GCSOM Journal 2021

Journal 2022

The

For alumni, community and friends of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Taking the reins Meet new President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD

Alumni profile

Charter class member, EM physician aids refugees from Afghanistan

When Afghani Roshan, MD ‘13, learned that planes carrying evacuees from Afghanistan were headed to Philadelphia, she instantly knew she had to help.

The Geisinger Wyoming Valley emergency medicine physician was raised in a Pashto-speaking household. And although she was born in California, her parents and older siblings escaped Afghanistan in the early 1980s under circumstances much like today’s evacuees. Having grown up hearing their stories, Dr. Roshan felt the least she could do was welcome frightened and weary people to the U.S. in their own language.

“My family came to the U.S. in the early 1980s as refugees during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. So, the current situation in Afghanistan is something that struck me deeply on a personal level,” Dr. Roshan said. “My parents and my brothers went through the same trauma, and I knew from their experiences that it was comforting to get help from someone speaking to you in your own language.”

onsite. The physicians also provided transfers to Philadelphia hospitals, if needed for further extensive evaluation. “The setup of the medical clinic was so efficient and effective that the need to transfer patients to local hospitals was relatively infrequent,” Dr. Roshan said. She further explained that the volunteers made sure to utilize a compassionate, culturally sensitive and family-centered approach. “We made sure that when families arrived, they weren’t separated. Families were taken as a unit through the medical stations, so they didn’t experience any additional trauma or separation.”

“Everyone working at the airport showed great compassion, including my colleagues at Geisinger who offered to cover my shifts in the ED, allowing me to partake in this humanitarian mission,” she said.

While the operation made things as smooth as possible for the evacuees, behind the scenes running it is extremely complex. Dr. Roshan pitched in there, as well. “We worked collaboratively with multiple agencies such as Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, local EMS and hospitals, and social service agencies. There was constant communication that took place between these agencies. Since it was a 24/7 operation, there needed to be coverage at all times, which required continuous coordination.” Thus, Dr. Roshan often worked around the clock at the airport in one capacity or another helping to coordinate.

Dr. Roshan reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps to offer her linguistic services. However, as soon as her medical background came to light – she is a 2013 graduate of Geisinger Commonwealth, and she completed her residency at Geisinger — she was asked to help organize and run a complex medical operation that Temple University Hospital jointly and hurriedly constructed with Thomas “We make sure that when families arrive, they aren’t Jefferson University Hospital and separated. Families are taken as a unit through Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the Philadelphia International Airport the medical stations, so they don’t experience any (PHL). The airport medical triage additional trauma or separation.” center screened Afghan evacuees and provided onsite care. The first plane arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday, Aug. 28. By Sunday, Aug. 29, Dr. Roshan was volunteering at PHL. “My parents and siblings were delighted and proud that I “These people had been traveling internationally for almost two weeks,” she said. “They first boarded a military plane in Kabul and then traveled to bases abroad, then to America.

They left suddenly, without any essential belongings such as clothing, shoes, and medication. They arrived exhausted.

They’d been through quite a journey and it’s overwhelming to arrive in a different country where everything is unfamiliar.

Our job was to make them feel welcome to their new home.”

At the center, medical volunteers from a variety of specialties cared for patients and even refilled certain prescriptions

was able to help. They have always looked for ways they can pay it forward,” she said, adding that she has found it to be personally rewarding even through small acts such as greeting the evacuees. “I greeted them in Pashto with words that translated to ‘Welcome, I hope you arrived safely.’ This took them by surprise but allowed them to open up and smile.

It brought me joy to see the little ones running around the airport and to know that they have more opportunities here.

I hope that by seeing an Afghan American female physician, they recognize that they also have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.”

The Journal

A message from the president and dean On Jan. 1, I had the honor and privilege of assuming the responsibilities of president and dean at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Although I still have much to learn on my listening tour, my early impressions leave me feeling inspired. Our medical school is full of talented people committed to using their skills to better our communities. Our dedicated educators prioritize the needs of our students and residents, and our scientists make discoveries that truly improve lives. We embrace innovation, excellence and service. It is an exciting place to be!

You will frequently hear me say “research and education at Geisinger.” As of Jan. 1, Geisinger’s incredible team of scientists join our educators as one academic entity. Bringing together educators and researchers at Geisinger makes for a faculty who will thrive together, for the benefit of our students and school. As alumni and supporters of Geisinger Commonwealth, I think you will find that exciting news.

This expansion of our conception of “Geisinger Commonwealth” leads me to another observation. The institution that was born as The Commonwealth Medical College is maturing. More than a decade into its existence, we are giving back to the community that helped to raise us. With research, graduate medical education, and all other learning activities, including continued professional development, coming under our purview, Geisinger Commonwealth is well positioned to take its place as a vibrant and scholarly environment for learning and inquiry specifically designed to make better health easy. This is where our beloved institution is headed. I look forward to continuing to share our progress!

A publication by the Department of Marketing and Communications Elizabeth Zygmunt Director of Media and Public Relations Heather M. Davis, MFA Director of Marketing and Communications Board of Directors Virginia McGregor, Chair John C. Bravman, PhD Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH Pedro J. Greer, Jr., MD V. Chris Holcombe, PE David B. Nash, MD, MBA Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, Geisinger President and CEO (Ex-Officio) Julie Byerley, MD, MPH, Geisinger Commonwealth President and Dean (Ex-Officio) Geisinger Health Foundation Nancy Lawton-Kluck Chief Philanthropy Officer Robin Endicott, CFRE Vice President, Philanthropy Mark Hanichak Senior Director Jane Kanyock, MBA, CFRE Director of Major Gifts Chris Boland Director of Alumni Relations Dorothy Williams Administrative Assistant

Julie Byerley, MD President and Dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Geisinger Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Journal Winter 2022

The

For alumni, community and friends of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Contents Taking the reins

New leadership.................................. 2

Student news..................................... 22

Campus news..................................... 6

Alumni news....................................... 25

Student wellness............................... 10

The Match........................................... 26

On the cover:

Faculty news....................................... 12

2021 White coat ceremony........... 28

Graduate medical education......... 16

2021 Commencement..................... 29

Meet Dr. Julie Byerley, who assumed the role of president and dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Geisinger on Jan. 1.

Meet new President and Dean Julie Byerley, MD

Abigail scholars................................. 18

Read on page 2

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New leadership

“When we pragmatically approach the needs of the community, we succeed in education.”

Julie Byerley, MD, MPH assumes duties as Geisinger executive vice president and chief academic officer and president and dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

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Dr. Julie Byerley had an epiphany in her first year as a high school physics teacher in Charleston, S.C. “This was in 1992,” she said. “It was the peak of teen pregnancy rates and HIV was new on the scene. I was in a ‘high needs’ school, which is where I wanted to be since my dream was to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue careers in science. I wanted to teach, but I was distracted by how many girls in my classes were experiencing pregnancy and by my fear that my students would end up with HIV, which at the time could be a fatal diagnosis.”

The alarm she felt was so great, Dr. Byerley changed her curriculum. “I found myself compelled to teach more about health and well-being than about how many electrons circle the nucleus of various elements,” she said. “I ended up learning about possibilities in public health and medicine.

So, I went back to college to get the prerequisites necessary for medical school.”

Ever since, Dr. Byerley’s career has been dedicated to shaping education that results in better public health.

