Marywood University Launches Online Program

Building on the success of its existing biotechnology programs and meeting emerging educational and professional needs within this growing science industry, Marywood University is launching a completely online biotechnology master’s degree program.

Featuring a competitive, affordable pricing structure for all students, along with the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous online learning, the 32-credit program will be ready to begin in June 2023. The program cost will be $515 per credit, making it one of the most competitively priced graduate biotechnology degree programs in the Northeast region of the U.S.

Marywood’s M.S. degree program in biotechnology is the only graduate program of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including a two-year master’s program or a five-year bachelor’s to master’s program, with emphasis on either a research track or a business/entrepreneur track. Marywood University has had a professional science master’s program in biotechnology since 2006, but this new, completely online program format “meets students where they are and offers greater flexibility as well as affordability,” said Deanne Dulik Garver, Ph.D., associate professor of science and chairperson of Marywood’s science, mathematics, and computer science department.

Marywood’s interdisciplinary graduate degree in biotechnology blends modern science education with communication skills, management and business understanding, and analytical reasoning. Featuring MBA-level courses, a master’s degree in biotechnology is considered the scientific equivalent of the MBA, with emphasis on cutting-edge science. Additionally, a master’s degree in biotechnology greatly enhances admissions qualifications for students who eventually plan to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary programs. The present market for scientists with an M.S. Biotechnology degree is strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that biomedical research is growing at a rate of 17 percent (2020 through 2030 period)—double the average growth across all occupations.

Dr. Lisa Antoniacci, associate professor of science, oversees the work of Megan Hedgelon, who graduated from Marywood’s five-year B.S. to M.S. Biotechnology program in 2022.

Building on the success of its existing biotechnology programs and meeting emerging educational and professional needs within this growing science industry, Marywood University is launching a completely online biotechnology master’s degree program. Featuring a competitive, affordable pricing structure, along with the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous online learning, the 32-credit program will be ready to begin in June 2023.

For more information about Marywood University’s master’s program in biotechnology, visit marywood.edu/biotechnology-masters-degree or contact Marywood University Admissions by email at GoGrad@marywood.edu or by phone at 570-348-6234.

Marywood University’s Future Events

Marywood University to Show Jack and the Beanstalk

Marywood University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance gears up to present its Children’s Theatre production of Jack and the Beanstalk.There is a public performance on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 2 p.m., in the Munley Theatre at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, while school district performances (closed to the public) will take place on March 30 and 31.

Under the direction of Dr. Laurie Houser, this family-friendly production is fun for all ages and features an adaptation of the classic fairytale, which tells of Jack, a boy who climbs to the top of a huge beanstalk, then uses his quick wits to outsmart a Giant in his castle in the clouds to free the imprisoned Queen. 

The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk features Jocelyn Meyer as Jack, Gabe Jenceleski as the Giant, Angela Klawiter as the Troll, and Mikaela Clark as the Bean Seller/Magic Harp.

Participating area schools receive an educational packet to prepare students for the show. The packet includes a synopsis of the story, classroom activities for before and after seeing the performance, coloring contests, and an audio recording of a song from the show, which enables the children to interact with the characters during the performance. The children also get to “meet and greet” the characters from the show as they board the buses to return to their schools.

Admission is $10 per person (regardless of age) or free with a valid Marywood ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance by credit card at https://marywood.universitytickets.com/ or purchased at the door.

Marywood University’s to Host Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration

Marywood University’s Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration will honor Professor Emerita of Art Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, M.F.A. on Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. During the celebration, Sister Cor will receive the University’s Lead On Award, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, to service, and to the common good. An art auction will be featured during the event that includes a piece of artwork by Sister Cor.

The Community Leadership Celebration, Marywood’s signature fundraiser, provides special support to Marywood students and honors individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition.

A professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Sister Cor spent the better part of five decades teaching, primarily teaching art at the high school and college levels. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art at Marywood, she went on to complete multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Marywood University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Much of her prolific career as an art educator was spent at Marywood, where she taught for 30 years and served as Art Department Chair for 14 years, until her retirement in 2008. She now holds the distinction of Professor Emerita of Art.

As an artist, Sister Cor has been commissioned to create numerous sculptures, some of which can be seen throughout the country, including college, estate, wellness, and spiritual settings. Many of her sculptures and other works adorn the interior and exterior spaces at Marywood University and the IHM Congregation facilities. She has designed and published two books, including Spirit of Light (2004), and, her most recent, Spirit Within: The Art of Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM. Earlier this year, she presented a retrospective exhibit for Spirit Within, featuring paintings, calligraphy, prints, and sculptures at the Mahady Gallery at Marywood University. As a spiritual director, Sister Cor has presented extensive workshops and retreats, on five continents, for the Missionaries of Charity. She also has worked with the Institute for Priestly Formation, along with a multitude of parishes and congregations, offering retreats and spiritual direction for priests, consecrated religious, and members of the laity.

In addition to her long career as a Marywood faculty member, Sister Cor is a former Marywood trustee. She also has held membership and leadership positions with the Lackawanna Regional Cultural Council; Everhart Museum; Commission on Architecture and Urban Design; Scranton Diocesan Liturgical Commission; and Meals on Wheels. Sister Cor has been honored by numerous entities for her achievements as an artist, art educator, arts advocate, and a dedicated woman of faith and service.

To join Marywood University in honoring Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM at the Community Leadership Celebration on May 4, or for details about event sponsorships and items for auction, please visit marywood.edu/clc, or call (570) 348-6238.

The Hilton Scranton to Host Easter Brunch

The Hilton in Scranton will be hosting Easter Brunch on April 9, 2023. Seating will be from 11:30AM-3:00PM. Adults are $38 each, seniors 65 and older are $34, children 5-12 are $18 each, and children under 4 years old are FREE!

The menu includes breakfast, soups and salads, displays, entrees, desserts, and a kids menu.

The Wright Center Welcomes New Residents on Match Day

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education welcomed 66 new resident physicians into its four regional residency programs after achieving a 100% match on national Match Day for soon-to-be newly minted doctors.

The National Resident Matching Program’s Match Day is one of the most important events and competitive processes in the medical school experience. On the third Friday of March each year, fourth-year medical students, as well as their graduate medical education programs, learn where they will complete the next stage of their medical training.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education matched residents in the following regional programs: Internal Medicine Residency (40); Regional Family Medicine Residency (11); Psychiatry Residency (10), and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (5). Resident physicians will begin their first-year residencies on July 1 in Scranton.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s National Family Medicine Residency has filled its resident physician positions at the Tucson, Arizona (4); Auburn, Washington (6); Washington, D.C., (6), and Hillsboro, Ohio (3) training sites.

The incoming first-year residents for the five residencies hail from 16 countries. They are: China (1), Canada (8), Cayman Islands (1), Dubai, UAE (1), Egypt (2), India (15), Iran (1), Libya (1), Nepal (3), Pakistan (12), Philippines (1), Saint Lucia (1), Trinidad and Tobago (1), Turkey (1), Ukraine (1), and the United States (35).

Overall, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education welcomed 85 new residents into the regional and national programs on Match Day. The residency programs received 5,882 applications and interviewed 811 candidates or 14% of the applicants for the available slots in the five residency programs.

“Match Day is one of my favorite days of the academic year,” said Jumee Barooah, M.D., the Designated Institutional Official for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “Our new resident physicians now are one step closer to realizing a lifelong dream of becoming physicians. This day is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance that began at an early age. Enjoy your residency experience and be sure to take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented to you during your time at The Wright Center.”

