About Penn Medicine

Cancer survivor embraces loved one at Abramson Cancer Center

From founding the first U.S. hospital and medical school more than two centuries ago to pioneering today’s mRNA vaccines and cancer treatments, Penn Medicine has always shown the world what comes next. Today, our 49,000+ team members forge forward, achieving extraordinary levels of collaboration across departments and labs to write the future of medicine.

Who we are

Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service. The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school.

The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation’s top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $580 million awarded in the 2023 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of firsts, Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries that have shaped modern medicine, including CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.

Penn Medicine is an $11.9 billion enterprise powered by nearly 49,000 talented faculty and staff.

The brightest minds and boldest bets

Our team melds innovation with compassionate care by offering patients access to the latest medical breakthroughs—because at Penn Medicine, we help invent them. Our scientists and clinicians stand on the shoulders of those who came before them at Penn, a home to numerous discoveries through the years.

Asian female doctor working with pathogen samples

CAR T cell therapy

The development of CAR T the first FDA-approved cellular therapy for cancer treatment.

mRNA Pioneers, Drew Weissman and Katalin Kariko, look at test tube in their research lab

mRNA

The invention of the mRNA platform that revolutionized COVID-19 vaccine development.

Penn Medicine ophthalmologist gives eye exam at Scheie Eye Institute

Gene therapy for blindness

The first gene therapy to reverse blindness in those born with a rare hereditary disease.

Chromosome 3d rendering illustration

Philadelphia chromosome

The discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome, which fast-tracked cancer research by making the connection to genetic abnormalities.

Our mission

Our mission is to advance knowledge and improve health through patient care, research, and the education of trainees in an inclusive culture that embraces diversity, fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, supports lifelong learning, and sustains our legacy of excellence.

A growing footprint meets patients where they are

Penn Medicine cares for patients in facilities and their homes, stretching from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. Our facilities include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital—the nation’s first hospital, chartered in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Penn Medicine at Home, Good Shepard Penn Partners Rehabilitation, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.

Advancing care, access, and sustainability

At Penn Medicine, our mission extends beyond providing exceptional medical care—we are committed to ensuring patient safety, expanding access to quality health care, and building a sustainable future. Through rigorous quality and safety initiatives, efforts to eliminate barriers to care, and bold sustainability goals, we are shaping the future of health care for our patients, communities, and the planet.

Quality and patient safety

Penn Medicine focuses on patient safety and delivering high-quality care. Our dedicated multidisciplinary team collaborates to monitor and enhance care by leveraging advanced technology and sharing best practices to maintain quality and excellence.

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Health equity

Penn Medicine aims to eliminate health care disparities by providing supportive care for patients from all backgrounds, engaging with the communities we serve, and implementing data-driven interventions. Through research, education, and transformative care, we ensure accessible, equitable health care for all patients.

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Our commitment to sustainability

Penn Medicine is dedicated to building a sustainable future for health care by balancing our commitment to patient care with our duty to protect the environment. In our journey to become the most environmentally friendly health system in the U.S., we have committed to reach 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2042 and adopt green building practices.

Our sustainable approach to reduce waste and energy use across our campuses involves innovations across all areas of our operations. For example, in the operating room, we are reducing the flow rate of anesthesia gases, which minimizes harmful greenhouse gas emissions without compromising patient safety. In just three months in a pilot phase at one of our hospitals, this effort reduced greenhouse gases equivalent to 30 metric tons of carbon.

From extensive solar energy facilities to waste diversion and eco-friendly landscaping, we are minimizing our environmental footprint while promoting a healthier planet.

Read about Penn Medicine’s Climate Sustainability Action Plan to learn how these efforts are making a lasting impact.

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