Shaped by experiences Dr. Byerley’s mother was her earliest role model and inspired her to dream of encouraging girls to pursue careers in the sciences. “My younger brother, Chris (Story) and I were always encouraged by my parents to be involved in academics and sports,” she said. “For example, there was a local YBA basketball league targeted to boys, but my mom signed me up. I think I was the first girl in the 5-yearold basketball league. She was an advocate who believed I should do whatever I wanted. She had high expectations and still has them today. “ Thanks to her parents’ support and encouragement, Dr.

Byerley attended Rhodes College, a small liberal arts school in Memphis, on a generous scholarship. There, she played Division III volleyball for a year and majored in physics, intending to teach high school.

Her first job in Charleston changed her trajectory, but not, as she discovered, her love of teaching.

A heart-wrenching decision The Charleston revelation led Dr. Byerley to Duke University School of Medicine where she also spent a year at the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) School of Public Health studying maternal/child health. When she left teaching, Dr. Byerley was convinced that she’d be involved in direct primary care as a pediatrician. “When I got my master’s, I started to consider the multiple ways I could have an impact on raising healthy families,” she said.

But she began to doubt that decision during her year as chief resident in pediatrics at UNC, when she “fell in love” with medical education.

She came to believe she could do the most good and have the greatest impact by influencing medical education.

“I think from the perspective of child and adolescent development all the time,” she said. “There’s a saying in pediatrics: Children are not little adults. That’s true, but all adults are big children. If we think about what’s good for children and adolescents, then we think about what’s good for all of us.”

After much soul searching, Dr. Byerley decided to remain in academic medicine as an assistant professor at UNC, where she worked for the next 20 years, rising to vice dean for academic affairs. Then, she was presented with an intriguing opportunity.

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The opportunity of a lifetime Dr. Byerley said the chance to lead Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine excited her, even though the prospect of facing Scranton’s famously snowy winters is a bit daunting.

is really workforce development. When we think like that, pragmatically approaching the needs of the community, we succeed in education. I am very excited to continue to advance Geisinger’s progress to that end.”

In addition to her Geisinger Commonwealth responsibilities, “Geisinger provides a unique opportunity to have an impact,” as chief academic officer, Dr. Byerley will oversee the she said. “I’ve been very interested in what today’s doctors management of educational experiences for learners need in their portfolio and skill set to really make a difference throughout Geisinger, including graduate medical in modern healthcare delivery. There’s more in medicine to education, nursing, pharmacy, advanced practitioners learn than one can ever know, so we must set priorities about and other health professions. what we are going to demand from each student and how we will prepare them to serve patients and populations.

Geisinger is very pragmatic about how “There’s more in medicine to learn than one can ever we take good care of people. There’s learn, so we must set priorities about what we are a great willingness to think differently and to innovate. We agree that we must going to demand from each student and how we will think from the patient’s perspective prepare them to serve patients and populations.” about what making better health easier looks like.”

She believes the many similarities between UNC and Geisinger Commonwealth will help ease her transition. “UNC is a public school and we always acknowledged that we are ‘by and for the people.’ Geisinger Commonwealth may be a private school, but it is by and for the community. The populations are also very similar. Both have urban centers but also a lot of rural areas and a need to produce a workforce that will serve those communities and understand their needs.”

At UNC, Dr. Byerley was a key player in developing and expanding programs like the Office of Rural Initiatives, with pipeline programs where students receive enhanced training to serve rural populations. “Health professions education

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She will also be responsible for overseeing Geisinger’s research environment that includes more than 50 full-time research faculty and more than 30 clinician investigators.

“I look forward to continuing to engage at the national level in medical education and in how medical schools can make a difference and an impact on population health,” she said. “I want to tell the story of what’s happening at Geisinger. The system invested in a school the community built — it’s a win/ win/win. With system support and community engagement, there’s so much potential for learners to be supported and then to want to stay and serve the region.”

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Campus news

Class of 2025 first to experience ‘Total Health Curriculum’ The Total Health Curriculum is built on the science of learning and uses an evidencebased approach to train skilled, compassionate physicians who provide individualized care of patients and promote health in the communities they serve.

In addition to providing a fully integrated and immersive educational experience in basic, clinical and health systems sciences, the curriculum emphasizes six themes, including Health Equity and Justice, Health System Citizenship, Primary Care, Personal and Professional Development, Community Immersion and Population Health.

These themes will guide the training of physicians who are resilient, collaborative and ready to assume leadership roles in evolving healthcare settings. At Geisinger Commonwealth, the curriculum is envisioned as a tree, like the tree of knowledge that forms the school seal. The roots correspond to Phase1 – Principles of Science and Practice, which encompasses foundational education rooted in basic, clinical and health system sciences. The trunk epitomizes Phase 2 – Core Clinical Immersion. With roots firmly planted, students build a solid body of clinical experiences that begins early and grows in complexity and meaning. The trunk provides firm support for the branches, which represent Phase 3 – Career Differentiation and Exploration. At this phase, students are ready to branch off in their own direction. Following core clinical experiences, they progress in the development of advanced clinical skills and training that suits their individual interests and career goals.

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School founder Ida L. Castro departs Ida L. Castro, JD, vice president for community engagement, associate dean for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, in June departed from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

thousands of underprivileged high school students throughout the region, many of whom are now solidly on the path toward productive careers in healthcare.

Thanks to REACH-HEI, more than 2,000 youth have been The Geisinger able to shape and realize Commonwealth community their dreams. While the vast congratulated her on her majority of REACH-HEI plans, which include the students have been firstluxury of slowing down generation college students, a bit, something she well a population with what Ms. deserves. Ms. Castro will Castro calls an “abysmal college also return to her previous attendance rate,” 95 percent work offering consultation of REACH-HEI participants services in dispute have graduated, breaking resolution and cycles of poverty. REACHDipam Shah, the first REACH-HEI student to complete medical diversity management HEI has been cited by school, receives a special stole from Ida Castro, former vice for community-based the Commonwealth of president for community engagement, associate dean for organizations. She Pennsylvania as a “best equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, at the 2021 has relocated to the practice” in pipeline Commencement ceremony.

Philadelphia area. programs.

From the school's founding, before the first students arrived, Ms. Castro was the school's champion of community engagement and diversity. She began with the title "vice president for Social Justice" and, although titles have evolved over the years, her role remained as central as ever to the school's mission.

Ms. Castro joined “a group of dreamers” who were determined to build a medical school that “took the best from other schools while replacing the rest with innovative approaches to undergraduate medical education.” She said her arrival in Scranton almost seemed like fate. As she was preparing a presentation on diversity, equity and inclusion, she Googled some terms and a job in Scranton popped up. After that, the ad dogged her. At last, she decided the universe was sending her a message.

School co-founder and entrepreneur Robert W. Naismith, PhD, said, “Our founding dean was, at the time, visionary for focusing on diversity and equity. So, when we were able to get someone of Ida’s stature interested in becoming our school’s first chief diversity officer, we made sure, thanks to her efforts, that we were thinking about diversity, not just in our classes, but also in school leadership. That was our intent and Ida has done an outstanding job.”

Ms. Castro used her “impatience” to conceive, build and generate millions in funding for Regional Academy for Careers in Health - Higher Education Initiative (REACH-HEI) and the school, creating opportunities for

Her success in locking in federal and state support added nearly $2 million to the school’s yearly budget.

Ms. Castro was instrumental in establishing guidelines to create a faculty that is diverse both in disciplines and experiences. She encouraged and supported a holistic admissions process that recruits not only the most talented students, but also those most committed to serving our communities that have been long neglected and in most need.