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency. Today, The Wright Center is the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium in the nation. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains residents and fellows in a community-based, community needs-responsive workforce development model to advance their shared mission to improve the health and welfare of our communities through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

The Wright Center offers residencies in four disciplines – family medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and psychiatry – as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology and geriatrics. The residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

The University of Scranton April Events

Through Apr. 14                    Art Exhibit: “Post COVID: Art by Students for the Scranton School District.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 1      9 a.m. Regional National History Day Competition for junior and senior high school students. The DeNaples Center. Pre-registration required. Call 570-941-4549 or email nhdparegion2@gmail.com. 

Apr. 2      7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Recital” featuring Mikaela Bennett, voice. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 4      7 p.m. Performance: “From Music Score To Life On Stage” book by Gene Terruso, co-produced with the University Players and The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Humanities. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 14      4:30 p.m.Environmental Art Show opening event – Artist Talk with Stéphanie Williams. Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Free. Call 570-941-7482 or email marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 14-25       Environmental Art Show. Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Free during library hours. Call 570-941-7482 or email marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 15     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Jazz Band and Saxophone Ensemble with guest baritone/bass saxophonist Leigh Pilzer. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 17     5:30 p.m. The Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities Lecture: “The Regeneration Revolution: Working at the Nexus of Food, Climate, and Culture” presented by Nicole Negowetti, managing director of the Plant Based Foods Institute and vice president of Policy & Food Systems at the Plant Based Foods Association. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 18     11 a.m. Earth Day Fair with interactive games, presentation and information related to the environment and sustainable practices. Atrium, Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-7520 or email mark.murphy@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 20     8:30 a.m. Hayes Family Competition in physics and engineering for high school students. Byron Complex. Registration required. Call 570-941-7509 or email salisa.brown@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 20            4 p.m. Henry George Lecture: “Where Does Wealth Come From?” presented by Sandra Black, Ph.D., Columbia University. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email john.ruddy@scranton.edu. 

Apr. 20            5:30 p.m. Earth Day “Evening of Environmental Science” with University student-run interactive science experiments and exhibit of University of Scranton Earth Day Essay Contest submissions. Essay contest awards will be announced at the event. Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email susan.falbo@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 20-22       8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. Performance: “Curtains” presented by The University of Scranton Liva Arts Company. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 21     noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “How Stories Heal the World” presented by Colum McCann, author of seven novels and three collections of stories, recipient of many international honors including the National Book Award and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Collegiate Hall, Redington Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 23     7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert” featuring The University of Scranton Singers and Symphonic Band. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 24 through May 5                      Art Exhibit: “The University of Scranton Student Exhibition Online.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call. 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Apr. 26     noon. Celebration of Student Scholars. Displays and presentations of undergraduate and graduate student research and scholarly projects. Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6353 or email phillip.swank@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 27            4:15 p.m. Math Integration Bee. Calculus-based high school math competition. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Registration required. Visit https://www.scranton.edu/academics/cas/math/bee.shtml or email stacey.muir@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 27            5 p.m. Campus Take Back the Night. Dionne Green. Free. Call 570-941-6194 or email  brandice.ricciardi@scranton.edu. 

Apr. 27            7 p.m. Schemel Forum with Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute at The University of Scranton Collaborative Program: “Only in America? Religion, State, and a Hasidic Town in Rural New York” presented by David N. Myers, Ph.D., distinguished professor of history, Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History and director of the Luskin Center for History and Policy, UCLA. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Registration required. $15 per person. Call 570-941-4740 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 27-30       8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Theatrical performance of “Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight” by The University of Scranton’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the English and Theatre Department as part of the University’s year-long “Celebrating Women: 50th Anniversary of Coeducation” series of events. Studio Theatre of the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-6194 or email jkwc@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 28            noon. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminar: “The World after the Ukraine War” presented by Jill Dougherty, Russian expert, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief, current CNN on-air contributor and professor, Georgetown University. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email brooke.leonard@scranton.edu.  

