The Pennsylvania Treasury Department Warns Against Scammers Treasurer Stacy Garrity today warned Pennsylvanians that scammers are calling residents who have applied for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate and asking for bank account information in an effort to steal valuable personal information. She reminded people that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department will never call and ask for bank information. In this scam, the caller claims to be from Treasury and asks for a bank account number – supposedly so a Property Tax/Rent Rebate payment can be made by direct deposit. “The sad reality is that scammers never stop, and we all need to be constantly on guard,” Treasurer Garrity said. “It sickens me that they’re targeting the seniors and people with disabilities who applied for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate, but these criminals have no conscience or compassion.” She added that people should never give out their bank account information or other personal financial information simply because someone calls and asks for it. “If someone claims to be from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, do not hesitate to contact us to confirm that it’s really us,” Treasurer Garrity said. The best way to contact Treasury is with the form available at https://www.patreasury.gov/contact/. Direct deposit is available for Property Tax/Rent Rebates, but recipients must include that information on their application before submitting it to the Department of Revenue. Treasury recommends direct deposit over U.S. mail to expedite the process of receiving payment. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The maximum standard rebate this year is $650. Some homeowners may qualify for supplemental rebates. So far this year, Treasury has processed more than 355,000 payments totaling more than $167 million. More than half of those payments were sent electronically. Applications can be filed online through the Department of Revenue’s myPATH system. Anyone who has already applied for this year’s rebate can check the status by using the Department of Revenue’s Where’s My Rebate? online tool.
PS Bank Hires New Chief Information Officer Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer, is pleased to announce the hiring of Eli Tomlinson as Chief Information Officer/Senior Vice President. Mr. Tomlinson has over 20 years of experience working in banking at the senior level, with expertise in the areas of information systems, cybersecurity, strategic planning, risk assessment, project implementation, and process improvement. Mr. Tomlin is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Community Bank Technology Officer (CCBTO). He attended Rutgers University. Prior to joining PS Bank, Mr. Tomlinson worked at a regional bank as senior vice president of information technology. His previous work experience includes network administration and software publishing. “Eli brings tremendous experience to PS Bank. His strong knowledge of banking systems, technology, and cybersecurity will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow our bank. As our Chief Information Officer/Senior Vice President, Eli will be a vital member of our leadership team,” said Gabello. Mr. Tomlinson resides in Clarks Summit with his wife, Clel. They have two children, Alex of Scranton and Sean of Detroit, MI.
Marion Munley Named Treasurer for the American Association for Justice Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is pleased to announce that Marion Munley was recently sworn in as the Treasurer for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The American Association of Justice is a 20,000-member organization of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of trial by jury. The mission of the AAJ is to promote justice and fairness for injured victims, safeguard victims’ rights, and strengthen the civil justice system througheducation and disclosure of information critical to public safety and health. Marion has held several positions in the AAJ over the years. She was elected as the AAJ Parliamentarian in 2022 and has served on the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee. In 2018, she was the first woman to become the Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigations Group andreceived the organization’s Robert W. Munley Champion of Justice Award in 2020. Widely recognized as one of the state’s most prominent and widely respected truck accident lawyers, Marion is Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law. Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of today’s top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system. She is also the immediate past President of the Melvin M. Belli Society, a group of the country’s top trial lawyers dedicated to promoting courtroom excellence. During her career, Marion has received some of the highest honors a lawyer can receive. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has also been recognized as Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and, the 2022 and 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury-Plaintiffs for the Allentown metro area. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and was recently named to the 2023 “Top 10” Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from Scranton University in 1983.
