Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Scholars’ Research Accepted at Health Resources & Services Administration Conference Ronakkumar PatelEdward DzielakNirali PatelJumee BarooahLinda Thomas-Hemak The federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has accepted a scholarly research abstract from The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education for presentation at its highly competitive national conference in April. Dr. Nirali Patel, a board-certified internal medicine and board-eligible geriatrics physician and associate program director of the Geriatrics Fellowship and core faculty for internal medicine, will present the paper, “Value Impact of a Community-Based, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-Accredited Geriatrics Fellowship Immersion in an Essential Community Provider’s COVID-19 Response.” She co-authored the abstract with Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO; Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official, Edward Dzielak, a geriatrics and internal medicine physician and program director of the Geriatrics Fellowship, and Ronakkumar Patel, a resident physician in the internal medicine program. The abstract, one of 72 accepted for presentation, illustrates how HRSA’s investment in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Geriatrics Fellowship led to the successful training of its first graduating class during the height of the pandemic. Fellows acted as a key pandemic workforce, offering safely managed and supervised in-person clinic, home-based and telehealth visits for geriatric patients. In addition, fellows also engaged in deployment of The Wright Center for Community Health’s 34-foot mobile medical unit, Driving Better Health, to deliver primary health services, as well as COVID-19 testing, monoclonal antibody infusions and vaccinations at senior living facilities. Along with primary care residents, geriatric fellows formed a vital workforce for the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Education Support and Clinical Coaching Program that provided support to personal care, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. HRSA’s abstract review committee chose the research article for its Bureau of Health Workforce Virtual All Grantee and Stakeholder Meeting. The focus of the meeting is for participants to learn from grantees and trainees about programs, ideas and research that can improve the health workforce. Overall, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has had 75 scholarly abstracts, written on a wide array of topics in medicine, accepted for presentation at professional conferences since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. The fellowship in geriatrics is a one-year program that emphasizes quality of care and a deep understanding of socioeconomic determinants of health for older patients that face the unique health challenges that come with aging. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to thewrightcenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
OSHA’S Vaccine and Testing Standards for Employers Businesses with 100 employees or more must comply with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). To meet the requirements of the ETS, employers must either: Establish a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, ORAdopt a policy requiring employees to get vaccinated or have them get regular COVID-19 testing and wear a face covering at work instead of getting vaccinated. As a trusted voice in the business community, please share this information with as many employers as possible to help them understand and meet this federal requirement. Federal Guidance On Dec. 18, 2021, OSHA released new guidance for the ETS after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay on the standard. OSHA will not enforce any requirements under the ETS until Jan. 10, 2022. Additionally, the agency will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before Feb. 9, 2022, so long as an employer is exercising responsible, good faith efforts to meet the standard. Federal guidance states that employers can mandate vaccinations for staff. To support vaccinations, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) will continue to oversee a Commonwealth-wide vaccination program, and employers are invited to refer any staff seeking vaccination to one of the hundreds of Pennsylvania clinics providing vaccines. Readiness Guide for Pennsylvania Employers The Pennsylvania Department of Health has prepared a Readiness Guide for Pennsylvania Employers about the OSHA ETS. In the guide you will find detailed information about: Vaccinating employeesTesting employeesSupport from the PA Department of HealthList of U.S. employers with vaccine mandatesInformation on differences in NAAT and Antigen Tests Questions? If you have questions related to the OSHA ETS on COVID-19 vaccination and testing, visit the OSHA website or reference the Frequently Asked Questions.