Through her efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded more than $3.4 million to Geisinger Commonwealth in the form of a Center of Excellence (COE) award. Ours is now the only HRSA funded COE in Pennsylvania. The ultimate goal of the COE award program is to produce a high-quality healthcare workforce whose racial and ethnic diversity is representative of our population and to serve as an innovative resource and education center to recruit, train and retain underrepresented minority students and faculty.

Beyond the school, Ms. Castro changed the wider Scranton community for the better. “They embraced me, even though I didn’t fit the mold,” she said. “I came with spiked platinum hair, colorful clothing, a New York accent and impatience — a sense of urgency in terms of resolving longstanding issues — and a laser focus on youth and the medically underserved.”

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more cool stuff

New West Campus established Third-year students may choose rotations in Lewistown and State College Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine announced that it will open its newest campus, Lewistown/State College in June. Up to 12 third-year students will be eligible to complete their clinical rotations at the campus, which includes Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger Healthplex State College. Geisinger Lewistown Hospital has a unique family medicine residency program, supported by federal grants, devoted to caring for patients in a rural setting.

Kirk Thomas, chief administrative officer for the Western Region, said Geisinger Healthplex State College is a modern,

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multi-specialty facility with a very busy ambulatory surgery center near an attractive community for students. “I wish to thank Geisinger Commonwealth for the opportunity to bring Geisinger undergraduate medical education to the Geisinger Western Region,” he said. “We are excited to be part of this growing program and confident that the Lewistown/State College campus will offer students a strong experience in delivering primary care to underserved populations, as well as providing a well-rounded educational experience in specialty practice.”

New associate dean named Julie Xanthopoulos, MD, PhD, has been named regional associate dean of Geisinger Commonwealth’s West Campus in Lewistown.

“I am delighted to announce Dr. Xanthopoulos’s appointment,” said William Jeffries, PhD, vice dean for medical education and vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Xanthopoulos has distinguished herself as an excellent teacher, mentor and role model for our students. I can think of no better leader to establish our newest campus and create a dynamic learning environment for our students who choose to do rotations there.”

Dr. Xanthopoulos is an internist, certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and chair of the Department of Medicine, Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. She has served on the clinical faculty of Geisinger Commonwealth and is a member of the core faculty for Geisinger Lewistown Family Medicine Residency Program.

“I am honored to be named regional associate dean and look forward to establishing the West Campus as a site accomplished in clinical training, particularly known for its expertise in integrated community care,” she said.

As regional associate dean, Dr. Xanthopoulos will provide leadership and oversight of the campus. She oversees delivery of all clinical education activities, including faculty training, monitoring the quality of the overall student learning experience and ensuring that students have the appropriate learning experiences to achieve their educational objectives for all clerkships and required and elective rotations.

She will also oversee co-curricular activities that support the mission of the school, together with other departments including faculty affairs, educational administration, student affairs, the department of medical education and all clinical departments. She will provide oversight and management of student issues in collaboration with the assistant regional dean for student affairs and the other members of the regional team and will represent the west regional campus on the Clinical Education Leadership Team.

Newhouser named regional assistant dean for student affairs Laura Morton Newhouser, DO, has been named regional assistant dean for student affairs for Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s West Campus. William Jeffries, PhD, Geisinger Commonwealth’s vice president for academic affairs and vice dean for medical education, made the announcement.

In her role as regional assistant dean for student affairs, Dr. Newhouser will provide medical student professional identity formation support and resources for students during the clinical education curriculum years at Geisinger Commonwealth. “Professionalism is considered a core competency necessary for students to succeed in residency and, ultimately, as practicing

“I am very interested in medical education and supporting students to become the best, most effective physicians they possibly can be.”

physicians. Professionalism results in both better care for patients and more career satisfaction for physicians,” Dr. Jeffries said. “We are fortunate that Dr. Newhouser has accepted the role of regional assistant dean. Her skills and depth of experience will serve our students well.”

“I am very interested in medical education and supporting students to become the best, most effective physicians they possibly can be,” Dr. Newhouser said. “I look forward to working with the West Campus team to make this happen.”

Dr. Newhouser will report to Dr. Julie Xanthopoulos, regional associate dean.

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Student wellness

Total Health includes Wellness: Initiative to ‘centralize and center’ wellness advances A community of caring people is no substitute for a culture of wellness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this realization began to dawn as faculty and students searched for ways to support one another in their shared isolation.

“As we met with students during the pandemic, we heard more about how hard it was to remotely navigate the variety of wellness activities we had at the school,” said Jackie Ghormoz, MSW, CSW, assistant dean of students.

“While there were many different wellness resources offered through both the school and student groups, as well as in the community, many had gone to virtual formats or were suspended. Information about them was posted in separate locations, so finding them was sometimes confusing. We realized that our wellness resources needed to be coordinated and centralized for easier access for students.”

In the fall of 2020, having heard student feedback, thenPresident and Dean Steven J. Scheinman, MD, asked the associate dean of student affairs, Tanja Adonizio, MD, to convene a task force dedicated to “centralizing and centering” student wellness at the school. “Our work on wellness has been an iterative process,” Dr. Adonizio said. “But last fall, our taskforce was able to really move things along. We began by recognizing that health and wellness are a spectrum. You have crisis interventions and specific actions like medical leave of absence support on one end, and proactive prevention found in things like peer support programs on the other. Our charge was to support both ends and everything in between in a comprehensive manner that is both easy to communicate and to navigate.”

Student leaders have been deeply involved in the wellness development effort, Dr. Adonizio noted.

“Students were well represented on our task force,” she said. “They have been extremely engaged in everything from helping to build a portal site listing every school and community wellness resource available to strengthening existing peer mentoring programs.”

Sydney Shade, a member of the MD Class of 2023, serves on the task force. “I’m proud to be a part of the group that turned student ideas into reality and excited that student feedback inspired some substantial changes at the school,” she said.

“I’m especially looking forward to having a separate department dedicated to supporting and improving the wellbeing of Geisinger Commonwealth students, just like we have offices devoted to helping students succeed academically and professionally.”

“I'm proud to be a part of the group that turned student ideas into reality and excited that student feedback inspired some substantial changes at the school,” – Sydney Shade, MD Class of 2023

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CARE Teams One lesson from the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007 was that it doesn’t matter how many people see signs of an impending emotional crisis — if none of them talk to each other, any chance of successful intervention is rendered impossible.

CARE Teams, or Behavioral Health Interventions Teams, are meant to make sure people keep talking.

Ghormoz

Adonizio

The task force identified three main “pillars” that categorize their work: •

Creating a Center for Student Wellness

•

Enhancing available services

•

Building a culture of wellness

Work has advanced under every pillar, according to Dr. Adonizio. Significant renovations to the Medical Sciences Building West Wing’s fourth floor are a visible reminder of the progress.

As for enhancing services, Dr. Adonizio identified a new teletherapy service that augments the counseling and support available in Student Health Services and from Geisinger’s EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Shade believes this is an important development, saying, “I think that expanding health services, including mental healthcare, with a telehealth program will open up so many more options for students, without the stress of scheduling difficulties, missing class or finding a good provider. Additionally, we hope it will provide better access for students on clinical rotations at different regional campuses.”

In the peer mentoring area, student leaders have formed what they call GPS, short for Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Peer Support.

