Geisinger College of Health Sciences

A group of second-year medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) have planned the sixth annual Steamtown Health Fair in partenrship with Scranton Primary Health Care Center.

On June 3, students in the master of biomedical sciences program at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Doylestown campus teamed with representatives of Hepatitis B United of Philadelphia to participate in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta race.

Students in the master of biomedical sciences program at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Doylestown campus attended the HIV Prevention and Outreach Summit in Philadelphia. The summit provides the latest information about research, evidence-based HIV prevention, outreach strategies, and best practices in targeting and connecting to care the most at-risk groups in Philadelphia.

On May 19, five students in the master of biomedical sciences program at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Doylestown campus, attended the Think About the Link Philadelphia Summit held at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Several master of biomedical sciences (MBS) students at the Doylestown campus of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) volunteered at the recent Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Research Fair. The regional competition showcased the projects of students in grades six through 12 from the Lehigh Valley area who qualified for the regional event by winning their local competitions.

On May 1, several Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine master of biomedical sciences students at the school's Doylestown campus led the second Geisinger Commonwealth blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. The students' active participation and their ability to raise community awareness helped the Red Cross exceed its goal of 32 donors, setting a local record.

The Public Health Student Association (PHSA) at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) planned a series of events to help celebrate National Public Health Week, April 3 through April 7.

Several Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students took part in the Great American Cleanup on March 25, beautifying three miles of roadway surrounding the Doylestown campus. The Great American Cleanup is a nationwide event during which community members volunteer their time to clean up public areas like roadsides, streams, beaches, parks and forests. More than 75 bags of debris were collected and the area was left in a considerably better shape than when the students found it.

On April 2, several Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) master of biomedical sciences students participated in the 22nd annual Gift of Life Donor Dash in Philadelphia.

On Saturday, March 25, student members of the Dermatology Interest Group at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) will host a free skin-cancer screening from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the school's Medical Sciences Building, 525 Pine Street in Scranton.

On Sunday, Feb. 12, students from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine will host the sixth annual ALLEY-OOP FOR AUTISM three-on-three charity basketball tournament. In addition to the tournament, the event features a three-point contest for $10. All proceeds will benefit the Northeast Regional Autism Center at Friendship House in Scranton.

Nicole Marianelli, of Old Forge, a second-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, on Jan. 13 was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Abington chapter of the Insulin Pump Support Group.

Geisinger Commonwealth students on Jan. 7 took primary care to the needy. They set up a blood pressure screening, with dipstick urine test for diabetes, at Scranton's Community Intervention Center (CIC), which offers homeless services, in addition to addiction and mental health services. Two faculty members and 14 Geisinger Commonwealth students volunteered for the screening, held Jan. 7.

The Advocacy Alliance, in conjunction with Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth), will hold an Affordable Care Act (ACA) registration event on Wednesday, Jan.25 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the school's Medical Sciences Building, 525 Pine Street in Scranton.

Erin Connolly, a first-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine participated in Northwest Area High School's annual College/Career Day. She spoke to students in grades 7-12 about college, getting in to medical school and what it is like to be a medical student and future physician. The event is organized by Northwest's Alumni Group.

Jessica Porcelan, Mechanicsburg; Trevor Staub, Aspers; Oakland Walters, Scranton; and Laura Wingert, Hanover Township, all members of Geisinger Commonwealth's M.D. Class of 2017, recently volunteered to help with the annual "Christmas Wrap" at the Catherine McAuley Center in Scranton. The Catherine McAuley Center provides temporary shelter for women and children in crisis and assists women in attaining safe, affordable, permanent housing. It also provides women support services leading to self-r

Jacob (Jake) Parrick, a second-year medical student from Duryea and Erin Connolly, a first-year medical student from Shickshinny, created and delivered a STEAM presentation on Dec. 15 for sixth-grade students at Dunmore Elementary Center.

The Commonwealth Medical College held its annual Turkey Trot on Sunday, Nov. 6. The event, featuring 5k and 10k races and a "Tiny Trot" for children younger than 13, attracted close to 200 participants. When added to race registration fees, additional funds from a basket raffle, a cupcake sale, a bowling event and a college-wide "penny war" raised more than $11,000 for Friends of the Poor to provide Thanksgiving dinners for those in need.

World AIDS Day, one of just eight official global public-health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization, has been celebrated every Dec. 1 since 1988. This year, for the first time, The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) will also hold an observation. TCMC's student group, PRIDE (Physicians Representing Inclusivity, Diversity and Equality) is working with the NEPA Rainbow Alliance to plan the free, public event.