Marywood University Partners with PA National Guard to Provide 100% Tuition Coverage for Eligible Students and Families Marywood University is proud to announce a new partnership with the Pennsylvania National Guard, making it the only university in Lackawanna County to offer eligible students and their families 100% tuition coverage through the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) and Military Family Education Program (MFEP). The Pennsylvania National Guard’s EAP covers tuition as determined by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), enabling Guard members to pursue their degrees with significant financial support. While the program does not cover all fees, eligible students can benefit by meeting the following qualifications: A six-year service commitment to the Pennsylvania National Guard Active membership in the PA National Guard Enrollment in an approved degree program Submission of all required paperwork through the student’s National Guard unit Submission of an annual FAFSA and PA State Grant Application In addition, the Military Family Education Program (MFEP) offers tuition coverage and a portion of the technology fee for the spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members. To qualify for the MFEP, Guard members must commit to an additional six years of service, with all documentation submitted through their unit. With five National Guard units located in Scranton alone and nearly 18,000 members statewide, the Pennsylvania National Guard is the second-largest National Guard in the country. This partnership demonstrates Marywood University’s steadfast commitment to supporting service members and their families while fostering accessible, high-quality education. “Marywood University is honored to stand alongside our brave Pennsylvania National Guard members and their families,” said President Lisa A. Lori, J.D. “As the only university in Lackawanna County offering this opportunity, we are proud to help local service members achieve their educational goals while recognizing their tremendous service to our state and nation.” For more information about eligibility and application details, visit marywood.edu/veterans or contact April Paciotti, Office of Military and Veteran Services Enrollment Manager, SCO at adpaciotti@marywood.edu.
Lackawanna College Receives $963,000 from NIST Grant Lackawanna College is proud to announce it has been awarded a $963,000 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The grant will support a new partnership between the college and Vytal Plant Science Research (VPSR), a non-profit, Hazleton-based biotechnology company dedicated to driving innovation and economic growth in agriculture and plant derived bio-manufacturing industries in Pennsylvania. The funding was secured by former U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08), former ranking member of the House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees NIST’s annual budget, as part of his Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding requests. “This federal investment will boost an industry that was once a staple of Pennsylvania’s economy and today presents further opportunities for new businesses, farm income, good-paying jobs, and environmentally sound products,” said Congressman Cartwright. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact Lackawanna College will have on driving scientific innovation, advancing skilled labor training, and revitalizing local manufacturing in our region.” The funding will allow VPSR to conduct genetic research and develop various strains of industrial hemp. This research will explore gene editing and metabolic engineering of hemp to create at least three new hemp seed varieties that will support the manufacture and deployment of innovative, bio-based products for application in green building construction, packaging, fabrics, renewable energy and land remediation. Alongside this research, Lackawanna College will launch a 15-week certificate program focused on preparing individuals interested in the hemp industry. The program, created in collaboration with VPSR and other leading manufacturing partners, will focus on providing skills needed to work with hemp including horticulture, agriculture, the role of global climate change and artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). “Our 15-week certificate program is more than just education—it’s a gateway to meaningful careers in a rapidly evolving sector,” said Dr. Jill Murray, President and Chief Innovation Officer at Lackawanna College. “By collaborating with VPSR and leading manufacturing partners, we’ve developed a robust curriculum that will give students hands-on experience with the very latest advancements in hemp technology, ensuring they’re ready to contribute to this expanding industry. We’re not just training for today’s jobs, we’re equipping a workforce that can thrive as industries increasingly turn to sustainable solutions like hemp for the future.” In addition to the certificate program, the NIST funding will also help develop new sustainable agriculture facility at Lackawanna College’s Hazleton Center. Students (K-16), teachers and farmers are welcome to participate in hands-on workshops at the facility dedicated to instructing tissue culture, cloning, gene editing, growing and the cultivation process. These workshops are designed to educate and prepare the next generation of the workforce for opportunities in the hemp industry. “Advancing STEM education programs at two-year colleges is vital for creating pathways and opportunities that enable more talented individuals from diverse regions across the country to enter STEM fields,” said Dr. Shobha Rudrabhatla, Chief Scientific Officer at Vytal Plant Science Research. “Lackawanna College plays a key role in this effort, serving a large community of underrepresented minorities.”
