Cassie Farrelly, director of operations and strategic initiatives for Penn State College of Medicine, right, helps lead a tour of the college for Penn State President-elect Neeli Bendapudi, left, Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff for Bendapudi, rear left, and Marvin Smith, assistant vice president of Facilities.
This spring, Penn State President-elect Neeli Bendapudi is traveling the commonwealth as part of a listening and learning tour to meet and engage in conversations with students, faculty, staff and community members at each Penn State campus.
March 24, 2022
Penn State President-elect Neeli Bendapudi visited Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health this week as part of her listening tour to meet with students, faculty and staff across Penn State’s campuses. Bendapudi met with College of Medicine leaders, including vice deans and department chairs, as well as students from many of the College programs, and health system leaders, including members of the executive team.
“It was a privilege to meet Dr. Bendapudi during her campus tour,” said Dr. Kevin Black, interim dean of the College of Medicine. “During her visit, we shared our passion for excellence in patient care, teaching, research and service, and our vision for how to evolve the College of Medicine through discovery and innovation. We look forward to working alongside Dr. Bendapudi in her efforts to help students, faculty and staff thrive.”
“Our leaders appreciated the opportunity to talk with Dr. Bendapudi about our growing health system, our mission to improve health in Pennsylvania and beyond, and the challenges we face as a result of the pandemic,” said Steve Massini, Penn State Health chief executive officer. “We very much look forward to her vision and voice as she joins Penn State Health’s board of directors.”
In addition to touring the College of Medicine and Penn State Cancer Institute, Bendapudi got a first-hand look at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center.
“We were honored to welcome Dr. Bendapudi to meet with a number of our inspiring leaders, who talked with her about leading-edge treatments and innovative models of health care,” said Deborah Addo, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Penn State Health. “Dr. Bendapudi’s strategic vision and her passion for new knowledge, community service and diversity, equity and inclusion will be a great asset to Penn State and Penn State Health.”
Bendapudi will begin her tenure as Penn State’s 19th president on May 9, 2022. With a nearly 30-year career in academia, Bendapudi previously served as president of the University of Louisville. Among her leadership experiences, she also has served as provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas, dean of the School of Business at the University of Kansas, and as founding director of the Initiative for Managing Services at the Ohio State University. Learn more about Bendapudi here.