Run by peer support navigators (students who have completed Mental Health First Aid and small group facilitation training), GPS offers individual and group conversations designed to support students in ​addressing academic stress, interpersonal conflicts, imposter syndrome, feelings of isolation and general mental health concerns.

Geisinger Commonwealth’s new CARE Team is a cross-functional group designed for dialogue that tries to make sure that no warning signs are missed. Andrea Mulrine is a member of the team. “As Title IX coordinator, I might know something about an individual and my colleague might know something, but we would never talk. Now, with the CARE Team, we have frequent meetings and have provided a way for anyone in the school community to report a concern.” All concerns brought to the CARE Team are evaluated using a proven, nationally recognized rubric from the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment. All concerns receive follow-up, even if it’s as simple as checking in on the student periodically. The Team has already reached out to several students and has found them very receptive to offers of resources and assistance.

“There have always been wellness components in our curriculum. And we had a great deal of wellness-oriented activities,” Ms. Ghormoz said. “But programs and activities weren’t connected. When the task force began to meet, we saw the complexity in navigating the resources. Now with the portal site and the Center for Student Wellness directed by Dr. Ellison, we have a central place for wellness to infuse the entire student experience and a place where we can continually reassess and reinvent programs.”

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Faculty news

Ellison named Director of Medical Student Wellness Halle B. Ellison, MD, has been named Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s Director of Medical Student Wellness, a faculty position within the Department of Medical Education.

“Wellness is a central theme of our new MD curriculum,” John Arnott, PhD, chair of the Department of Medical Education, said. “Dr. Ellison serves as Assistant Professor of Surgery and Palliative Care and has long been interested in the well-being of learners in her former role as an associate program director for Geisinger’s General Surgery Central Residency. We are fortunate to have someone with her expertise leading such a major part of our student experience.”

“Medical school is a formative time in the development of physician identity,” Dr. Ellison said. “I am looking forward to addressing wellness proactively. I congratulate the School of Medicine for placing great emphasis on a holistic view of student well-being, and l am eager to help drive initiatives to empower students and provide them with the foundation and tools they can apply throughout their careers.”

The Director of Medical Student Wellness is charged with the development, implementation and quality improvement for programs and policies to improve student wellness and championing a healthy environment for students. The goal is to support students to develop lifelong skills for achieving and maintaining optimal physical and mental health, while thriving in medical school and beyond. The position will also act as a liaison to faculty and staff, provide guidance and support for students and identify needs for program development.

Welcome Amanda Caleb, PhD, Professor of Medical Humanities Amanda Caleb, PhD, professor of medical humanities, is interested in the ways narratives and storytelling can help medical students grow into empathetic physicians. This is the goal of her new role at Geisinger Commonwealth. “Humans are bad listeners,” she said. “We are too focused on what our response will be. We don’t really hear the story fully.” Dr. Caleb said narrative medicine, which invites introspection and reflection, is a means to help students hear the story.

“Narrative medicine gets students to slow down and to allow themselves to go where the family wants to take them.

Physicians should, like detectives, pay careful attention to the details. Narrative medicine develops the keen listening skills our students will need to be empathetic and to gather good information, rather than greeting patients with a barrage of staccato questions.”

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Boell named assistant regional dean Kendra F. Boell, DO, was named assistant regional dean for administration of Geisinger Commonwealth’s Central Campus in Danville. William Jeffries, PhD, vice president for academic affairs and vice dean for medical education, made the announcement.

“Dr. Boell has a great deal of experience in both medical education and administration,” Dr. Jeffries said. “We look forward to her leadership and guidance in our growing Central Campus.”

“I am honored to take on the role of assistant regional dean,” Dr. Boell said. “I enjoy working with medical students and am excited to help mold these future physicians to be patient-centered and team-oriented leaders.”

The assistant regional dean for administration supports Regional Associate Dean Mark Olaf, DO, who manages the Central Campus and is responsible for ensuring the delivery of all clinical education activities.

As assistant dean, Dr. Boell will provide leadership and guidance to the students, faculty and staff of the

regional campus. In coordination with Dr. Olaf, she will oversee curriculum delivery and coordination for the campus, including faculty development, assessment oversight, mentorship of students and enforcement of school policies. With Dr. Olaf, Dr. Boell will represent undergraduate medical education on several key systemwide committees.

Dr. Boell taught in the physician assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology, where she also served as interim program director, clinical director and adjunct professor.

In addition to her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Boell holds an MBA from Isenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and fellowship trained in bariatric medicine. In addition, she is a certified physician executive by the American Association for Physician Leadership. She has published numerous scholarly papers and has been recognized with awards for teaching excellence.

Faculty, students deliver TEDx Talks Geisinger Commonwealth student group, Synapse acquired a license for TEDx talks in late 2020. Since then, faculty members and students have delivered talks on topics ranging from journeys to self-awareness to moving and impactful life experiences. The talks are posted on ted.com, the official site for “ideas worth sharing.” Below is a sampling of the Geisinger Commonwealth talks.

Mindy Gruzin — Foster Kid to Medical Student ted.com/talks/mindy_gruzin_foster_kid_to_medical_ student Tice Harkins — My Brother Harry ted.com/talks/tice_harkins_my_brother_harry Sean Alventosa — I Am Going to Make It ted.com/talks/sean_alventosa_i_m_going_to_make_it

Faculty Carly Ellman, MSW, LCSW — We Have Power Over Our Perceptions ted.com/talks/carly_ellman_we_have_power_over_our_ perceptions Ian McCoog, EdD — Let the Phone Be Smart. You Be Wise. ted.com/talks/ian_mccoog_let_the_phone_be_smart_ you_be_wise Michael Sulzinski, PhD — Resilience Is Not Just Recovering. Resilience Is Recovering Better. ted.com/talks/michael_sulzinski_resiliency_is_not_just_ recovering_resilience_is_recovering_better Students Eshiemomoh Osilama, MBS ‘19 — Abounding ted.com/talks/eshiemomoh_osilama_abounding

Ian McCoog, EdD, delivers his TEDx Talk “Let the Phone Be Smart. You Be Wise.”

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Chittalia

Mirza

Spatz

A Celebration of Expression receives financial support Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine received an honorarium from the Society for General Internal Medicine’s #ProudtobeGIM program, which encourages medical students and residents to choose internal medicine. The proposal was submitted as a collaboration of graduate and undergraduate medical education by Wasique Mirza, MD, Christin Spatz, MD, Michelle Thompson, MD, and several Geisinger Northeast Internal Medicine residents.

The winning application described plans to host a “Celebration of Expression” at the school, which took place virtually on Jan. 15. The celebration included a panel discussion with three general internal medicine physicians and a discussion about Geisinger’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, led

by Geisinger physician Aliasgar Chittalia, MD, who has been recognized for his work surrounding diversity and inclusion in the field of medicine. Dr. Chittalia received an award at the celebration.

According to Dr. Spatz, assistant professor of medicine and director of clinical advising, “The Celebration of Expression provided an opportunity to showcase the importance of

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primary care, specifically general internal medicine, to the overall health of patients and communities. We were able to educate students and trainees about what the field has to offer and the unique programs Geisinger has developed to support primary care physicians and their patients.”

Dr. Mirza, associate professor of medicine and clerkship director for Geisinger Commonwealth’s North Campus, is also the internal medicine residency program director at Geisinger Wyoming Valley. He said the idea for the celebration was developed by his residents. “Our residency program is very focused on primary care,” he said. “We hope to show medical students and internal medicine residents what’s special about general internal medicine, especially the strong, rewarding patient relationships that develop.”