I Need A Speaker Announces Strategic Partnerships with Major Convention and Visitors Bureaus I Need A Speaker announced partnerships with four leading convention and visitors bureaus: Choose Chicago, Meet Boston, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Visit Pittsburgh. These collaborations mark a significant expansion in the company’s mission to connect event organizers with qualified speakers across all price points. Through these partnerships, I Need A Speaker will expand its reach in key event markets while making professional speakers more accessible to meeting planners and event organizers in these major metropolitan areas. I Need A Speaker’s online platform offers speakers across all budget ranges, ensuring that every organization can find the right speaker regardless of their budget. “Serving the convention and visitors’ bureaus for these major cities is a great way to live our mission of serving event planners and introducing audiences to new talent,” said Tricia Richards-Service, founder and president of I Need A Speaker. “We’re proud to partner with organizations that are committed to delivering a positive experience for meeting attendees.” These partnerships will provide enhanced visibility for I Need A Speaker’s comprehensive speaker directory and greater access to qualified speakers for events of all sizes in and around Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. I Need A Speaker provides transparent and streamlined booking processes for meeting planners working in these areas. For customized speaker recommendations, meeting planners and event organizers may email info@ineedaspeaker.com. Visit www.ineedaspeaker.com to learn more or join its global user community.
Commonwealth of PA: Agricultural, Environmental, Health, Public Safety, and Additional Grant Opportunities NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Recovery Housing for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Other Drugs Who May Apply: Community-based organizations, community action agencies, or public health programs that focus on assisting individuals in accessing recovery housing. Use: Personnel services, consulting services, subcontract services, patient services, equipment, supplies, travel, and other costs associated with assisting individuals access recovery housing.Funds: DDAP expects to award five grants totaling $500,000 each. Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 More information: DDAP Website Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Integrated Health Solutions Who May Apply: Community-based organizations, community action agencies, or public health programs that focus on assisting individuals in accessing recovery housing. Use: Personnel services, consulting services, subcontract services, patient services, equipment, supplies, travel, and other costs associated with assisting individuals access recovery housing.Funds: DDAP expects to award five grants totaling $500,000 each. Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 More information: DDAP Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania.Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership.Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Department of Community and Economic Development: Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Who May Apply: Technical and trade schools, school districts, post-secondary academic institutions, workforce investment boards, economic development organizations, and non-profit organizations. For-profit entities are not eligible. Use: Projects must focus on the development and deployment of workforce training programs for individuals with barriers to employment, engage youth or those with barriers in awareness building activities of manufacturing career opportunities, and advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers to meet the needs of local and regional manufacturers that cannot be met through existing programs such as WEDnet and Industry Partnerships.Funds: Funds are available on an annual basis and vary based on recommendations and constraints set in the annual budget. Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted and evaluated on an ongoing basis as long as funds remain available. More information: DCED Website Department of Environmental Protection: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program Who May Apply: Pennsylvania residents whose total household income is below 400 percent of the Federal Income Poverty Level. Use: This program provides a rebate to Pennsylvanians who purchase or lease alternative fuel vehicles.Funds: Rebates vary depending on type of vehicle purchased. Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a first come, first served basis as long as funds remain available. Please note applications must be received within six months of the date of the vehicle purchase. More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: WIIN 2107: Voluntary School and Childcare Lead testing and Reduction Grant Who May Apply: Childcare facilities and schools located in Pennsylvania with lead in drinking water sample results within 36 months of the application date showing water fixtures exceeding the remediation trigger level of 5 ppb (parts per billion). Use: Reduction activities may include purchasing and installing hydration stations, point-of-use devices designed to remove lead or replacement of faucets. The primary goal of this grant program is to reduce children’s exposure to lead in drinking water.Funds: Funding under this grant has been appropriated under 1464(d) of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Funding provided will be up to $3,000 per hydration station per 100 students in one building. Up to $30,000 may be awarded per building/childcare facility or $100,000 per school district. Application Deadline: Applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss their lead reduction plans to ensure they meet applicable program criteria. Meetings can be scheduled by emailing RA-EPWIINLEAD@pa.gov. More information: DEP Website Council on the Arts: Arts Organizations and Arts Programs (AOAP) Who May Apply: Non-profit agencies with a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania and an annual average arts revenue over $200,000. (Must have previously been enrolled in