Robert Harbaugh, MD, will step down from his role as chief medical officer of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., on Nov. 1.
Dr. Harbaugh is a neurosurgery expert who has spent nearly three decades of his career at Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health. He earned his medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine and joined the institution in 2003 as founding chair of the neurosurgery department. Under his leadership, the department grew to include 34 clinical and research faculty, six accredited fellowships and a residency program, according to an Oct. 16 news release from the health system.
Dr. Harbaugh became senior vice president of academic practices in 2018 and CMO of the system’s flagship hospital in 2023. He will also step down from his role overseeing academic practice, though will continue to work with the institution as a university distinguished professor.
“Dr. Harbaugh’s impact on medicine reaches far beyond Penn State,” health system CEO Michael Kupferman, MD, said in a statement. “His groundbreaking research, national leadership and dedication to improving care have helped shape modern neurosurgery. We look forward to his continued work in educating the next generation of neurosurgeons.”
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