Dr. Mirza added, “Our patients think of us as a big part of their lives because we’ve been there through good times and bad.

It’s particularly gratifying when you start to see generations — patients bringing children and grandchildren to you because they trust your judgment.”

Stanley Dudrick, MD, honored On Oct. 14, Geisinger Commonwealth honored Stanley J. Dudrick, MD, the eminent surgeon, father of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and Nanticoke native, with a plaque dedicated to his memory at its Medical Sciences Building in Scranton. Dr. Dudrick was also honored with the title “professor emeritus.”

of northeastern Pennsylvania “my people.”

“Stan never forgot his roots,” Dr. Scheinman said.

“After his incredible career, marked by a discovery that ranks among the top three innovations in 20th century medicine, Stan wanted to come home. And he did, teaching our medical students from 2013 until his passing in January of 2020. Our school will always be grateful to him and to his family for embracing our students and becoming ardent supporters of medical education in our region.”

The plaque calls to mind the millions of lives Dr. Dudrick The plaque hangs in the lobby of the Medical Sciences saved by discovering a way to feed patients unable Building, located at 525 Pine St. in Scranton. to absorb nutrition through their digestive systems.

TPN, which delivers life-sustaining nutrition directly into the blood, has helped countless surgical patients, “Our school will always be grateful to him and to his cancer patients and premature infants. family for embracing our students and becoming ardent Former Geisinger Commonwealth President and Dean Steven J. Scheinman, MD, joined members of Dr. Dudrick’s family to dedicate the plaque and to recall the brilliant and humble man who called the citizens

supporters of medical education in our region.”

– Steven J. Scheinman, MD Former President and dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 2012-2021

Irene Dudrick Brown, sister of Nanticoke native Dr. Stan Dudrick, and then-President and Dean Steven J. Scheinman, MD, unveil a plaque honoring the eminent surgeon and father of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) at the school’s Medical Sciences Building in Scranton. The plaque also recognizes Dr. Dudrick’s distinction of having been awarded the title “professor emeritus” posthumously.

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Graduate medical education Pediatrics residency program administrator honored Mary Anne Wesner, program administrator for Geisinger’s pediatrics residency program, was notified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that she is among its 2022 Award recipients. The recipients will be featured in the Awards Hall at the 2022 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, being held virtually March 30 to April 1.

Ms. Wesner is the recipient of AGCME’s Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence Award, given to program coordinators in recognition of their in-depth understanding of the accreditation process, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and projects to improve residency programs.

“I jumped at the chance to support Mary Anne’s nomination for this award,” said Paul Bellino, MD, pediatrics residency program director. “I have worked with her for nearly 18 years, and I am certain that our program’s success is due in great part to her efforts. She not only manages all the operational tasks that keep us in good standing with the institution and ACGME, but also lends her keen insight and experience to tackle new issues as they arise.”

Designated Institutional Official Michelle Thompson, MD, agreed. “Mary Anne has dedicated 30 years of great work to Graduate Medical Education and is an exceptional program administrator. She has grown greatly in her management knowledge this year and has become the team Medhub Super-User Trainer for all new program administrators.”

Ms. Wesner was surprised by the award. “When I received the announcement from the ACGME, I had to read it several times to comprehend what I was reading,” she said.

“To say that I was extremely humbled and honored is an

Mary Anne Wesner celebrates residency graduation in June with members of the 2021 cohort of Geisinger pediatric residents.

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understatement. However, receiving this award would not have been possible without the support of an amazing graduate medical education leadership team and a terrific program director. But it is the residents who bring me the greatest joy in my role.”

Ms. Wesner, who has been with Geisinger for 30 years, said her job has evolved greatly over the years. Today, in addition to being program administrator for the pediatrics residency program, she also oversees five other program administrators. She’s responsible for the day-to-day activities of the 35 resident physicians in the pediatric program and, during recruitment season, screens residency applications and runs the interview process. “Last year was a particular challenge in our recruitment process, switching everything over to virtual events, but it all worked out,” Ms. Wesner said.

Thanks to Ms. Wesner’s efforts, the virtual interview model not only succeeded, but in some ways improved the process and saved money for applicants and the health system. “We may never go back to in-person,” Ms. Wesner said.

Most important, Drs. Bellino and Thompson said Ms. Wesner embodies kindness, excellence, learning and innovation.

“Mary Anne truly portrays our Geisinger values daily in her work,” Dr. Thompson said. “She is extremely kind and generous to everyone she encounters. She strives for excellence in everything she does and is always looking for ways to share her knowledge with our team.”

“She gives of herself every day to our residents,” Dr. Bellino added. “She makes sure that they have what they need to succeed academically, but she also attends to whatever psychological or social support they may require. She is the heart and soul of our program and a great partner in accomplishing our mission to create intelligent and caring new pediatricians.”

From left to right: Ankit Kumar, DO; Mirja Wirtz, MD; Sanjeev Shrestha, MD; Steven Jacobs, DO ; and the governor of the American College of Physicians (ACP) Eastern, Lawrence H. Jones MD, FACP.

They are the champions If the answer is “reigning state champions,” the question has to be, “What is the Geisinger Internal Medicine residency team?”

Last month, Drs. Steven Jacobs, Mirja Wirtz, Sanjeev Shrestha and Ankit Kumar claimed the statewide crown in an American College of Physicians (ACP) competition known as the Doctor’s Dilemma. Each year, ACP’s Jeopardy game-show style competition invites residents to test their medical knowledge, beginning with regional matches. Those winners advance to a state contest whose challenge is to identify which team proceeds to the national championship.

The team defeated their opponents by buzzing in first with the correct questions to answers drawn from every area of medicine, from biostatistics and epidemiology to rheumatology. “The prizes so far are honor and pride,” said Dr. Wirtz. In addition, she and Drs. Jacobs, Shrestha and Kumar will travel to Chicago this spring to represent Geisinger on the national stage.

The board-style questions were often difficult, demanding diagnoses and knowledge of arcane conditions. “We had to navigate questions at levels between $100 and $500,” said Dr. Wirtz, noting that, just like Jeopardy, the questions grew more difficult as the dollar amount increased. The tournament even included a “final Jeopardy” round where teams could bet

on their own ability to answer. “It was quite close at end of the regional competition,” Dr. Jacobs said. “We were only up by 50 points to Guthrie. The question was really challenging, so we didn’t wager. They did but didn’t have the right answer.”

In the state competition, the Geisinger team won handily with 3,100 points to Montefiore’s (University of Pittsburgh) 1,400 and Jefferson’s -2,100.

The team credits Dan Dometita, DO, associate internal medicine program director, for serving as their “unofficial head coach.” “We met at his house, ordered pizza and did questions together,” Dr. Jacobs said. “It was fun because it was academic but not in a hospital setting. It was refreshing for all of us. Now that we won the state competition, he said he is going to get us a trophy. We really have to give him a lot of credit.”

Besides preparing for their national challenge, team members are also preparing for the end of their residency training. They will take their board exams in August and feel well prepared thanks to all the cramming they’ve done for Doctor’s Dilemma. Then, Dr. Wirtz, a native of Germany, will begin to practice medicine in Austria. Dr. Jacobs will remain at Geisinger for a chief resident year, while Dr. Shrestha will be a hospitalist at Geisinger and Dr. Kumar will remain as a nephrology fellow.