Entry to Arts Organizations and Arts Programs.) Use: The AOAP funding track supports qualified applicants that provide consistent levels of artistic programming and/or arts services in Pennsylvania. Activities and services generally must have a public component.Funds: Grants will have a minimum amount of $13,000 and a maximum amount of $26,000. Application Deadline: January 15, 2025 More information: Arts Website Broadband Development Authority: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Who May Apply: Cooperative organizations, non-profit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utility companies, public utility districts, municipalities or units of local government, internet service providers registered through the FCC Use: Deploying and/or upgrading broadband network facilities, data collection, broadband mapping and broadband planningFunds: $1,161,778,242 in federal funding pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is available. Application Deadline: January 21, 2025 More information: PBDA Website Community and Economic Development: Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program Who May Apply: Community-based non-profit organizations with a history of at least 3 years operating experience, educational institutions, and non-profit economic development organizations with a history of at least 3 years operating experience. Use: Creation or support of a Business Assistance Service Center for the purpose of serving small, historically disadvantaged businesses.Funds: $20 million in funding was appropriated in the 2024/25 state budget. Application Deadline: January 22, 2025 More information: DCED Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Philadelphia Who May Apply: Community Development Corporations, economic development organizations and redevelopment authorities, business improvement districts/neighborhood improvement districts, non-profit organizations with a 501(c) designation, the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia. Any eligible organization must be located in Philadelphia. Use: Economic development projects, neighborhood revitalization projects, community improvement projects, projects in the public interest. Any eligible project must be located in Philadelphia.Funds: Grant amounts will vary based on the specific project requirements but are limited to a minimum request/award of $10,000 and a maximum request/award of $500,000. Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 More information: DCED Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Solar for Schools Grant Program Who May Apply: A school district, intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school, a chartered school for the education of the deaf or blind, a community college, the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Use: Purchase and installation of equipment for a solar energy project, energy storage costs related to the storage of electricity, engineering, design, and inspection costs, site preparation for ground mounted systems, or any other cost associated with a solar energy project. Funds: $25 million in state funding is available. Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 More information: DCED Website Council on the Arts: Entry to Arts Organizations and Arts Programs (EAOAP) Who May Apply: Non-profit agencies with a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania and an annual average arts revenue over $200,000. Use: Entry track is the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ (PCA) point of entry for organizations or programs to the AOAP. Applicants must apply in Entry track until recommended for AOAP, which is based on panel review and assessment totalsFunds: Grants totaling $5,000 will be awarded. Application Deadline: February 15, 2025 More information: Arts Website Department of Environmental Protection: Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations Use: Procurement of equipment (refrigerators, freezers, refrigerant and nonrefrigerated box trucks, cargo vans, pallet jacks, dollies, hand fork lifts, stoves, ovens and microwaves) to reduce food waste disposal from food retailers, wholesalers, agriculture organizations, farms and cooperatives and redistribute that food to the public.Funds: Grants up to $50,000 are available. Application Deadline: February 28, 2025 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Historical and Museum Commission: Historic Preservation Grant (Construction) Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations and public agencies that own or support a publicly accessible historic property listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Use: Projects involve preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation construction activities at publicly accessible buildings.Funds: Awards range from $5,000 to $100,000 with a 50% cash match required. Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 More information: PHMC Website Historical and Museum Commission: Historic Preservation Grant (Planning) Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations and public agencies that own or support a publicly accessible historic property listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Use: Projects include cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations, planning and project development assistance, and archaeological investigations.Funds: Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000 with a 50% cash match required. Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 More information: PHMC Website Department of Environmental Protection: Small Business Advantage Grant Program Who May Apply: Pennsylvania-based small businesses Use: Adopt processes or acquire equipment which results in energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and natural resource protection.Funds: Funding can range from 50% or $7,500 (whichever is less) up to 80% or $12,000 (whichever is less) and will vary depending on environmental impact and project location. Application Deadline: March 21, 2025 More information: DEP website
