Greater Scranton YMCA Announces Retirement of President The Greater Scranton YMCA announces the retirement of its esteemed President & CEO, Trish Fisher, due to health concerns. Trish’s unwavering dedication to the development of the Greater Scranton YMCA during her ten years of service will forever be appreciated, and they express gratitude for her. During Trish’s tenure, the Greater Scranton YMCA underwent nearly $10 million in capital improvements, including the renovation of the welcome center and the creation of a commercial kitchen, teaching kitchen, universal locker room, power cycling room and more. Under Trish’s leadership, enrollment in its Early Childhood Education Programs has more than tripled, which motivated the opening of its second Early Learning Center in Olyphant in April of this year. The YMCA’s membership has also tripled during this time, fully rebounding from the hardships incurred during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Throughout the pandemic, Trish was proud to continue paying all staff, even during the times when the facility was forced to shut down. Since Trish joined the Greater Scranton YMCA, $10,963,376 has been raised to support these efforts and continue fulfilling the mission of turning no one away for an inability to pay. Trish played an integral role in the establishment of the Greater Scranton YMCA’s Year-Round Food Program, which provides daily breakfast, lunch and snacks to the children in their care. Understanding the importance of year-round education for all children, Trish spearheaded the implementation of the Summer Scholars Program at the Mid Valley and Dunmore School Districts. The program operates for six-weeks during the summer months, is free of charge and is targeted to rising first, second and third grade students who are struggling with reading. The members, staff, and volunteers are profoundly grateful to Trish for her cause-driven leadership and wish her all the health and happiness in the world as she enters her well-deserved retirement!
The University of Scranton Ranked in U.S. News For more than 30 consecutive years U.S. News has ranked The University of Scranton in the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in North.” U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked The University of Scranton among the top 10 regional universities in the north, placing Scranton No. 6 in its 2025 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook, which became available online today. This marks the 31st consecutive year the U.S. News has ranked Scranton in the top 10 in its category. U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 6 among “Best Regional Universities in the North” in its 2025 “Best Colleges” guide, marking the 31st consecutive year that Scranton was ranked in the top 10 universities in its category. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 6 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” a selection of the top colleges in the nation that express a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching. Three of Scranton’s academic programs were among the top 50 in the nation. U.S. News ranked Scranton among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Programs in Analytics” at No. 26 in the U.S.; “Best Undergraduate Programs in Accounting” at No. 41; among the “Best Undergraduate Programs in Finance” at No. 43. Other programs also enjoyed national recognition: “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs” at No. 149; and among “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” at No. 190 (where a doctorate is not offered). Scranton’s was also listed among the 584 “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs” in the nation. Scranton also ranked No. 248 among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” which listed only schools that hold accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). For these program listings, U.S. News only ranked schools holding the highest recognized national accreditations in their fields. The rankings were based solely on dean and senior faculty recommendations from peer institutions. In addition, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 53 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance. This is the 11th consecutive year U.S. News has recognized Scranton as a “Best Value” school. Scranton was ranked No. 116 in its category in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which looks at the success of schools that enroll and graduate students who were awarded with Pell Grants. U.S. News uses data on nearly 20 measures of academic quality to rank bachelor’s degree colleges in America. For its rankings, U.S. News considers a range of quality indicators that include a peer assessment of academic excellence; faculty resources; financial resources; graduate indebtedness; freshman retention; graduation rates; Pell graduation rates, and graduation performance rates, which compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class. U.S. News ranking analysis also includes student selectivity, as measured by SAT or ACT scores and high school ranking of students in the top 25 percent of their class. U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities. The 2025 U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 24.
