Year 1 curriculum

The humanities and medicine

The Health Equity Group (HEG) at Geisinger Commonwealth has recommended a new book as the required summer reading for incoming students. Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy, MD, is described by Kirkus Reviews as “an arresting memoir that personalizes the enduring racial divide in contemporary American medicine.... In this unsparingly honest chronicle, Tweedy cohesively illuminates the experiences of black doctors and black patients and reiterates the need for improved understanding of racial

As the new academic year begins, the book supplies the basis of small group discussions for both first- and second-year students, led by our faculty members of HEG. The book examines the complex ways in which both Black doctors and patients must navigate the

differences within global medical communities.” difficult and often contradictory terrain of race and medicine. Through his own and his patients’ stories, Dr. Tweedy illustrates the complex social, cultural and economic factors at the root of many health problems in the Black community. As the New York Times writes, “In this powerful, moving, and deeply empathic book, Tweedy explores the challenges confronting black doctors, and the disproportionate health burdens faced by black patients, ultimately seeking a way forward to better treatment and more compassionate care.”

Dr. Damon Tweedy is a graduate of Duke Medical School and Yale Law School. He is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and staff physician at the Durham VA Medical Center.

Year 1 curriculum

Students spend their first two years primarily in Geisinger Commonwealth’s North Campus location, studying basic sciences and learning clinical skills. Courses are designed to address the interface of patient, physician and society, and introduce clinical thinking and decision-making in today’s socioeconomic and cultural environment.

During first year, the focus is gaining a core understanding of the structure and function of the human body.

Course

Case-Based Learning 1 (CBL1)

Community Health Improvement and Promotion (CHIP)

Foundation of Systems (FoS)

Physician and Patient-Centered Care (PPCC1)

Physician and Society (PAS)

Neuroscience

Topic

CBL1 prepares students for clinical practice by linking classroom-based knowledge to clinical practice through the discussion of clinical case studies.

The goal of CHIP is to give students the opportunity to learn about the principles, methods and complexities involved in community health/public health interventions through active participation in group projects.

FoS covers biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, medical genetics, physiology, clinical anatomy and radiology, histology, immunology, microbiology, pathology, embryology and pharmacology.

PPCC1 is a year-long course that assists students and one another to connect to humanity and humanism — our own as well as that of our peers and those who will benefit from our professional skills, knowledge and presence.

The goal in PAS is to illustrate the need for and the benefits from collaborative approaches and efforts for advancements in health, health policies and clinical practices among the fields of clinical medicine, research epidemiology, biostatistics and public health.

The instructional material is presented in a multidisciplinary format to foster the integration of the basic disciplines of neuroanatomy, biochemisty, histology, immunology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and physiology.

Tyler Bogaczyk

MD Class of 2023

Tyler Bogaczyk is used to multitasking. As both an undergraduate and graduate student, he occupied what little downtime he had from his studies to fill leadership roles and find innovative applications for 3D printing. In college, Tyler was very involved on campus. He was a member of the men’s crew team, a resident assistant, a campus tour guide and president of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. In addition, Tyler found time to learn about 3D printing at Bucknell University’s MakerSpace. “I was introduced to 3D printing right after graduation and became fascinated with the technology,” he said. “I spent time in the MakerSpace throughout the summer and learned how to use the printers. I was blown away by the endless applications that the technology could be used for, so I bought my own printer and started a custom 3D printing business as a new hobby.”

In addition to his 3D printing projects, Tyler worked as a research assistant in Geisinger’s Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research to gain experience collaborating with physicians. After two years, he decided to pursue a Master of Science in Biomedical Studies (MBS) from Drexel and moved to Philadelphia with his 3D printer. While there, Tyler teamed up with two other MBS students to design a community impact project that utilized 3D printing. By combining their passions for medicine and Tyler’s 3D printer, the three of them established the first Philadelphia based chapter of e-NABLE, an international nonprofit that connects individuals with 3D printers to clients in need of prosthetic limbs and assistive devices. Throughout the rest of his time at Drexel, his team would go on to create and donate prosthetic devices to multiple clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

As he enters his second year of medical school at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Tyler is still finding ways to leverage his 3D printing background, only this time he’s using his printer to help battle COVID-19. In early April, Tyler began taking advantage of the strict stay-at-home orders by printing “ear saver” devices on a daily basis to donate to local healthcare workers. The devices prevent mask straps from rubbing on the back of ears, an emerging problem for healthcare workers who need to constantly wear masks at work. He did this without missing a moment of school or study time. Tyler has a timer set on his watch so he can start his printer, resume his studies or Zoom meetings, then return to the printer for post-print processing when the timer goes off. He has been doing this on repeat for two months now and plans to continue doing so until the devices are no longer needed. Tyler has already made over 500 ear savers and donated all of them to Geisinger clinicians.

Despite his busy daily schedule, Tyler has also become very involved in the Geisinger Commonwealth community. He was elected president of the Medical Student Council and treasurer of the Student Musculoskeletal Society and is an active member of many other student groups. Tyler is also one of 10 Abigail Geisinger Scholars for his class, a status he’s very proud of. “As an Abigail Geisinger Scholar, I have pledged to serve the Geisinger family and NEPA community,” he said. “I wanted to begin honoring that commitment by serving in leadership roles that will allow me to make an impact at my school.”