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Abigail Scholars

Pennsylvania’s ‘Walk with a Doc’ kicks off with help from Geisinger Commonwealth student ‘Walk with a Future Doc’ program at Geisinger Commonwealth hosts walk at Lackawanna River Heritage Trail On Aug. 25, Emily Grimes, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2024, joined Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, along with officials from Geisinger and the Pennsylvania Medical Society at Hess Recreation Area to launch “Walk with a Doc” statewide.

to seeing successful walks across the state, such as our Geisinger Commonwealth walk at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.”

Grimes, an Abigail Geisinger Scholar and future family physician, is carrying on an effort initiated by Cecelia Strauch, MD ’24, who founded the Geisinger Commonwealth chapter of “Walk with a Future Doc” as a community service project of the Family Medicine Interest Group when she was a second-year medical school student. “I was honored to be part of the kickoff event, where I spoke about the importance of connecting with our communities, as well as my own experiences in the program,” Grimes said. “I look forward

“Participating in the Walk with a Doc program has been so positive for me,” Ms. Grimes said. “Our chapter of Walk with a Future Doc encourages students to become part of the Scranton community while promoting healthy lifestyle choices such as walking. As an Abigail Geisinger Scholar interested in family medicine, I plan to work in the Geisinger system and realize these community members could one day be my patients.”

The August event kicked off a series of walks with medical professionals throughout the state during Trails Month in September. After remarks, officials took the first walk of about a mile on a loop trail at the recreation area.

In foreground, Emily Grimes, MD Class of 2024, speaks at the statewide launch of “Walk with a Doc.” Looking on from left are Geisinger President and CEO Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD; DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn; and Michael Suk, MD, JD, chief physician officer and chair of Geisinger’s Musculoskeletal Institute and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

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SNMA RLI conference 2021: Interview with Oluwaseyi Olulana Geisinger Commonwealth’s Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Chapter virtually hosted the Region VIII 2021 Regional Leadership Institute (RLI) on Oct. 16.

The RLI allows students of all levels to participate in workshops and academic programming where they can develop leadership skills. Attendees had the opportunity to join interactive sessions, meet with physicians, hear from prominent speakers and network with our Regional Executive Committee composed of medical students from across the country.

Here is a conversation with Oluwaseyi Olulana, MBS ‘19, member of our MD Class of 2024 and SNMA chapter president to the regional executive committee for Northeast Region 8, which includes all medical schools in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware.

Olulana

What were your biggest conference lessons?

I gained a tremendous amount of firsthand leadership experience from planning this event with my fellow SNMA executive board members, the Region VIII Regional Executive Committee, our former chapter advisor Vicki Sapp, PhD, and Geisinger Commonwealth’s Department of Education. I learned that being consistent and showing up as a leader throughout the planning process are key to executing the event smoothly and providing a great experience for speakers and attendees. I also learned from Rhonda Dailey, MD, our keynote speaker, that cultivating my own communication and organizational skills are key to being a successful leader.

What did you gain from other speakers?

I appreciated Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, sharing the mission and vision of the Geisinger health system. He mentioned the importance of prioritizing our status as students. Hearing about his journey to leadership is a reminder that similar paths can open up for me and other underrepresented minorities in medicine someday.

Ryu

Why is it important to host this conference?

This was the first time we hosted the SNMA conference. I am grateful to the Department of Medical Education and the Office of Student Affairs for providing the financial support needed for the program. I believe that this is a strong indicator of the school’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. I hope to work hard and make this the first of many Geisinger Commonwealth collaborations with SNMA and MAPS chapters in the region.

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Primary care in the spotlight In February of 2021, Abigail Geisinger Scholars from the MD1 through MD3 classes had the opportunity to learn about Geisinger’s comprehensive approach to quality in primary care from two of the system’s senior leaders. The session was part of a Senior Leadership Seminar series.

Keith Boell, DO, a hospitalist, vice chair of the Medicine Institute and the system’s chief quality officer, population initiatives, joined Juli Molecavage, DHA, associate vice president, quality and primary care service, to instruct the scholars in Geisinger’s sophisticated, data-driven quality initiatives.

Using dashboards that track everything from completed appointments to “missed opportunities,” Geisinger’s quality metrics provide a bird’s eye view of a physician’s entire patient population and detailed analytics about each individual patient.

Although the data is complex, the physicians’ goal is simple: to provide the best care at a lower cost.

Dr. Boell and Ms. Molecavage made clear, however, that the physician is not solely responsible for quality. They said data is just one pillar supporting quality. The other pillar is teamwork, and it demands a change in thinking, in organizational culture and in infrastructure. The physician culture must shift: •

From a sole focus on individual patients to a concern for the team’s entire panel

•

From individually planning care for the patient to communicating together to create a comprehensive plan

•

From working in silos to huddling and creating a plan

Once a physician is comfortable with consulting dashboards as well as team members, patient care dramatically improves and emergency department visits and missed screenings plummet.

Third-year student Rick Hiciano was impressed. “Learning that Geisinger physicians are actively working for low-cost patient care by emphasizing collaborative team planning and updated technology reinforces my happiness in being a Geisinger student and future Geisinger doctor,” he said. “I’m amazed at the opportunities available to me and grateful to be a part of a team so dedicated to helping the community. I look forward to the advancements that will better my medical training for future patients.”

“I’m amazed at the opportunities available to me and grateful to be a part of a team so dedicated to helping the community.”

- Rick Hiciano, MD Class of 2023

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Medical students attend 2021 Family Medicine Education Consortium Five Geisinger Commonwealth medical students attended the 2021 Family Medicine Education Consortium’s (FMEC) annual meeting in Pittsburgh, which was held in-person from Oct. 8 through Oct. 10. Each student who attended is an Abigail Geisinger Scholar and all received an FMEC scholarship to participate in the conference.

Entitled, “Family Medicine: The Unbreakable Bridge to Health Equity,” the conference featured educational tracks aimed specifically at medical students, including how to have a satisfying clinical experience and tips for a successful residency interview.

From left are Joanna Bernatowicz, a member of the Class of 2025 and Emily Grimes, Lizbeth Sandoval, Cara Anzulewicz and Jaclyn Podd, all members of the Class of 2024.

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Student news

Research co-authored by students presented at national conference The study, “No Increased Mortality Risk with PaclitaxelCoated Devices in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease,” found that a device with increased efficacy for patients with vascular disease at risk of losing limbs does not increase their risk for mortality.

Bair

McCarver

Two Geisinger Commonwealth students co-authored research presented at the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society (VESS) Conference in January in Aspen, Colorado.

Evan Bair and Beau McCarver, both members of the Class of 2024, worked with co-authors and board-certified Geisinger vascular surgeons Gregory G. Salzler, MD, and Evan Ryder, MD, on the research.

Devices coated in the drug, Paclitaxel, that increase blood flow to limbs first became commercially available in 2012 in the form of drug-eluting stents and subsequently in 2015 in the form of drug-eluting balloons. Immediately the devices showed increased efficacy for treatment of peripheral artery disease in comparison to bare metal devices. However, in 2018 findings suggested an increased mortality risk for patients receiving Paclitaxel-coated devices.

The students’ retrospective study compared the outcomes between 1965 patients treated with traditional angioplasty and patients receiving Paclitaxel-coated devices and found “data suggests that Paclitaxel-coated devices do not dispose the patient to an increased mortality risk when compared to conventional procedures.”

Mr. Bair and Dr. Salzler traveled to the VESS conference where Mr. Bair presented the research.