The Wright Center – Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a Time to Tout Preventive Measures October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there is much to acknowledge in the progress made over recent years to combat this highly treatable disease. Raising awareness remains crucial, as breast cancer continues to affect alarming numbers of people. Aside from skin cancer, it is the most common cancer among American women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 42,000 die from it. While men are much less at risk, about 1 in 100 breast cancer diagnoses still occur in males. Though breast cancer primarily impacts women over the age of 40, many younger women are also affected. Chances are, someone among your family, friends, or colleagues has faced or is currently battling the disease. Thankfully, advancements in early detection and genetic testing for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have dramatically improved how breast cancer is treated. And we can’t forget the enormous contributions of countless nonprofit organizations, raising awareness, securing funding, and providing support services. When it comes to prevention, self-exams and regular mammograms are still the best methods for early detection, catching the cancer when it’s smaller, more manageable, and before it spreads. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer is 99%. You can also reduce your own risk by maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, limiting alcohol intake, and breastfeeding your children if possible. At The Wright Center, we are doing our part to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the year, we partner with Lackawanna Mobile X-Ray to offer mammogram screenings at various locations across Northeast Pennsylvania. The mobile mammogram unit will be at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Center in Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 12, from 1-4 p.m. Additional appointments are available at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Centers in Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., and Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, on the first Wednesday of each month. Screenings will be available in Scranton from 9 a.m. to noon and in Jermyn from 1:30-5 p.m. this month on Oct. 2. To schedule an appointment, please call 570-230-0019. In addition, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will host a Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support program on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at Teaching Health Center in Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Lisa Thomas from Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern Pennsylvania will deliver the keynote address, and Julie Rutkowski from the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation will share the foundation’s mission of supporting women with terminal illnesses. The foundation was named in honor of Julie’s daughter, Jessica Rutkowski, a mother of three who passed away in 2021 from stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer. Admission to the event is free, though reservations are encouraged. Please contact Holly Przasnyski at 570-209-3275 or email her at przasnyskih@thewrightcenter.org. This promises to be a meaningful event and reflects our ongoing dedication to women’s health. At The Wright Center, women have access to a wide range of health services, including preventive cancer screenings, well-woman visits, bone density tests, immunizations, Pap smears, HPV testing, STI services, and hormonal testing. “I want to emphasize once again that breast cancer is far from a death sentence, but it’s vital to promote the preventive services that can make a life-saving difference.” Kristina Tanovic, M.D., FACP, is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. Dr. Tanovic is accepting new patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care center in the Scranton Counseling Center, 329 Cherry St. Please call 570-591-5250 to make an appointment.
The Wright Center Earns National Recognition for Blood Pressure Control American Heart Association and American Medical Association present Target: BP Silver Award for commitment to prioritizing blood press control The Wright Center for Community Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Silver-level recognition as part of Target: BP. The Silver Award recognizes practices that have demonstrated a commitment to improving blood pressure control through measurement accuracy. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and preventable death in the U.S. There are 122.4 million U.S. adults living with hypertension, nearly half of all adults in the country. Unfortunately, just a quarter of them have their BP under control, making both diagnosis and effective management critical. In the U.S., heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death, and stroke is a leading cause of disability. “Optimal blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S.,” said Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., FACP, MPH, senior vice president and chief medical and information officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly.” Target: BP is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure, the initiative aims to help health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations, such as The Wright Center for Community Health, that are committed to improving blood pressure control. “By committing to helping more people in Northeast Pennsylvania control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, The Wright Center for Community Health is taking a key step to helping more people live longer, healthier lives,” said Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Ph.D., MHS, RN, FAHA, Target: BP advisory group volunteer and associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “The Wright Center for Community Health’s participation in the Target: BP initiative shows its dedication to turning clinical guidelines into lifelines for patients and their families.” To learn more about the initiative, go to TargetBP.org.
The Honesdale National Bank Announces New Assistant VP Theodor Radu Promoted to Assistant VP, Trust Officer Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., President, and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Theodor Radu has been promoted to Assistant VP, Trust Officer. Theodor Radu Assistant VP, Trust Officer In making the announcement Sheridan stated, “Ted’s commitment to our clients and our community has made a significant impact on our team.” He continued, “His ability to foster relationships and deliver outstanding service truly embodies the values of our bank, and we are proud to have him.” As Assistant VP, Trust Officer, Radu oversees the management of the client portfolios. As such, it is his job to set investment policy standards, recommend appropriate investments for clients and analyze portfolios. He also works with clients to develop their financial plans, a roadmap to help them manage their finances to achieve their goals. He is a graduate of Honesdale High School and has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from West Chester University. Additionally, he is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®). Currently residing in Honesdale, PA, he began career in the financial industry with HNB, starting as a teller and gradually advanced through various positions in deposit operations and financial services. He gained further experience working for a regional bank in southeast PA before returning to HNB in his current role as Trust Officer. In commenting on his new role at the bank, Radu noted, “HNB has always been supportive of its employees. Throughout my 15 years here, I’ve held various roles across departments, allowing me to explore different career paths within banking. I was fortunate to find my place in the Trust Department, where the bank continues to encourage my growth through education and networking resources, community involvement, and career advancement.” Outside of the Bank, as a father of a three-year-old, he has little time for hobbies. When he does find time, he often goes hiking, golfing, and enjoys being outdoors as much as possible. He is thankful to live in a diverse and beautiful area with a never-ending supply of opportunities for outdoor exploration. Additionally, he serves as Trustee for the Board of Trustees of the Wayne County Historical Society located in Honesdale.
