Registration Now Open for Johnson College’s 3D Printing Competition for High School Students Johnson College will host its second 3D Printing Competition for local high school students on Friday, March 11, 2022 (Snow date March 18, 2022). The competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their abilities and creativity using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) techniques. All students and groups must be registered by a school staff member who will also serve as an advisor while their students are on the Johnson College campus the day of the event. For more information and to register, please visit, johnson.edu/3DCompetition. Upon registration, a document will be emailed detailing additional information. Registration ends February 11, 2022. Prizes are to be announced. This year’s competition requires high school students to compete individually to design and make an assembly to span 500mm (19.685”). The assemblies can only be made using 3D printed parts and must weigh no more than 2000 grams. Each assembly will be tested to the point of breaking. The student with the assembly that bears the most weight at the time of breaking will be declared the winner. Each competitor(s) must submit a complete technical drawing of all parts and assembly.
Stronghold Group Supports The Wright Center with Monetary, PPE Donations Participating in the ceremonial check presentation, from left, are Sean Niquette, co-founder and chief financial officer, Stronghold Group; Dave Henderson, co-founder and CEO, Stronghold Group; William Waters, co-chairperson, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement; Laurie LaMaster; and Kara Seitzinger, director of public affairs/advisor liaison to the president and CEO, The Wright Center. The Stronghold Group continued its support of regional health care workers who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic by donating 5,000 pieces of personal protection equipment (PPE) and a $5,000 check to The Wright Centers for Community Health and Patient & Community Engagement. A veteran-owned business that specializes in medical equipment, the Stronghold Group donated 20 cases of disposable 3-ply surgical masks and 80 cases of medical gowns to protect clinicians at The Wright Center for Community Health’s eight primary care practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties. Stronghold’s financial support will be used to purchase fresh produce and canned goods for the most marginalized in our community who need it most. “Worrying about having enough to eat should be the last thing on someone’s mind when they’re already worried about their health and finances,” said Laurie LaMaster, associate vice president of development and Patient & Community Engagement at The Wright Center. “We know the winter months bring higher heating bills, which further strain household budgets. Too often people are forced to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families. That’s why we are incredibly grateful for the support of the Stronghold Group. Not only are they keeping our health care heroes safe on the frontlines, they’re putting food on the table of the most vulnerable in our community.” For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, please go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
Wayne Bank Promotes Linda Meskey to Assistant Vice President and Senior Credit Analyst Lewis J. Critelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce the promotion of Linda Meskey to Assistant Vice President and Senior Credit Analyst. Mr. Critelli remarked, “Linda is well-deserving of this promotion. Her extensive experience, knowledge, and dedication have helped to maintain the Bank’s strong credit culture.” Ms. Meskey has over 23 years of banking experience and joined Wayne Bank in 2011. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Science from Lackawanna College. She resides in Scranton with her husband, Gary, and enjoys walking, bicycling, and swimming.
Gerald Zaboski Named Senior Vice President for the University of Scranton Gerald Zaboski ’87, G’95, was named senior vice president for the Office of the President at The University of Scranton, effective July 1, 2022. Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, has named Gerald Zaboski ’87, G’95, as senior vice president for the Office of the President, effective July 1, 2022. Zaboski currently serves as vice president for enrollment management and external affairs. In his new position, he will continue to oversee the areas of marketing, communications and external affairs for Scranton, in addition to assuming new responsibilities for assisting the president with the advancement of the University’s strategic plan, and the creation and sustaining of new and existing partnerships with other institutions of higher learning, both international and domestic. “Beginning his service in 1988, Gerry’s vast experience at Scranton and unquestionable devotion to our mission will prove quite beneficial to our success in the years ahead,” said Father Marina in an announcement to the University community regarding the promotion. Zaboski will also continue to serve as a member of the University’s cabinet and as the leader for the University’s Incident Management Team. Zaboski joined the staff at the University in 1988. During his career at Scranton he served as executive assistant to the president, vice president for external affairs and vice president for alumni and public relations. He has also served on and chaired several committees including the University’s 125th Anniversary Committee. Prior to joining the University, he worked as public information manager for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. Zaboski serves on the board and executive committee of the Agency for Community Empowerment, and on the boards of Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises and the Institute for Public Policy and Research. He also serves as treasurer of the West Wyoming Hose Company #1. He is a past president of the Scranton Lions Club. A resident of West Wyoming, Zaboski earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Scranton and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Alpha and Alpha Sigma Nu honor societies.