Regional Manufacturers Report Significant Results from NEPIRC Engagements Throughout 2021, regional manufacturing firms attributed over $120 million in revenue impact, $11.7 million in cost savings and $21.2 million in expansion, modernization and workforce training to their successful engagements with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC). Those financial impacts allowed the firms to create and retain 1,200 full-time manufacturing jobs – bringing our region’s industrial employment to nearly 44,000. NEPIRC clients reported those impacts during surveys administered by the Fors Marsh Group under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards & Technology. As a result of the dynamic results reported by NEPIRC clients during 2021, the organization maintained its placement among the top performers in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Network. NEPIRC also received a Sliver Award for Excellence in Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council during the year. “We’re proud of the impacts that our offerings have had upon our manufacturing clients during this critical time of rebound and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. These results speak to the expertise of our staff and the dedication of our manufacturers to continue to thrive amidst adversity, retain their existing workforce and create new good-paying jobs,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, NEPIRC’s President & CEO. “Our manufacturing economy has already returned to near pre-pandemic levels of employment and hundreds of job opportunities are still listed on our Manufacturing Job Board,” he added. In addition to capturing client financial and employment impacts, the Fors Marsh survey process assessed NEPIRC client overall satisfaction levels and their reasons for choosing NEPIRC for their consultative service needs. Most NEPIRC clients partnered with NEPIRC due to their staff expertise, reputation for results, exclusive focus on the manufacturing sector or practical cost of services. NEPIRC’s Annual Impact Report can be found at www.NEPIRC.com > “Our Impact”.
Lane Restrictions on Interstate 84 Eastbound in Lackawanna County There will be lane restrictions on Interstate 84 EB today, January 6 in order to make bridge deck repairs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.gov/District4. Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D4Results. Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Area Women Complete SBDC Startup Program Local women completed The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center StartUP Fall program. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Center is a program of The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Pictured, from top left: Peggy Doolittle, Women’s Entrepreneurship Center administrative assistant; Katelyn McManamon, Special Projects Coordinator, SBDC; Niamh Boyle, Women’s Entrepreneurship Center student intern; Jennifer Dice, Katharine Lewis; Donna Simpson, consultant manager, SBDC; Amourelle Donnay, Siobhan McKenna, Monica Brooks and Suzanne Jarecki. Monica Brooks, Avoca; Jennifer Davis, Scranton; Jennifer Dice, Dalton; Amourelle Donnay, Dunmore; Suzanne Jarecki, Kunkletown; Katharine Lewis, Scranton; Siobhan McKenna, Clarks Green; and Erin Moskel, Peckville, and two others completed The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center StartUP Fall Program. Facilitated by experienced business consultants from The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), this six-week certificate series is designed to provide women with the skills and knowledge needed to start their own businesses, with a focus on serving women in transition or those trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. This program offers participants education, support and guidance in determining if entrepreneurship is an option for them while teaching business startup basics, legal and insurance considerations, marketing and social media essentials, business plan development, accounting and budget skills, financing options and goal setting. Housed in the Kania School of Management, The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) is a program of the SBDC. WEC student interns and SBDC staff offer business start-up information, guidance, and encouragement. For more information, visit www.scrantonsbdc.com.
NET Credit Union Donates $30K to 2021 Charity Recipient NET Credit Union recently donated $30,000 to their 2021 charity recipient, Peggy’s Pathway For Women’s Cancer Care. All funds raised from The NET-A-PALOOZA Family Carnival & Cornhole Tournament hosted with NEPA Cornhole at The Hilton in Downtown Scranton and The NEToberfest Golf Tournament at Pine Hills Country Club benefited Peggy’s Pathway. Family and friends of the late Peggy Pettinato, who passed away for endometrial cancer, started Peggy’s Pathway for Women’s Cancer Care in Peggy’s honor. Their mission is to raise funds for research into innovative treatments and early detection for endometrial cancer. This donation will help with their efforts. Front Row Pictured L to R: Marco and Isbella Paoli. Second Row Pictured L to R: Janelle Kaczmarek, NET CFO; Diane Scandale, Peggy’s Pathway; Clarence Baltrusaitis, NET CEO; April Beky, Peggy’s Pathway; Natalie O’Hara, Peggy’s Pathway; Lisa Davis, Peggy’s Pathway; Kristin Paoli, Peggy’s Pathway and Robert Pettinato Sr., Peggy’s Pathway. Third Row Pictured L to R: Mary Lynn Gaetano, NET Credit Union, Frank Paoli, Peggy’s Pathway; Betty Chiorazzi, Peggy’s Pathway and Karen Clifford, NET Board of Director.
