Geisinger Commonwealth School Of Medicine

GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE EDUCATES ASPIRING PHYSICIANS AND SCIENTISTS TO SERVE SOCIETY USING A COMMUNITY-BASED, PATIENT-CENTERED, INTERPROFESSIONAL AND EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL OF EDUCATION... SEE SCHEDULE O

ACADEMIC PROGRAM GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (GCSOM) OFFERS TWO SEPARATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (MD) PROGRAM AND A MASTER OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE (MBS) PROGRAM. GCSOM FOCUSES BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ON HEALTH ISSUES PREVALENT IN NORTHEASTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, A 17-COUNTY REGION WITH 1.8 MILLION RESIDENTS. THE REGION HAS AN AGING POPULATION, 19.5 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS ARE OLDER THAN AGE 65, COMPARED TO 15.1 PERCENT NATIONALLY. MOREOVER, THE REGION HAS HIGH INCIDENCES OF BREAST, LUNG, COLORECTAL AND PROSTATE CANCERS, AS WELL AS HIGH INCIDENCES OF NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA, OTHER CHRONIC DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH AGING, AND SIGNIFICANT NEEDS IN PRIMARY CARE, MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE. IN 2021, GCSOM LAUNCHED THE NEW TOTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM (THC), WHICH IS A FOUR-YEAR, THREE-PHASE CURRICULUM THAT MATRICULATES 115 STUDENTS PER CLASS. THE FIRST PHASE IS A NOVEL ACTIVE LEARNING-BASED, INTEGRATED, CURRICULUM THAT USES THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION MODEL, WITHIN SYSTEM-BASED BLOCKS. IN THIS PHASE, STUDENTS ALSO GAIN EARLY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE LONGITUDINAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WHERE STUDENTS WORK IN LOCAL PRIMARY CARE CLINICS. IN THE SECOND PHASE, STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF GCSOM REGIONAL CAMPUSES, WHERE THEY WILL VOLUNTEER AT NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND TRAIN IN MEDICAL SETTINGS. THE REGIONAL CAMPUSES ARE NORTH (SCRANTON), SOUTH (WILKES-BARRE), CENTRAL (DANVILLE), WEST (LEWISTOWN/STATE COLLEGE) GUTHRIE (SAYRE), AND ATLANTICARE (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ). IN THE THIRD PHASE, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN REQUIRED CORE CLINICAL CURRICULUM AND NUMEROUS ELECTIVES FOCUSED ON ADVANCED SPECIALTY TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND MEDICAL EDUCATION TEACHING. THE THC INCLUDES THE NOVEL SYSTEMS, SOCIETY, AND HUMANISM IN MEDICINE CURRICULUM (SSHM) COMPOSED OF SIX LONGITUDINAL THEMES THAT ARE INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM AND TRANSFORM SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE STUDENTS INTO SOCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE LEADERS IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. SSHM FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPASSIONATE AND ADAPTABLE PHYSICIANS DEDICATED TO A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. SSHM FEATURES THE FAMILY CENTERED AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE (FCCE), AN OUTGROWTH OF GCSOM'S SUCCESSFUL FAMILY-CENTERED EXPERIENCE. THE FCCE MATCHES STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES, DISABILITIES OR WHOSE LIVED EXPERIENCE IMPACTS THEIR HEALTH. THIS ALLOWS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATORS, AND FOR STUDENTS TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE IMPACTED THEIR HEALTH OR THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A LONGITUDINAL COMMUNITY HEALTH INTERVENTION PROJECT TO GAIN SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE, TO INVESTIGATE AND/OR SOLVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH ISSUE, TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH OF THE REGION'S CITIZENS. IN ADDITION, MD CANDIDATES PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. TAKEN TOGETHER, STUDENTS HAVE VOLUNTEERED MORE THAN 50,000 HOURS TO THE COMMUNITY SINCE THE SCHOOL'S INCEPTION. THE STUDENTS ORGANIZE BLOOD DRIVES AND HEALTH FAIRS, TUTOR LOCAL CHILDREN, COLLECT FOOD AND WARM CLOTHING FOR THE HOMELESS AND COMPLETE MANY OTHER HELPFUL ACTS THAT IMMERSE THEM IN AND IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. SINCE 2020, THE ABIGAIL GEISINGER SCHOLARS PROGRAMS (AGS) HAS PROVIDED FULL TUITION REMISSION AND AN ADDITIONAL 2000/MONTH LIVING STIPEND FOR UP TO 45 STUDENTS A YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE STUDENT DEBT AND IMPORTANTLY REPOPULATE REGIONAL PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES IN KEY SPECIALTY AREAS INCLUDING FAMILY MEDICINE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, PEDIATRICS, AND PSYCHOLOGY. IN THE 2022 MD MATCH, 113 STUDENTS MATCHED INTO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, 43 STUDENTS ARE ENTERING PRIMARY CARE FIELDS AND 8 ARE ENTERING PSYCHIATRY. OF THE 113 STUDENTS, 9 STUDENTS MATCHED AT GEISINGER. ADDITIONALLY, 9 AGS MATCHED AND WILL EVENTUALLY WORK AS REGIONAL PHYSICIANS. APPROXIMATELY 39% OF THE CLASS MATCHED INTO PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AND IN ADDITION A LARGE NUMBER OF GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH STUDENTS WILL TRAIN AT LEADING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, AND MANY WILL GO TO RESIDENCIES AT HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TEACHING HOSPITALS, INCLUDING YALE, DUKE, CORNELL, AND BROWN. THE MBS CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A UNIQUE, PERSONAL EDUCATION THAT WILL HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR CAREER GOALS. A COMMITMENT TO STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING IS COMBINED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER AND EDUCATION PLANNING SERVICES. THE MBS PROGRAM IS DIRECTED TOWARD STUDENTS WHO ARE EITHER SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CREDENTIALS FOR APPLICATION TO MEDICAL/HEALTH PROFESSION SCHOOL OR WHO WANT TO WORK IN OTHER HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED INDUSTRIES. THE MBS CURRICULUM PROVIDES STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEIR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND ACADEMIC METRICS BY PARTICIPATING IN REQUIRED AND ELECTIVE BASIC SCIENCE COURSES IN DISCIPLINES MIRRORING THAT OF THEIR MEDICAL SCHOOL COLLEAGUES. MBS STUDENTS ALSO ENROLL IN A COURSE THROUGH THE PRINCETON REVIEW THAT ASSISTS IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR TAKING A PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION. DURING THEIR COURSE OF STUDY, MBS STUDENTS DEVELOP AN EPORTFOLIO DOCUMENTING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN CLINICAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE, AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE. FOLLOWING A SHIFT TO ONLINE CURRICULAR DELIVERY IN JULY 2020, THE MBS PROGRAM RETURNED TO IN-PERSON AS WELL AS ONLINE CLASSES IN THE FALL QUARTER OF 2022. IN 2022, THE MBS PROGRAM ENROLLED 145-171 STUDENTS IN THE ONLINE FORMAT DEPENDING ON THE ACADEMIC QUARTER AND 11 STUDENTS IN THE FACE-TO- FACE FORMAT. WHILE MANY STUDENTS SEEKING THEIR MBS DEGREE DECLARED RESIDENCE IN PENNSYLVANIA, 29 OTHER STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WERE DESIGNATED AS PERMANENT RESIDENCIES FOR MBS CANDIDATES IN 2022. ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN MBS STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY EARNED THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE BY THE END OF 2022.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS: GCSOM'S RESEARCH MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ITS 17 -COUNTY COMMUNITY THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE DISCOVERY AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION. BECAUSE IT IS OUR VISION TO BE IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE STRIVE TO BE A CATALYST FOR STRATEGIC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS, TO BE A LEADER FOR ADVANCING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND TO BE A KEYSTONE FOR IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH. WE INCORPORATE VALUES OF COLLABORATION, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, TRANSLATION, AND ENGAGEMENT. AT GCSOM, STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH UNDER THE MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE OF DISTINGUISHED FACULTY. RESEARCH PROJECTS DEVELOPED BY FACULTY RESEARCH MENTORS INCLUDE TRANSLATIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE LABORATORY SETTING OR PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNITY, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN THE CLINICAL OR COMMUNITY SETTING. THESE ARE POSITIONS FOR WHICH STUDENTS DO NOT NEED SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE, YET THESE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND THE MENTORS WHO GUIDE THEM PROVIDE UNIQUE AND RICH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. GCSOM HAS MULTIPLE, ORGANIZED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THE SUMMER RESEARCH IMMERSION PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS ENTERING THEIR SECOND YEAR AND THE MEDICAL RESEARCH HONORS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO EXPLORE AN AREA OF RESEARCH INTEREST IN A SCHOLARLY MANNER THROUGHOUT THEIR FOUR YEARS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL. THIS YEAR 80 MEDICAL STUDENTS COMPLETED OUR SUMMER RESEARCH IMMERSION PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, 33 MEDICAL STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUR MEDICAL RESEARCH HONORS PROGRAM. ACROSS BOTH PROGRAMS, 82 FACULTY MEMBERS REPRESENTING MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES AND RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS HAVE PROVIDED MENTORSHIP TO OUR STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIP IS A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF THESE PROGRAMS, AS STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE ABSTRACTS, PRESENT POSTERS, AND PUBLISH THEIR FINDINGS. GCSOM'S STUDENT RESEARCH JOURNAL, SCHOLARLY RESEARCH IN PROGRESS (SCRIP), IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION SHOWCASING THE RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2017, SCRIP HAS PUBLISHED 160 ORIGINAL ARTICLES AUTHORED BY MEDICAL AND GRADUATE STUDENTS USING A SINGLE BLIND, PEER-REVIEW PROCESS BY FACULTY. THIS PROCESS PROVIDES STUDENT AUTHORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR RESEARCH TO A PUBLISHABLE LEVEL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SCIENTIFIC WRITING SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. THIS YEAR, OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS PUBLISHED 20 ORIGINAL ARTICLES IN OUR SCRIP JOURNAL; FURTHER, THEY AUTHORED OR WERE CO-AUTHORS ON 111 EXTERNAL, PEER- REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS.

STUDENT AFFAIRS: THE STUDENT AFFAIRS TEAM SUPPORTS GCSOM'S INSTITUTIONAL MISSION AND VALUES BY FOSTERING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. GCSOM ADMITS ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL, PASSIONATE, INNOVATIVE, AND COMMUNITY- MINDED STUDENTS WITH APTITUDE FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND A SINCERE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE. THE OFFICE PROVIDES A HOST OF PERSONAL, ACADEMIC AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO ENHANCE THE INTERPERSONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF GCSOM STUDENTS. STUDENT AFFAIRS PROMOTES STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE AT GCSOM. THE OFFICE IS THE PRINCIPAL ADVISOR TO STUDENT COUNCILS, CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE OFFICE ALSO WORKS WITH STUDENTS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, CAREER ADVISING AND PLANNING. DURING THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR, THE OFFICE MADE SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMMING. ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE A REORGANIZATION OF THE MEDICAL STUDENT COUNCIL TO ALIGN AND SUPPORT WITH THE RENEWED CURRICULUM. THERE ARE MORE THAN 70 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND NEARLY EVERY STUDENT PARTICIPATES IN AT LEAST ONE CLUB OR EVENT. EACH CLUB IS ALSO INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES PARTNERING WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS RANGING FOR THE ANNUAL TURKEY TROT SUPPORTING FRIENDS OF THE POOR TO THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, MENTORING LOCAL YOUTH AND NUMEROUS OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS. RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL NEED TO SUPPORT STUDENT WELLNESS, THE CENTER FOR STUDENT LIFE AND WELLNESS WAS LAUNCHED WITH RECREATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND RELAXATION SPACE. THIS SPACE INCLUDES A FITNESS GYM AND EXPANDED ROOM FOR A MULTICULTURAL ROOM AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT AREA. IN ADDITION, A TELETHERAPY OPTION THROUGH THE PROVIDER TIMELYCARE WAS ADDED TO STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES. GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE COMMUNITY SERVICE SUMMARY AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022: COST OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 373,442 COMMUNITY HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH 299,950 CASH AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 17,322 VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS 7,464,189 ---------- TOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT ACTIVITIES 8,154,903 ==========