School of Medicine
surpasses 1,000 alumni
A message from Julie Byerley, MD, MPH
At Geisinger College of Health Sciences, our aspiration is to attract learners with high potential, train them well and retain them to become expert clinicians within the Geisinger system. Another strategic priority is to be sure that all — even those who go on to practice elsewhere — are leaders in value-based care and commitment to the community.
In this edition of our magazine, our college is celebrating a very special milestone: We now claim more than 1,000 physician alumni! Think of that — 1,000 new physicians educated in NEPA over the last decade or so. That includes 69 new psychiatrists and more than 350 physicians that entered primary care residencies. As a young school, two-thirds of our graduates are still in training, yet we have more than 60 alums practicing right here in NEPA. More are on the way back to the area as they complete their training, and with our Abigail Geisinger Scholars program, each year that number will grow and grow.
I am proud of all Geisinger College alumni — physicians, scientists, nurses and now genetic counselors — making a difference in communities. The graduates we highlight here are representative of the compassion, leadership and innovation they each bring to healthcare.
As our college grows, our alumni will be the best messengers about what a Geisinger education means — research focused on turning hypotheses into health and education tailored to the needs of the future, where outcomes matter more than activity. Our kind of medicine has a vision broad enough to address entire populations and precise enough to tailor care to an individual’s genome.
Thank you for your support of our college and this valuable mission.
Sincerely,
Julie Byerley,
MD, MPH
President, Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Dean, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Geisinger
Geisinger College of Health Sciences Magazine
A publication by the Department of Marketing and Communications
Elizabeth Zygmunt
Marketing and Communications Strategist and Geisinger College Magazine Editor
Heather M. Davis, MFA
Director of Marketing and Communications for Education and Research
Ashley Andyshak Hayes
Marketing and Communications Strategist
Erich Lenz
Marketing and Communications Strategist
Kaytlyn Wolfe
Marketing and Communications Consultant
Beth Kaszuba
Senior Editor
Brian Foelsch
Senior Graphic Designer
Board of Directors
Virginia McGregor, Chair
Bettina M. Beech, DrPh, MPH
John C. Bravman, PhD
Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH
Pedro J. Greer Jr., MD
V. Chris Holcombe, PE
David B. Nash, MD, MBA
Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA
Terry Gilliland, MD, Geisinger President and CEO (Ex-Officio)
Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, Geisinger College President and Dean (Ex-Officio)
Geisinger Health Foundation
Nancy Lawton-Kluck Chief Philanthropy Officer
Robin Endicott, CFRE Vice President, Philanthropy
Jane Kanyock, MBA, CFRE
Director of Major Gifts
Chris Boland
Director of Alumni Relations
On the cover:
We’ve surpassed 1,000 MD alumni and celebrate their stories.
Geisinger College of Health Sciences unveils new logo
Geisinger College of Health Sciences has a new logo that unifies the full breadth of academics at Geisinger — our schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education, as well as our integration with research.
Of course, this means the previous Geisinger Commonwealth logo and seal are now retired and will not be used going forward.
The new logo — a reimagined representation of the tree of knowledge — pays homage to the school’s founding and the familiar tree-and-book image used by the school of medicine. It represents how the college provides solid educational roots and a strong body of experience, helping the branches thrive and grow in individualized directions.
While the logo is distinct from the Geisinger enterprise brand, it remains consistent with Geisinger’s visual identity. The intent is to emphasize the distinct role of education and research at Geisinger while underscoring full integration with the system. The logo also reflects the college’s personality, which we define as “illuminating, curious and resolute.”
We’re proud to share our new logo with you and look forward to a united, bright (and healthy) future for our college.
Geisinger genomics project reaches enrollment milestone Research
Geisinger’s MyCode Community Health Initiative reached a major milestone in 2024: enrolling more than 350,000 Geisinger patients. With paired DNA sequence and electronic health record data for nearly 230,000 of these participants, MyCode is the largest healthcare system-based study of its kind in the United States.
Analysis of MyCode data has contributed to a number of groundbreaking discoveries over the past several years, including identifying a rare genetic variant that protects against obesity. A 2023 study showed that genomic screening is effective in identifying thyroid cancer. And Geisinger researchers have received major grant funding to study the impact of genomics on health using MyCode data, including studies of the genetics of opioid use disorder, developmental disorders and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
MyCode’s 350,000 participants are the heart of this groundbreaking study.
“None of our research discoveries or impacts on patient care would be possible without our MyCode participants,” said Christa Lese Martin, PhD, Geisinger’s chief scientific officer and
principal investigator of the MyCode study. “MyCode data has allowed researchers, both here at Geisinger and at other collaborating institutions, to study the connections between genes and health to prevent disease, detect it earlier or treat it better.”
MyCode is one of the first programs of its kind to return clinically actionable genetic results to participants through its Genomic Screening and Counseling (GSC) program. When a participant enrolls in MyCode and gives a blood sample, their DNA is analyzed to look for changes in 81 genes known to increase the risk of developing more than 35 health conditions. Examples of these include the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes known to increase risk for breast and ovarian cancer, and genes for FH, which can cause early heart attacks and strokes. The GSC program also returns genomic risk results for Lynch syndrome, which can cause early colon, uterine and other cancers, as well as several additional heart conditions, including cardiomyopathies and arrythmias. To date, more than 5,000 participants at increased risk for these potentially life-threatening conditions have received genomic risk results.
The project has also explored the return of clinically relevant results for other medical conditions, such as neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. While not always clinically actionable, learning these results can provide valuable medical information to patients about probable genetic causes for conditions like autism, epilepsy, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A 2022 analysis of MyCode data showed that 1 in 100 people had a gene variant that increases risk for these disorders.
The MyCode study is also discovering new causes of disease. Some MyCode participants have gene variants that are not well understood. In these cases, the MyCode team may invite participants to enroll in callback studies to learn more about a specific gene variant and how it may be connected to a certain disease.
For more information about MyCode, visit geisinger.org/mycode.
‘A real-world experiment, happening right before our eyes’
Geisinger to use industry funding for medical marijuana research
In 2022, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine was certified as a Medical Marijuana Academic Clinical Research Center (ACRC) by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as part of the state’s medical marijuana research program. Geisinger has partnered with Ascend Wellness Holdings and received $30 million to fund medical marijuana research over the next 10 years.
Q&A with Vanessa Troiani, associate professor, Geisinger’s Department of Developmental Medicine, and director of Geisinger’s Center for Substance Use Research and Education.
What
topics will Geisinger’s ACRC focus on?
Geisinger’s ACRC will focus on advancing our understanding of medical marijuana with respect to patient care in areas that are already strengths of our institution. The first area of focus is genetic and phenotypic research that uses electronic health record and other data to establish the effectiveness
and safety of medical marijuana and to understand which patients may benefit or have potential for harm from marijuana use. The second is education, including developing materials for patients, training our medical students to have difficult conversations about marijuana and improving communication between Geisinger clinicians and their patients about marijuana use.
How could this research benefit patients and the research community?
I see great potential for both short- and long-term benefits to Geisinger patients and the research community. For example, a project we worked on with two students at the School of Medicine demonstrated that there is confusion surrounding marijuana terminology. Some patients may use the term ‘CBD oil’ to describe a product that contains Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that is associated with mind altering effects. Other patients may use the same term to describe a product that contains little to no THC. Knowing these differences is important, and I’m hopeful that through the work of Geisinger’s ACRC, our patients will benefit from increased awareness of the marijuana industry and terminology that will ultimately lead to more informed decision making.
For the broader research community, we aim to be at the forefront of knowledge generation by partnering with patients using medical marijuana to gain valuable insights on efficacy and safety and to develop best practices.
How do you see this field of research growing in the coming years?
This field is rapidly changing. While Pennsylvania is relatively late to developing a medical marijuana program, we are the first state to fund medical marijuana research through Academic Clinical Research Centers. Thanks to the innovation of Pennsylvania’s program, Geisinger and other ACRCs will dramatically improve our understanding of the potential therapeutic efficacy of marijuana.
Geisinger’s Cancer Institute
awarded Gold Certificate of Excellence
Geisinger’s Cancer Institute recently received a Gold Certificate of Excellence from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its work in increasing enrollment in clinical trials for cancer.
This is the first time Geisinger has received a Gold Certificate from NCI. The award recognizes the team’s work in increasing the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials between August 2023 and July 2024. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team, as well as the trust and participation of our patients.
Promotion
Cora Taylor, PhD, has been named chair of the Department of Developmental Medicine.
Dr. Taylor will oversee a team of clinicians, psychologists, genetic counselors and therapists who care for children with developmental disorders and the department’s research arm, which advances the understanding and treatment of these conditions. We are excited to see Dr. Taylor continue to build Geisinger’s national reputation in caring for children with developmental needs through clinical and research innovation.
New faculty
We were excited to welcome several distinguished faculty members in 2024. Their diverse expertise and innovative ideas will enhance our research capabilities and academic excellence.
• Miranda Hallquist, MS, assistant professor, Department of Genomic Health
• Ana Morales, MS, associate professor, Department of Genomic Health
• Stephanie Kraft, JD, assistant professor, Department of Bioethics & Decision Sciences
• Nick Byrd, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Bioethics & Decision Sciences
• Kate Saylor, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Bioethics & Decision Sciences
Notable research awards
Adam Buchanan, MS, MPH, received a 5-year, $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for “Making Genomic Medicine Routine in a Rural Healthcare System.” This project will develop genomic medicine resources for diverse healthcare settings, with Geisinger as a clinical site for the Genomic-Enabled Learning Health System (gLHS) Network.
Chris Chabris, PhD, secured a 5-year, $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for “PsycheMERGE: Advancing Precision Psychiatry.” This project aims to advance equitable precision psychiatry based on genetics, collaborating with an interdisciplinary team from 11 academic medical centers to address barriers in psychiatric care.
A quick look at how Geisinger Research is turning hypotheses into health.
Health Equity and Inclusion
REACH-HEI Pathway Programs celebrate seniors’ success
On May 18, 62 high school seniors gathered at Geisinger School of Medicine for a ceremony marking their completion of REACH-HEI Pathway Programs that encourage students to pursue careers in healthcare.
REACH-HEI (Regional Education Academy for Careers in Health – Higher Education Initiative) provides free health sciences education, motivation and mentoring to economically disadvantaged and first-generation-tocollege students, exposing them to careers in healthcare and providing guidance on how to pursue these career goals.
At the ceremony, students and their mentors celebrated their REACH-HEI graduation with an awards presentation and distribution of certificates and gold and yellow cords the students wore at their own high school graduation ceremonies.
REACH-HEI Pathway Programs: Graduating seniors report
This information represents students who participate in three Pathway Programs: Health Interns, PA Smart: Physician-Ready and Sanofi Biomedical Science.
Total graduating seniors: 97
• Economically under-resourced: 79 (80%)
• First generation: 68 (67%)
• Self-disclose as minority background: 51 (52%)
High schools represented: 12
Majors/careers
• Pre-med/Physician track: 40 (41% of the high school graduates)
• Nursing: 15
• Physician assistant: 14
• Psychology: 4
• Forensic chemistry: 4
• Engineering: 4
• Medical imaging: 3
• Pharmacy: 3
• Pre-Doctor of Physical Therapy: 2
• Nutrition: 2
• Occupational therapy: 1
• Dental hygienist: 1
• Science education: 1
• United States Air Force (health career track): 1
Scholarships
• Full scholarship: 25
• Partial scholarship: 72
Encouraging girls in STEM
The REACH-HEI Pathway Programs at Geisinger College of Health Sciences presented a fun, science-filled day created specifically for girls in grades 7 and 8 to gain visibility and engagement with women in the fields of medicine, healthcare, public health and the sciences. Girls in Sciences participants rotated through learning stations centered around topics like environmental science, sonography, DNA, microbiology, nursing and more. Pathway Programs hosts a similar day called “Boys in White Coats.”
Pathway Programs hold symposium
Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ REACH-HEI Pathway Programs conducted a Research Day Poster Symposium in July.
Participants from 3 programs, including the PASmart Physician Ready High School Program, the Undergraduate Road to Medical School Program and the Pre-matriculating (pre-medical school) Med-Ready Program, presented research they conducted over 8 weeks.
Twenty-two posters were presented by 93 students.
“These students worked hard this summer to conduct their research and prepare their posters. I’m so proud of their achievements,” said Maureen Murtha, director, REACH-HEI Pathway Programs.
These participants will write research papers for publication during the next few months.
Faculty and Professional Development
Educators from across system unite to build community
Geisinger’s Academy of Educators held its first induction ceremony in 2022, and today the group boasts more than 360 members. The Academy seeks to build a community of educators who can share challenges and successes and support one another in their shared passion for education. Below, members share how the Academy has supported them professionally and personally.
Jennifer Koestler, MD, associate dean for medical student education and professor of pediatrics at Geisinger School of Medicine
“The biggest tangible benefit is the personal connections that the Academy facilitates among faculty who have a passion for health professions education. The Academy provides a robust infrastructure to support a community of practice around teaching excellence, professional development and mentoring and advising. It also elevates the importance of and recognizes member contributions in the domains of teaching and scholarship.”
Wasique Mirza, MD, program director for Geisinger’s Internal Medicine Residency Northeast and professor of medicine at Geisinger College of Health Sciences
“The Academy provides an excellent opportunity for educators across professions to join under a common umbrella, benefit from the resources provided, share ideas and learn from collective experiences. It has helped me to connect with like-minded leaders in medical education that I would not have had an opportunity to work with otherwise.”
Angela Slampak-Cindric, PharmD, clinical pharmacist and coordinator, Critical Care & Emergency Medicine; director, PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program, and assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy, Geisinger College of Health Sciences
“I was excited to join a collaborative dedicated to cultivating innovative, engaging and rewarding educational experiences for learners and educators, built on Geisinger’s legacy of excellence in education. Our educational community is wonderfully diverse and extremely talented. The Academy provides a forum to bring our talents to life in new ways and to learn so much more from one another.”
The Academy has retained more than 90% of its members each year, which means that members not only maintain their involvement with the Academy but also choose to stay with Geisinger, said Nicole Woll, PhD, vice dean for faculty and professional development and executive director of Geisinger’s Academy of Educators. Looking ahead to 2025, she is excited to see this unique community thrive.
“In a busy clinical system, we can often overlook the role of the educator. The Academy provides an opportunity to recognize them for all the roles they play.”
Faculty advancement
Kevin R. Scott, MD, has been named academic chair of Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ Emergency Medicine Department. He transitioned to his new role after serving as an associate professor of emergency medicine, associate residency program director and fellowship director for education scholarship at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jason R. Woloski, MD, has been named chair of Geisinger College’s newly established Family Medicine Department.
With the appointment, he is now a member of the College Executive Committee. The department was created to meet the goal of creating a primary care center of excellence. Dr. Woloski was chosen to lead the department because he is an outstanding representative of family medicine and its contributions to research, education and advocacy.
Leaving a legacy of integrity
Jackie Ghormoz, beloved assistant dean of students, retired in 2024. Colleagues saluted her contributions to Geisinger.