Fire Prevention Month Scranton School District children learn fire safety from medical students Eight Geisinger Commonwealth medical students livened up the Scranton School District’s October Fire Prevention Month Fair with a Wellness Wheel game designed to get families moving.

The district invited the students to create a display about family health and wellness for the fair. The Wellness Wheel game, developed by the students, encouraged kids and their families to exercise to have a chance at winning baskets containing Geisinger Commonwealth backpacks, T-shirts, footballs, soccer balls, yoga mats and jump ropes. The students also distributed healthy, prepackaged food and educational resources on stretching, sleep and the importance of taking prescribed medications.

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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine student volunteers staff a table at the Scranton School District’s Fire Prevention Month Fair.

Participants in the Day of Service were, front row left to right: Alysse Machalek, Laura Loeser, Mira Patel, Justina Warnick and Nevin Adamski. Back row: Alexis Notarianni, Mindy Gruzin, Alison Barrett, Yevgeniy Busarov, John Murray, Tice Harkins and Evan Bair.

Sept. 11 Day of Service Twelve Geisinger Commonwealth students participated in a September 11th Day of Service designed to inspire future heroes.

Event organizer Tice Harkins, MD Class of 2024, said, “September 2021 marked 20 years since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. To remember the first responders and heroes who made personal sacrifices that day, students organized a day of service dedicated to passing on their spirit to the future leaders of America.”

During the day of service, the 12 Geisinger Commonwealth students delivered a presentation on what it means to be a hero to third- and fourthgrade students at three Scranton elementary schools: Adams, Armstrong and Francis Willard. The goal was to encourage the children to reflect on the meaning of the word “hero” and to inspire them to believe that they are heroes capable of making great contributions to their communities.

Hands of Hope Jim Pierce, president of Pike County Hands of Hope, personally thanked students from Geisinger Commonwealth’s Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) Class of 2022 for their work aiding people without homes.

Hands of Hope is a nonprofit staffed entirely by volunteers. It provides emergency shelter and referrals to people in need in Pike County. The agency’s direct line to the population it serves is its telephone “Hopeline.” According to Pierce, 40 percent of his Hopeline volunteers are Geisinger Commonwealth MBS students. In fact, Pierce said that their service has given Hands for Hope “a welcome renewal of our volunteer corps in 2021.”

The student volunteers interviewed and assessed callers’ needs and took direct action to place people experiencing homelessness in local motels or regional

shelters. Their work also prevented homelessness by referring people at risk to agencies that offer aid with rental, mortgage, utility costs, or other expenses.

Pirce said, “At the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, our 250 annual Hopeline calls resulted in motel or shelter placement to 75 or more families or individuals, for multiple weeks each. Sixty percent of our callers were homeless or near homeless. Compared to 2019, we provided at least four times as much emergency shelter during the pandemic, all made possible by our volunteers.”

The MBS Hopeline student volunteers included Mackenzie Brady, Devon DellaValla, Sarah Lopera, Nala Mckie, Ahquasia Ramsay and Niki Virada. Additionally, student Jennifer Szpernoga is a Hands for Hope board member who recruits Hopeline volunteers and has taken the lead on regional fundraising activities.

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Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Snow Angels worked with NeighborWorks and the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging to identify at-risk homeowners. Currently, the Snow Angels of Geisinger are servicing 28 homes in the Scranton/Taylor area.

Let it snow: These “angels” appear with shovels, rock salt and kindness to serve their senior neighbors.

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.

“I was thinking about service projects,” she said. “I knew students weren’t interested in just doing something for three hours on a random Wednesday. We want to become part of the community and really get to know the people we help. In class, we were talking about how dangerous it can be for older people to shovel snow.

Every year, too many elderly people end up in the hospital because they were shoveling snow. The cold puts a lot of strain on their hearts and constricts their vessels, plus there’s the risk of slips and falls, which are also a serious health threat.”

That’s how Ms. Rep got the idea to introduce Snow Angels of Geisinger to Scranton.

“I met with some of my classmates, and they all thought it would be a great idea,” she said. “We got in touch with two agencies, NeighborWorks and the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. NeighborWorks told us people were in dire need of help with snow shoveling — it is the No. 1 service needed among their clients. Many of the homeowners have previous heart surgeries and stents, congestive heart failure and other disabilities, which puts them at an even greater risk. Once we knew how great

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the need was, we went to the larger student body and said, ‘Please, please, please volunteer.’”

It turned out that the Snow Angels didn’t need to beg.

The student response was tremendous. “We heard from more students than I imagined we would,” Ms. Rep said, adding, “We now have 49 volunteers.” All of the student volunteers are first- or second-year medical students.

Ms. Rep matched pairs of students to agency-identified homeowners who live nearby. “Student proximity was important. I didn’t want students driving long distances in the snow,” she said. Once matched with a “client,” Snow Angels first contact the homeowner to be sure everyone understands the program. Then, when it snows, the student pair has 24 hours to clear the homeowner’s walks with shovels and rock salt provided by NeighborWorks and the Area Agency on Aging. Ms. Rep said many of the students even dig out their neighbor’s car and scrape the snow from it and some students have agreed to assist more than one home, despite their hectic schedules.

Currently, the Snow Angels of Geisinger are servicing 28 homes in the Scranton/Taylor area.

“It’s a great service and our neighbors truly appreciate it,” she said. Some of the neighbors have even offered the volunteers hot cocoa and tea while they work to express their gratitude. “It’s been so much fun to watch our program grow.” In fact, the Snow Angels service is so popular, the students now have a wait list.

Alumni news

Alumni, to share your good news, visit geisinger.edu/AlumniUpdate

Lesley Walinchus-Foster, MD ’17 and husband John welcomed Calvin Wallace Foster on Aug. 22. The family lives in Washington, DC where Dr. Walinchus-Foster is an attending Emergency Medicine physician at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. She was recently promoted to assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Kier Blevins, MD ’19 and his wife, Hillary Blevins, welcomed Luca Maddox Blevins. The couple then had their (COVID-delayed) wedding reception in October, in which their son got to take part.

Peter J. Patitsas, MD ’17 an attending physician at Holy Spirit Penn State has published a book on a diet known as "The Athos Diet," which is drawn from his experiences as an American with Greek heritage, a physician, and an athlete.

The book has been purchased and read all over the world.

The Athos Diet is a 48-day fast. For over a millennia, this approach has been successfully used by the monastics of Mount Athos in Greece, who have experienced notably low rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and other comorbidities of obesity.

Karla Acosta-Monroe, MD ’18 and Kelvin Monroe, MD ’18 welcomed their first child, baby girl JoJo Acosta Monroe on July 24. Dr. Acosta-Monroe completed her Family Medicine residency at UT San Antonio and, during her final year, served as chief resident and was also awarded Resident of the Year. Dr. Monroe completed his Pediatric residency at UT San Antonio, where he was awarded resident Teacher of the Year all three years of residency. During his final year of residency, he served as vice president of the House Staff Council. The family now lives in Portland, Oregon, where Dr. Monroe is completing a one-year Sleep Medicine fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Dr. Acosta-Monroe accepted a Family Medicine position with Kaiser Permanente and started in January, while JoJo is focused on meeting all her milestones and making new friends at daycare.

Alexandra Chop, MD ’18 matched into a combined adult and pediatric rheumatology fellowship at UPMC-Pittsburgh.

