Geisinger College of Health Sciences officially launched at Geisinger Commonwealth Day ceremonies

Opening a Geisinger blue umbrella and holding it aloft, newly installed President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, announced the formation of Geisinger College of Health Sciences.

The college will serve as the “umbrella” institution uniting Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Geisinger School of Nursing and Geisinger School of Graduate Education under a single entity. The new entity will oversee the expansion of the School of Nursing from a diploma-granting institution to one that will bestow an associate degree. The new organizational structure also paves the way for future health professions programs needed in Geisinger’s service area.

“Geisinger Commonwealth Day is a celebration we created to honor our past and embrace our future,” Dr. Byerley said. “There was no better forum than a setting uniting our founders, our community and our health system leadership to celebrate this next step in the life of local medical and health professions education.”

“The evolution of our nursing program has been a goal for some time, and we’re thrilled to see it come to life — especially now, when nurses are needed most,” said Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing executive at Geisinger. “This step forward will help even more people begin a rewarding career in nursing.”

Dr. Byerley noted that the medical school will keep the name Geisinger Commonwealth — and the school’s commitment to its founding mission hasn’t changed. “Our school will remain focused on serving our community, providing opportunity and advancement for local learners and leveraging the discoveries of our research team to improve health and well-being.” The college will organize a continuum of education from graduate, medical and nursing students through residencies and fellowships to the continuing education and professional development that mature practitioners require. The new structure will create more synergy and opportunities for interprofessional learning and, because it will work closely with the Research Institute, it will elevate Geisinger’s academic profile under the umbrella of the college — providing an academic identity for the innovative work done at Geisinger.

“It’s a win for our learners and our scientists,” Dr. Byerley said. “Our community will reap the benefits of our integrated, cooperative approach to educating the healthcare teams of the future.”