Keystone College Hosted a “Re-IMAGING of the Arts Celebration” The arts at Keystone College. For so many years, that phrase has been synonymous with excellence – excellence in creativity and self-expression; excellence in art education; and excellence in bringing people together to appreciate beautiful and thought-provoking works of art in a host of mediums. Now, Keystone is renewing its commitment to the arts as it reimagines the meaning of art to the current generation of college students and to local communities. Keystone will focus on celebrating the college’s proud history and promising future in the arts with a “Re-IMAGINING the Arts Celebration” on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Theatre in Brooks on campus. The event will honor the talented artists and educators who have dedicated their lives to making Keystone a recognized leader in the arts for decades and will also emphasize Keystone’s revitalized commitment through a more contemporary program that envisions an integrated environment for creative development and expression. “Keystone’s tradition of excellence in the arts is legendary, not only in education but also in promoting the work of faulty, students, alumni, and guest artists in the local community,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr. “Now, we intend to expand upon that tradition and renew our commitment to the arts and all that it can bring to Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.” During the Nov. 4 event, Keystone will celebrate retired members of its art faculty who played such major roles in developing the college’s excellent reputation for art education in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The event will honor Professor Emeritus Karl Neuroth. A well-known and successful artist in his own right, Mr. Neuroth began his career at Keystone in 1970 and is widely credited, along with his colleagues, for propelling the college’s art program to distinctive levels. He was awarded the prestigious Chamberlin Chair for Distinguished Service in 1980 and has also served as Coordinator of Exhibits, Dean of Enrollment Services, and Chair of the Division of Fine Arts. He retired in 2005 after 40 years of proud service to Keystone. In addition to Mr. Neuroth, Keystone Professor Emeritus William Tersteeg, and Professor Emeritus Cliff Prokop will also be recognized for their longtime achievements as artists and art educators. Mr. Tersteeg was hired as an instructor in 1971 and granted tenure in 1978. He was promoted to associate professor in 1983 and professor in 1987, and became senior half-time professor in 2005 before retiring in 2011 after 40 years at Keystone. He received the Chamberlain Chair for Distinguished Service in 1990. Mr. Prokop joined the Keystone faculty in 1973 and was granted tenure in 1980. He was promoted to associated professor in 1983 and professor in 2002 and was awarded the Chamberlain Chair for Distinguished Service in 2002. He was awarded the Chamberlin Chair for Distinguished Service in 2002. Currently retired, he received the Life Time Service Award in 2018 for 45 years of service to Keystone. Re-IMAGINING the Arts will not only focus on the past but will celebrate Keystone’s present and, more importantly, its future. For example, Keystone’s renowned glass program and its Mobile Glass Studio are widely recognized for bringing the art of glass blowing to Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Keystone College Glass Studio is the only program of its kind in the region. Thanks to partnerships with organizations such as the Dorflinger Glass Museum, Nivert Metal Supply and many others, the glass program continues to thrive at Keystone and in the local community. Similarly, Keystone’s programs in areas such as studio art, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, digital media, 3D printing, and photography continue to provide students with strong foundational skills and opportunities which are essential to a successful career in the arts. Additional programs will be offered to focus on integrating skills and entrepreneurship in the arts. While the Keystone’s past successes in the arts are renowned, the future is even brighter as the college reimagines the arts for the future. For more information, reservations, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.keystone.edu/ReimaginingtheArts.
Johnson College Reveals Scranton Campus Expansion Johnson College announced today that construction will soon begin on a new advanced technology facility to house its growing Building Trades programs, specifically Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technology and Electrical Construction Technology. The new facility will double the size of the existing HVAC laboratory and provide additional training facilities for Electrical Construction Technology on the College’s Scranton campus. During a community event on the Scranton campus, Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College President & CEO, unveiled artist renderings and plans for the new facility as she announced that the building expansion will be named Bracey Hall, in recognition of the Bracey family’s service to Johnson College. The Braceys recently pledged a major gift to the College’s capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” to support its building trades programs. This gift will allow the College to continue meeting the needs of its students, industry partners, and the community with advanced real-world, hands-on, industry-driven education. In addition to the transformational gift from the Bracey family, the College was awarded a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the City of Scranton. This grant will help the College to expand its workforce development programming for high-tech and in-demand fields, including HVAC and Electrical Construction. The HVAC and Electrical Construction Technology programs also benefitted from a $280,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant for campus technology upgrades. Dr. Leonard stated Bracey Hall will feature ample space to provide dedicated, permanent areas for all significant training equipment. The facility will feature a more advanced interdisciplinary programming laboratory that will teach students the importance of learning to work in teams with each other and those from differing programs. The building trades programs at the College have seen continuous growth throughout the past few years. The College’s HVAC program director and chair of the Building Trades division, Walter Wood ’11, shared that the significant demand in industry has led to an increase in enrollment and the need to expand. Additional classrooms and lab space will provide more students the opportunity to enroll in the College’s hands-on Building Trades programs to meet industry needs throughout the region and beyond. For more information about Johnson College’s comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” visit johnson.edu/innovationatwork.
