Finding solutions for patients in their time of need

Dr. Mark Stephens
Associate Dean for Medical Education
College of Medicine, University Park Curriculum

Mark Stephens, MD, associate dean for medical education, sees his role as a physician-educator as more than a profession – it's a calling shaped by his rural Pennsylvania roots and a lifelong commitment to service.  

“As a family physician, I believe in a holistic and comprehensive approach to health, recognizing how social determinants like health care access, housing, food security and rural revitalization shape health disparities,” said Stephens.

This approach to health has helped influence the College of Medicine’s University Park curriculum.

As Pennsylvania’s only land-grant medical school, the College of Medicine is committed to serving its residents. The College of Medicine’s University Park Regional Campus in particular, is strategically positioned to train the next generation of physicians to meet the health care needs of rural communities.

Our students receive hands-on training in community settings like LionCare and the LION Mobile Clinic, gaining first-hand experience of the impact of social determinants of health.

As pioneers of the nation's first Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Humanities, learners receive a comprehensive curriculum integrating medical knowledge, communication skills, cultural humility and social determinants of health.

“I am particularly proud of the evolution and maturation of the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus. The regional campus is a testament to a deep commitment to service and understanding of the unique health care needs of disadvantaged communities,” said Stephens. “I am honored to be part of this mission and to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share my passion for education, health care and community engagement.”

It’s stories like these that drive our purpose.