Wright Center Accepting Applications for Medical Assistant Training Program A Wright Center for Community Health and National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) initiative that was formed to address a critical national shortage of professionals is accepting applications beginning March 14 for its fall 2022 cohort of students. The collaboration educates and trains students over 29 weeks to become certified clinical medical assistants. The program combines flexible online learning with a paid internship at one of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary health practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne or Wayne counties. Federal financial aid is available for students who qualify. Students who are accepted into the program receive personalized training with experienced medical professionals at The Wright Center for Community Health during the clinical portion of their education. After completing the education component, students will be eligible to take the National Healthcareer Association Medical Assistant examination to receive their certified clinical medical assistant credential. Graduates from the NIMAA program have an 85% graduate rate on the exam. A medical assistant is responsible for assisting doctors and nurses in providing care to patients in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other health care facilities. Duties include recording and updating medical histories and contact information in patient files, scheduling patient appointments and performing standard care procedures, such as taking blood samples, measuring and recording vital signs, and more. The employment outlook for medical assistants is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings are projected annually on average, over the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Applications are being accepted through Sunday, May 29, but space is limited. For more information, contact Carla Blakeslee, coordinator of clerkships at The Wright Center, at 570-591-1511 or blakesleec@thewrightcenter.org or apply directly at nimaa.edu/admissions
Marywood University Awarded SHARE Grant The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), has approved Marywood University’s application for a SHARE Grant award in the amount of $295,264, which will be applied over a three-year period. “SHARE” stands for Sexual Assault and Harassment Awareness Response & Education, and the primary focus of the OVW grant is to strengthen a coordinated community response to incidents of sexual violence. The Women’s Resource Center, The Lackawanna District Attorney’s Office, and the Dunmore and Scranton Police Departments are partners in this project. The proposed SHARE project will expand and enhance available prevention education for students, faculty and administration; establish a more coordinated community resource strategy; and create new policies and procedures for prevention of stalking. “We are excited to receive this award, because it will serve to formalize relationships that we have had with the community for many years and create opportunities to continue to build the important work of the SHARE project,” stated Brandice Ricciardi-Lugar, associate director of the Counseling/Student Development Center at Marywood University. For additional information about the SHARE Project at Marywood University, please contact the Counseling/Student Development Center, at (570) 348-6245, or visit marywood.edu/csdc/resources.html.
WVIA Receives Four Awards WVIA receives four 2022 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards WVIA has received four 2022 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (PAB) Awards for programs in three categories. WVIA received two PABs in the Outstanding Radio Feature Story/Report/Series 2022 category for WVIA Keystone Edition: Dushore Resident Marks 9/11 To Remember The Fallen and WVIA Keystone Edition: Kids Count. The Pennsylvania PBS program Battling Opioids: Part Eight, which was produced by WVIA won in the Outstanding Television Public Affairs Program/Program Series 2022 category. WVIA also received a PAB for its co-production with the Scranton Jazz Festival of The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite in the Judges’ Merit-TV-2022 category. “WVIA is honored to be recognized for our efforts in both radio and television,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO. “The programs that received awards showcase our continued commitment to providing the highest quality arts, news, and information to the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania.” “It is always an honor to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters for the work that we do,” said Ben Payavis II, Chief Content Officer at WVIA. “I am proud of the work our award-winning team continues to produce for our region.” Listeners can hear the award-winning pieces anytime on-demand at wvia.org. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, please visit https://pab.org.
Additional Date for Marywood University’s “Nurse for a Day” Program Due to an enthusiastic response, an additional date for Marywood University’s “Nurse for a Day” program has been planned to accommodate interested prospective nursing students. On both Wednesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m., the program will occur in the Center for Natural and Health Sciences on the University’s campus. Both events are free and open to those interested in a nursing degree. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in CPR training and Simulation and Nursing Lab activities. A tour of Marywood’s campus will be provided, as well as lunch, at which attendees can meet with nursing faculty members. The “Nurse for a Day” program provides prospective nursing students with the opportunity to explore and find resources available to them. By speaking with faculty and current nursing students, attendees get a clearer picture about the types of classes, course material, and clinical work involved with a nursing major. Marywood’s nursing department provides academic and clinical coursework to prepare students to provide health care services in a variety of settings. Graduates of the undergraduate program have unlimited opportunities in hospitals and school and nursing home settings. Other areas of practice include pharmaceuticals, research, consulting, management, and administration. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates may also choose to continue their education in pursuit of a career as a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or educator. To attend “Nurse for a Day,” register by March 9 at marywood.edu/NurseForADay for a session. Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information about Marywood’s nursing program, please visit www.marywood.edu/nursing, or call (570) 348-6275.
Wright Center Physician Earns Board Certification Dr. Karen Arscott, a board-certified primary care physician and an addiction medicine specialist at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Hawley and Mid Valley practices, recently became board certified in addiction medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). ABPM was established to promote the health and safety of patients through high standards in the certification and maintenance of certification in the profession of preventive health. Physicians trained and certified as addiction medicine specialists provide comprehensive care for addiction and substance use disorders, including prevention, screening, intervention and treatment with education, experience and examination. A graduate of Dunmore High School, Arscott earned her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Marywood University and her Doctor of Osteopathy and clinical Master of Science in osteopathic manipulative medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency programs in internal medicine, anesthesiology, osteopathic manipulative medicine and addiction medicine. To schedule an appoint at the Hawley Practice call 570-576-8081 or Mid Valley Practice call 570-230-0019 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
Marywood to Host Women of Color Traveling Museum Exhibit In honor of Women’s History Month, Marywood University’s Global Unity Club, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Student Engagement Office are collaborating to host the traveling museum exhibit, Women of Color – A Tribute to the Contributions of African-American Woman, on Wednesday, March 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in the Latour Room at Nazareth Student Center, on the University’s campus. One of the most sought after traveling museums of its kind in the country, this special display is a featured exhibit of The True Black History Museum, including rare and authentic artifacts that date back to the late 1700s. The event at Marywood is free and open to the public. Visitors may park in the main lots in front of Nazareth Student Center on Adams Avenue. The exhibit profiles several dynamic African-American women who have made significant contributions to society and includes original artifacts, signed documents, and photos of individuals such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, Dr. Mae Jemison, Shirley Chisholm, Coretta Scott King, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, and other great African-American women who have impacted the history of Black Women around the world. For additional information about the Women of Color traveling museum exhibit at Marywood, please contact Haleigh Zurek, assistant director for campus programming, by email at hazurek@marywood.edu or by calling 570-340-6016.
Keystone College Spring Career Fair Keystone College will be hosting a Spring Career Fair on Tuesday, April 26th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register your company, non-profit, organization, graduate school to participate. All industries are welcome. There is no cost for this event, and presenters will treated to lunch in the Keystone Restaurant. There will be many job seekers with resumes on hand, as well as many different students looking to further their education or secure an internship. To participate, please fill out the online registration form. Any questions, or if you would like more details, please feel free to contact John Gorel at 570-536-1925, or email at john.gorel@keystone.edu
