GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCH OF MED

ACADEMIC PROGRAM: GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (GCSOM) OFFERS THREE SEPARATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (MD) PROGRAM, MASTER OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE (MBS) PROGRAM AND AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN NURSING (ADN). 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. THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S TOTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM (THC), IS A FOUR-YEAR, THREE-PHASE CURRICULUM THAT MATRICULATES 115 MEDICAL STUDENTS PER CLASS. THE FIRST PHASE IS A NOVEL ACTIVE LEARNING-BASED, INTEGRATED CURRICULUM THAT USES THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION MODEL, WITHIN ORGAN 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. DURING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CURRICULUM, STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF GCSOM'S REGIONAL CAMPUSES, WHERE THEY WILL TRAIN IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS AND AMBULATORY PRACTICE SITES. THE FIVE GCSOM REGIONAL CAMPUSES ARE THE NORTHEAST (SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE), CENTRAL (DANVILLE), WEST (LEWISTOWN/STATE COLLEGE) GUTHRIE (SAYRE), AND ATLANTICARE (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ). THE THIRD PHASE OF THE CURRICULUM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHWAYS AND COMPLETE REQUIRED AND ELECTIVE COURSEWORK ALIGNED WITH THEIR POSTGRADUATE SPECIALTY OF CHOICE. THE THC ALSO INCLUDES THE SYSTEMS, SOCIETY, AND HUMANISM IN MEDICINE CURRICULUM (SSHM) COMPOSED OF SIX LONGITUDINAL THEMES THAT ARE INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM AND TRANSFORM OUR 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 INCORPORATES A FAMILY CENTERED AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE (FCCE). 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 REQUIRED LONGITUDINAL COMMUNITY HEALTH/ SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM, 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 TO REQUIRED COURSEWORK, MD CANDIDATES ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES. 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. IN TOTAL, GCSOM STUDENTS HAVE VOLUNTEERED MORE THAN 50,000 HOURS TO THE COMMUNITY SINCE THE SCHOOL'S INCEPTION. SINCE 2020, THE ABIGAIL GEISINGER SCHOLARS PROGRAMS (AGS) HAS PROVIDED TUITION AND FEE SUPPORT AND A COST-OF-LIVING STIPEND FOR UP TO 45 INCOMING STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN EXCHANGE FOR A SERVICE COMMITMENT WITHIN THE GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM AFTER RESIDENCY. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE STUDENT DEBT AND IMPORTANTLY, REPOPULATE REGIONAL PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES IN KEY SPECIALTY AREAS INCLUDING FAMILY MEDICINE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, MEDICAL PEDIATRICS, AND PSYCHOLOGY. IN THE 2024 MD MATCH, 115 STUDENTS WERE PLACED INTO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, 52 STUDENTS ARE ENTERING PRIMARY CARE FIELDS AND 12 ARE ENTERING PSYCHIATRY. OF THE 115 STUDENTS, 10 STUDENTS MATCHED AT GEISINGER. ADDITIONALLY, 37 AGS MATCHED AND WILL EVENTUALLY WORK AS REGIONAL PHYSICIANS. APPROXIMATELY 37% 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, STANFORD, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 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. IN 2024, THE MBS PROGRAM ENROLLED 34 STUDENTS IN THE ONLINE FORMAT DEPENDING ON THE ACADEMIC QUARTER AND 19 STUDENTS IN THE FACE-TO-FACE FORMAT. OF THE 764 ALUMNI WHOSE OUTCOMES ARE KNOWN, 536 HAVE GONE ON TO MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH-RELATED PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL. 71 MBS STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY EARNED THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE IN 2024. IN 2022, GEISINGER COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD ESTABLISH GEISINGER SCHOOL OF NURSING BASED IN LEWISTOWN. THE NEW SCHOOL OFFERS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN RN IN JUST TWO YEARS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A SOLID STEPPINGSTONE IN THE PURSUIT OF A BSN FOR GRADUATES WHO WILL BE LOOKING TO ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION. GEISINGER SCHOOL OF NURSING GRADUATES WHO DECIDE TO PURSUE A BSN AFTER JOINING THE GEISINGER FAMILY MAY RECEIVE TUITION REMISSION THROUGH THE EMPLOYEE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT OF UP TO $3000 PER YEAR. THE ADN HAS A THEORY-GUIDED AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM, WITH BOTH CLINICAL AND THEORETICAL COMPONENTS. CURRENT LPNS MAY ENROLL IN OUR LPN TO RN PROGRAM AND COMPLETE THE DEGREE OVER THREE SEMESTERS. TOTAL NURSING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AS OF OCTOBER 2024 IS 88 WHICH INCLUDES ALL RN AND LPN TO RN STUDENTS IN EITHER THEIR FIRST OR SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. TOTAL PROGRAM CAPACITY IS 120, REFLECTIVE OF TWO ANNUAL INTAKES (35 STUDENTS EACH FALL, 25 STUDENTS EACH SPRING). WHEN COMPARED WITH OUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT, THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT RETAINMENT IS REFLECTIVE OF LOW ATTRITION OF LESS THAN 15% WHICH FAR EXCEEDS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF AROUND 50%.

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 CAN 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 101 MEDICAL STUDENTS COMPLETED OUR SUMMER RESEARCH IMMERSION PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, 49 MEDICAL STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUR MEDICAL RESEARCH HONORS PROGRAM, AND THIS YEAR WE GRADUATED OUR FIRST COHORT OF 11 STUDENTS FROM THE PROGRAM. ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS, 113 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 197 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 10 ORIGINAL ARTICLES IN OUR SCRIP JOURNAL; FURTHER, THEY AUTHORED OR WERE CO-AUTHORS ON 55 EXTERNAL, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, 45 STUDENTS PRESENTED THEIR RESEARCH FINDINGS AT 34 NATIONAL AND 1 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES.