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School of Medicine news
‘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.