“Her legacy is the relationships she formed with students. She is a tireless advocate for them in all capacities, from personal wellbeing to academics. She has an open-door policy with students, and they go to her in their happiest of times — but then also in their most challenging and hardest times.”
– Julia Kolcharno, assistant dean of student affairs
“The kindness and empathy Jackie is so well known for come from her ability to listen and hear what her colleagues and students are saying. Good listening doesn’t mean agreeing, but it guarantees others feel heard.”
– Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, Geisinger College president and Geisinger chief academic officer
Geisinger College faculty notes
Taking the lead: Faculty sets the agenda for AAMC’s Group on Student Affairs, Careers in Medicine
Geisinger School of Medicine leaders were on the podium and presented research at the 2024 Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Group on Student Affairs (GSA), Careers in Medicine (CiM) and Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) meeting in April in San Francisco. Christin Spatz, MD, assistant dean of student affairs and MD career advising, serves as AAMC’s chair of the CiM Advisory Committee and helped plan the program. She also spoke during a plenary session on the first day, addressing the nearly 900 attendees.
At AAMC conference on regional campuses, Geisinger leads the conversation
Just a little more than 30% of U.S. medical schools have regional campuses. The model is new and growing. And Geisinger School of Medicine is taking the lead in shaping the increasingly important role of the regional campus model in modern medical education. School leadership and faculty were prominent at the recent Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Regional Medical Campuses annual conference in Washington, D.C.
Geisinger College leader named president of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care
Michelle Schmude, EdD, vice provost for enrollment management at Geisinger College, was named president of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care (APHC). Dr. Schmude and our School of Medicine are nationally recognized leaders in professional identity formation education.
Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, Geisinger College president and School of Medicine dean, was the plenary speaker, addressing all attendees with a moving talk on “Lessons I Never Sought: Leading During Difficult Times.”
APHC has its roots in a major national project undertaken to evaluate how medical ethics and humanities play a foundational role in professional formation in medical schools. Its mission is to optimize patient care through professionalism education, scholarship, policy and practice in all healthrelated fields.
Geisinger’s Department of Medical Education faculty takes top prize at IAMSE conference
Congratulations to the School of Medicine’s Department of Medical Education faculty for taking the “outstanding faculty poster presentation” award at the International Association of Medical Science Educators’ 28th annual meeting in Minneapolis. The poster detailed the faculty’s work in systematically linking foundational science to patient care across the curriculum.
AAMC taps Geisinger School of Medicine to conduct research on health equity
Our School of Medicine is one of just 5 study teams nationwide chosen to access public opinion polling from the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Center for Health Justice to conduct health equity research. These 5 studies will produce “innovative, actionable, relevant research that uses the available data to answer important health equity-focused questions and inform health policy,” AAMC said. Amanda Caleb, PhD, MPH, professor of medical humanities, is principal investigator for the school’s team.
Graduate Medical Education
Instant community: Auxiliary creates immediate support system for partners, families of residents and fellows
When Alex Cooper had to take her child to the Emergency Department, her husband Neal was in the OR performing vascular surgery at Geisinger Medical Center. The family had just moved to Danville from South Carolina. If they had been almost anywhere else, Ms. Cooper would have felt isolated and overwhelmed; Dr. Cooper might have felt guilt and stress. Instead, thanks to a robust Residents Auxiliary at Geisinger, Ms. Cooper already had a friend to accompany her, and her husband knew she was in good hands.
Doctors move a lot for medical school, residency training and fellowship training. And most of those moves are dependent on the Match, meaning
doctors don’t control where they’re going. It can be chaotic, and when there is a partner or family involved, it can be disruptive and stressful.
The Residents Auxiliary is there for these families.
“Everybody knows that residency is really hard,” Ms. Cooper said. “But this auxiliary — because it’s helping families — is helping the physician, too. In the end, patients benefit because when the resident is at work, they need to be focused 110% on the job.”
Since the Coopers arrived in Danville, the auxiliary has been growing. Today, support is available through programs
that provide meals to new parents and help for residents facing personal challenges, like grief.
Resident families who have relied on the auxiliary take the idea with them when they move on. And the auxiliary has been expanding its mission, starting with becoming a 501c3 nonprofit that allows the group to move into the broader community.
“We work with the Ronald McDonald House. We clean up parks. We hold clothing drives and work at the food pantry,” said Ivette Bugarini, co-president. “We love being here, and we want to be part of this community.”
Back row, from left: Cassidy Shrum, event coordinator; Lissette Knight, website manager; Ivette Bugarini, co-president; Max Briggs, vice president; Alex Cooper, president; Sara Lesser, community service coordinator.
Front row, from left: Katie Schranz, board member; Ashleigh Lacey, president of Northeast Residents Auxiliary.
New conference supports graduate medical education administrators
The inaugural Geisinger Graduate Medical Education Program Administrator Conference was held in April in Danville. The conference offered professional development opportunities and networking for residency program administrators — the experts who oversee compliance with accreditation requirements, recruitment and budgeting.
The conference hosted 77 attendees, with program administrators from:
• Penn State Health
• Penn Highlands, DuBois
• Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson
• Trinity Health/Nazareth Hospital
• Lehigh Valley Health Network
• St. Luke’s University Health Network
• NYU, Langone Health, Long Island
• University of Rochester Medical Center
• Independence Health System, Butler
Graduate Medical Education’s Professional Development Committee created and organized the event.
New fellowship trains doctors focused on palliative care
Lauren E. Nicholls, MD, was just 17 years old when she grasped one of the most profound distinctions in caring for patients with a terminal illness: the difference between if something can be done and whether it should be done.
She was a medical student when she learned about palliative care, a medical specialty dedicated to helping patients and families navigate that question. Now, as an assistant professor at Geisinger College of Health Sciences, she’s helped to introduce a new palliative medicine fellowship at Geisinger Northeast, which will welcome a new fellow in 2025.
The 1-year fellowship will train physicians of any specialty to grow comfortable and confident in having the difficult conversations.
“In palliative medicine, you focus on what people still want to be able to do and enjoy in the time that they have left,” said Dr. Nicholls. “The whole goal is to understand the patient’s functional goals and say, ‘These are the medical things that will help get you there.’”
In addition to communication skills, clinicians will be trained in symptom management, end-of-life care and hospice care.
A fair to remember
For the second year, Geisinger Graduate Medical Education hosted a New Resident Welcome Fair in Danville. The street fair was celebrated in June.
New and current residents and their families, faculty, staff and community members enjoyed a night downtown. More than 70 local businesses, organizations and restaurants greeted the residents and introduced them to life in Danville.
Geisinger College introduces molecular genetic pathology fellowship
Making better health easy relies on precision. And precision relies on understanding a patient’s unique genetic composition.
That’s why the demand for pathologists who are fellowship trained in molecular genetic pathology has recently soared. Jialing Huang, MD, PhD, an associate of Geisinger Medical Laboratories and a fellowshiptrained pathologist himself, said Geisinger College has responded by establishing a molecular genetic pathology fellowship training program.
Dr. Huang noted that the program will support and advance Geisinger’s distinct focus on molecular medicine.
“This fellowship will add to Geisinger College’s rich environment of academic activity and also enhance care for our patients.”
Cover story
Geisinger College’s vision statement says we’ll help make better health easier in our region and beyond: through education, research and scholarship that develop healthcare professionals inspired and prepared to improve the health of diverse people and populations and to use Geisinger’s unique assets to transform the way care is delivered.
