Marywood University Sets Fall Admissions Events Prospective undergraduate and graduate students can attend designated Open Houses at Marywood University this fall to learn more about specific programs and educational opportunities. For additional details, go to marywood.edu/visit, or call the Office of Admissions at (570) 348-6234. Additionally, prospective undergraduate students can email YourFuture@marywood.edu and prospective graduate students can email GoGrad@marywood.edu for more information. Undergraduate Open Houses: Saturday, October 28, and Saturday, November 11, 9 a.m. Two Undergraduate Open Houses are scheduled, including Saturday, October 28, 2023, and Saturday, November 11, 2023, for prospective undergraduate students. Registration for both events begins at 9 a.m. in the Fireplace Lounge at the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus. Prospective students can meet with current Marywood students, faculty, and coaches. There will be opportunities to explore academic departments, learn more about the admissions process, and tour campus. Information sessions with admissions and financial aid counselors also will be available. The event includes a continental breakfast and a complimentary lunch. Graduate Open House: Saturday, November 4, 10 a.m.-Noon Prospective graduate students can attend a Graduate Open House on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 10 a.m., with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Nazareth Student Center. The event includes an overview of Marywood, a financial aid and scholarship session, and meetings with faculty. Optional tours of campus also are available. The Open House is being held on site at Marywood’s Scranton Campus; there are no virtual options for this event.
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Announces 2023 Tribute to Courage Honoree Northeast Regional Cancer Institute and its Board of Ambassadors will honor Dr. Christopher A. Peters as the 2023 Tribute to Courage Honoree at their upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration set for Friday, November 10, 2023, at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Dr. Christopher A. Peters is a partner in Radiation Medicine Associates of Scranton (RAMAS). He is medical director of Northeast Radiation Oncology Centers (NROC) as well as its director of clinical research. In 2012, Dr. Peters joined the Board of Directors of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute (NRCI) and served as Board Chairman in 2017 and 2018. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Dr. Peters has served as the physician Co-Chair, Health Care Division, for the Annual United Way Lackawanna and Wayne County Annual Campaign from 2012 to 2022. He was elected President of the Lackawanna County Medical Society in 2016. Dr. Peters is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. After completing an internship in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve Metrohealth, he performed his Radiation Oncology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, serving as Chief Resident in his final year. Dr. Peters lives in Clarks Summit with his wife Jennifer, and their children Rose, Kate, and Gavin. The Board of Ambassadors is a group of individuals and business leaders in northeast Pennsylvania who have come together to raise funds & awareness to fight cancer in the local community through their support and promotion of a gala event. The Spirit of Hope Celebration benefits the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. This program helps individuals in northeast Pennsylvania get their recommended colorectal, breast, cervical, and lung cancer screenings. For more information about the upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration, please call the Cancer Institute at (570) 904-8808 or visit www.spiritofhopecelebration.org. 2023 Spirit of Hope Board of Ambassadors – Seated, from left to right: JoAnn Romano Hallesky, Marta Gomes, Leo Vergnetti, Chairman of the Board of Ambassadors, Meghan Gagorik, Kristie Hynoski, Traci Fosnot, and Robin Long. Standing, from left to right: Joe Ferguson, Matt Beynon, John Heil, Vince Scarpetta, Dino Campitelli, Sonya Eddings, William Davis, Ed Cosgrove, Vito Pizzo, Nevin Gerber, and Steven J. Szydlowski, Ph.D.
