance. Applicants must be graduates of an accredited physician assistant program or an accredited nurse practitioner program, must be board‑certified through a nationally recognized accrediting body, and NP applicants must hold Acute Care certification (FNP is not accepted).

Required Application Materials Section

Personal Statement: A statement outlining the applicant’s interest in hospital medicine, purpose in pursuing fellowship training, and future professional goals.
Curriculum Vitae: An updated CV that includes all prior clinical experience. Outpatient‑only experience is acceptable for applicants entering hospital medicine for the first time.
Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three letters of recommendation, with at least one from the applicant’s program director. Additional letters may come from clinical preceptors, faculty, or supervising physicians/advanced practice clinicians.
Application Submission: A completed application submitted through the Penn State Health Careers website when the posting is active.

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified candidates will:

Be graduates of an accredited NP or PA program
Hold board certification appropriate to their discipline
NP candidates must hold Acute Care NP certification
Complete licensure as an NP or PA in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the start of the fellowship
Demonstrate strong motivation, professionalism, and commitment to adult inpatient practice

Application Timeline

Applications for the APP Hospital Medicine Fellowship will generally be accepted beginning inspring, with an anticipated December/January start date.

Contact Information

Direct any inquiries related to the application process to:

Sue Martin, PA-C
Physician Assistant Critical Care, Department of Medicine
Program Director, Hospital Medicine Advanced Practice Fellowship
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Instructor of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine

500 University Drive
PO Box 850
Hershey, PA 17033

Email: smartin28@pennstatehealth.psu.edu