Geisinger College of Health Sciences

Joaquim Diego Santos, Geisinger School of Medicine class of 2028, has received a highly competitive Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Research Fellowship. About 50 awards are made annually "to foster the development of the next generation of medical researchers." AOA, the national medical honor society, aims to promote scholarship and research in medical schools, encourage high standard of character and conduct among medical students and graduates, and recognize high attainment of goals in medical science, practice and related fields.

Ethan Boyle, a member of Geisinger School of Medicine's MD Class of 2028, was awarded a highly competitive Gold Student Summer Fellowship from The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. His project, "Action Against Healthcare Inequalities for Patients Experiencing Substance Abuse and Homelessness," will address healthcare access issues for people served by Scranton's Community Intervention Center (CIC). The project focuses on recording weekly vital signs for 100-150 patients, providing essential hygiene and harm-reduction products, and connecting patients to free healthcare clinics. The goal is to rebuild trust between this at-risk population and healthcare systems.

On Friday, March 21, soon-to-be graduates of Geisinger School of Medicine took part in "Match Day," an event at which all fourth-year medical students around the country simultaneously open envelopes to learn where they'll spend the next years training in their chosen specialty.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine held its 16th annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2028 on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Theater at North in Scranton.

On March 15 soon-to-be graduates of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) learned their residency placements during the National Resident Matching Program's "Match Day," an event at which all fourth-year M.D. students around the country simultaneously open their envelopes to learn where they will spend the next three to seven years training in their chosen specialty.

Catherine (Cate) Falkenstein, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2027, recently received a commendation for the work she did as a member of the American Balint Society.

On March 17, soon-to-be graduates of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) learned their residency placements during the National Resident Matching Program's "Match Day," an event at which all fourth-year M.D. students around the country simultaneously open their envelopes to learn where they will spend the next three to seven years training in their chosen specialty.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) new 3+3 Accelerated Program welcomed its first cohort at the Class of 2026 White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 6. Abigail Geisinger Scholars accepted to the program complete medical school in three years, followed by either a three-year Family Medicine Residency at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital (GLH), or a three-year Internal Medicine Residency at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (GWV).

One hundred and fifteen new MD students were presented with a powerful symbol of the medical profession at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's 15th annual White Coat Ceremony. The event welcoming the school'svClass of 2027 was held Aug. 5, in Scranton.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine held its 14th annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2026 on Friday, Aug. 6, at the Scranton Cultural Center.

Prior to their Commencement ceremony, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine bestowed its annual end-of-year awards upon deserving fourth-year students on May 14.

Three of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students recently presented at the AAMC Group on Student Affairs (GSA), Careers in Medicine (CiM), and Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) National Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

A class discussion regarding cardiac health inspired Miranda Rep of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2024 to launch a service project that would embed students more deeply into the Scranton community and keep its older members safe.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Graduate Student Council (GSC) on February 17 hosted a "Random Acts of Kindness" day. The event was presented by GSC's Service Engagement co-chairs, Kristen Denniston and Jennifer Szpernoga, both members of the Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) Class of 2022. "The event was meant to bring a little light into this world and to help people to remember that every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day," Denniston said.

Two medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine have published a paper in the December 2021 edition of Peer J, the Journal of Life and Environmental Science. Sneha Vaddadi, MD Class of 2022 and Nicholas Czelotka, MD Class of 2023 authored the paper, entitled "Rise, and pronounced regional variation, in methylphenidate, amphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine distribution in the United States."

Oluwaseyi Olulana, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2024, co-authored the paper, entitled "Lessons Learned: Preventing Recurrent Ischemic Strokes through Secondary Prevention Programs: A Systematic Review." The paper was published in vol.10, issue 18 of the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

On July 29, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine held its annual Summer Research Immersion Program (SRIP) symposium. Each year, SRIP offers research opportunities to students between their first and second years of the MD curriculum. Over the course of eight weeks, students work on a wide variety of projects under the guidance of a research mentor. To conclude the program, each student (or pair/team of students) presents their work during the Summer Research Symposium. This year the symposium featured more than 70 presenters, who shared their research over two poster sessions. Three members of the MD Class of 2024 received ressearch awards at the ceremony that followed.

A forensic accountant with the FBI; a Buenos Aires tour guide; an actor; a stagehand; 24 students who are the first member of their family to go to college and other accomplished future doctors received the first symbol of their new profession as Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) held its 12th annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 7 at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

On Saturday, July 31 Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) held commencement exercises celebrating 67 members of its master of biomedical sciences (MBS) Class of 2021. During the ceremony, seven graduates received awards noting exceptional service to their class.

A group of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students planned and organized the school's annual Freedom Seder, held on March 23. Freedom Seders intertwine the archetypal story of the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in ancient Egypt with more modern liberation struggles.

In the 2020-21 academic year, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Medical Student Council (MSC) introduced a new student discussion series called "Civil Talks." The talks encourage students to share information and their points of view about the civil circumstances in their country of birth, interest or heritage.

On March 19 99 students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) learned their residency placements during the National Resident Matching Program's "Match Day," an event at which all fourth-year M.D. students around the country simultaneously open their envelopes to learn where they will spend the next three to seven years training in specialties. Residencies typically begin July 1.

A group of 22 master of biomedical sciences (MBS) students represented Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine at the Region VIII Student National Medical Association conference on Feb. 5-6. The theme for the conference was, "A United Front: The Need to Diversify Medicine."

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine announced that six of its current fourth-year medical students have successfully matched into residency programs.

Students, faculty and staff at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine celebrated their heritage, culture and diversity with a virtual cultural dress fashion show and cooking demonstrations on Friday, Jan. 15.

Cynthia Ciccotelli, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2021, recently published "Tips from the Virtual Interview Trail" on the "Leader Voices" blog of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The blog was published on Jan. 27 and can be viewed at https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20210127lv-virtualinterview.html.

Oluwaseyi Olulana, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2024, published a paper in Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, a peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on pioneering efforts and innovative studies across all areas of neurology.

Kenneth Lam, a fourth-year, medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) Atlantic City campus recently achieved an important milestone. On Dec. 29 he administered his 100th COVID-19 vaccine to fellow GCSOM student, Rachel Fulton.

Monica Joglekar, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2022, was among the medical-student authors of the independently published book, Diary of a Med Student. Released in September, the book features 100 student authors offering reflections on various aspects of the medical school experience.

Matthew Busch, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) MD Class of 2021, published an essay in the Oct. 7 edition of in-Training, an online peer-reviewed publication for medical students.