Wright Center’s Dr. Eisenberg Named Senior Advisor at the Center for Healthcare Innovation Dr. David Eisenberg, the deputy chief medical officer for value-based care, health informatics and operational sustainability at The Wright Center for Community Health, has been named a senior advisor by the Center for Healthcare Innovation. The Center for Healthcare Innovation is a nonprofit research and educational institute based in Chicago, Illinois, that brings diverse global leaders together to work on improving health care for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, ethnicity or other social determinants. Its members include health care providers, executives, caregivers, authors, entrepreneurs, researchers and more who work collaboratively on the common goal of reducing health disparities. At The Wright Center, he leads value-based care contracts across four major payers and three Medicaid managed care organizations for primary and behavioral health service lines; collaborates with executive leadership on business development and sustainability, and engages in cross-functional initiatives that drive integration and alignment to improve operational and financial performance. Eisenberg earned his Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and his Doctor of Medicine from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He served an internship in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency and is a candidate for his Master of Management in clinical informatics from Duke University. In addition, Eisenberg has clinical and administrative experience in developing and implementing interoperability workflows across multiple disciplines of health care. Overall, the Center for Healthcare Innovation advocates for those who are vulnerable, at-risk and underserved by developing collaborative relationships that make health care more equitable for all patients; increases understanding and metrics of health equity; produces impactful research on trends and challenges to health equity; analyzes and disseminates best practices for reducing disparities, and develops ideas for policymakers that work to eliminate obstacles to care and reducing health disparities. It accomplishes its objectives by hosting educational events for global health care innovators, conducting independent research, and advising leaders and teams on how to solve strategic health care and health equity challenges in the industry. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, please go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
FNCB Bank Supports Dallas Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. FNCB Bank presents an $8,000 Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Dallas Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. in support of the academic experience of students in the Dallas School District. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed just under $2,500,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. From left: Kelley Zionce, FNCB Bank Community Office Manager (Back Mountain) and Greg Riley, Dallas High School Principal. FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, has announced an $8,000 Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Dallas Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. The donation will help support the academic experience for students of the Dallas School District. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed just under $2,500,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. The support of the Dallas Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations and outreach programs.
Geisinger Working to Drive Down Prescription Costs with EQRx Geisinger is working to lower prescription drug costs thanks to their work with EQRx, a new type of pharmaceutical company committed to developing and delivering important new medicines to patients at radically lower prices. Geisinger is committed to working to provide safe, effective, and affordable medications easily accessible to its patients and health plan members. The parties have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides a roadmap for Geisinger and EQRx to enter into a commercial agreement that would give Geisinger’s members and patients access to EQRx’s pipeline of innovative medicines, contingent upon approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The MOU contemplates an expansion of the existing, long-term strategic collaboration between the two organizations with a shared goal of bringing innovative therapies to the people Geisinger serves, in a financially sustainable way. The agreement would initially focus on EQRx’s two lead oncology programs, aumolertinib and sugemalimab, and could be expanded to other EQRx pipeline programs. Aumolertinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, and sugemalimab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, have both shown promising Phase 3 data for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). “Our partnership with EQRx is well aligned with Geisinger’s commitment to our community to make better health easier by directly addressing the rising costs of healthcare and medications in particular,” said Mike Evans, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Geisinger. “Ballooning medication costs are placing an unsustainable burden on both patients and the U.S. healthcare system. This partnership marks Geisinger’s commitment to disrupt the status-quo and help make lower-cost medications for our patients a reality.” “We are committed to partnering with different types of health systems worldwide to increase access to medicines, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Geisinger, a leading integrated delivery network,” said Melanie Nallicheri, chief executive officer of EQRx. “The MOU provides a roadmap for access to future EQRx products, beginning with our two lead oncology programs, and paves the way to delivering these lower-cost, innovative medicines to the more than one million people within Geisinger’s health system upon FDA approval.”
Performances of STOMP at Scranton Cultural Center Postponed to June 2022 The January 12 & 13, 2022 performances of STOMP at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple have been postponed due to a breakthrough case of COVID-19 within the company. The engagement has been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 1st & Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 and tickets for these June dates are now on-sale at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple Box Office or online at BroadwayInScranton.com. Current tickets will be valid for the new corresponding dates. Wednesday, January 12, 2022 is now Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 7:30pm Thursday, January 13, 2022 is now Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 7:30pm You will have 30 days to receive a refund from point of purchase. If you do not choose this option, your tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled date. Please contact the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple Box Office or the Broadway Theatre League Office (570.342.7784) with any questions. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you in June.
Lackawanna College Announces Tuition-Free Education Partnership with Allied Services Lackawanna College announced a new partnership which will allow employees at one of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest non-profit healthcare systems to attend college tuition-free. Under the agreement, eligible employees at Allied Services Integrated Health System can pursue a bachelor’s or an associate degree at Lackawanna College. Full-time and part-time employees at Allied Services will be eligible for the Lackawanna College Business Partners Scholarship which covers tuition for the Fall and Spring semesters. “The need for trained healthcare professionals in our area continues to grow,” stated Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Our evolving partnership with Allied Services enhances the quality of our area’s healthcare services by filling in-demand positions with a skilled workforce. Opportunities like this make college affordable and accessible – a great equalizer for families and our communities.” This latest partnership enhances Allied Services’ existing tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement programs for employees. In 2021, Allied Services and Lackawanna College announced a new nursing scholarship to provide full tuition for eligible students in Lackawanna College’s nursing associate degree program. Students awarded these scholarships can work at Allied Services while continuing their education and be guaranteed a full-time position upon graduation and licensure as a registered nurse. In addition, Allied Services offers its own scholarship and tuition assistance programs to support a diverse workforce that includes mental health workers, mechanics, therapists, accountants, nutritionists, social workers, and many more. “As a leading employer in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania, we recognize the importance and value of investing in our employees, their families, and their futures,” said Attorney Bill Conaboy, President and CEO. “Our employees are at the heart of all we do for our patients, our residents, and our communities. We look forward to supporting them as they pursue their personal and professional goals. ” The public-private partnership is one of many that are in the works at Lackawanna College that will cover a student’s full tuition. “The Lackawanna College Business Partnership Scholarship Initiative helps businesses of all sizes develop and retain employees,” said Jeff Gregory, Director of College Enrollment Partnerships. “A partnership with Lackawanna College includes a tuition scholarship that can be offered to employees, allowing the workforce to pursue a bachelor’s or associate degree.”
