Commonwealth Health Welcomes Surgeon Specializing in Minimally Invasive Techniques and Robotic Technology Commonwealth Health Physician Network is always looking for ways to improve local access to advanced treatment options across a wide range of surgery specialties. So we are excited to introduce a new member of our surgical team that has over a decade of experience and has trained at several renowned academic institutions. John Pepen, M.D., FACS, graduated from Columbia University and completed fellowship-training in surgical critical care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Pepen is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. He is experienced in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery for a range of health issues including appendicitis, hernia repair, gastrointestinal surgery, colorectal disease, and gallbladder disease. Dr. Pepen is a member of the medical staff at Regional Hospital of Scranton and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Dr. Pepen is accepting new patients at Commonwealth Physician Network’s office located at 743 Jefferson Ave. To schedule a consult or request a second opinion for surgery, call 570-207-0433. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including Geisinger Health Plan.
NEPA Alliance Announces Promotion of Government Procurement Program Manager Jeffrey Box, President & CEO of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, is pleased to announce the promotion of Kara Smith to Government Procurement Program Manager. Kara will be responsible for providing technical assistance to clients and, and informational assistance to businesses regarding government contracting opportunities. In addition to helping these companies with their expansion and/or entry into contracting with federal, state, and local governments, she will be leading the administration of the APEX program. Kara will succeed Frank Migneco who will retire July 31, 2024. “Frank has done a superb job managing the APEX Program and we will miss him, but we wish him well in his retirement,” said Jeffrey Box, President & CEO. Kara has a Master of Business Administration, Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Minor in Psychology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. She resides in Dalton.
The Dime Bank’s Ferdinand Feola Appointed to ICBA Cyber and Data Security Committee Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced that Senior Vice President Chief Technology Officer Ferdinand Feola of The Dime Bank, was elected to serve on ICBA’s Cyber and Data Security Committee. “What an honor to represent The Dime Bank and all community banks as part of the ICBA Cyber and Data Security Committee. I look forward to helping to create an environment where community banks, and the communities we serve, continue to flourish. Community banks, as relationship lenders, prioritize the needs of their customers and serve as trusted stewards of their financial future,” said Feola. “I’m proud to be a community banker and honored to be called upon to help ICBA safeguard our industry by underscoring the vital role community banks serve in our nation’s economy and working to ensure a strong, diversified financial sector that benefits every American.” In addition to helping shape and promote ICBA’s national policy positions and programs, Feola’s duties include engaging in grassroots activities in Pennsylvania to advocate pro-community bank policies and serving as a liaison between community banks and ICBA leadership in Washington, D.C. “Ferd is an esteemed civic leader and dedicated community banker, generously contributing his time to champion and advance the crucial role of community banks within our financial system,” said ICBA Chairman Lucas White, president of the Fountain Trust Co. in Covington, Ind. “We are honored to leverage Ferd’s talents and resources in support of ICBA’s efforts, and we extend our sincere gratitude for his unwavering commitment to securing a vibrant future for community banking.”
Boys & Girls Club of NEPA to Host Designer Purse Bingo The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania will be hosting a designer purse bingo event on Sunday May 19, 2024, at St. Stanislaus PNC Cathedral located at 529 E. Locust Street in Scranton. All proceeds benefit the Club. Cost is $30 for pre-purchased tickets and $35 at the door. Also available for additional purchases are: extra games, daubers, special games, 50/50 raffle, basket raffles, food and beverages. Doors open at noon and games begin at 1:00 p.m. Purse designers include: Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade and Tory Burch. There is also a $10 special raffle to win a Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulière 35 valued at $1,960. Several door prizes will be given out. To purchase tickets, visit www.bgcnepa.org or contact Julianne Cucura at (570) 342-8709 ext. 110 or jcucura@bgcnepa.org.
Geisinger Places Pinwheels to Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, staff members from the Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center in Sunbury planted dozens of blue mylar pinwheels in the entrance of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The pinwheels symbolize the positive childhood every kid deserves. They serve as a reminder to protect and nurture our children and that prevention is possible if we are brave enough to intervene. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign for child abuse prevention. “More than 600,000 children are abused in the U.S. each year. Educating our communities and raising awareness on child abuse can help to protect children who are at risk,” said Melissa Wagner, program director of child safety and advocacy at Geisinger. “We hope the pinwheel garden reminds people that if they suspect abuse, they should report it. You just never know when you might save a child’s life.”