Apr. 29-30       9 a.m. Saturday; Noon Sunday. Friends of the Library Book and Plant Sale. Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Call 570-941-7816 or email kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.  

The University of Scranton to Host Webinar

The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center is proud to be hosting “Digital Skills for Everyday Tasks”, a Grow with Google webinar, on Tuesday, March 28 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. Learn how to manage work and life tasks more effectively using Google tools. Whether you want to build a budget, create a meeting agenda or organize your priorities, these best practices will boost your productivity. This will be a mostly hands-on webinar showing you the products in action.
The Webinar will go over Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and much more!

Registration link:https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/30308
Facebook event link:https://fb.me/e/2NwuqwYVr

Allied Services Recognized for Excellence in Rehabilitation

Allied Services Scranton Rehab Hospital recently received the Top Performer Award from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation. UDSMR is the most widely used system for documenting the severity of patient disabilities and medical rehabilitation outcomes. The Top Performer Award recognizes facilities that rank in the top 10 percent of more than 800 inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationwide. UDSMR ranks facilities according to data on several important patient outcomes, including functional improvement, length of stay, and how often patients return home after rehab. 

The Scranton Rehab Hospital ranked in the top 4 percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities for patient outcomes. In addition, the facility ranked in the top 2 percent for the proportion of patients able to return to the community following discharge.  

The Scranton Rehab Hospital has earned the Top Performer Award for 15 consecutive years, an achievement that the hospital’s leadership attributes to several factors, including staff expertise, a multi-disciplinary approach, and advanced rehab technology. 

“Our inpatient rehabilitation hospitals serve a vital service to the region,” commented Karen Kearney, LCSW, Vice President of Inpatient Rehabilitation. “Patients come to us in the days following a serious illness, injury, or surgery in need of highly specialized care. Our sole focus is to support patients in achieving their full rehabilitation potential in the most expeditious manner, allowing them to return to independent living. This recognition exemplifies the success of the high-quality patient care our physicians and employees of the Scranton Rehab Hospital are delivering.”  

The data used to determine the latest ranking of 861 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States is based on twelve months of data drawn from Medicare and non-Medicare patients. The rankings are determined by using UDSmr, LLC’s program evaluation model (PEM), a case-mix-adjusted and severity-adjusted tool that provides facilities with a composite performance score and percentile ranking drawn from over 80 percent of all IRFs in the country.  Allied Services Scranton Rehab Hospital provides intensive rehabilitation services and medical management for patients with various conditions. In addition, its specialty programs serve the post-acute needs of patients recovering from an amputation, brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions

Johnson College to Host Events

Closer Look Event

Johnson College is hosting a Closer Look event at Five Star Equipment at 1300 Dunham Drive, Dunmore, PA, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Prospective students can learn more about the College’s Heavy Equipment Technology program while getting a sneak peek at new, industry-immersed classroom and lab space.

Johnson College’s two-year Heavy Equipment Technology Associates Degree program prepares students to succeed as well-trained, mechanically minded, hard-working technicians with heavy equipment dealers and contractors. Instruction involves classroom theory, live shop demonstrations, and repair of heavy equipment currently used in industry. Making repairs on actual equipment is vital to skill development.

The Johnson College Enrollment team, Heavy Equipment Technology faculty, and members of industry partner, Five Star Equipment, will be on hand to answer questions regarding the program, career opportunities, and the enrollment process.

For more information or to register, contact the College’s Enrollment department at (570) 702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

Women In Industry Event

In honor of Women’s History Month, Johnson College’s Special Programs Department will be hosting a Women in Industry event on March 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Health Science Center on the Johnson College Scranton campus.

The theme of this event will be women’s entrepreneurship, with a focus on how women can start their own businesses. It will feature two speakers: Donna J Kane, Branch Manager for Fidelity Bank, and Maggie Calpin, owner of Nibbles and Bits, a gourmet chocolate shop in Dunmore. They will use their expertise as fierce supporters of the community to inform, encourage, and inspire attendees to pursue opportunities in entrepreneurship.