Shrut Patel, MD ’16 completed his primary residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at RutgersRobert Wood Johnson/JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in June 2020. He then completed a sports medicine fellowship at Geisinger in June 2021. He is now board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine and recently started a job as a sports medicine/musculoskeletal medicine physician at Christiana Spine Center in Newark, Delaware.

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The Match Geisinger Commonwealth’s student-centered approach to medical education reaches its denouement in the fourth year. That’s when an abundance of resources is brought to bear to make sure our students make the best residency match possible. Geisinger Commonwealth’s collaborative coaching model is intensive and effective.

In fact, the school’s student affairs team presented on their approach at a meeting of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The process begins in the first-year Orientation course and continues to evolve every year with a combination of centrally provided content and individual processing opportunities allowing for multiple touch points with students throughout their medical careers. In the second half of a student’s third year, collaborative team meetings are held weekly and during the fourth year, the team continues to meet weekly to guide students through the application and interview season. National and institutional match data is used to assist students in comparing their application to that of alumni who have successfully gained interviews and match status. Students receive strategic coaching in regard to application submission and alumni provide peer mentoring, as needed.

Match 2021 In 2021, Geisinger Commonwealth medical students participated in the match experience hosted by the NRMP. Students interviewed across the country with residency programs in a wide range of specialties and programs.

Anesthesiology • Geisinger, PA • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PA • University of Rochester/Strong Memorial, NY Dermatology • Geisinger, PA Emergency medicine • Albert Einstein Medical Center, PA (2) • Allegheny General Hospital, PA (2) • Baystate Medical Center, MA (2) • Christiana Care Delaware, DE (2) • CMSRU/Cooper University Hospital, NJ (3) • Geisinger, PA • Guthrie/Robert Packer Hospital, PA 26

• • • • •

Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA Nuvance Health, NY Penn State Hershey Medical Center, PA Thomas Jefferson University, PA University of Illinois College of Medicine–Chicago, IL

Family medicine • Kaiser Permanente Napa–Solano, CA • Thomas Jefferson University, PA • University of California Riverside School of Medicine, CA • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center– Susquehanna, PA (2) • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health–Madison, WI General surgery • Christiana Care–Delaware, DE • Eisenhower Army Medical Center, GA • Geisinger, PA • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Morningside/West), NY • Inova Fairfax Hospital, VA • Lehigh Valley Hospital, PA • Loyola University Medical Center, IL • Spectrum Health/Michigan State University, MI • Walter Reed Army Medical Center, MD Internal medicine • Albert Einstein Medical Center, PA • Bayhealth Medical Center, DE • Campbell University Cape Fear Valley Health, NC • CMSRU/Cooper University Hospital, NJ • HCA Healthcare/USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, FL • Inova Fairfax Hospital, VA • Stony Brook Teaching Hospitals, NY (3) • Temple University Hospital, PA (3) • Thomas Jefferson University, PA (2) • University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital, NY • University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA • University of Michigan Hospitals–Ann Arbor, MI • University of Rochester/Strong Memorial, NY • Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, VA • William Beaumont Army Medical Center, TX • Womack Army Medical Center Fort Bragg, NC • Zucker School of Medicine–Northwell, NY

Interventional radiology • Rochester General Hospital, NY Interventional radiology (integrated) • NewYork Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center, NY Medicine-pediatrics • Geisinger, PA Neurological surgery • SUNY Upstate Medical University, NY • Westchester Medical Center, NY Neurology • University of Rochester/Strong Memorial, NY Obstetrics-gynecology • Lankenau Medical Center, PA • St. Louis University School of Medicine, MO

Psychiatry • Hartford Hospital, CT • Lehigh Valley Hospital, PA • The Ohio State University Medical Center, OH • Rush University Medical Center, IL • University of California San Diego Medical Center, CA • University of Washington, WA • The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, PA Radiology-diagnostic • Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, RI Surgery-preliminary • Geisinger, PA • MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, DC

Ophthalmology • Geisinger, PA Orthopaedic surgery • Geisinger, PA • SUNY Upstate Medical University, NY Otolaryngology • SUNY Health Science Center Brooklyn, NY Pathology • University of Cincinnati Medical Center, OH Pediatrics • Carolinas Medical Center, NC • Geisinger, PA (2) • Jefferson Medical College/duPont Children’s, PA • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Florida, FL • Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OH • Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, FL • Penn State Hershey Medical Center, PA (2) • University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA • University of Tennessee Health Science Center– Memphis, TN • Zucker School of Medicine–Northwell Cohen Children’s, NY Physical medicine & rehabilitation • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PA Plastic surgery (integrated) • Carilion Clinic–Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, VA

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2021

White coat ceremony 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 held its 12th annual White Coat Ceremony for the 115 members of the Class of 2025 on Aug. 7 at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

White coats were provided by The Stanley J. Dudrick, MD, and Alan G. Goldstein Endowed Fund.

John Farrell, MD, an associate in radiology in Geisinger’s Northeast Region, presented the Dr. Lester Saidman Memorial Lecture, named in honor of the well-respected physician and educator from Luzerne County. Dr. Farrell is also an assistant professor of radiology.

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Dipam Shah, the first REACH-HEI student to complete medical school, receives a special stole from Ida Castro, former vice president for community engagement, associate dean for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, at the ceremony.

2021

Commencement Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine conferred Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees upon the 98 students who composed its Class of 2021.

Commencement ceremonies were held May 2 at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono. The in-person ceremony was limited to the graduates and two guests. Students also had the option to participate via a live stream of the ceremony.

Steven J. Scheinman, MD, then-president and dean, welcomed guests and graduates. Greetings were offered on behalf of the school’s board of

directors by board chair, Virginia McGregor, and also by Geisinger President and CEO Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD. The commencement speaker, Karen DeSalvo, MD, received an honorary Doctor of Medical Arts degree and appeared virtually. Dr.DeSalvo is the chief health officer of Google Health.

Aditya Eturi, MD, a member of the Class of 2017 and chief resident in internal medicine at Brown University, delivered greetings from Geisinger Commonwealth’s growing Alumni Society.

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525 Pine St., Scranton, PA 18509 geisinger.edu/GCSOM

Abigail Geisinger Scholar Spotlight Shauna Wassmus, MD Class of 2024 Hometown: Medway, MA Undergraduate: Boston College Shauna Wassmus has immersed herself in community and in service for years. As an undergrad at Boston College, she spent every spring break — not on a Florida beach — but in some of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities. She built houses for Habitat for Humanity and worked in food pantries, tutored in afterschool programs and helped organize clothing drives. As a sophomore, she worked in a Boston healthcare clinic that provided foot care for the homeless population. “We provided foot baths and clean socks. It was amazing to see how transformative this basic care was. People with infections and blisters had their pain relieved and were able to get around a bit better. This is what sparked my interest in primary care,” she said When it came time to look for a medical school, however, Ms. Wassmus admits to some feelings of disappointment. “It seemed that so many schools placed a lot of emphasis on metrics like MCAT scores,” she said. “That’s important, but I cared about their mission statements. So, I started to read the mission statements and really look into how those mission statements were being supported. That’s how I found Geisinger Commonwealth and the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program.”

At the end of her first year of medical school, Ms. Wassmus said being an Abigail Scholar has “been great.” She particularly has enjoyed the senior leadership seminars during which scholars have a chance to interact with Geisinger’s most senior leaders, including CEO Dr. Jaewon Ryu. Her favorite experiences, however, are still the ones that connect her to community.

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