Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are committed to establishing and maintaining high-quality medical education training programs.

Our institution provides the diverse patient population, dedicated faculty, excellent clinical and basic science departments, and nationally recognized research programs required to create an environment optimal for learning and for the development of future leaders in the art and science of medicine.

Details on the residencies, fellowships and clerkships offered by various departments across the institution are available below. Information on our MD and Physician Assistant (PA) degree programs is also provided.

Programs and rotations for students from outside colleges are available in different disciplines including nursing, advanced practice providers, therapy, social work, child life, medical assistant and many others. See the links below for more information and application.

Advanced Practice Providers

Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine provides clinical placement for students in a variety of clinical disciplines and specialties.

Read more about Advanced Practice Provider Program

College of Medicine, Graduate Training and Undergraduate Programs

College of Medicine

Penn State College of Medicine (and its academic partners, Penn State Health and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) are committed to enhancing the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.

Read more about College of Medicine

Graduate Training Programs

Penn State College of Medicine offers a number of master’sdoctoral degrees and graduate certificates in biomedical and public health sciences for those interested in pursuing careers in research, teaching and public health.

MD Program

The mission of the Penn State College of Medicine MD program is to enhance the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others, and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.

The innovative systems-based curriculum is designed to give students a global perspective of the healthcare system, and beginning in the first year, students serve as patient navigators, guiding patients through the often-complicated process of getting the care they need.

Penn State College of Medicine also offers accelerated “3+” programs in family medicine, orthopaedics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery and more. In addition, students have the option to study in Hershey, Pa., or in the parallel University Park Curriculum in State College, Pa., and can pursue a number of dual or joint degrees, such as MD/PhD, MD/MBA and MD/MPH.

Read more about the MD program offerings

Explore clerkships, acting internships and electives for medical students

Physician Assistant (PA) Program

The physician assistant program at Penn State College of Medicine is a 24-month, 101-credit full-time graduate program that enrolls 30 students each May.

Students graduating from the PA Program will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree. Our first class graduated in May 2016.

The mission of the Penn State College of Medicine physician assistant (PA) program is to develop students who will:

  • be academically, clinically, professionally, and culturally prepared to deliver health care services;
  • develop critical thinking and application skills; and
  • be ready to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients.

Our graduates will improve the health of their patients and the populations they serve in an efficient and cost-conscious manner.

Read more about the PA program

Undergraduate Student Programs

Penn State College of Medicine offers 10-week summer research programs for undergraduate college students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical sciences research.

Read more about Undergraduate Student Programs

College of Medicine Resources for Current Students

Continuing Education for Professionals

Continuing Education at Penn State Health provides continuing professional education for physicians, nurses, and allied health personnel.

Read more about Continuing Education at Penn State Health

GROW Career Pathways

GROW your future with new career opportunities for aspiring and current health care professionals seeking clinical roles.

Read more about GROW Career Pathways

High School Student Programs

Thank you for reaching out about shadowing experiences at Penn State Health. Currently, our shadowing for high school students is very limited; however, we have a variety of opportunities available to explore your interest in healthcare.

Hospital Tours and Interviews

Once a month, our team provides “Walk-In Wednesdays” hiring event to talk to staff, tour the hospital and interview

Find the events here

Lab Research Internships

Medical Group (APP, Medical Assistant Externship, Shadowing)

Penn State Health Medical Group

Nursing Programs

At Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, our Nursing Education and Professional DevelopmentUndergraduate Nursing and Graduate Nursing programs helps nurses at every level grow and flourish in their profession.

Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) (Nursing and Psychology/Therapy/Social Services)

At Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI), there are opportunities for nursing students as well as behavioral health, social work, social services, psychology, and expressive therapies. Please click the appropriate link below to explore and apply for placement for shadowing or clinicals

Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinical Counseling

Residencies and Fellowships

Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine offer residency and fellowship training in more than 70 ACGME-accredited specialties and subspecialties, and numerous other specialized training programs are available.

Learn more about residency and fellowship programs

Physician-Scientist Training Program

The Physician-Scientist Training Program is tailored for residents and fellows who are interested in making research a significant part of their career, and also includes MD students, MD/PhD students, research staff and junior faculty. Its mission is to break down departmental/divisional silos and create an institution-wide program for physician-scientists that starts at the trainee level.

The program is part of State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center's commitment to becoming a destination for physician-scientists at all career stages by creating a nurturing community and infrastructure that fosters collaborations across all disciplines, prepares our trainees for a sustainable research career, and forges a sustainable physician-scientist career development pipeline.

Learn more about the Physician-Scientist Training Program

Therapy Programs and Child Life

Penn State Health accepts students in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Pathology. Schools should contact staff directly for inquires and openings.

Child Life Program

At Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, our Child Life Program offers shadowing experiences, summer Practicum experience and internships in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Read more about Child Life Program

Music Therapy

The Music Therapy Program uses music and music activities to promote healing and help our patients adjust to being in the hospital.

Read more about Music Therapy Program

Volunteering

Volunteers at Penn State Health help to provide services to patients and caregivers with passion and kindness. We strive to make sure all our volunteers have a meaningful experience while being of service to others through our programs.

Read more about Volunteer Programs