Our story spans the spectrum of healthcare. We have nursing alums working throughout the system, and MBS alums doing various things for Geisinger including advancing their education in our medical school. Soon we’ll add genetic counselors to our cohort. Lots of our alums have been in leadership for years since their training. Turning our learners into our colleagues is one of the purposes of teaching.
In short, our alumni are the best metric we have to measure our success. And with the Class of 2024, our School of Medicine surpassed 1,000 MD alumni. Here, we celebrate them through stories that illustrate the incredible journey our college has been on to fulfill our strategic vision.
Matthew Mullen, MD, Charter Class of 2013
‘I always knew I would come back to northeast Pennsylvania’
Matthew Mullen, MD ’13, a double board-certified adult cardiac surgeon, returned to his roots when he chose to practice at Geisinger.
“The whole purpose of the med school was to improve the healthcare offered in this region, and I felt that I would be able to contribute in a meaningful way,” he said.
Today, he said he couldn’t be happier with his decision. “The team I have here, across the board, is outstanding. From the preoperative care and from the care that the cardiologist provides to the cardiac surgery team in the operating room to the ICU, the support is outstanding. It’s better than I imagined,” he said.
He also contributes to the community he loves by mentoring medical students and lecturing at the School of Medicine.
“Being a teacher is a very important component to any medical practice,” he said. “Obviously patient care is the number one priority but advancing the field and training people under you — that’s what academic medicine means.”
Jason Dinko, MD ’14
The power of listening
As a medical student, Jason Dinko, MD ’14, was impressed by how frequently school leadership sought student feedback and how carefully they listened when students spoke.
“It really struck me, and it’s something I try to do today — I make sure I’m listening to those I’m attempting to serve,” he said.
These days, for Dr. Dinko, “who he serves” refers to both patients and fellow primary care doctors.
Last year he was named a physician representative on Geisinger’s Board of Directors, where he serves as a voice for the frontline physicians. “When Geisinger leaders have something in mind, they turn to the physician representatives. They want to know how this might help in our day-to-day and ask for our help in moving the vision forward,” he said.
Dr. Dinko is pleased to see how well received his insights are and has a new appreciation for just how much work it takes to affect change in a large system. But, he says, the kinds of changes Geisinger brings to primary care are well worth the effort.
“One of the best things they’ve done is the medication therapy management pharmacy program,” he said. “When I have a patient who requires more frequent ‘touches,’ a clinical pharmacist can see the patient to make any adjustments. This program is really helpful for diabetes, chronic pain and psychiatry.”
While Dr. Dinko didn’t expect to be on the board and serving as a program director so soon, he did expect to be delivering primary care near his own hometown of White Haven when he chose to attend medical school at Geisinger. “My goal was always to stay fairly close to home,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to now serve the community in which I grew up.”
Jill Berlin, MD ’15
The freedom to discover
When Jill Berlin, MD ’15, was a student at the School of Medicine, she spent a lot of time with mentors, connecting with attendings and CRNAs. The long chats drove her to specialize in anesthesiology.
Anesthesia is “not even a required rotation at many medical schools, so I was lucky,” she said. “The early exposure to a wide range of specialties and access to professionals in the field enabled me to choose my career with confidence.”
Dr. Berlin’s mentors also taught her the unusual skill set an anesthesiologist needs.
“You’re seeing patients at a critical time, so you must connect quickly and authentically,” she said. “During surgery, anesthesiology forces you to delve into physiology and pharmacology and apply them in tandem in a high-pressure situation.”
Dr. Berlin attended residency at Yale, where she stayed for a fellowship in regional anesthesiology (nerve blocks). And she’s on the faculty at Yale, working with residents, fellows and CRNA students.
She added that she formed lifelong friendships at Geisinger. She recently attended a classmate’s wedding.
Rachel
Brutico Giannotti, MD ’16, MBS ’11, and Vince Giannotti, MD ’16, MBS ’12
Lessons in resilience and compassion
Vince and Rachel Giannotti met on the first day of medical school. They married during their third year and graduated together in 2016. They had their first child when they were third-year residents — she in pediatrics and he in emergency medicine at Penn State Hershey.
Then COVID hit.
“The pandemic really blindsided us,” Vince said. “There was the stress of not knowing what we were dealing with. I was not even 6 months out from residency, and I was intubating patients outside in tents.”
As a pediatrician, Rachel had the opposite problem. Every pediatrician at her practice was let go. During this upheaval, the couple awaited the birth of their second child. They said lessons learned in medical school helped them to remain resilient and determined.
“We had a lot of strong preceptors who emphasized the human aspect of practicing medicine,” Vince said. “Switching between triaging the sicker patients and interacting with those not so sick is hard. Geisinger prepared me to have compassion for our patients and taught me to understand their perspective.”
Rachel feels COVID has given her more empathy for patients, especially those with vaccine hesitancy. “I really feel their emotions. And I give my students the same advice I received. Sit with the patient and touch their arm or hold their hand. Human connection is a big part of healing.”
As the pandemic receded, Rachel joined Vince at Geisinger and life normalized. “It was definitely a stressful time, but we got
Eric Drago, MD ’17
An innovator and a lifelong learner
Eric Drago, MD ’17, isn’t afraid of change or trying new things. He had a career in research before medical school. That career offered to pay for his master’s degree, where his teachers told him he’d be perfect for medical school.
Now one medical degree and internal medicine residency later, he’s still not settled. He is helping Geisinger to revolutionize medical care by serving as director of both Geisinger at Home (in the Northeast) and Hospital at Home, a novel program that “admits” patients to the hospital while they are comfortable in their own homes. Oh, and he’s also now pursuing an MBA.
One thing he believes won’t change is his commitment to his hometown and the lessons in community engagement he learned at the School of Medicine.
“When I went to medical school, I truly was one of those who said, ‘I will practice in this area’ and it’s something I really pride myself on,” he said. “When I was a kid, if you had a problem you went to Philadelphia. But now, people go to Geisinger Wyoming Valley. People aren’t running to these ‘pinnacles’ of healthcare because we are one right here.”
As director of Geisinger at Home Northeast and Hospital at Home, he is helping to build infrastructure to support an entirely new approach to patient care. The programs drive down costs and make patients who dislike hospital lights, noise and food much more comfortable. The possibilities have so intrigued Dr. Drago that he’s going back to school again for an MBA.
“If you had said I’d be doing this when I was an undergrad, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s been a journey and I’m glad it’s occurred, but I would have never predicted any of this.”
Elizabeth Helwig Seasock, MD
’17
‘Wellness matters’
After residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Elizabeth Helwig Seasock, MD ’17, and her husband came home to Pennsylvania, where they both grew up.
“I knew I wanted to be part of the Geisinger academic health system and have access to everything that comes along with being involved in academics, including opportunities to teach.”
Today, Dr. Seasock lives in Selinsgrove and works as a child psychiatrist, moving between Danville and the WilkesBarre/Scranton area, where she serves as psychiatry clerkship director for Geisinger College of Health Sciences.
“I meet with the students in the clerkship weekly,” she said. “There’s also extra time given to some of our students who run into a difficult ethical situation or experience countertransference, where a patient might pull at their heartstrings. I want students to walk away from their psychiatry experience with compassion for all of their patients and a better understanding of how biology and social stressors and psychological stressors impact a patient’s broader health.”
Above all, Dr. Seasock said she wants her students to take care of themselves. “Psychiatry — especially child psychiatry — can get really heavy. Wellness is one of those buzzwords but really that’s because it matters. When I leave at the end of the day, I am no longer a psychiatrist. I am mommy and I am a wife and a daughter and a sister and a friend. I want our students to feel empowered to do the same and to advocate for themselves during their psychiatry clerkship and on all of their other clerkships and in their future role as physician.”