Geisinger Uses AI Technology in Fight Against Lung Cancer Geisinger has begun using a new patient management system to expand its ability to identify and manage patients with incidentally identified lung abnormalities, as well as manage those eligible for lung cancer screening. Nationally, incidental abnormalities are found about 40% of the time during imaging tests that are unrelated to the reason the test was ordered. In 2020, Geisinger implemented the STAIR™ Program (which stands for System to Track Abnormalities of Importance Reliably) to help manage these patients. If an incidental lung abnormality is found, the provider refers the patient to the STAIR team, which evaluates the patient and establishes a care plan. “The mission of the STAIR program is to ensure that all patients with important radiology findings get the care they need at the time they need it — the first time, every time,” said Yatin Mehta, M.D., Geisinger pulmonologist and STAIR Program director. The program has made sure patients have follow-up care, but referring, tracking and managing patients was time-consuming. The new patient management technology, in partnership with Denver-based health company Eon, automatically enrolls patients with an incidental finding in the STAIR program. The Eon system’s AI-driven workflow tracks the patient’s journey and flags the care team when necessary for timely follow-up care. “Tracking patients behind the scenes, automating workflows and removing busywork not only enables the care team to manage and bring back significantly more patients, but also frees them up to spend more time on direct patient care,” said Nathan Boehlke, Eon director of implementation. “The STAIR program and lung cancer screening program are two important ways that we can catch cancer earlier when the patient has a chance to be cured,” Dr. Mehta said. “We’re excited to work with Eon on innovation that’s making a difference by allowing our staff to manage more patients more efficiently — and ultimately saving lives with earlier intervention.”
Geisinger Earns Highest Tech Honors in 2023 ‘Most Wired’ Survey Geisinger has once again been recognized for its information technology as one of the top “Most Wired” health systems in the country by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). Geisinger was one of only 16 health systems or hospitals in the country to achieve level 10 certification, the highest recognition, in both the ambulatory and acute care surveys. CHIME’s annual Digital Health Most Wired survey certifies hospitals from levels 1 through 10. This is the fourth consecutive year Geisinger has achieved a level 10 certification. To have achieved this level, CHIME says it “reflects an entire organization’s commitment to improve health care through the advancement of digital health strategies.” “One of the most exciting elements of this survey is that it shows how well we have used technology to enable clinical and operational best practices across our organization — in a way that also stands up nationally,” said Joseph Fisne, associate chief information officer at Geisinger. “Our integrations have made patient care safer and more efficient, a testament to Geisinger’s vision to make better health easier.” Each organization is also scored on eight individual segments: Infrastructure; security; administrative/supply chain; analytics/data management; interoperability/population health; patient engagement; innovation; and clinical quality/safety. This year, Geisinger received the highest score in the clinical quality/safety section. This recognition serves to highlight the many ways Geisinger has used technology over the years to transform care delivery, including through the virtual patient monitoring app ConnectedCare365, digital experiences that cater communications to patients’ needs and data policies that uphold the safety and privacy of patient information. The award also recognizes the implementation and use of technology across Geisinger — from the information technology teams that develop and deploy the technology to the frontline service providers who use the capabilities. CHIME reports that more than 55,000 facilities around the world serving patients across the continuum of care were represented in the 2023 Digital Health Most Wired program. The survey assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies in health care organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.
Hospice of the Sacred Heart to Deliver Thanksgiving Meals to Homebound Patients On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 23rd, Hospice of the Sacred Heart will deliver meals to patients and their families. This is the 18th year the hospice will provide this service project. Over 700 meals complete with roasted turkey, all traditional Thanksgiving sides and pumpkin pie will be prepared by Mansour’s Market Café in Scranton, packaged, and delivered by hospice staff members and volunteers. “We so look forward to this day. We plan to once again gather as a hospice family of employees and volunteers to safely deliver over 700 Thanksgiving meals to our patients and their families. This project demonstrates our gratitude for the blessings in our lives,” said Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart. Media outlets are invited to photograph the distribution process beginning at 7:50 am at Mansour’s Market Café, 969 Prescott Avenue, Scranton. Deacon Patrick J. Massino will bless the meals at 8 am and deliveries will begin immediately afterwards. Diane Baldi, CEO, will be available for interviews between 8 and 10 am.
