Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s Gala Raises More Than $100,000 for Student Scholarships Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine celebrated a monumental success with its annual Black Ties for White Coats Gala, raising more than $100,000 in support of student scholarships. Held at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 20, the event brought together esteemed guests, faculty, students, and community members for an evening of philanthropy and celebration. Geisinger Commonwealth would like to thank the Diamond Sponsor of this year’s event, Mericle Commercial Real Estate Service/Discover NEPA and the Gold Sponsor, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. The annual gala serves as a cornerstone fundraising event for the school and is aimed at supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders. “We are thrilled by the overwhelming generosity and support shown at this year’s Gala”, said School President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD, MPH. “The funds raised will directly impact our students by enabling them to pursue their dreams of becoming a healthcare provider who will make a difference in the communities they serve.” The success of the Black Ties for White Coats event underscores Geisinger Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment where students from all backgrounds can thrive. By providing scholarships, the school aims to alleviate the financial burden of medical education and empower students to focus on their studies and clinical training. Each year Geisinger Commonwealth selects a Founders, Wel-lbeing and Community honoree. This year’s honorees include: Founders: Tom Churilla, MD Well-being: Shubhra Shetty, MD Community: The Scranton School for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine to Host Community Event Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is hosting a community event: “Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken in and What We Can Do About It” on May 14.
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education to Host Scholar’s Day The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education will host the annual Scholars Day poster competition on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the auditorium of The Wright Center for Community Health – Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., Scranton. The event brings together over40 medical students, residents, and fellows from The Wright Center, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM), Geisinger’s Internal Medicine residency, and A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). The annual program recognizes and celebrates scientific inquiry through scholarly poster presentations on clinical case reports, quality improvement, and research. The Wright Center partners with ATSU-SOMA to serve as a training and educational site for medical school students and physician assistants. Dr. Simin Nasr, a faculty member in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Family Medicine Residency, will deliver open remarks and launch the first of three poster display sessions. Attendees can discuss projects with presenters and enjoy refreshments. Three judges – Dr. Milos Babic of The Wright Center, and Dr. Pragya Dhaubhadel and Dr. Qi Shi, both of Geisinger – will review each poster and discuss the work with the presenter before grading them. Dr. Tata Mbugua, a University of Scranton professor and director of the undergraduate programs, will give a keynote speech on governance and advocacy for best practices in pediatric care. Dr. Edwin Mogaka, The Wright Center’s Family Medicine resident leader for scholarly activity, will present awards for first, second, and third place for each poster session. Award recipients will give brief presentations on their work before claiming their prize. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 and today is one of the nation’s largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains residents and fellows in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance their shared mission to provide whole-person primary health services to people of all ages regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. The Wright Center offers ACGME-accredited residencies in three disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine, and physical medicine & rehabilitation as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. For information about The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.
Johnson College to Host 31st Annual Golf Tournament Johnson College will host its 31st Annual Johnson College Open on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA. All proceeds from the annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Last year’s tournament raised over $50,000 to support the Presidential Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are presented each fall to full-time students demonstrating financial need to finish their educational journey. To learn more about this event, visit johnson.edu/golf.
Penn State Football Head Coach to Visit Local Area Nittany Lions Head Coach James Franklin will be coming to our hometown on Thursday June 6th at 2 locations… The Banks in Pittston and Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter. Join Penn State football head coach James Franklin alongside current football student-athletes in the Northeastern Pennsylvania and learn all about NIL and what he needs in his toolbox to continue to build a strong team. If you are interested in more information or sponsoring, please email info@limitless-nil.com or reereemt@gmail.com For individual tickets click on the links below… The Banks: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-the-banks Fox Hill: https://www.limitlessnil.com/event-details-registration/we-are-nepa-fox-hill-country-club-1
Celebrating Success with Lackawanna College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Alumni Mixer Lackawanna College will host a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Alumni Mixer event on Thursday May 9, in the lobby of Angeli Hall following the current PTA senior cohort pinning ceremony. Attendees will have the chance to network with peers, reconnect with former classmates and engage with Lackawanna College clinical education partners. Clinical partners include Saber Healthcare Group and AccessPT. “An event like this benefits our graduates because they have the opportunity to communicate and network with our local clinical partners and possibly get interviews and job placements,” Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Dr. Ashley Reedy said. Date and Time: Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM Location: Angeli Hall, 501 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509 In addition to creating professional connections, the event will offer refreshments, basket raffles and giveaways. Tickets are free, and alumni attendees are encouraged to bring guests, with each guest receiving two raffle basket tickets plus a special giveaway. Join us for an evening of networking and celebrating the accomplishments of our students at the PTA Alumni Mixer event. “We want our graduates to leave with pride in their future profession, themselves and personally I hope they leave being proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Dr. Reedy said. Those interested in attending can register online at no cost here: https://shorturl.at/joJW5.