Mark Dunleavy, MD ’18 and Amelia Mackarey, MD ’20
Coming home to practice
Mark Dunleavy, MD ’18, who’s now an attending orthopaedic surgeon in Princeton, NJ, found two things at Geisinger that support and motivate him today. The first is his wife, pediatrician Amelia Mackarey, MD ’20. The second is a focus on patients and community.
“Amelia and I are both from Scranton,” Dr. Dunleavy said. “We met in preschool, lost touch, but then met again at Geisinger.”
The couple stayed connected through his 5-year orthopaedic surgery residency at Penn State and 1-year adult reconstruction fellowship at Rush University in Chicago. They were married in 2024.
“Geisinger is committed to patient-centered care, as well as a focus on a physician’s role in the community,” Dr. Dunleavy said. “Both of these are important to me, especially the community aspect.”
Dr. Dunleavy is also grateful to Geisinger faculty for mentoring and coaching that helped him match into one of medicine’s most competitive specialties.
“The curriculum was very comprehensive and competitive,” he said. “I was set up with all the tools I needed to succeed. Then having the association with Geisinger was such a big help. It tied us to a department where I could go for help. I was able to get letters and some of the surgeons were very committed to having me spend extra
Nichole Ogojiaku, MD ’19
An avenue for advocacy
When she graduated from Duke University in 2013 with a public policy degree, Nichole Ogojiaku, MD ’19, was torn between pursuing medicine or a career in public health policy.
She took a gap year, interning at a Georgia county public health department and working as an emergency medicine scribe. Those experiences cemented a desire to be a primary care physician and advocate, making Geisinger a perfect fit for medical school.
“The community emphasis for which the med school was created, and its mission, really resonated with me,” she said. “And I learned that Geisinger stayed true to its mission. From the beginning, we were involved with patients, and we had the unique experience of being paired with a family.”
Dr. Ogojiaku received a National Health Service Corps scholarship. The federal government paid her tuition. In exchange, she committed to work 3 years in a low-income or underserved area after finishing residency.
“When I was in residency, I became the junior fellow chair for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District 11, which is covers the whole state of Texas,” she explained. “That was a lot of advocacy. We helped to extend postpartum coverage through Medicaid for 12 months instead of the traditional 6 weeks. We were going to the capitol; we were doing social media campaigns. We actually changed legislation.”
The experience reinforced Dr. Ogojiaku’s desire to be an advocate. “Given the nature of where I work, there are extra barriers to care,” she said. “I’m able to be a guide and a resource. I think I will stay at this clinic or one like it. Even if I didn’t have the NHSC scholarship, I’d probably be working where I am. With my public health background, that’s my career goal: To go where the need is.”
Jessica Briscoe, MD ’20, MBS ’13
Expanding research opportunities
When Jessica Briscoe, MBS ’13, MD ’20, achieves her goal of being a cardiothoracic surgeon with a translation research lab of her own, her journey will feature stops at Harvard, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins. But she’s most grateful for the time she spent at Geisinger, both as an MBS and an MD student.
As a medical student, Dr. Briscoe was intensely interested in research and found eager support in School of Medicine faculty Sonia Lobo, PhD, associate dean for research and scholarship, and Ying-Ju Sung, PhD, professor of anatomy.
Her summer research work with Dr. Sung helped her to win a place at Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Medical Research Fellows Program at Harvard.
Inspired, she broached the idea of creating an honors thesis program at Geisinger. The result is the School of Medicine’s Medical Research Honors Program. The first 11 students to complete the program graduated in 2024. Dr. Briscoe spoke virtually at a pre-commencement dinner for these scholars.
“If I had an idea or a question at Geisinger, the answer was always, ‘How can we make it happen?’” she said.
Dr. Briscoe has been awarded an NIH F32 post-doctoral fellowship award and the American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship award. She’s between her first and second year of a research year at Johns Hopkins. She’s completing a general surgery residency at
Kathy Snyder, MD ’21, MBS ’17
Carrying Geisinger innovations in peer support and wellness to Seattle
Kathy Snyder, MD ’21, MBS ’17, is now chief resident in the psychiatry residency program at the University of Washington. She’ll graduate with a distinction recognition in the teacher scholar pathway. The distinction comes from programs she initiated in her residency and research she carried out as a result. These programs, she said, were begun at Geisinger.
“It’s easy to tie everything back to Geisinger,” she said. “The University of Washington is a high volume, diverse training program — we are one of the largest psychiatry programs in the country — and it’s an academic center, which allowed me to continue to grow the skills I developed back home at Geisinger.”
Dr. Snyder was a founding member of a mental health task force at Geisinger School of Medicine during the pandemic. She was class president, and saw that students were struggling to adapt. When she moved to Seattle, she built a similar peer support network. Her work is also now embedded in the residency curriculum and has resulted in research she’s presented at two conferences.
“I was told by (assistant dean of student affairs) Julia Kolcharno that we should never understate the importance of adaptability,” she said. “That’s been, single-handedly, the most helpful skill I learned in medical school.”
Alfred Ngo-Hamilton, MD ’22, MBS ’17
‘Seeking out leadership began at Geisinger’
Alfred Ngo-Hamilton, MD ’22, may be a born leader, but he credits his MBS and medical school experiences with drawing those innate abilities out.
“My way of approaching education actually started in the MBS program at Geisinger,” he said. “I’m able to critically think and take a holistic approach to my patients, in addition to my strong foundational knowledge in the clinical sciences. I also began to seek leadership positions in Geisinger.”
Dr. Ngo-Hamilton was president of his medical class and then the student body general president. In residency, he was resident representative, then a participant in the Resident Leadership Academy at University of Minnesota Medical School. He was also elected to the AAMC’s RISE program, a leadership experience for fourth-year medical students.
“RISE showed me there are different types of leaders,” he said. “You can be a leader who is emotionally present. You can be a leader who’s very logistical and makes easy step-by-step plans for people to reach certain goals. You can be a leader who bolsters people’s sails and keeps them motivated. I feel like I try to incorporate a little bit of all those things.”
With his eyes now set on a cardiology fellowship, Dr. Ngo-Hamilton hopes to also continue his work as a leader and a mentor. “With these experiences and many more, I’ll carve out a path for myself wherever I go,” he said.
Molly Kropp Lopez, MD ’23, MBS ’19
‘The days are long, but the years are short’
Surgical resident sees herself in every medical student she mentors
Now a PGY2 general surgery resident at Geisinger, Molly Kropp Lopez, MD, can’t believe the changes she’s gone through since graduating from the School of Medicine in 2023. She performs surgeries and finds herself suddenly in the role of mentor.
“I definitely see myself in the medical students who rotate with me,” she said. “And I laugh because the days are long, but the years are short, and this last year just flew by. I know I’m relatively close to where this medical student is, but it feels like a lifetime ago. It also makes me reflect on how much I’ve learned in a single year.”
Fortunately, as a mentor, Dr. Lopez can reassure students that although the transition to residency is hard, their medical school prepares them well.
“Transitioning from medical student to resident is huge,” she said. “I don’t really think there’s much in the way of preparing you. My first surgery — there were so many nerves. I really do think so much of residency is a mental game. In medical school, we talked so much about imposter syndrome and that’s still something I battle. But our medical school prepared me — it also really does well teaching us the importance of interdisciplinary actions and how to be on a team.”
Above all, Dr. Lopez is happy with her career and education choices. “More than anything, I love surgery in and of itself,” she said. “It’s such a team sport, and the biggest thing is having support from not only my co-interns but the upper residents too. We are a tight-knit group. I couldn’t imagine doing residency without them.”
