Tom Stoessel, MBA Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Transformation Officer | Penn State Health
Tom Stoessel, MBA Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Transformation Officer | Penn State Health
On March 19, 2025, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center announced the launch of a new trauma training program for National Guard members. This initiative is part of a collaboration with the National Guard to provide specialized medical training in areas such as emergency medicine and air medical transport.
The Hershey Trauma, Readiness, Education and Training (TREAT) Program includes a two-week course that culminates in a mass casualty simulation at the Life Lion Hangar on the medical center's campus. Participants engage in hands-on training alongside Penn State Health professionals.
Dr. Scott Armen, chief of the Division of Trauma, Acute Care and Critical Care Surgery, emphasized the center's suitability for this program due to its status as a Level I trauma center for both adults and children. He stated: “Our excellence in trauma care, as well as our strong military ties and extensive clinical training resources, made it possible to collaborate with the National Guard Bureau as a way to simultaneously support our community and the country.”
Jillian Murray-Duchesne, who designed the TREAT curriculum, noted that many National Guard members have other full-time jobs and may not be familiar with high-stress trauma situations. She explained: “This training allows them to learn and practice the skills they’ll need in a controlled environment that simulates the conditions they may be exposed to during a deployment.”
Amy Bollinger from Penn State Health highlighted teamwork as an essential component of trauma care: “Trauma care requires teamwork,” she said. The planning process for this program took between 18 and 24 months.
Participants expressed positive feedback about their experiences. Tech. Sgt. Carlos Patino-Quiroz praised the welcoming environment: “From day one of this program, we were very welcome,” he said.
Capt. Steven Thompson appreciated gaining different perspectives within various hospital departments: “It was great to be able to do this training in a facility I’ve known well on the civilian side,” he said.
Staff Sergeant Suzanne Nowalk valued experiencing real-life trauma scenarios beyond theoretical learning: “You can look at theory and practice it in a simulation lab all you want,” she said.
The TREAT Program represents an effort by Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to enhance readiness among National Guard medics through comprehensive hands-on training.
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