Scranton Region Antique Car Club of America Donates $1,500 to Allied Services John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehab Centers The Scranton Region Antique Car Club of America (SRACCA) has generously donated $1,500 to the Allied Services John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehab Centers. This contribution reflects a portion of the proceeds from their highly anticipated annual car show, held at Allied Services Corporate Center every year. Next year’s event is scheduled for June 1, 2025, and promises to deliver another day of classic cars, community fun, and charitable giving. Allied Services is deeply grateful for the club’s ongoing support, which helps fund critical pediatric rehabilitation services for children across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Allied Services provides comprehensive and specialized care to more than 1,200 children each year. Through physical, occupational, and speech therapy, the John P. Moses, Esq. Pediatric Rehab Centers, in partnership with AllOne Foundation and Charities, help children of all ages overcome developmental, neurological, and physical challenges, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Nominations for the 2025 ATHENA Award are Open! APPLY HERE The ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ATHENA Award is sponsored by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants and will be presented at the Chamber’s International Women’s Day breakfast, sponsored by The Honesdale National Bank. The event will be held at The Hilton Scranton and Conference Center on Friday, March 7, 2025. Nominations must be received by 11:59 pm on Friday, January 17. Apply online at www.ScrantonChamber.com/athena-award
Skills in Scranton Awarded Business Education Partnership Grant to Expand Career Video Library Skills in Scranton, the workforce development division of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, announces it has been awarded a Business Education Partnership Grant from the Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board. The grant supports the creation of five additional career pathways videos that spotlight high-demand trades in Lackawanna County, which include carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and welding. These new videos join Skills in Scranton’s expanding resource library at skillsinscranton.com. The resource library introduces job seekers to high-demand careers in the community. Skills in Scranton partners with school districts and higher education institutions in Lackawanna County to integrate the resource library into classrooms—giving students valuable insights and real-world connections to in-demand careers. “We are thrilled to expand our resource library with support from the Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board,” shared Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist at The Chamber. “These career pathway videos are a critical tool in our mission to equip students with career knowledge and exposure to local opportunities that align with their interests and the needs of our region.” Virginia Turano, executive director of Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board, expressed her support for the initiative, stating, “The Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board is pleased to collaborate with The Chamber and its division, Skills in Scranton, to promote career pathways initiatives for students in Lackawanna County. And I applaud the expansion of this new and exciting tool supporting student knowledge, growth, and development.” The grant represents a significant step forward in fostering career readiness and workforce alignment in Lackawanna County. Skills in Scranton’s video library provides an enriched selection of career insights for students, job seekers, and educators, guiding them toward fulfilling careers essential to the region. Each videos offers an in-depth view of the professions, the required training, and the many job opportunities available in Lackawanna County.
DCED Visits Lackawanna County for Tour and Overview of Chamber Business Development Efforts The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its business development division, Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), welcomed representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a comprehensive site visit showcasing the region’s business, economic, and workforce development efforts. “This visit was a tremendous opportunity to showcase the innovative businesses and strategic initiatives that are driving growth in Lackawanna County,” said AJ Cimahosky, business development specialist. “We’re grateful for the partnership of DCED and the Governor in helping to attract, sustain, and grow the thriving economic and workforce landscape.” DCED officials toured available commercial real estate opportunities in Lackawanna County. Committed to working hand-in-hand with the Governor’s economic development team, The Chamber and SLIBCO are strategically targeting high-priority industries, such as advanced manufacturing, beverage and food service, bio and life sciences, and technology—resulting in the development of the business and workforce landscape of the region.
Geisinger Wyoming Valley delivers 2,000th baby of the year The labor and delivery department at Geisinger Wyoming Valley delivered its 2,000th baby of the year early Sunday morning, Dec. 22. The milestone is the first time a Geisinger hospital labor and delivery unit has delivered more than 2,000 babies in a year. Anna Gitanga, 37, of Corona, N.Y., gave birth to a 7-pound, 13.3-ounce girl, Daniela, at 1:59 a.m. Gitanga was visiting family for the Christmas holiday when she went into labor and was brought Geisinger for the delivery. This was Gitanga’s fourth baby — and the second born at Geisinger during a family visit. The child’s father, Magesa Mwita, planned to pick up mother and baby from the hospital on Monday, Dec. 23. “I am so happy with everything,” Gitanga said. “Everyone here is so kind and caring.” The team had anticipated reaching this milestone for several months and assembled a gift basket for the family, according to Melissa Williams, Geisinger Wyoming Valley nursing operations manager. “We updated the delivery totals daily once we hit 1,900, eagerly awaiting 2,000,” Williams said. “While the unit was very busy, this created excitement to see which nurse and doctor would have the milestone delivery. The team now hopes to end 2024 with 2,024 deliveries.”
The Wright Center CEO and President named One State’s most Powerful and Influential Female Leaders Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was named one of the 100 most powerful and influential female leaders in Pennsylvania by City & State Pennsylvania. The multimedia organization debuted its third annual Power of Diversity: Women 100 list on Dec. 23. The list highlights the achievements of women in diverse fields – including government, nonprofits, education, business, labor, and advocacy – who are shaping Pennsylvania’s future with their visionary leadership and significant contributions. Honorees included Kim Ward, president pro tempore, Senate of Pennsylvania; Joanna McClinton, speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Cherelle Parker, mayor of Philadelphia; Debra Todd, chief justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court; and Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO, UPMC. This is the second time this year that City & State Pennsylvania has recognized Dr. Thomas-Hemak for her exceptional leadership and achievements. In July, the organization selected her as a 2024 Trailblazer in Health Care. Concurrent with her executive responsibilities, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is also quintuple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, obesity medicine, addiction medicine, and nutrition. She sees generations of patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in her hometown of Jermyn. “Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s well-deserved recognition as one of Pennsylvania’s 100 most powerful and influential female leaders reaffirms what we at The Wright Center already know: she is a brilliant, visionary, and inspirational leader, as well as a compassionate, dedicated, and exceptionally skilled physician,” said The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors Chair Deborah Kolsovsky. “She has an infectious passion for helping others and a remarkable ability to inspire a shared vision. She has devoted her entire career to advancing health equity, especially among our region’s most vulnerable populations, improving access to high-quality, nondiscriminatory, whole-person primary health services, and training and mentoring the next generation of health care professionals.” Dr. Thomas-Hemak graduated from Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton. After graduating as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston, she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania, joining The Wright Center in 2001, becoming president in 2007, and CEO in 2012. Under her stewardship, The Wright Center has expanded its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. She also guided The Wright Center to achieve numerous prestigious distinctions, including its designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike in 2019, which unlocked essential federal resources for the region and significantly expanded health care access. The Wright Center has also been recognized as a Top 30 Site for National Primary Care Innovations by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and, in 2024, was inducted into the esteemed American Medical Association’s ChangeMedEd Consortium. Dr. Thomas-Hemak also led The Wright Center for Community Health’s transformation into one of the first state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence in 2016, improving access to substance use disorder treatment. Amid rising obesity rates, she guided physicians in obtaining board certification in obesity medicine to better address critical health needs. She also transformed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education into one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums (GME-SNC). Through inclusive, interprofessional workforce development and targeted initiatives, the GME-SNC model seeks to improve public health by addressing the national primary care physician shortage, misdistribution and related health and health care career access disparities. Dr. Thomas-Hemak also serves as the governor for the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization. She sits on numerous local, regional, and national health care and medical education nonprofit governing boards, cross-sector committees, and workgroups, including the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Council on Graduate Medical Education, a federal advisory committee that assesses and recommends actions on physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies. She is chair of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Governing Board and a governing board member of the Keystone Accountable Care Organization, The Institute, and the Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action. She is also a founding member of the consortium that established the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and a founding board member of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers. Dr. Thomas-Hemak has received several prestigious state and national awards for her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives, including the 2024 Hometown Scholars Advocacy Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and A.T. Still University for her exemplary leadership in mentoring and inspiring others; the 2024 Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers; NACHC’s 2022 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award for her efforts in engaging Congress and expanding grassroots advocacy; and the 2020 Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians for advancing women’s leadership in medicine. She and her husband, Mark, reside in Jermyn and have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of the late William Thomas and Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald.