Alison Barrett, MD ’24
From childhood bus rider to Geisinger graduate
Alison Barrett, MD ’24, remembers riding past the medical school’s Medical Sciences Building construction site on her school bus.
“Growing up, I’d go to community events, and we started to see medical students there,” she said. “I was curious about them and the things they did to support the community.”
After college, Dr. Barrett worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Philadelphia. That experience, courtesy of AmeriCorps, introduced her to the urgent need for primary healthcare. She was also inspired to return to her hometown and the medical school she saw grow throughout her childhood.
“The idea of being able to be a medical student in this town where I grew up and being surrounded by friends and family while also being a medical student was a very important aspect of the journey,” she said.
Dr. Barrett and her cousin, Alexis Notarianni, MD ’24, were the first of a tight-knit group of Scranton childhood friends who were accepted at Geisinger School of Medicine. Behind them are Kate Patterson, MD ’25 and Marena Casey, MD ’26
Dr. Barrett is completing an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. As an Abigail Geisinger Scholar, she has promised to return to her hometown in a few years.
“I think medicine is only as strong as the community that’s around it,” she said. “The people living in our communities have to be able to trust the medical field. I had that idea when I was in Philadelphia of how much community medicine can impact a community but now — being able to bring those ideas back to Scranton — it’s like everything has come full circle.”
School of Medicine
‘A
doorway from learner to healer’
School of Medicine celebrates successful Match Day
“I remember the thrill of Match Day. Even more so than commencement, you really do feel that you’re fulfilling your dream of working as physician because someone has actually offered you a job! Match Day is the doorway to an exciting time as you transition from learner to healer.”
Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, to the class of 2024
Geisinger students matched into excellent local residency programs, as well as some of the most competitive and prestigious programs and specialties in the nation. geisinger.edu/matchday
Geisinger School of Medicine holds 12th commencement ceremony
The 115 graduates in the class of 2024 pushed the school past a landmark — it now boasts more than 1,000 alumni since graduating its first 65 students in 2013.
The noteworthy accomplishment was made even more special by Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, who accepted an honorary degree from the school and delivered the keynote address.
“The oath you take today is an oath for life. It’s a promise to care, to serve, and to heal — not just in the clinic or the hospital but always,” Dr. Murthy told the class. “I’m grateful to Dean Byerley and CEO Ryu for the warm welcome and to the faculty, staff and family members as we celebrate.”
Dr. Murthy’s address also touched upon several themes central to his tenure as Surgeon General, including the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, burnout in the health worker community and how living a connected life can prevent these ills.
School of Medicine Dean and Geisinger College of Health Sciences President Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, noted with pride that the school’s alumni are particularly dedicated to primary care, an area of medicine that has significant impact on the accessibility of healthcare and the overall well-being of populations.
“As this class walks across the stage, we have now graduated 69 psychiatrists and 345 primary care doctors, as well as some of almost every other specialty in need,” she said. “Our programs have inspired thousands of young people in our region. Our pathway program, REACH-HEI, has succeeded, with 27 of today’s 115 graduates having participated in some way.”
She added that 66 graduates were members of the school’s transformative Abigail Geisinger Scholars program. Geisinger covers the cost of education for these students, who promise to return as Geisinger employees in needed specialties, further helping to offset local physician shortages.
Highlight of the academic year: 115 budding MDs welcomed with White Coat Ceremony
Balloons, bouquets and white coats filled The Theatre at North in Scranton in August as 115 future doctors swore an oath and officially joined the medical profession.
“The White Coat Ceremony is a highlight of the academic year at our medical school,” said School of Medicine President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD, MPH. “Welcoming these new students and watching them take their first step of initiation into the medical profession is always a joy. And having them take an oath before they begin their studies emphasizes the human side of medicine. We want our students to remember that — even as they grapple with the complexities of biochemistry and anatomy.”
Established by the Gold Foundation in 1993, the White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that is meant to elevate the value of humanism as the core of healthcare and provide a powerful emphasis on compassion in combination with scientific excellence. This was reflected in each speaker’s remarks, including some inspiring words from Terry Gilliland, MD, Geisinger’s president and CEO, and Gehred Wetzel, DO, who delivered the annual Lester Saidman MD Lecture at the ceremony.
Physicians, scientists — now, graduates
First cohort of Medical Research Honors Program graduates celebrated
At the School of Medicine’s 2024 commencement ceremony, 11 graduates wore gold medals representing completion of the school’s rigorous Medical Research Honors Program (MRHP), which comprises longitudinal, hypothesis-driven research that students complete with a mentor in addition to the demands of medical school.
“There are a lot of reasons a medical student should take part in such a program,” said Niraj Vyas, MD, a member of the first cohort. “For example, you
need research to stand out if you plan to apply to a competitive residency or specialty. Also, the program creates a good research foundation. I saw it as a way to step out into the real world.”
To complete the MHRP, students are required to submit a research project proposal, write a thesis and deliver an oral defense. Students also write abstracts, present posters and publish findings while building toward their thesis defense. The research is guided by a mentor and a thesis advisory committee — all chosen by the student. Student autonomy is crucial to success.
Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship Sonia Lobo, PhD, is a key
architect of the program and serves as its director. She’s proud of the fact that just as the program’s research is student driven, the program itself was born from student initiative, when Jessica Briscoe, MD ’20, urged the school to create a way for students to gain research honors.
Dr. Lobo invited Dr. Briscoe, now an American Heart Association and Irene Piccinini postdoctoral research fellow in cardiothoracic surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and general surgery resident at MedStar Georgetown University and Washington Health Center, to address the first MRHP cohort at their celebratory dinner.
Geisinger School of Medicine welcomes new Abigail Geisinger Scholars
On Sept. 28, Geisinger hosted the medical school’s new Abigail Geisinger Scholars and their families for a Welcome Breakfast and Pinning Ceremony.
Speakers included Kim Kovalick, DO, assistant dean of primary care and assistant chair of family medicine, and Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, who emphasized the importance of compassion and resilience in the medical profession.
The highlight of the morning was the pinning ceremony, led by Dr. Kovalick, Anja Landis, MD, director of the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program, and Nino Cimino, curriculum coordinator for primary care. Dr. Landis had the honor of attaching the Scholars pins onto the students’ white coats, symbolizing their commitment to primary care or psychiatry and to the patients they’ll serve within the Geisinger footprint in the future.
First Abigail Geisinger Scholar will work in Tunkhannock clinic
Return begins to fulfill goal of closing physician care gap
In September 2025, Geisinger will begin welcoming back what will start as a trickle and soon become a flood of Abigail Geisinger Scholars in primary care clinics and offices.
The first is Steven Picozzo, MD ’22, who is completing a family medicine residency at St. Luke’s. He’s been working with a largely rural population and has found the experience fulfilling and rewarding.
“I’ll be working in Geisinger’s Tunkhannock clinic,” he said. “Right now, I’m in a rural family medicine program and it was the right fit for me. I’m getting a broad range of experiences and I’ve seen how stretched things like behavioral health resources are. Family docs can’t just refer, refer, refer, so we end up taking on a lot of those preliminary responsibilities. As a result, I’m comfortable prescribing things like medication for mental health issues. I realize that primary care is the first line of defense when it comes to making sure these things don’t slip through the cracks.”
Dr. Picozzo is already familiar with the Tunkhannock community, having spent time in the Geisinger clinic there as a medical student.
Steven Picozzo, MD
“It’s a farm community, so I expect the challenges will be similar to what I’ve learned in residency,” he said. “You have to meet people where they are, and you often find these communities are very independent.”