The Honesdale National Bank Announces Retirement of President William Schweighofer, Chairman of the Board for The Honesdale National Bank announced today that Thomas E. Sheridan, Jr. the Bank’s President and CEO will retire from his more than 40 years in banking effective February 2025. Kate Bryant has been named his successor and will serve as the Bank’s first female president and CEO as the next step in her more than 20-year career with HNB. Tom Sheridan, outgoing President In making the announcement, Schweighofer stated, “Tom Sheridan has truly helped shape the strength and stability of The Honesdale National Bank over his extensive career with us, and the Board is truly grateful for his leadership.” He continued, “Kate Bryant holds the leadership, character, and expertise to continue the Bank’s mission forward and we will surely see her succeed in this new role.” “HNB has an outstanding history in our local area, and I am truly grateful for having been given the opportunity to contribute to our Bank’s growth and success,” said Sheridan. “Kate’s leadership will undoubtedly aid the Bank in continuing to support the evolving needs of our customers, communities, and the interests of our shareholders.” “Since 1836, The Honesdale National Bank has built a legacy of serving our employees, customers, shareholders, and community and it is an honor and privilege to lead the continuation of these values well into the future,” said Bryant. Bryant has served as the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer since 2016, through which she is responsible for managing the financial analysis, risk, planning, and performance of the bank and helps enable its strategic directives. She had been previously promoted to Senior Vice President, CFO in 2020 and Executive Vice President, CFO in 2023. Bryant began her career in the financial industry in 1999, starting in the banking industry in 2003. She joined HNB in 2004 in the Accounting Department and helped shepherd the development of accounting and Bank Security Act (BSA) functions. Bryant resides in Honesdale, and is a graduate of Honesdale High School. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Minor in Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She later received her Master of Business Administration from Villanova University. Her professional accolades include certifications from the ABA Wharton Leadership Lab, Financial Managers School, Chamber Leadership Wayne, the Penn State Supervisory Program, and PBA School of Banking, She has been recognized as a Dress for Success Lackawanna Woman of Impact as well as a NEPA Business Journal Top 25 Women in Business. Outside of the bank, she serves on the board of trustees for the Wayne County Community Foundation, Wayne Memorial Hospital, and as a board member for the Chamber of the Northern Poconos. She actively volunteers with Honesdale Friends of Football, Herd the Curd 5K/10K committee, and the Wayne County 4-H program. She has formerly served on the boards of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Foundation and Wayne County Public Library. In her spare time, she can be found spending time with her sons Abraham and Caleb, and husband, Zack.
PennDOT Announces ‘Innovations Challenge’ for High School Students The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that high school students from around the state are invited to participate in the eighth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model. On average, more than 350 unrestrained fatalities occur on Pennsylvania’s roadways annually. PennDOT is committed to continuously improving roadway safety and deploys a multi-faceted strategy, which involves promoting behavioral programs and implementing infrastructure improvements. Nevertheless, the number of unrestrained fatalities remains high and changing driver and passenger behavior is crucial to solving this issue. For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop a cost-effective, innovative solution that can help PennDOT more effectively increase awareness of seat belt safety and change behavior to improve roadway safety. “Safety is the focus of everything we do at PennDOT, and seat belt safety is vital to reducing fatalities and moving toward zero deaths on our roadways,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Hearing fresh perspectives from our youngest drivers on how to encourage seat belt usage and change behavior is a welcome prospect. I am excited to see what concepts the students develop.” Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, four different organizations are providing a combined total award of $6,000 to the statewide winning team. These organizations include: the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) organization; the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA); the Mid-Atlantic Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (MASITE) and the Intelligent Transportation Society of Pennsylvania (ITSPA) are providing a combined For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/innovation and click on the blue Innovations Challenge tile on the right side of the page. The submission deadline is Jan. 31, 2025.
Marywood’s Maria MacDonald to Present Keynote at Greater Erie Awards Maria MacDonald, a practicing interior architect and Program Director of Interior Architecture at Marywood University, will give a keynote presentation at this year’s Greater Erie Awards, sponsored by Preservation Erie, on October 10. In addition to her role at Marywood, Ms. MacDonald also serves as the Executive Director of the Center for the Living City, the only urbanist organization founded by Jane Jacobs. Ms. MacDonald specializes in adaptive reuse, preservation, and restoration projects, as well as creative civic engagement. With over 25 years of experience, she partners her professional practice with her teaching. Ms. MacDonald has been a team leader for many significant community projects throughout her career. As an educator, her intense focus is on service and community outreach, providing community-based, experiential learning opportunities for her students and the people in the communities where they work. Ms MacDonald holds degrees in both Architecture and Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she received the Excellence in Design award for her work on the “Reclamation of Forgotten Spaces.” She is a founding faculty member of Marywood University’s School of Architecture and has served as the Interior Architecture Program Director for the past 15 years. She has successfully guided the program through two full NASAD accreditations. With her integrative, holistic design approach, Ms. MacDonald works to strengthen the relationships between the allied design disciplines and the people and environments where we live, work, play, and, ideally, thrive. Preservation Erie’s annual Greater Erie Awards acknowledge individuals, businesses, and organizations that are exceptional stewards of the physical and cultural landscape that is Greater Erie and includes a keynote by a distinguished urban planner, historic preservationist, or a similar professional. There are eight recipients of this year’s Greater Erie Awards. The event will be held October 10 at 6 p.m. at the Erie Center for Arts & Technology.
