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Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital appoints new surgeon-in-chief
Dr. Robert Ricca has been appointed surgeon-in-chief by Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital. PHOTO/PROVIDED BY PENN STATE HEALTH
Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital appoints new surgeon-in-chief
Dr. Robert Ricca has been appointed by Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital as surgeon-in-chief to lead pediatric surgical services and advance care.
The appointment is effective on Sept. 1. Ricca succeeds Dr. Thomas Samson, who has served as surgeon-in-chief since 2022. Samson helped advance pediatric surgical care across the organization.
A pediatric surgeon, Ricca has more than 20 years of experience in clinical care, academic medicine, and military service. He serves as chief of pediatric surgery at Golisano Children’s Hospital and as a professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine.
“Dr. Ricca’s experience, leadership and commitment to children and families make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” Don McKenna, president of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said in a statement. “We are confident he will build on our strong tradition of excellence and help shape the future of pediatric surgical care at Penn State Health.”
As surgeon-in-chief, Ricca will provide strategic physician leadership for pediatric surgical services across the Children’s Hospital. Working closely with clinical, operational and academic leaders, he will help advance patient care, quality, education, innovation, and program growth. He will also serve on the Children’s Hospital leadership team and hold the Chester Ray Trout Chair in Pediatric Surgery.
Ricca served as director of surgical services and pediatric trauma medical director at the U.S. Navy’s largest medical center. He also served in national leadership roles with the American Pediatric Surgical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons.
