The $50 Million Phone Call: Penn State College of Medicine Students Learn the Legacy Behind Their Beginning
In 1963, the Hershey Trust donated $50 million to Penn State University for the creation of Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, enabling the town of Hershey to position itself as a leader in healthcare, medical research, and training the next generation of physicians.
On July 17, Milton Hershey School hosted 180 first-year medical and physician assistant students from the College of Medicine to introduce them to the School and the life and legacy of the man who made their institution possible, Milton S. Hershey.
Zarah Light, MHS archivist, led students through the conception, development, and construction of the College of Medicine and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, starting with the 1963 phone call from Samuel L. Hinkle, MHS Board of Managers, to Eric Walker, Penn State President, proposing the creation of a medical school and teaching hospital in Hershey with a donation from the Hershey Trust. Construction began in 1966, and in 1967, the College of Medicine welcomed its first class of students. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center opened in 1971, the same year the College of Medicine celebrated its first graduates.
College of Medicine students heard from MHS Director of Strategic Partnerships Emily Gallo, about MHS’s Career-Focused Education and cross-curricular career focus, highlighting the emphasis on developing career-transferable skills, humanities connections, and science in action.
“These community connections are invaluable,” said Gallo. “We can learn from each other, help each other, and ultimately, these connections help our students have a richer educational experience.”
After hearing from MHS leaders and teachers about scholastic and home life, students learned the story of Dr. Larry Klomps III, MD ’08, an MHS alumnus who also attended the College of Medicine and is working as a radiologist. Klomps shared his early life experiences and how MHS not only gave him a stable home but also prepared him for medical school and a bright future.
“I carry the lessons I learned here with me everywhere – one of them being the importance of mentorship,” said Klomps. “I joined today because I want to be a resource for these new students. I know how challenging medical school is and they can lean on me for support.”
MHS staff further showcased Career-Focused Education by taking students to a health science lab and hosting an ice-cream social, featuring student-made Spartan Ice Cream.
“WE ARE so much more than Penn State here in Hershey, and it was important for our new students to understand not only our origins but the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey,” said College of Medicine Student Engagement Manager Amy Ward. “Penn State College of Medicine and MHS aim to improve the health and lives of others. Both missions focus on the whole person and the uniqueness each individual provides.”