As he prepares for the next stage of his career, Dr. Picozzo said he has one overriding feeling about Geisinger and the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program — gratitude.
“It’s been an absolute blessing to me,” he said. “Coverage for the loans is priceless and the monthly stipend allowed me to gain a good degree of financial independence. I saved up, so when I got into residency, I was able to coordinate my finances. I was able to do things like contribute more to my retirement funds and give charitably. Whenever I think about the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program, it’s always in a positive
A different kind of rotation: Camp Spifida provides med students with a fresh perspective on pediatric care
For more than 30 years, Geisinger volunteer physicians and staff members have run Camp Spifida, a summer experience for children ages 6 to 18 with spina bifida. Everyone donates their time and many return year after year to give these children a magical week of swimming, rock climbing, riding in hot air balloons and even snow tubing in an accessible environment where nothing holds them back. Over the years, word has spread and, today, children from places as far away as New Zealand come to spend a week in Millville.
Camp Spifida isn’t just a transformative week for the children. It’s also long been a place where residents in Geisinger’s pediatrics, medicine-pediatrics and even physical medicine and rehabilitation programs have come to learn things no amount of time in the hospital can teach. And this year, Phase 3 medical students had the opportunity to be taught these lessons, too.
For the first time in the camp’s history, medical students were able to elect to work at the camp as a formal rotation, according to pediatric clerkship director, Ashley Shamansky, DO.
If the past is an indicator, the students may well join the roster of alumni who make volunteering at the camp an annual effort. “We have a doctor from Lancaster who’s been coming back for 15 years, ever since he was a resident at Geisinger,” said Paul Bellino, MD, who served as Geisinger’s pediatrics residency program director for many years. “And he’s not unusual. Everyone is a volunteer. Nobody gets paid. And the volunteers keep coming back, year after year. The camp really is that special.”
Helping communities blossom — beyond healthcare
A group of dedicated medical students has restored a local community garden and shared its bountiful harvest with Friends of the Poor.
Avery Stivale, MD class of 2027, who led the effort with classmate Nate Smith, said, “I gained firsthand experience on the impact of donating fresh, organic vegetables when I was a volunteer farmer for the Chester County Food Bank. So, I knew I wanted to continue this kind of work.”
When the students saw the garden’s sad state, they knew they’d need help restoring it and making it fruitful. They turned to lifelong gardener and Professor of Physiology Michael Hardisky, PhD, for help.
Dr. Hardisky helped orchestrate a comprehensive renovation, beginning with a cleanup and a large dump truck of soil delivered in the spring. The team used a local university greenhouse to start plants, including tomatoes, peppers and basil, from seed.
Each crop of fresh, organic produce was donated to Friends of the Poor, a Scranton nonprofit dedicated to “easing the burden of those living in poverty and enhancing the quality of life for all.”
Studying remotely, celebrating face-to-face
Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ online Master of Biomedical Sciences degree is popular for a variety of reasons. It’s rigorous. It mirrors the first year of medical school. It immerses students in the Geisinger system. But most of all, students don’t have to find an apartment, pay rent and move all their things to a new city. Remote is good — except when it comes to the celebrations that accompany earning a degree.
Len Farber, MA, director of student affairs for the School of Graduate Education devised a day in September that allowed online students — and their in-person peers — to finally meet, celebrate and mount the stage to accept their awards.
“MBS Alumni Day takes the place of all the little celebratory events that occur at an in-person commencement,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for the virtual learners to come visit the campus and meet the faculty, the staff and the deans they’ve only seen on a screen. Even our in-person learners have a virtual commencement, so this day was a special time for them too. Everyone got a chance to be photographed wearing their commencement regalia.”
In addition to meeting and enjoying a lunch with peers and faculty, the MBS grads who won student leadership awards were recognized with a ceremony and a certificate. “Hand-clapping emojis are nice,” Len said. “But getting real applause in the presence of your family is unforgettable.”
School launches genetic counseling degree program
Geisinger College of Health Sciences recently launched a Master of Genetic Counseling degree program.
The genetic counseling workforce has been consistently expanding. It’s grown by over 100% in the last 10 years and is expected to grow another 100% over the next 10 years.
Geisinger School of Graduate
Education’s new degree answers a regional and national demand for genetic counselors and, since Geisinger is a leader in genetic medicine, it’s a natural mission fit.
The immersive curriculum allows students to work with Geisinger’s state-of-the-art MyCode program and join healthcare providers in researching DNA sequences from 350,000 Geisinger patients and growing.
School of Nursing
Geisinger nurse faculty honored for innovation
Two simulation products developed by Geisinger School of Nursing faculty have expanded learning opportunities, driven down costs, preserved more expensive technology and caught the attention of both the National League for Nursing (NLN) and International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
Tammy Wyland, LPN, simulation lab coordinator, devised a reusable silicone wound that costs about $20 for 6 “wounds” that can be washed and reapplied repeatedly on standardized participants and mannequins. Stephanie McKee, RN, devised a way to use pool noodles — at about $.50 apiece — that allow students to practice skills such as discontinuing IVs and removing sutures consistently.
Wyland and McKee earned awards from NLN’s HomeGrown Simulation Solutions and their ideas are now published in the NLN’s Simulation Innovation and Resource Center online. Their papers were also accepted for presentation at the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning conference.
School of Nursing pinning ceremony marks senior students’ journey to nursing
Senior students from the School of Nursing class of 2025 received their pins at a ceremony held at the school in Lewistown. Beth Finkbiner, RN, director of the School of Nursing, presided at the ceremony that celebrated the students’ academic journey and accomplishments.
Ebou Sogu, class president, addressed the class, reminding them, “From this day forward, let’s remember that with every patient we meet, we have the power to make a profound difference in their lives. We will be the comforting voice in their darkest moments, the skilled hands that restore hope, and the advocate who ensures that their voices are heard.”
School of Nursing new building ribbon cut
Geisinger School of Nursing cut the ribbon on its newly refurbished, state-of-the-art facility in the heart of downtown Lewistown on May 17.
“We have the faculty, researchers and learners in place in Lewistown to lead the nation in innovations that best support rural communities, which are often the most underserved in the country. Our School of Nursing is critical to that vision,” said Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, president of Geisinger College of Health Sciences and chief academic officer. “As we cut the ribbon on a brandnew building for our School of Nursing, we demonstrate our commitment to improving rural health and making better health easier for these populations.”
Nursing students to focus on teamwork
The brand-new space in the heart of the Lewistown community helped Geisinger School of Nursing’s orientation focus on community and cooperation — key elements of education at Geisinger. The 35 members of the incoming class of 2026 were introduced to these themes by faculty, staff and their student nurse peers in August.
The orientation planners said a key theme of the day was the emphasis on the team-based nature of both learning and working at Geisinger. “We want to create and support a culture of cooperation and let students know they’re all in this together,” said Jessica Rogers, enrollment management recruiter. “So that’s the big message we send at orientation. And I know it’s taken seriously and is a big benefit as students advance in the curriculum.”
Member of Congress tours new nursing school facility
U.S. Rep. John Joyce, MD, toured Geisinger College of Health Sciences’ new School of Nursing building and met with school administrators, faculty and students during an event held June 19. After the meeting, he congratulated Geisinger leadership for “opening doors of opportunity” in the region he represents.
During the tour, Rep. Joyce interacted with augmented intelligence training tools and spoke with several nursing students. “I am quite impressed,” Rep. Joyce said. “I think what you’re doing will change the lives of patients and will certainly change career paths.”
Geisinger School of Nursing bestows first associate degrees
Marking a major milestone in nurse education at Geisinger, Geisinger School of Nursing presented its first associate degrees in nursing (ADN) to 29 graduates at commencement exercises held in April in Lewistown.
