‘Nudging’ both patients and providers boosts flu vaccine numbers Image: Iparraguirre Recio via Getty Images News ‘Nudging’ both patients and providers boosts flu vaccine numbers A new study shows that when patients got text messages from their primary care practice, and the providers were nudged themselves to boost vaccination numbers, rates jumped.
PennSTAR delivers critical care in the air, across the region The flight crew of a PennSTAR helicopter on the roof of the Clifton Center in between call.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) News PennSTAR delivers critical care in the air, across the region PennSTAR’s flight crews and Metro Aviation pilots combine rigorous training, redundant safety, and a proprietary instrument approach to move the sickest patients quickly to the right Penn Medicine care.
RTW Foundation donates $8M to reimagine physician training in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine (From left) Kevin Mahoney, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS); Jennifer Kogan, vice dean for Undergraduate Medical Education; Penn President J. Larry Jameson; Rod Wong and Marti Speranza Wong; Lisa Bellini, executive vice dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president of academic affairs for UPHS; Jonathan Epstein, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for UPHS.nocred RTW Foundation donates $8M to reimagine physician training in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine The gift sparks curriculum transformation, new lectureship, and names Entrepreneurship Pathway in honor of alumnus Rod Wong. 2 min. read
Can aging be treated at the cellular level? Image: Wladimir Bulgar via Getty Images Can aging be treated at the cellular level? Penn researchers Shelley Berger and Esra Sahingur explain senescence, the process of cellular aging, and discuss the complexities of developing anti-aging therapies that target these cells. 4 min. read
People with PCOS can take birth control to alleviate symptoms without increasing heart disease People with PCOS can take birth control to alleviate symptoms without increasing heart disease The findings, from researchers at Penn Medicine, challenge the current practice of combining birth control and metformin to moderate risks from birth control in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. 2 min. read
Can AI tools help train a more effective physician? Can AI tools help train a more effective physician? CRISP (Clinical Reasoning Insights for Shaping Performance) is a new Penn Medicine initiative that will use AI-enabled systems to deliver data-driven feedback to medical students and postgraduate trainees, thanks to a new $1.1 million grant from the American Medical Association.
Gene therapy ‘switch’ may offer non-addictive pain relief Image: nopparit via Getty Images Gene therapy ‘switch’ may offer non-addictive pain relief In a preclinical study, Penn Medicine researchers have uncovered a new gene therapy that targets only pain signals while leaving the rest of the brain untouched. 2 min. read
New video dataset to advance AI for health care Kevin Johnson, left, demonstrating the recording process with Karen O’Connor, right.(Image: Sylvia Zhang) New video dataset to advance AI for health care Penn Engineering’s multimodal medical dataset, Observer, links video, audio, and transcripts to clinical data and electronic health records. 2 min. read
Awards and accolades for Penn faculty nocred Awards and accolades for Penn faculty A roundup of appointments and awards for various members of Penn’s faculty across several schools. 2 min. read
20 breakthroughs of 2025 The Polyhedral Structures Laboratory is housed at the Pennovation Center and brings together designers, engineers, and computer scientists to reimagine the built world. Using graphic statics, a method where forces are mapped as lines, they design forms that balance compression and tension. These result in structures that use far fewer materials while remaining strong and efficient.(Image: Eric Sucar) 20 breakthroughs of 2025 From ancient tombs and tiny robots to personalized gene editing and AI weather models, Penn’s 2025 research portfolio showed how curiosity—paired with collaboration—moves knowledge into impact and stretches across disciplines and continents. 5 min. read