Lackawanna College Recognized as a “2024 Great College to Work For” Lackawanna College Joins the Ranks of the Nation’s Top Institutions For the second year in a row, Lackawanna College is recognized as one of the nation’s top workplaces in higher education by the 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results, released today in a special edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are derived from a comprehensive survey encompassing 216 colleges and universities nationwide. Of those, only 75 institutions achieved the distinction of being named a “Great College to Work For,” based on their practices and policies. Results are reported by institution size, and Lackawanna College was recognized in the small college category, which includes schools with enrollments between 500 and 2,999 students. This year, Lackawanna College won honors in two recognition categories: Job Satisfaction & Support: Recognizes institutions where employees have high job satisfaction, feel supported and have the resources to succeed. Mission & Pride: Highlights institutions where employees understand the mission, take pride in their work and recommend the college as a great place to work. “Receiving recognition once again as a ‘Great College to Work For’ is a profound honor and a reflection of our collective efforts to build an exceptional workplace. This recognition highlights the dedication, passion, and enthusiasm that each team member brings to our organization. It is not just a reflection of our workplace culture but a celebration of the values we uphold and the commitment we share to support and inspire our students, and each other, every day.” Lackawanna College President and Chief Innovation Officer Jill Murray, Ph.D., said. The rankings are the result of a two-part assessment process: an institutional questionnaire that gathers detailed information on employment data and workplace policies, and a survey distributed to faculty, administrators and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback. “Earning this distinction once again is a powerful affirmation of the dedication our employees demonstrate each day in embodying our mission. We are committed to providing high quality education to our students and working to improve our surrounding communities. This honor is a direct result of their hard work and their commitment to making our mission a reality, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together,” Vice President for Human Resources Renee Mundy, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP said. About the Great Colleges to Work For® Program The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previous recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
Geisinger – How to Perform a Self-Breast Exam How to perform a self-breast examKnow exactly what to do, and what to look for, so you can keep on top of your health.Dr. Rebecca Jordan, general surgery, breast, Geisinger Life can get busy, but you’re never too busy to take a moment to check on your health. A monthly, at-home breast exam is just one of the many ways you can keep on top of any changes with your body. Along with your regular mammogram, monthly breast self-exams give you the opportunity to check for variations in skin texture, bumps or changes in your breasts.But, exactly how do you do a breast self-exam? Performing a breast exam at home It’s a good idea to align these monthly self-exams with your menstrual cycle. Choose a time when your breasts are the least tender or swollen. The best time is often the week after your period ends. Looking at a mirror, keep your arms at your sides to start. And remember that the key to these exams is to look for any changes compared to the previous month. You’ll begin your self-exam by looking for any visual changes in your breasts’ appearance. Visual changes in your breast appearance may include: Puckering or dimpling of the skin Changes in your breast size Nipple inversion Next, lie down to spread out your breast tissue to make it easier to feel for any bumps or lumps. Take your time as you feel around your breast and stick to a pattern — such as moving clockwise or up and down. Use the pads of your fingers to feel around, use different levels of pressure and gently squeeze your nipple to check for discharge. Examine your entire breast before moving to your other side and make sure to feel around your armpits, because your breast tissue extends up to that area. You can also perform a self-exam in the shower, using soap so your fingers glide up and down your skin more easily. When should you call your doctor to schedule a mammogram? Remember, just because you feel a lump or have any symptoms doesn’t mean you have breast cancer. But it’s always a good idea to follow up with your doctor to rule it out. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of the following: A hard lump in your breast or underarm Bloody nipple discharge Changes in your breast size Nipple inversion Pain redness, warmth or swelling in your breast Puckering or dimpling Scaly skin Sores or rashes At this appointment, your doctor will perform an external breast exam, like the one you get at your annual appointment. In some cases, they may recommend additional testing. For younger people, we may only recommend an ultrasound. Other times, we may recommend a magnetic resonance imagining test — or MRI — which can help when there have been no findings through other imaging tests but other symptoms present, including nipple discharge. Your doctor may even recommend a mammogram, especially if you have dense breasts or a lump that requires further testing. A mammogram, or low-dose X-ray exam of your breasts, will allow your doctor to detect any changes in your breast tissue that can’t be detected during a breast exam. You’ll be scheduled for either a screening mammogram or a diagnostic mammogram to determine the cause of your symptoms and come to a diagnosis. Remember that keeping on top of your health, including scheduling regular mammograms and self-exams, is important to detecting signs of breast cancer at their earliest stages — when they are easiest to treat. By following these steps each month, you’re doing just that — taking steps towards your healthiest self. To learn more about breast cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/breastcare.