The event will also feature an interactive chocolate-making activity with materials supplied by Nibbles & Bits.

This event supports the College’s Women in Industry initiative and its goals to provide networking opportunities, collaborate on industry-related projects, and support women in industries that are still considered “non-traditional.” To learn more or to register for the event, visit johnson.edu/women-in-industry.

FNCB Bank Donates $15,000 to Friendship House

FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, today announced a $15,000 Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program/Special Program Priorities (NAP-SPP) donation to the Friendship House for their downtown Scranton building renovation project.

The project, which encompasses the Murray Building at 413-415 Biden St. and the Davidow Building at 200-216 Wyoming Ave., when completed, is expected to house substance abuse, mental health and pharmacy services for the community.

“The services Friendship House provides are a great benefit to our community,” said Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank President and CEO. “Our downtown Scranton Community Office is adjacent to the Friendship House’s new location and we are excited to witness the rebirth of two well-known buildings in the city.”

Including the Friendship House donation, FNCB Bank has made NAP-SPP commitments to seven different community projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  As a true, local community bank, FNCB is making a difference through volunteerism, donations, and outreach programs.

The Wright Center Promotes Healthier Eating Habits

Walter Wanas, LDN, RD, a registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist, is the director of lifestyle modification and preventive medicine at The Wright Center for Community Health. He collaborates with primary care teams to offer lifestyle medicine at practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. Go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019 for more information about the lifestyle medicine program.

For several years now, The Wright Center for Community Health has been promoting healthier eating habits through our lifestyle medicine initiative. With March serving as National Nutrition Month, now is a great opportunity to promote and tout the many virtues and benefits of incorporating lifestyle medicine into your primary care. 

Created 50 years ago by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition Month promotes the ways in which people can make better dietary and physical fitness decisions in the name of long-term good health. This year’s theme, “Fuel for the Future,” is geared around making smart eating choices that are also environmentally friendly. 

When we think about good nutrition, the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans serve as a good roadmap. They are: 

  • Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every stage of life; 
  • Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices in ways that reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations; 
  • Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages and stay within calorie limits; 
  • Limit foods and beverages high in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and limit consumption of alcoholic beverages. 

These tips make for a great common-sense framework, and better still, they align perfectly with the mission of lifestyle medicine, which The Wright Center launched in 2020 at our primary and preventive care practices throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. 

There’s no question that medications, surgeries, and other medical procedures are crucial to bettering and prolonging our lives, but it’s also very important that we take a more proactive, rather than reactive, approach to our health and well-being. Lifestyle Medicine adheres to this philosophy by focusing on what we would call the six pillars of health: Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, relationships, and the avoidance of risky substances. It’s not alternative medicine but rather an evidence-based approach that could have long-lasting, positive effects on health care. 

The data are showing lifestyle medicine can prevent, treat, or even reverse many chronic conditions. One way of doing this is through better nutrition, specifically through adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet that is high in fiber, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals, and low in saturated fat, transfats, and sodium.

A vegetarian diet can also accomplish your healthy diet goal. Today, vegetarian diets come in many formats. Some incorporate eggs and/or dairy products. There are hybrid vegetarian diets such as the flexitarian diet which allows for small amounts of animal products, the pescatarian diet which allows for some seafood products, and the vegan diet which excludes all animal products.

These diets are plant based and provide the benefits of a plant-based nutrition profile, while providing the flexibility to match a person’s cultural and personal preferences.

If a vegetarian diet is not for you, consider use of the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods, moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs, and limited red meat and sweets. This diet is still ranked as one of the best overall healthy diets and allows for a wide variety of foods.

Please use this National Nutrition Month to reexamine your diet and exercise patterns and begin making healthy changes to your own diet and routine. If you stick with it, chances are it will pay big dividends in the long run for your health and overall well-being.