Latest news with #PennMedicine
NBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Penn Medicine no longer offering gender-affirming procedures for people under 19
Penn Medicine is no longer offering gender-affirming surgical procedures to patients under the age of 19, the health system confirmed to NBC Philadelphia on Thursday. 'As a result of current guidance established by the federal government, Penn Medicine will no longer be able to provide gender-affirming surgical procedures for patients under the age of 19,' PJ Brennan, Penn Medicine's chief medical officer, said in a statement. According to Brennan, this change specifically pertains to gender-affirming surgical procedures in plastic surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, urology and otorhinolaryngology. 'This is a difficult decision that we know impacts patients and families who place their trust in our care teams. We remain deeply committed to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all members of the communities we serve and providing comprehensive medical and behavioral health care and psychosocial support for LGBTQ+ individuals while complying with federal government requirements,' Brennan said. Gender-affirming procedures and care have been a target of the Trump administration, with the president signing an executive order in January directing agencies to halt grants and funding that could be used for gender-affirming care for people under age 19. Philadelphia City Councilmember Rue Landau criticized the decision, saying, 'It is extremely upsetting and disturbing to see Penn react to it, especially when so many people in the institution have said we're going to stay strong and we're going to continue doing this for as long as we can.' 'This is important. This is the health care we provide. Life saving healthcare for young people. That's what it is,' she added. The announcement also comes after the Trump administration accused the University of Pennsylvania in April of violating laws guaranteeing women equal opportunities in athletics by letting a transgender swimmer compete on the school's women's team and access into team facilities. The Trump administration did not name Lia Thomas — the transgender swimmer who last competed for the school in 2022 and was the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title that year — but Thomas was the focus of the investigation started by the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights in February. The Trump administration has also suspended approximately $175 million in federal funding for Penn over its decision to let Thomas compete.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Penn Medicine to stop providing gender-affirming surgeries for patients 18 and under, official says
Penn Medicine will no longer provide gender-affirming surgery to patients under 19 years old Penn Medicine will no longer provide gender-affirming surgery to patients under 19 years old Penn Medicine will no longer provide gender-affirming surgery to patients under 19 years old Penn Medicine will stop providing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 years old, the Philadelphia-based system said Thursday. Penn Medicine will no longer perform gender-affirming surgical procedures in plastic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and urology, as well as head and neck surgeries, PJ Brennan, Penn Medicine's chief medical officer, said in a statement. The change comes "as a result of current guidance established by the federal government," the statement says. The news comes after President Trump signed an executive order restricting gender-affirming care for people under 19. The order, which threatens federal grants awarded to institutions that provide gender-affirming care to people 18 and under, has been challenged in court. Major medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, support access to care, and surgery for minors is extremely rare. "We remain deeply committed to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all members of the communities we serve and providing comprehensive medical and behavioral health care and psychosocial support for LGBTQ+ individuals while complying with federal government requirements," Brennan said in the statement. The University of Pennsylvania previously came under fire from the Trump administration, which claims the school violated laws guaranteeing women equal opportunities in athletics by letting a transgender swimmer compete on the school's women's team and into team facilities in 2022. Penn has said that it always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams. The Trump administration said in March it would cut $175 million in grants for the university over the issue.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
This Philadelphia doctor's story of saving his own life is being made into a movie: "I almost died five times"
Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Saving lives, first his own, then others. It's the story of a doctor researcher at Penn Medicine that's now being made into a movie. A man on a mission, with science always running through his mind. Dr. David Fajgenbaum works out the equations on his windows at Penn Medicine. Focusing on immune cells is how he saved his life, with a new approach that's now saving others. It's a story that's headed to Hollywood. CBS News Philadelphia. "This is a story about living from someone who was dying, and it's a story about creating hope when it feels like there is no hope," he said. Fajgenbaum was filled with a more innocent kind of hope at Georgetown, where he was a quarterback. Then, at Penn Medicine, in his third year, he developed a rare disease called Castleman for which there was no treatment. "In the first three years after my diagnosis, I almost died five times," he said. "I knew that if I didn't find a treatment, that I wasn't gonna survive. And so that was just my only hope." Castleman puts the immune system in overdrive. Fajgenbaum figured an established transplant drug, which suppresses the immune system, might work, and it did. "Turning hope into action," he said. That's the theme of his book, "Chasing My Cure," A cure that came from an existing drug. CBS News Philadelphia. "It's so amazing to think that this drug was at my local CVS for all those years when I was in and out of the ICU, and no one knew to try it," said Fajgenbaum. "So I just keep thinking, how many more drugs that could treat more patients that are suffering from diseases?" Fajgenbaum and his team at Penn find new uses for existing medications, drug repurposing. "We've just uncovered time and time again that the solutions are out there. We just don't have anyone looking for these old solutions. Our medical system focuses on new drugs for profitable diseases. We want to focus on existing drugs for neglected diseases," Fajgenbaum said. He started a nonprofit called Every Cure, where they repurpose drugs with the help of artificial intelligence. Every Cure. "And over the last 11 years, we've identified and advanced 13 more repurposed treatments for diseases they weren't intended for," Fajgenbaum said. One is a vitamin derivative that can help some autistic children. "That's one of my favorite programs. We're advancing another one is with the numbing medicine, lidocaine," he said. That one is showing promise with breast cancer. His story and research has made headlines and now a movie is in the works. "The script is being written. I hear it's almost done, which is exciting. And then the next step is to identify the right lead actor," said Fajgenbaum. "My wife has ideas for people in mind. She would love Bradley Cooper to play me." Playing the real-life story of a lifesaver. As if he doesn't already have enough accolades, Fajgenbaum was also just recognized as one of Time's 100Health leaders.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Second Annual Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Improvement Designation Awards Recognize 62 Hospitals
HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its second annual Perinatal Quality Improvement Designation Awards which were presented at its annual conference in Altoona on May 21, 2025. "Through participation in the Perinatal Quality Collaborative, hospital staff have demonstrated the ability to work with community services to make a difference." Share Designation awards and levels are based on meeting quality improvement milestone criteria over a 12-month period, starting from April 2024 through March 2025. The awards were announced and presented to staff from each hospital during a ceremony at the Blair County Convention Center. Those earning the silver or gold designation level have undertaken additional projects focused on health equity and/or patient voice within maternal and neonatal health care. Hospitals recognized at the ceremony include: ACMH Hospital AHN – Forbes Hospital AHN – Jefferson Hospital AHN – St. Vincent AHN – West Penn Hospital Doylestown Hospital Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital Geisinger – Bloomsburg Hospital Geisinger – Community Medical Center Geisinger – Lewistown Hospital Geisinger – Medical Center, Danville Geisinger – Wyoming Valley Medical Center Grand View Hospital Maternity Department Guthrie – Robert Packer Hospital Birthing Center Holy Redeemer Hospital Indiana Regional Medical Center Jefferson Einstein Medical Center Montgomery Jefferson Health – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest Lehigh Valley Health Network – Hazelton Lehigh Valley Health Network – Muhlenberg Lehigh Valley Health Network – Pocono Lehigh Valley Health Network – Schuylkill Main Line Health – Bryn Mawr Hospital Main Line Health – Lankenau Medical Center Main Line Health – Paoli Hospital Main Line Health – Riddle Hospital Mount Nittany Medical Center Penn Highlands DuBois Penn Medicine – Chester County Hospital Penn Medicine – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Penn Medicine – Lancaster General/Women and Babies Penn Medicine – Pennsylvania Hospital Penn State Health – Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Children's Hospital Penn State Health –St. Joseph's Punxsutawney Area Hospital St. Clair Hospital St. Luke's University Health Network – Allentown St. Luke's University Health Network – Anderson St. Luke's University Health Network – Upper BucksTower Health – Phoenixville Hospital Tower Health System – Reading Hospital Trinity Health - St. Marys Medical Center UPMC Altoona UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC Hamot UPMC Hanover UPMC Harrisburg UPMC Horizon UPMC Magee Womens Hospital UPMC Memorial in York UPMC Northwest UPMC Wellsboro (Susquehanna Soldiers and Sailors) UPMC Williamsport (Susquehanna Williamsport) Warren General Hospital Wayne General Hospital WellSpan – Evangelical Community Hospital WellSpan – Ephrata Community Hospital WellSpan – Gettysburg Hospital WellSpan – Good Samaritan Hospital WellSpan – Summit Health Chambersburg Hospital WellSpan – York Hospital 'Pennsylvanians understand the need to address the ongoing challenges affecting mothers and their newborn babies, especially those causing maternal and infant deaths. Through participation in the Perinatal Quality Collaborative, hospital staff have demonstrated the ability to work with community services to make a difference. With a refocus of priorities at the national level, birthing hospitals across Pennsylvania have responded by increasing their work locally to improve the care of mothers and babies in their communities,' said James Cook, MD, Neonatal Health Co-Chair of the PA PQC Advisory Group and Medical Director of the Northeastern PA PQC. In Pennsylvania, perinatal health issues persist, including racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes, higher than average maternal sepsis rates, and drug overdose deaths during pregnancy and postpartum. The PA PQC addresses these challenges through various initiatives, including Maternal Opioid Use Disorder, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Maternal Sepsis, and Safe Sleep. Through collaborative efforts, the PA PQC aims to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes across the state. 'We are proud to recognize the hospitals across Pennsylvania that are leading the way in improving maternal and newborn outcomes in childbirth,' said Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, President and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. 'Their commitment to quality improvement and patient-centered care is helping to address some of the most pressing challenges in maternal health. These designations reflect meaningful progress toward safer care for all families in the Commonwealth.' The PA PQC is administered by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeastern Pennsylvania PQC (NEPaPQC). About the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) provides quality improvement support to healthcare teams to improve the standard of care for pregnant and postpartum people and babies. Seventy-seven birth sites and NICUs from across the commonwealth participate in the PA PQC. The PA PQC is administered by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeastern Pennsylvania PQC (NEPaPQC). For more information, visit About the Jewish Healthcare Foundation The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and its three operating arms — the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI), Health Careers Futures (HCF), and the Women's Health Activist Movement Global (WHAMglobal) — offer a unique brand of activist philanthropy to advance healthcare innovation, advocacy, collaboration, and education in the interest of better health. For more information, visit
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
FDA-approved Nerivio REN wearable device is a noninvasive, drug-free way to treat migraine headaches
Nerivio, an FDA approved and REN wearable device, is a drug free way to treat migraine headaches Nerivio, an FDA approved and REN wearable device, is a drug free way to treat migraine headaches Nerivio, an FDA approved and REN wearable device, is a drug free way to treat migraine headaches A device that is a noninvasive, drug-free way to treat and prevent migraine headaches is now FDA-approved for use in children. Millions of people suffer from migraine headaches that can be debilitating. Treatments range from drugs to botox injections. But for many, nothing works. Doctors said this device, Nerivio REN wearable, could change that. Alison Kerber said it's a device that's turned her life around, helping control her migraine headaches. "Dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis was really difficult, and I was often sidelined," she said. The Downingtown working mom said traditional migraine medications caused serious side effects, so she turned to the Nerivio REN wearable device that sticks to the skin. "It works by sending an electrical impulse via the nerve fibers in the upper arm up to the brain to get your brain to activate its own pain-relieving capabilities," said Dr. Heidi Kling-Newnam, a Penn Medicine nurse practitioner. Kling-Newnam, who works with migraine patients, said the stimulation tricks the brain into relieving migraine pain. "If you can mimic something that's like pain, that your body perceives as pain, even though this device isn't painful.... it can trigger the release of these natural chemicals that your body makes to relieve pain, almost like natural pain relievers," said Kling-Newnam. Kerber, who's been using the device for about a year, said she controls the level of stimulation from her phone. "I'm starting to feel the stimulation right now in my arm. I continue to increase that until it no longer feels comfortable," she said. "And then I dial it back just a little bit." The device is used for 45 minutes either as a treatment during a migraine or every other day to prevent them. "I think it's a really great drug-free, noninvasive option," said Kerber. Some insurance companies don't cover the prescription device that can cost about $90 a month. Kerber said for her, it's worth the price to be pain-free. Doctors said the device doesn't work for everyone, but there are no serious side effects. And it's often used in conjunction with other treatments.