The Wright Center Shares Tips for Stress Awareness Month Below is a health column written by Dr. Aditi Sharma, a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health, in which she provides tips to reduce and/or cope with stress in everyday life. We live in a world where many things can cause us great stress, whether it be things close to home (family, job, finances) or farther afield (politics, wars, global pandemics). Yes, it’s a lot to cope with, and over time it can be incredibly detrimental to our health, both mentally and physically. So, I’m happy there are awareness campaigns like National Stress Awareness Month. The annual observance focuses on combating the harmful effects of chronic stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life and can be experienced in situations that are both positive and negative in prolonged form, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, headaches, muscle tension, and, when it’s particularly serious, cardiovascular disease. But with some focus, stress can be managed in relatively simple ways, allowing us to live happier, healthier lives. Here are a few helpful stress-reduction tips you might consider: Improve your diet: Eat whole foods, and curtail or completely eliminate stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Exercise: Increased exercise can lower your blood pressure, boost your endorphins and just make you feel a whole lot better, whether you join a gym or just go out for a walk or run a few times a week. Sleep more: Lack of sleep and the ensuing fatigue can lead to a plunge in overall well-being and eventually lead to increased anxiety and depression, so it’s important to establish a calming vibe every night before you go to bed – and to curtail your screen time significantly. Relax: In our go-go-go lives, simply taking time to relax can be difficult, but a daily regimen that includes meditation or mindfulness – or good, old-fashioned daydreaming – can substantially decrease stress levels. Prioritize your schedule: Cramming too much stuff into a day inevitably causes stress, so check off the things that need to be done before pursuing the smaller-scale items. Do something fun: Make time for enjoyable activities, such as hobbies, movies, concerts, dinners with friends, sporting events – really anything that puts you in a good mood. Talk to someone: Sometimes, the best de-stressor is just talking about your problems with a trusted family member, friend, colleague, or licensed professional therapist. Speaking of therapy, here at The Wright Center, stress prevention is a significant component of our behavioral health services for adults, children, and adolescents. Our first-rate team of experts can help you identify the causes of behavioral issues and provide solutions via comprehensive therapy services, psychological assessments, and psychiatric care. We also provide specialty services for children with severe mental illness as well as those who have experienced abuse or violence. Managing chronic stress is also a core mission of our Lifestyle Medicine practice, which works with individuals and families to improve their health and quality of life through lifestyle modifications such as stress relief techniques, eliminating tobacco use, improving diet, increasing physical activity, strengthening personal relationships and connections, and adjusting sleep habits. Our team is trained in conventional and lifestyle medicine and can work with you to create a personalized lifestyle self-care plan that’s sustainable for the long haul. I can confidently say that if you proactively work to reduce your stress levels, eventually, you’ll feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you’ll improve your overall health – what could be better than that? Aditi Sharma, M.D., MPH, is a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice. An alumna of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Psychiatry Residency, she treats adults experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, providing consultations and evaluations to develop personalized behavioral health and medicinal care plans.
Fourth Annual Workforce Summit and Carrer Fair Landed Success The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its workforce development affiliate, Skills in Scranton, hosted the SKILLS 2024: Workforce Summit & Career Fair. The event was held at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel and served as a platform for connecting high school students, job seekers, and regional employers, facilitating invaluable networking opportunities and fostering career development and pathways education. Lackawanna County was the main event sponsor. The SKILLS 2024 event hosted more than 100 high school seniors looking for employment upon graduation, career pathways exploration, and the opportunity to engage with industry professionals. Additionally, the Summit drew numerous job seekers from across the region, all seeking employment opportunities, with the 50 regional employers in attendance. Scranton School Board President Ty Holmes shared, “The Workforce Summit and Career Fair is a great resource for high school students. I heard one student say, “I didn’t know this…” and it was in reference to a student talking with an employer about their career options.” “We were pleased to have been able to add unique elements to this year’s Workforce Summit. Public employment resources, access to regional workforce data, and connections to students from area high schools added to the core components of the job fair, with over 50 local employers on hand,” shared Robert Durkin, president of The Chamber. Throughout the day, attendees had the chance to interact with representatives from a diverse array of industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and more. Employers showcased their organizations, shared information about available job opportunities, and engaged in meaningful conversations with prospective candidates. The SKILLS 2024: Workforce Summit & Career Fair not only provided attendees with a platform to connect and network but also featured informative sessions on topics such as resume writing, interview skills, and professional development. Keynote speaker Teri Ooms, president and CEO of The Institute, paved the way for attendees and employers to learn about the status of the workforce. Identify pros and cons; Ooms shared the research The Institute has done to evaluate top-priority careers and the shortage of workers vs. employers. As the event concluded, both employers and attendees expressed enthusiasm about the connections made and the opportunities presented. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Skills in Scranton look forward to building on this success and continuing to support workforce development initiatives in the region.