The Wright Center’s: Health Literacy Goes A Long Way Toward Long-term Wellness Here at The Wright Center, we’re big proponents of our patients serving as their own best advocates for their long-term health. So, naturally, we’re happy to promote awareness campaigns like Health Literacy Month. Observed throughout October, Health Literacy Month was started in 1999 by health communication expert Helen Osborne as a way for organizations and the general public to spread awareness on the need for patients to more efficiently process, analyze, and evaluate the information they are receiving from their health care providers. Through better health literacy, people can overcome challenges that result in bad health outcomes and in the process, create a more equitable world “where everyone can access high-quality care and achieve positive health outcomes,” according to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), the group that oversees Health Literacy Month. According to IHA, studies have shown that a large number of patients have significant difficulty reading, comprehending, and acting on the health information provided to them, often due to the complexity of the information and a lack of clear, plainspoken communication on the part of the provider. In addition, basic literacy skills, language differences, age, disability, cultural context, and emotional responses can also hinder a patient’s health literacy, which can negatively affect health outcomes and costs. Thankfully, efforts like Health Literacy Month are helping to bridge that gap. In recent years, the event has become a worldwide initiative with numerous health care organizations, government agencies, literacy programs, colleges, professional organizations, businesses, social service organizations, and community partnerships hosting and collaborating on various health literacy events every October. Fitting into that theme, earlier this year The Wright Center joined an impressive list of organizations across the country when it was designated by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), an office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a Healthy People 2030 Champion, affirming our longtime commitment to improving the health and well-being of all people. Applicants are selected on the basis of possessing a demonstrated interest in and experience with disease prevention, health promotion, health equity, well-being, and health literacy. One of the main focuses of the Healthy People initiative is addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH). These social conditions impact people in the places where they live, learn, work, and play and can affect their quality of life and health. Examples of SDOH include exposure to polluted air and water, exposure to racism and violence, and an individual’s level of access to things such as nutritious foods, educational attainment, job opportunities, safe housing, and outlets for physical activity. The Wright Center has made SDOH a critical part of our mission, and we’re firmly committed to providing exceptional integrated primary and preventive health care services to our diverse patient population throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. That means giving patients the tools they need to become their best advocates, including spending as much time as needed with them and their families and delivering information with clarity, purpose, and empathy. Our resident physicians also partnered with community organizations to address SDOH. For example, we delivered educational programming at the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary for regional children about the importance of healthy eating habits and collaborated with Child Hunger Outreach Partners to package nutritious food for regional children experiencing food insecurity. It is important to know that a little knowledge goes a long way. My colleagues and I at The Wright Center for Community Health are adamant about providing patients with the right information so they can make the right decisions about their health. For more information about Health Literacy Month, visit https://healthliteracymonth.org. Ayushi Jain, M.D., is a resident physician in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency program and serves as the chief resident liaison for The Wright Center for Patient and Community Engagement Board.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Hosts Carnival-themed Fundraiser An adults-only night at the carnival will support student scholarships for Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Moonlight on the Midway will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave. The event will feature classic carnival fare, a beer and wine selection, and beloved childhood amusement games with bigger, better prizes. Culinary Creations by Metz will staff concession stations offering elevated dishes inspired by traditional carnival food. Entertainment will include sideshow performances, and a silent auction will feature items from local businesses. Tickets cost $125 and can be purchased at go.geisinger.org/gcsommidway. Attendees must be 21 and older, and attire is casual. Sponsorship and one-time donation opportunities are also available on the event page. For more information, please contact Foundation Events at foundationevents@geisinger.edu or 570-214-0400.
