PennDOT Hosts Public Meeting For The Route 347 Project In Lackawanna County The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to a Public Meeting with Plans Display regarding the Route 347, Section 253 Culvert Project. The SR 347 Section 253 project involves improvements to the crossing of SR 347 over Kennedy Creek in Scott Township, Lackawanna County. The project proposes to replace an existing metal arch culvert with a new reinforced concrete box culvert. The existing culvert is experiencing deterioration with scour distress that requires corrective action to sustain a safe crossing at this location. The new culvert has been designed to match the hydraulic performance of the original culvert and maintain the existing floodplains so as not to adversely affect adjacent property owners. Roadway improvements associated with the project include full-depth reconstruction in the vicinity of the culvert, providing lane and shoulder widths meeting current design criteria. Additionally, new guide rail and pavement markings will be provided throughout the project limits. Only minor utility impacts are anticipated to construct the project. Public Meeting The in-person public display meeting for both projects will take place at: Time: 7:00 PM Date: Thursday, October 17, 2023 Location: Scott Township Building (1038 Montdale Road, Scott Township, PA, 18447) The public comment period is from October 2, 2023 – October 31, 2023. The plans display will be held online and will be available from October 2, 2023, to November 3, 2023. Online information, including detailed project information and comment form, can be found by visiting the following PennDOT District 4-0 website: Route 347, Section 253 Culvert Project (pa.gov). The purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project, display and describe the planned traffic control, and receive public input regarding questions or concerns with the project. The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation/interpretation services or have special needs or have special concerns that require individual attention, contact Mr. Charles Reuther, PennDOT Project Manager, at creuther@pa.gov.
Keystone College Signs Articulation Agreement With Another Community College Keystone College and Northampton Community College (NCC) have signed an articulation agreement enabling students who obtain associate degrees from NCC to seamlessly transfer to Keystone to pursue their bachelor’s degrees. Under the partnership, NCC students who graduate with an associate degree and meet transfer requirements will be guaranteed admission into similar Keystone bachelor’s degree programs. The partnership enables students to know that courses they have successfully completed at NCC will apply to their bachelor’s degree program at Keystone. Signing the Keystone College/Northampton Community College Articulation Agreement are, from left, Keystone Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Andra Basu, Ph.D.; Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr; NCC President David A. Ruth, Ph..D.; and NCC Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Marc Singer, Ed.D. “This partnership agreement is a wonderful opportunity for both Keystone College and Northampton Community College to provide additional pathways to students of all ages as they pursue their educational and career goals,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr. “The more options students have, the more professional opportunities they will have as well.” The programs in the articulation agreement are: Accounting, A.AS. to Financial Planning, B.S. and Accounting, B.S.Business Administration, A.A. to Supply Chain Management, B.S.Hospitality Management, A.A.S. to Hospitality Business Management, B.S.Sport Management, A.A. to eSport and Gaming Management, B.S. and Sport and Recreation Management, B.S.Biological Science A.S. to Health Science, B.S. Early Childhood Education, A.A.S. to Early Childhood Education B.S. (certification) and Child and Family Studies, B.S. in Teaching (non-certification) “In our efforts to partner with four-year institutions, the articulation agreements with Keystone College provide an unrestricted and convenient road to earning a bachelor’s degree, allowing our students to concentrate on reaching their goals with ease,” said NCC President David A. Ruth, Ph.D. 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. With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, NCC has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements.
The University of Scranton Sets October and November Open House Dates The University of Scranton will host two Open House events for prospective students and their families on Sunday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 5. Inspired by its Catholic and Jesuit mission, Scranton provides a rigorous, in-depth education designed for personal and professional success. For 30 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Scranton among the 10 top Master’s Universities in the North. The Princeton Review included Scranton in its list “Best Colleges” for 22 consecutive years and in its ranking of the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 18) for seven years, among other rankings. At the Open House, participants can learn about Scranton’s 70 undergraduate majors, meet with faculty, students, admissions counselors and financial aid representatives. Participants can also learn about Scranton’s five honors programs, pre-law, pre-medial and pre-health professions programs. Student-led tours of the campus, located in Northeast Pennsylvania, will be conducted throughout the day and will include residence halls, dining halls, computer labs, science labs and academic facilities. In addition, representatives of student organizations, athletic teams and Scranton’s Honors Programs, will be available. For additional information, contact Scranton’s Admissions Office at 1-888-SCRANTON or visit Scranton’s Open House webpage.
Marywood University Master of Social Work Students Field Experience in South Korea Three Marywood University Master of Social Work (MSW) students, including Jade Shomper, Gabrielle Stauffer, and Kevin Conroy, along with Sister Angela Kim, IHM, professor in Marywood’s School of Social Work, recently returned from four weeks of international field education and scholarly experience in South Korea. Marywood MSW students, who recently had a month-long field experience in South Korea, are joined by students of WooSong University. The graduate social work students studied the differences in ideology and culture between Asian and Western cultures, developed a clear understanding of the global context of social work education and practice, witnessed the evidence-based social work education and practice in South Korea, and the importance of integrating the culture, values, and belief systems into service provision and community development. “This international field experience trip to South Korea was a transformative experience for the MSW students,” said Sister Angela. The group from Marywood presented a series of lectures to social work and early childhood students and faculty members of the WooSong University, with more than 200 in attendance. In addition, the MSW students and Sister Angela engaged with 14 different community social service agencies and the national health institution, talked to social service administrators and practitioners, government officials, and social work students and faculty members. This global social work education and international field experience was funded through the Antonia and Hans Schierling Grant and collaboration between Marywood University’s Office of Global Education, the MSW Program Field Education, and Social Work department of Woosong University in South Korea.
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.