Wright Center Gets AI Grant The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education received a 2024 American Medical Association (AMA) Innovation Grant, one of only 14 medical teaching facilities nationwide to secure the prestigious $25,000 one-year education grant. As part of the grant, The Wright Center will join the AMA’s ChangeMedEd Consortium — a forward-thinking group committed to developing, implementing, and disseminating bold and innovative projects that promote systemic change to better train future physicians. Grant recipients will focus on the application of precision education across the medical education continuum — from medical school and residency to continuing medical education. The Wright Center’s project aims to make health care more personalized and equitable by leveraging data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) to tailor, and thereby improve, how family medicine residents learn about population behavioral health, aligning with medical standards and correlating their performance with patient outcomes in a community health center setting. There is potential for AI-enabled tools to support physician faculty in the education of resident and fellow trainees by analyzing performance and correlating it with practice and population health metrics. Ideally, the direct connection of trainee performance and these additional metrics will improve the education of physicians-in-training, which in turn will improve patients’ health, well-being, and experiences. Project leads for The Wright Center for Community Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, and its affiliated entity, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, include Stephanie A. Gill, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician and Family Medicine Residency program director, and Meaghan Ruddy, Ph.D., senior vice president of enterprise wellness and resiliency, assessment and advancement, and chief strategic research & development officer. “Through the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence, there is opportunity to potentially revolutionize how family medicine residency faculty approach teaching interventions in behavioral health,” said Dr. Ruddy. “By aligning with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies and diving deeply into the social determinants of health, we aim to personalize education and assessment, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Our goal is not only to enhance individualized care but also to champion health equity through innovative, data-driven approaches in medical education.” As one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education consortiums in the nation, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, a physician-led nonprofit, offers comprehensive, community-focused residencies throughout Northeast Pennsylvania and the United States in three disciplines – family medicine, internal medicine, and physical medicine & rehabilitation, as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. The residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the ACGME and train residents and fellows in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance its shared mission with The Wright Center for Community Health to provide whole-person primary health services regardless of a patient’s insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Since its inception in 2013, the AMA’s ChangeMedEd Initiative, formerly known as the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium, has engaged dozens of U.S. medical education institutions in developing innovative strategies to revolutionize medical education and training. The objective is to equip a new generation of physicians with the skills necessary to deliver exceptional care tailored to evolving patient demographics. Its Innovation Grant Program has awarded $1.5 million in grants since 2018. Additional 2024 Innovation Grant recipients include California University of Science and Medicine; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth; Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Oregon Health and Science University; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; University of California, Irvine School of Medicine; University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix; University of Colorado School of Medicine; University of Virginia School of Medicine; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; and Wayne State University School of Medicine. Go to TheWrightCenter.org to learn more about how The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s physician workforce pipeline is educating and training the next generation of physicians and interprofessional providers.
Lackawanna College to Host Spring Pop-up Lackawanna College’s 409 on Adams has transformed again! Welcome to Wisteria, our Spring Semester dining experience! Wisteria is an amazing, built from scratch concept in collaboration with Marywood University School of Architecture. Wisteria, a storybook come to life, where reality dissolves and magic blossoms, will feature a full bar and menu. There will be heated outdoor patio seating, as well as indoor seating with many magical spaces to see and explore. Dining Options are available from April 4th through May 9th on Wednesdays and Thursdays Wisteria’s gates open at 5pm Dinner and food service until 9pm Drinks and fun until the dragon sleeps While reservations are encouraged, walk ins are always welcome. Please click the link below and fill out the form to submit your reservation request. https://forms.gle/sPKzVqNGcyueE8AX9