The keynote address was delivered by Janet Tomcavage, MSN, RN, Geisinger executive vice president and chief nurse executive. She noted that nursing continually tops the list of “most trusted professions” and observed the changes nurses have and will continue to weather, thanks to rapidly evolving technology and a new emphasis on team-based care.
“Change is a constant in nursing,” she said. “And change requires flexibility, engagement, emotional maturity and the willingness to be iterative. Not every change will work but if we all work together to test new solutions — we will be successful.”
The event also included remarks by Geisinger College of Health Sciences President and Geisinger Chief Academic Officer Julie Byerley, MD, MPH. Dr. Byerley noted Geisinger College’s unfolding vision to create an academic medicine hub of care, research and learning in Lewistown and the central role the School of Nursing plays in the plan.
“In Lewistown, Geisinger College is creating educational programs for an academic center focused on meeting the needs of rural communities. We can lead the nation in innovations that best support these communities — which are often some of the most underserved in the country. Our School of Nursing is critical to that vision,” she said.
Community and philanthropy
Alumni Notes
Celebrations 2024
Building resilient communities
Since the Resilience Project kicked off in 2023, Leighton Y. Huey, MD, associate dean for behavioral health integration and community care transformation, has guided leaders in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties through a successful colloquium in 2023 and regular consortium meetings thereafter. In September, the Resilience Project took another major step forward with “Resilience as Public Health,” a 2-day event featuring workshops and conversation with renowned resilience scholar Michael Ungar, PhD, of Dalhousie University.
“At our 2023 colloquium, our cross-sectional group of community leaders engaged in an infrastructure build,” Dr. Huey said, noting the consortium is focused on local school districts, the region’s colleges, universities and professional schools, community and political leaders, and community agencies.
“Our discussions in September centered around how to create ‘an educational inoculation’ that builds resilience the way a vaccine builds immunity.”
Nina Cohen, MD ’15
Nathan Terault
Tyler Bogaczyk, MD ’23 Amanda Chikowski
Mark Dunleavy, MD ’18
Amelia Mackarey, MD ’20
On Sept. 19, the “Resilience as Public Health” event facilitated resilience working groups from school districts, higher education, law enforcement, local government and community agencies centered around building an “inoculation” that would encourage resilient qualities like selfregulation, self-efficacy and mindfulness.
“The educational inoculation is an approach to provide information to parents about what can influence good development in their kids and contribute to success in school, development of good relationships with others and personal happiness and satisfaction,” Dr. Huey said.
On Sept. 20, the School of Medicine hosted a public forum on the subject of “Resilience as Public Health” where Dr. Ungar shared his experiences building resilient communities around the world.
Dr. Huey said next steps for the Resilience Project will include shoring up buy-in and support from a wide cross-section of the community.
“This is a decade-long project or more, and we hope people can understand that there has to be buy-in and engagement from the community. Right now, we’re building an integrated collective that’s saying, ‘This will take some time, but it’s a good idea because things need to work better than they’re working right now.’”
Third Geisinger Commonwealth Day highlights strategic priorities and progress
On Sept. 30, Geisinger College celebrated its third annual Geisinger Commonwealth Day. The event is meant to honor the college’s past and embrace its future.
“Since our last celebration a year ago, we’ve made great progress in expanding opportunities for local students to prepare for healthcare careers right here in our community,” Dr. Byerley said. “We’ve also directed that growth toward caring for our neighbors with our focus on primary care and research meant to make better health easier for people in every way.”
The College’s year in review includes the following highlights:
• Geisinger research has now sequenced DNA on nearly 230,000 patients — more than 20% of our total Geisinger patient population — a first for a healthcare system genomics initiative.
• At the 2024 MD Commencement, the College celebrated the first graduating class of 11 medical students to complete a 4-year Medical Research Honors Program.
• More research is being integrated into our nursing programs, including our Nursing School, and a Research Fellowship for nurses who work at Geisinger was established.
• The College launched its new genetic counseling master’s program.
A School of Medicine grad stays close — and gives back
As an undergraduate, Robert M. Corey, MD ’13, was doing everything he could to have an outstanding medical school application, including shadowing physicians in his hometown of Pittston. That’s when he began to hear the news that a local coalition was working to establish a medical school in Scranton.
“Even before I ever heard that the charter class would receive financial help, there was this excitement among the local clinicians,” he said. “Many of the doctors and surgeons that I had worked with were so eager for the opportunity to teach.”
Once he joined the charter Class of 2013, Dr. Corey never looked back. He’s gone on to a career he loves as an orthopaedic surgeon for the Guthrie Health System and as the team doctor for Cornell’s basketball teams, having
students from Geisinger observing and scrubbing into my surgeries,” he said. “I’ve also had students with questions about getting into orthopaedics and the match process, so I’ve opened up my phone to them. I’ve always been interested in mentoring students in the same way my mentors have helped me.”
In addition to teaching and mentoring, Dr. Corey has made a philanthropic gift to Geisinger School of Medicine.
It was his mentors’ desire to give back and to teach that inspired Dr. Corey to apply to the new medical school to join its first class.
added a sports medicine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic to his orthopaedic residency at St. Louis University. One of the best parts of working for the Guthrie system, he said, is the opportunity that he has to work with medical students from Geisinger.
“I’ve had a number of medical
“I’ve been so impressed by the substantial growth of our school over the years,” he said. “When I left, it was a tiny medical school. There were no residencies, no fellowships, and now, with Geisinger the growth’s exploded, I want to give back, particularly to people from the area who want to stay in the region.”
Abigail Geisinger Scholar spotlight
An empathetic storyteller finds a home at Geisinger
Medical student and creative writer Selena Kattick spent most of her formative years in Guyana, where primary care was almost nonexistent. Since then, she’s witnessed the life-saving impact of primary care, which she plans to harness — along with storytelling — to serve the community she now calls home.
“Growing up, I had very little exposure to primary care,” she said. “Any time I would see a doctor, I was very sick. I didn’t really understand doctors or what they did because I was usually in a fever haze when I met them.”
When Ms. Kattick moved to the U.S. at 15, she experienced primary care for the first time and built a relationship with a doctor she still sees today. “When I first started receiving care from her, I felt seen. And she was interested in everything that was going on with me, like my mental and emotional health.”
Ms. Kattick was also struck by the fact that many family members she lost in her home country to preventable diseases might be alive today if they had access to screenings and disease
management with a primary care physician.
“I lost 3 aunts due to complications from diabetes.” she said. “In my experience, the health system in the U.S. and the power of primary care make a big difference.”
When Ms. Kattick was researching medical schools, she found Geisinger
and the Abigail Geisinger Scholars program. Along with the promise of a focus on primary care, she was delighted by the option to conduct research in medical humanities.
“I love the humanities,” she said. “I love to immerse myself in stories and characters and their narratives. It helps me to be more empathetic.”
As she completes her second year and readies for deeper clinical experiences, Ms. Kattick believes her background, her humanities research and the time she’s spent with Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program mentors have prepared her well.
“I envision my future family medicine practice as very patient-centered and considerate of the patient’s total health,” she said. “I also want a practice that is community-focused and considers the social factors that affect the patient’s health.”
She added, “I’ve fallen in love with Scranton and Geisinger, and I love the innovative programs Geisinger has. I see Geisinger’s commitment to patients and serving this community. I just really love being here.”
Geisinger College of Health Sciences is committed to nondiscrimination in all employment and educational programs or activities. Concerns or questions may be directed to the Title IX coordinator whose contact information is available at geisinger.edu/titleix.
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