Over 115 medical schools across the country applied to the American Medical Association for its $1 million grant. Just 11 schools were awarded, including our own Penn State College of Medicine.

“As one of the nation’s leading integrated health systems, Penn State Hershey is in an excellent position to teach medical students how to provide excellent care while also helping their patients better understand and navigate a rapidly changing health care system,” said Dr. Harold Paz, CEO of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Ultimately, this will prepare our students to be better clinicians as well as effective leaders ready to develop innovative solutions for improving the quality, efficiency and accessibility of care.”

The American Medical Association’s stated goal with the grant is to improve curricula across the aboard and, ultimately, transform the way that students in the medical field learn.

The initiative at Penn State Hershey, called System Based Learning, will take place over the next 5 years. According to the AMA’s website, the program’s goal is to turn students into “patient navigators” as to more easily guide them through the nation’s ever-changing health system. Students will work in hospitals, homes, health agencies, and more.

The program’s leaders, Dr. Terry Wolpaw (vice dean for educational affairs), and Dr. Robin Wittenstein (director and chief operating officer of Penn State Hershey health system), believe the program will bump Penn State’s medical school program to the elite level of innovation. The other Big Ten schools chosen for the grants are Michigan and Indiana.

This positive news about Penn State Hershey is more good news after its latest U.S. News and World Report ranking, which ranked the hospital at No. 35 for pediatric cancer care.