School of Nursing gets its own building in downtown Lewistown

Geisinger School of Nursing announced the purchase of property at 111 E. Market St. in downtown Lewistown, according to Kirk Thomas, chief administrative officer for Geisinger’s Western Region. The facility, a former Bon-Ton department store, will be renovated and house the School of Nursing, with a planned opening in 2024.

“Our School of Nursing is a point of great pride for our community,” Mr. Thomas said. “We are pleased that, by providing students and faculty with accommodations dedicated solely to the school, we’re underscoring our commitment to education and to building a health professions workforce pipeline in our region.”

“Nursing serves as the key foundation for healthcare systems and is fundamental to providing access to high quality care,” said Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Geisinger. “The nursing shortage is well known, and with this announcement, we highlight our continued commitment to offering a pathway to the profession through a program that is regularly recognized for its high quality.”

Beth Finkbiner, MSN, RN, director of the School of Nursing, said, “We’re excited to create a true campus feel for our learners and improve services in a space that provides optimal educational experiences, as well as faculty and administrative offices.”