Johnson College’s Carpentry Auction Raises Money for Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA Johnson College Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program hosted its Annual Carpentry Auction at the College’s Scranton campus on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The event raised over $10,000 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania in support of its mission to provide excellence in the assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect. More than 70 items created by Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology students were available for auction. There was a wide variety of woodwork including chess boards, tables, chests, benches, and more. Many of the items were made from re-purposed materials. Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their in-demand careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical college, offering 18 associate degrees, four academic certificates, and over 30 continuing education programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus with a satellite campus serving the greater Hazleton area, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience: Inspiring Leaders and Cultivating Potential EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience, presented by Geisinger and hosted by The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, left attendees feeling motivated, challenged, and deeply engaged in soul-searching conversations. With over 800 attendees, including 61 enthusiastic high school students, the event was a testament to the region’s commitment to cultivating leadership and business innovation. Attendees found the experience to be resourceful, tapping into a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the event’s two keynote speakers and 46 regional breakout speakers, panelists, and wellness presenters. For the second consecutive year, The Honesdale National Bank sponsored the teen program, providing high school students with a unique opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Through a series of workshops and interactive sessions, these young leaders were equipped with the skills and motivation to uncover their purpose and drive positive change in their communities. The Teen Program was in partnership with The Chamber’s leadership development affiliate, Leadership Lackawanna, and Luzerne County’s leadership cohort, Leadership Northeast. President of The Chamber, Bob Durkin, shares, “The growth of EMPOWER with over 800 attendees is, I believe, a measure of the emergence of women in leadership positions across northeastern Pennsylvania. We hope and believe that this program is providing women with professional and personal development tools and resources that will add to that trajectory.” Keynote speakers Dr. Lauren Hazzouri and Patrice D. Banks, renowned for their expertise in leadership and personal development, shared their insights and experiences, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. “You are going to fail. PERIOD. You are human, and it’s just going to happen. However, it’s what you do with that failure to move forward to continue with your purpose,” shared Patrice D. Banks, founder of Girls Auto Clinic. Dr. Hazzouri and Banks, through their captivating stories and practical advice, empowered participants to embrace change, overcome obstacles, and unlock their purpose. Attendees at the breakfast keynote session were asked to name one word that defines their purpose. The three most common phrases reported were happiness, helping others, and families. The challenge to all attendees was to run hard after their purpose and allow their purpose to fuel their life ambitions. The event’s lineup of regional breakout speakers and panelists covered a diverse range of topics. Attendees found these sessions to be invaluable, offering actionable takeaways, and fresh perspectives on leadership in today’s dynamic world. The conference included the Highmark Wellness Studio, which hosted 10 wellness presenters, and the Fidelity Vendor Marketplace, which housed 37 Chamber members and their businesses. As EMPOWER continues to evolve, organizers remain committed to providing a platform for leaders at all stages of their journey to connect, learn, and grow together. With each passing year, the event serves as a catalyst for positive change, empowering individuals and organizations to make a lasting impact on the world around them. Northeast PA, save the date for April 24, 2025, at Kalahari Resort & Conventions.
Waverly Community House to Host Poetry and Multimodal Workshop Waverly Community House to host “Visualizing Verse – VR Poetry and Multimodal Workshop by Dr. Margot Douaihy” May 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Join Dr. Margot Douaihy, the 2023 F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship Winner, for a presentation of her virtual reality poetry project. Margot will also lead an engaging workshop on how to create multimodal & multimedia poetry. All welcome! FREE No advance registration required.
UNC’s Project Hope Summer Day Camp Return for 2024 United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) Project Hope at Camp Kelly is excited to provide a traditional summer day camp once again for children living in Scranton. Campers are provided transportation to and from the camp located in the beautiful countryside of Tunkhannock, PA and experience arts and crafts, sports, and a variety of other fun and educational activities. They will be served breakfast, lunch, and a nutritious snack before returning home the duration of camp from July 1to July 26. Registration for UNC’s Project Hope is required, and opens on May 1, 2024, online at www.uncnepa.org/projecthope.
