Community impact

Every day, the people of Penn Medicine work alongside community partners to provide compassionate care and live our commitment to service in action. These are their stories.
Exterior of the Clyde F Barker Transplant house

 A home away from home for transplant patients and families

The Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House offers a comforting and affordable refuge for transplant patients and families—with community and hope.

The Witmer family, including two parents and two small children, sit on the couch in their living room

Making older homes a safer haven for young families

After five years, the Lead-Free Families initiative is proving the impact of a health system investing in safe homes.

Supporting families experiencing food insecurity

Kevin Mahoney holds a microphone standing in front of a bright blue shed (community food pantry), surrounded by Philadelphia Union officials and mascot Phang

Penn Medicine and Union partner for community fridge

Located at Boys & Girls Club of Chester, the community refrigerator and accompanying pantry contributes to ongoing efforts to address food insecurity.

  • Frank Otto
  • May 6, 2024
Two people surrounded by pantry shelves place tomatoes from a produce case into a plastic bag

The hospital shares the harvest

At the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, patients experiencing food insecurity have access to fresh food to support their health and recovery.

  • Daphne Sashin
  • November 6, 2023
Young woman working on laptop at home

Food, transport, shelter, and a helpful voice to guide you

For five years, Penn Medicine’s Social Needs Response Team has connected patients to vital support foundational to good health.

  • Abby Alten Schwartz
  • June 3, 2025

Spotlight on health equity

An illustrated cross section of the kidneys

Blood test predicts kidney failure risk to Black Americans

A Penn Medicine study finds that a blood test predicts kidney failure risk to Black Americans years before onset.

  • April 15, 2026
A man sitting at a table and scrolling on his phone

Texts connect more patients with public benefits than flyers

Text messages are more effective than paper flyers to help emergency department patients apply for public benefits programs.

  • February 10, 2026
Two medical students sorting through a pile of clothes with a bearded man wearing a hat and an orange and black shirt

Penn’s future doctors build trust on the streets

Penn medical students are forging connections with those experiencing homelessness and shining a light on the transformative power of street medicine.

  • Daphne Sashin
  • October 6, 2025

Investing in community health

A teaching doctor reviewing a patient chart with a resident at Chester County Hospital

Keeping the ‘family’ together as Crozer residents move to Penn

Now at Chester County Hospital, former Crozer residents are sustaining their primary care lifeline for 25,000 patients in the community.

  • Kris Ankarlo
  • October 8, 2025
Albert Ruenes performing surgery and teaching medical professionals in an operating room wearing surgical gowns, masks, and caps.

Advancing care in Africa through global collaboration

A global partnership between Doylestown Health’s Albert Ruenes, MD, and Senegal’s Serigne Gueye, MD, is transforming urologic care across West Africa.

  • Dawn Kelly
  • August 27, 2025
A young Black girl pours a large watering can over a raised planter bed in a field surrounded by rowhomes

Deeply Rooted models community-academic action for health justice

Deeply Rooted has planted over 1,000 trees, greened over 1,000 vacant lots, and funded 79 community grants. It is growing partnerships with local schools.

  • Kelsey Geesler
  • May 5, 2025

Meet the people connecting with our communities

Four therapy dogs as part of the Roxy Responder team

Penn Medicine CAREs grants boost science, literacy, service

CAREs grant recipients are translating expertise into action—expanding science education, supporting early literacy, and strengthening volunteer-led service efforts.

  • March 17, 2026
A smiling woman with a goat perched atop a rooftop

Processing grief through goats and accessibility

An accessible grief garden will welcome more visitors to process and heal, thanks to a CAREs grant award.

  • Eric Horvath
  • October 27, 2025
Hope Afloat team members gathering around a trophy outside.

Breast cancer survivors persevere through paddling

Catherine Hagele found Dragon Boat racing to build community and strength after cancer treatment—embodying the power of exercise for survivorship.

  • Olivia Kimmel
  • May 21, 2025

Our commitment to maternal health

Abike James, MD, speaks with a patient in an obstetrical exam room

Banishing racial bias and building trust during pregnancy

Penn Medicine is addressing sources of mistrust, bias, and racial inequity for pregnant patients, to ensure lifelong health in growing families.

  • Christina Hernandez Sherwood
  • December 6, 2023
Karimah Fergusun, a young Black mother, smiles at her yawning newborn daughter

Health equity efforts help moms newly home from the hospital

Technologies and other touchpoints help Penn Medicine to connect more with birthing parents in the critical postpartum period to ensure good health.

  • Christina Hernandez Sherwood
  • December 6, 2023
Nicole Miller watches as Mario DeMarco, MD, examines her 3-year-old son on an exam table

From pregnancy, bridging to lifelong health

People connect with the health care system more often during pregnancy than at other times. Why not build upon that momentum to make health more equitable?

  • Christina Hernandez Sherwood
  • December 3, 2023

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