Geisinger College of Health Sciences

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine bestowed its annual end-of-year awards upon deserving students and faculty at a ceremony in May.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine bestowed its annual end-of-year awards upon deserving students and faculty during a ceremony in May. At the ceremony, five stundets recevied military commissions.

At a ceremony in May, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) conferred 96 master of biomedical sciences (MBS) degrees upon students who compose Geisinger Commonwealth's graduating Class of 2019.

Avisha Shah and Douglas Wells, both members of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD Class of 2020, and Emily Herman, a member of the MD Class of 2021 recently received scholarships from American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) to attend and present their research on "Caring for Patients with Differing Abilities: Enhancing Medical School Curriculum" at the 17th Annual AADMD Conference in Rochester, New York.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) conferred 99 doctor of medicine (MD) degrees upon students who compose Geisinger Commonwealth's graduating Class of 2019. Commencement ceremonies were held Sunday, May 5 at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. Greetings were offered by Mr. Robert J. Dietz, PE, GCSOM board chair and by Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, Geisinger interim president/CEO. Holly J. Humphrey, MD, was keynote speaker. Dr. Humphrey is president at Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and former dean for medical education and Ralph W. Gerard Professor in Medicine atThe University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Sarah Hayek, MD, GCSOM Class of 2015 offered greetings from GCSOM's growing Alumni Society.

The executive board of the South Asian Society (SAS) at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) organized and led an initiative to educate the GCSOM community on the Muslim observation of Ramadan, a month dedicated to fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

Two medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) were elected by their statewide peers to be student representatives to the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP).

Randy Lesh of Scranton, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's MD class of 2022, received an 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 is the national medical honor society. Lesh's winning proposal is entitled, "Developing biomarkers of therapeutic response in rectal carcinoma."

The Association of American Medical Colleges(AAMC) has accepted Alfred Hamilton III, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) MD Class of 2022, to its leadership development program, RISE: Developing Future Leaders in Academic Medicine & Science. AAMC selected just 50 medical students nationwide to attend the inaugural conference in Washington, DC. It will be held June 21-23.

Six medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) presented research at the Cleveland Clinic's 15thannual Clinical Research Conference, held April 29-30. The conference featured 20 oral research presentations, 50 poster presentations and a dozen research workshops.

Four Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students accompanied Vicki T. Sapp, Ph.D., director of student engagement, diversity and inclusion and a faculty member to the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) in Philadelphia, April 17-21.

The student leaders of the Primary Care Progress chapter at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) invite the community to gather at the school on Saturday, May 11 to discuss prescription drug affordability with healthcare providers and other community members. The purpose of the event is to provide the community with a way to communicate with providers and policymakers about their challenges in accessing prescription drugs and adhering to recommended medication regimens with the hope that the ensuing dialogue will spark constructive change.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students in the master of biomedical sciences (MBS) Class of 2019 on April 12 attended and presented research at the Pennsylvania Pain & Addiction Summit 2019: Putting People First. During this full-day conference, medical, legal and law enforcement professionals discussed the current state of the opioid crisis and shared methodology and interprofessional approaches to the treatment of pain and substance abuse.

Student leaders at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) planned and organized an "Asians in the Diaspora" bazaar in which all members of the GCSOM community were invited to partake in and celebrate the cultural customs, music and food of Asia.

Two third-year medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) were selected to be featured presenters at the 2019 Technology Education Research Symposium held on April 13at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Speakers' presentations are published in Volume 3, Issue 1 of the Pennsylvania Association of Educational Communication and Technology's (PAECT) Technology Education Research Journal.

On April 1 a group of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students traveled with Dr. Vicki Sapp, GCSOM's director for student engagement, diversity and inclusion to attend Strengthening Latino Health: The 2019 Latino Health and Health Disparities Conference held at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistryin Rochester, N.Y.

Two members of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) master of biomedical sciences (MBS) Class of 2019 presented a poster of their research in collaboration with several Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's medical students entitled, "Trends in the Acquisition and Distribution of Opioid Drugs Among 10 Contiguous States," at an event held March 21. Kristin Feickert of Purcellville, first author and Ceilia Severini of Clarks Summit, together with faculty member Dr. Brian Piper, co-authored the research that examined the pattern of acquisition/distribution between 2007 and 2017 for 19 different opioid medications across 10 contiguous states (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky), with particular emphasis on Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the studied period, the students' research showed there has been a general downward trend in legal acquisition/ distribution of common opiates such as hydrocodone, morphine and oxycodone. With a better understanding of patterns of use and how that may affect adjacent states, public policy may be shaped to best mitigate the worst outcomes of the opioid epidemic locally and nationwide. The research was presented at GCSOM's Spring Research Symposium for faculty, staff, physicians, students and researchers.

Three Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students recently helped to plan and organize a First Aid Meet for about 50 scouts from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Scouts BSA. The annual competitive event was held on March 16 and was co-sponsored by the Council and the Emergency Medicine Interest Group at GCSOM.

Thirteen medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) on March 14.

On March 15, 96 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.

On Saturday, April 13, members of the Student Musculoskeletal Society at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM), in partnership with the Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute, will host a free osteoporosis screening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Geisinger Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Clinic at 3 W Olive Street, Scranton.

On March 15, 96 students at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) 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.

On Saturday, April 6, student members of the Dermatology Interest Group at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) will host a free skin-cancer screening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.at the school's Medical Sciences Building, 525 Pine Street in Scranton

Katsiaryna Malykhina, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) MD Class of 2020 has been selected to receive a 2019 Excellence in Public Health Award from the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). Kimberly Smith, MD, commander, USPHS and Region 3 coordinator of the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Award Program, made the announcement.

On March 7, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Health & Wellness Committee hosted its annual Spring Health Fair. The committee worked tirelessly to establish relationships with outside vendors and bring them to campus. Fourteen vendors from the community shared their services and products that promote and encourage all aspects of health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle improvements. Students were able to take advantage of free massages, made essential oils, sampled healthy food and learned about sun damage prevention.

On Sunday, April 7, students from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine will host the eighth annual ALLEY-OOP FOR AUTISMthree-on-three charity basketball tournament.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) has received a $25,000 grant from the National Curriculum Initiative in Developmental Medicine (NCIDM) to increase inclusion of patients with intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders (IDD) into GCSOM's MD curriculum and to diversify elective choices for medical students. The grant was obtained thanks to the combined efforts of GCSOM faculty and student leaders.

Meredith Hanrahan of Orland Park, Illinois, a first-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) has been accepted through a competitive process to participate in the Medical Student Research Program in Diabetes, sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) chapter of the American Women's Medical Association (AMWA) recently held its annual Rose-A-Palooza to benefit the Women's Resource Center. During the Rose-A-Palooza event, students, faculty and staff at GCSOM are encouraged to remember someone they appreciate and then purchase roses to send them in order to promote healthy relationships. The proceeds are donated to Women's Resource Center (WRC), which provides services to adult and child survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) faculty member, Dr. F. Dennis Dawgert, and three fourth-year GCSOM medical students recently completed a mission trip to Mandeville, Jamaica. Dr. Dawgert provided primary medical care services and supervised the patient care provided by GCSOM students Nichole Ogojiaku, Kate Larrabee, and Tina Roy. Each student who accompanied Dr. Dawgert is a recipient of The Jennifer A. Sidari, M.D. '13 Global Health Award.