Lackawanna College Awarded Grant to Support Diversity Initiatives A $2,500 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence will help Lackawanna College build a multi-stage diversity and inclusion improvement plan. The grant will provide funds for the College to hire a consultant service to assist in creating and administering a comprehensive institutional equity audit. The audit will focus on the student experience, examining organizational practices and policies related to diversity and inclusion. “There’s a need to identify the College’s strengths and weaknesses, so we can create a more vibrant college community, improving the experience for all students, particularly those who have been traditionally marginalized and underrepresented,” said Joya Whittington, project director. “I’m grateful that we were approved for this grant so we can begin to implement institutional and social change.” Faculty and staff members on the College’s Diversity, Equity, Justice and Inclusion (DEJI) committee will lead the project. Branching off from the audit, the committee will establish a multi-phase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) improvement action plan and initiate short and long-term educational activities.
Department of Defense Military Packaging Design Training Now Available at Tobyhanna Army Depot PSCC’s Wade Myrthel assists a PACK 2 student during capstone testing. The Army’s premier training for military packaging has a new home. The Army Sustainment Command Packaging, Storage, and Containerization Center (PSCC), located on-post at Tobyhanna Army Depot, has fully implemented a new version of the critical PACK 2 Military Packaging Design Course. The course educates Department of Defense (DoD) personnel on techniques to properly design packaging that protects high dollar mission critical items from the rigors of military storage and the defense distribution system’s complex network of air, sea, and land transport – a challenge that requires simultaneously controlling costs, conserving resources, and minimizing unit pack size and weight. Thanks to the efforts of PSCC personnel, the DoD now has a comprehensive design course to address all of these concerns and provide DoD packaging designers with the skills they need to successfully support mission requirements. Since 2008, the closure of the School of Military Packaging Technology (SMPT) and the effects of attrition have resulted in a significant gap in the DoD packaging subject matter expertise. In response to this need, PSCC developed a redesigned PACK 2 that leverages the packaging expertise of in-house personnel and the resources available in PSCC’s Packaging Applications Testing Facility. The eight-day course consists of classroom lectures, as well as hands-on instruction in PSCC’s world-class packaging testing facility, which includes water intrusion, random vibration, and simulated handling testing apparatuses. A variety of packaging-related topics are covered in the training, to include design requirements, design methodology, shock and vibration, fragility, suspension systems, cushioning properties, cushioning design procedures, special packaging instructions, and validation testing. The culmination of the course is a capstone, requiring students to build and test a package that can meet military packaging standards – and withstand durability testing. Beginning in the first lesson, the capstone is integrated. By immediately following up each lesson with a relevant exercise, students get to reinforce what they have just learned and obtain a clearer picture of how it applies to real world design. According to David Gomes, re-launching the course was an arduous effort. “Our team spent the past year developing the PACK 2 course and ensuring it met the rigorous standards of the Defense Packaging Policy Group (DPPG),” adding that PSCC was chosen for the mission due to the subject matter expertise of its employees, as well as their modern testing facilities. Gomes is a senior packaging specialist in PSCC. A pilot of the course was held in late FY21 and included representatives from the DPPG, the Defense Contract Management Agency; the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armament Center; the U.S. Marine Corps; and the U.S. Navy. Gomes noted that the course benefitted attendees as well as PSCC personnel. “Having personnel from various DoD Components in one room allowed for dynamic cross-collaboration and discussion.” The pilot – and PSCC’s instructors – earned rave reviews from attendees as well as DPPG representatives, who gave the green light to fully offer the course to the DoD community. General Engineer Brian Rawhouser says the entire DoD – especially Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) – will benefit from having the PACK 2 training on-post. “The packaging fundamentals taught in this course ensure military assets are protected from environmental impacts, transportation and handling, and remain in a ready-for-issue status throughout the supply chain. That has a direct impact on TYAD’s mission; for example, proper packaging can reduce warranty claims, increase safety, and, most importantly, ensure materiel readiness.” The PACK 2 course is scheduled to run again in late January, April and July 2022. Those interested in learning more about the course or about PSCC’s unmatched facilities and team, please call 570-615-7257 or visit PSCC’s website at https://www.pscc.army.mil/. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for C5ISR systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,700 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities. *please note: These photos were taken at various times during the year, during which the Department of Defense guidance on masking/COVID-19 precautions changed in step with the guidance from the Center for Disease Control.