Skills in Scranton Hosts First Like Mind Meet Up Skills in Scranton, the workforce development affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, hosted its first Like Mind Meet Up on September 20 at the Scranton Enterprise Center, sponsored by Sho Technology Solution. The event featured an array of networking opportunities and a presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by local tech experts Jason Washo and John George. Attendees comprised tech professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and AI enthusiasts, all eager to explore the limitless possibilities of AI technology. Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist, with The Chamber, expressed excitement about the prospect of future Like Mind Meet Up events. “We are thrilled with the attendance and engagement for our first Like Mind Meet Up,” Emily stated. “These events provide individuals with similar interests and careers an invaluable opportunity to connect and foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.” For updates on upcoming Like Mind meet-ups, visit scrantonchamber.com.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Sets 2024 RailRiders Home Schedule The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their home game times for the 2024 season. The new season begins on March 29 at Buffalo with the home opener slated for April 2. The RailRiders will once again play a 150-game slate with 75 games set for PNC Field. The first pitch for all weeknight games throughout the season will be at 6:35 P.M. Saturday games in April and May will start at 4:05 P.M. and shift to 6:05 starting on June 8 for the remainder of the summer. All Sunday games will begin at 1:05 P.M. in 2024. Games on May 7 and 21 will have a 6:05 P.M. first pitch. The RailRiders will host two STEM School Day games in 2024 with 11:05 A.M. start times. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hosts Rochester on Wednesday, May 8, and Syracuse on Wednesday, May 22, in the early games. STEM School Day games are presented by Penn State Scranton, Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Louisville will play at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, at PNC Field. The final Saturday game of the home schedule, September 14 against Lehigh Valley, is set with a 4:05 p.m. start. Promotions and giveaways will be announced at a later time and all game times are subject to change. Season ticket memberships, including premium seating, full season, half season and partial plans, are on sale now. Find more information online at swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-2255.
Keystone College to Host Dennis Farms Symposium For the 12th consecutive year, Keystone College will continue its partnership with The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust by hosting an annual symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Theatre in Brooks on campus. The event is free and open to the public. The annual symposium focuses on the history and tradition of The Dennis Farm and its meaning to the local community and the nation. Keynote speaker for this year’s event will be Michael Idriss, manager of African American Interpretive Programs at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Mr. Idriss will discuss the museum’s Forten Exhibition and contrast the exhibition’s subject, James Forten, a wealthy, free African American living in urban Philadelphia around the time of the American Revolution with his contemporary, Prince Perkins, a land-owing free African American farm owner in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. The symposium will conclude with a tour of The Dennis Farm with Keystone students serving as tour guides. “Keystone College is once again proud to be an educational partner with the The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust as we host this important symposium on our beautiful campus,” said Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr. “The Dennis Farm has played such a meaningful role in our nation’s history and we are delighted to celebrate that history with everyone from The Dennis Farm and with our campus and local communities.” The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of The Dennis Farm. The 153-acre historic farm located in Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County, was purchased and settled by the ancestors of Denise Dennis, free African Americans who journeyed to Northeastern Pennsylvania from Connecticut in the late 1700s. Today, The Dennis Farm serves as a living tribute to the lives and accomplishments of this remarkable family and Ms. Dennis serves as president and CEO of The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. In 2012, Keystone began hosting The Dennis Farm Symposium and Field Tour, an annual on-campus conference which also included guided tours of The Dennis Farm conducted by Keystone students. Under Ms. Dennis’ leadership, The Dennis Farm, which is open to the public, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places; featured in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; honored by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Historical and Museum Commission and Department of Agriculture, and listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s map of rare African American historical sites in the Northeast United States. The symposium marks the latest in a series of events in which Keystone has served as an educational partner with the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. Last summer, The Dennis Farm was honored during a special semi-quincentennial Bell Presentation Ceremony as one of Pennsylvania’s most revered historical landmarks in celebration of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. The ceremony took place at The Dennis Farm and followed by a luncheon at Keystone. Recognized as one of the best educational values in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Keystone offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree options in liberal arts and science-based programs in business, communications, education, natural science, environmental science, and social sciences. Located on a beautiful 276-acre campus 15 minutes from Scranton, PA., and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Keystone is known for small class sizes and individual attention focused on student success through internships, research, and community involvement.
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Receives $45,000 in ARPA Funds The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute recently received a $45,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) nonprofit recovery grant from the City of Scranton to support the Community-Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. Funds will be used for software upgrades to streamline Navigation Program operations and enhance data security. “NRCI is extremely appreciative of this funding support from the City of Scranton. These upgrades will allow for program growth, increase the number of people screened for cancer, and help save lives through early detection”, according to Laura Toole, Executive Vice President at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. This funding was awarded as part of the City of Scranton’s open applications for nonprofit organizations.
