Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency Presenting at Conference Dr. Erica SchmidtDr. Angelina SinghDr. Sanjay ChandragiriDr. Nathan HoffDr. Bilal Khan Two scholarly research teams at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education have had their abstracts accepted for presentation at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Drs. Angelina Singh and Erica Schmidt, resident physicians in the four-year psychiatry residency, and Dr. Sanjay Chandragiri, program director of the psychiatry residency and a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Scranton Practice, co-authored the scholarly paper, “Catatonia Presenting as Major Depressive Disorder with Psychotic Features: The Case for Increasing the Use of the Lorazepam Challenge.” The team’s case report demonstrates the importance and challenges of recognizing and treating catatonia, such as schizophrenia, in severely depressed patients with psychotic features, including delusions, hallucinations and paranoia. Drs. Bilal Khan and Nathan Hoff , resident physicians in the psychiatry residency, co-authored the paper, “Serotonin Syndrome in a 50-Year-Old Female,” with Bretty Aziz, a fourth-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and Chandragiri. The case report illustrates the potential for severe side effects that may result from interactions between multiple serotonergic agents in patients with serotonin syndrome. The American Psychiatric Association was founded in 1844. It is the oldest medical association in the United States and the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. The annual meeting in May, with the theme, “Social Determinants of Mental Health,” is the largest conference in the world for psychiatrists and mental health professionals. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, call 570-343-2383 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
RailRiders Pinstripe Pals Returns to Support Local Youth Leagues The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce that the Pinstripe Pals program has returned in support of area youth softball and baseball leagues. In partnership with US Foods, applications are being accepted now and 10 youth leagues will be selected for the program this year. League representatives are encouraged to fill out the Pinstripe Pals application form and submit a 500-word (or less) essay describing why their league should be chosen. Each of the ten leagues selected will receive a $500 sponsorship from the RailRiders to assist in league expenses, as well as a $500 gift card courtesy of US Foods, which can be used to help teams pay for concession stand products and supplies. Applications are due by March 4. Each league selected will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-game parade at PNC Field before a RailRiders home game and the opportunity for RailRiders assistance with league fundraising. Selected leagues will have a photo of their choice placed in the GuideRail game day program on their league’s designated night. One of the teams in each league will serve as the “Field of Dreams” club on that night and take the field with the RailRiders players. Applications can be found on our website under the Community tab or upon request. Completed applications can be emailed to Robby Judge at rjudge@swbrailriders.com, faxed to (570) 963-6564 or mailed to: SWB RailRiders Attn: Pinstripe Pals 235 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic, PA 18507 For more information on the Pinstripe Pals program, presented by US Foods, please contact Jordan Maydole or Robby Judge at (570) 969-2255. The 2022 season opens on April 5 in Syracuse with the home opener on April 12 against the Norfolk Tides at PNC Field. Season ticket memberships and mini-plans are available now on www.swbrailriders.com.
Wolf Administration Highlights Transportation Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Pennsylvania Bridges At Columbia River Park along the Susquehanna River today, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Deputy Secretary Mike Keiser, Acting District 8 Executive Chris Kufro, Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Recreation and Conservation Manager Lori Yeich, and local and regional officials highlighted benefits to Pennsylvania from the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically for Pennsylvania’s bridges. “The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest federal infrastructure investment in decades, and the largest ever investment for bridges specifically,” said Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser. “PennDOT – along with our partners – are ready to put these dollars to good use in meaningful projects all over the state.” Pennsylvania is poised to receive an estimated $4 billion in new federal highway and bridge dollars over five years, including an estimated $1.6 billion from a new bridge program established by the BIL. Pennsylvania has one of the largest state-maintained highway and bridge networks in the nation, with nearly 40,000 miles of roadway and over 25,400 bridges maintained by PennDOT. That number grows to approximately 120,000 miles of roadway and 32,000 bridges when considering the state and local networks. Today’s event was held in the shadow of the historic Veterans Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 462 and BicyclePA Route S over the Susquehanna River between Columbia, Lancaster County, and Wrightsville, York County. The bridge was originally built in 1930, and is slated for significant rehabilitation in 2023. Additionally, there are parks on both the Columbia and Wrightsville sides of the bridge, and multimodal connections and improvements are also planned in coordination with DCNR and local partners. “One of the many benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the impact it will have on multimodal projects that connect people to parks and trails, as this rehabilitation project demonstrates,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “We have seen millions of people turn to the outdoors during the pandemic, which is why we are pleased to see federal investments in projects that will help retain those new users.” In addition to the new highway and bridge funds, Pennsylvanians will benefit from new federal funds to support public transportation, airports, and freight and passenger rail. PennDOT and local governments can look forward to new and expanded competitive grant opportunities across all transportation modes. Additionally, new federal funds will be available to Pennsylvania to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network. For additional information about PennDOT’s work to keep Pennsylvanians connected to opportunity and each other, visit PennDOT’s website. Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.
Lackawanna College Environmental Center Receives $5,000 Donation from FNCB Bank FNCB Bank presents a $5,000 Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to Lackawanna College. The donation will help support the K-12 program at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center. The center provides student programs that offer unique, educational opportunities for children and teenagers on a variety of environmental and conservation topics. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed just under $2,500,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. From left: Mariellen Walsh, Lackawanna College Associate Vice President for College; Laurel Radzieski, Lackawanna College Manager of Grant Strategies; and Deb Kennedy, FNCB Bank Vice President, Retail Market Manager. FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, has announced a $5,000 Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to Lackawanna College. The donation will help support the K-12 program at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center. The center provides student programs that offer unique, educational opportunities for children and teenagers on a variety of environmental and conservation topics. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed just under $2,500,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. The support of Lackawanna College is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations and outreach programs.
NeighborWorks Welcomes Shane Powers as New Chief Operating Officer NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) is pleased to announce it has welcomed Shane Powers to its staff for the recently-established Chief Operating Officer position. NeighborWorks created this new role to enhance its operating capacity and strategy execution as the organization expands its geographic and programmatic reach throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as a strategic and management partner to the Board, President & CEO and Program Managers, Ms. Powers will lead the day-to-day operations of NeighborWorks. Prior to joining the NeighborWorks team, Ms. Powers served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Tunkhannock Area School District, where she was responsible for all non-instructional systems in the district, including the Business Office, Facilities, Transportation, Food Service, and Human Resources. Additionally, Ms. Powers previously served as the Site General Manager at DHL Supply Chain, as well as accruing over 15 years of logistical and operational management experience at Procter and Gamble in the Mehoopany, PA plant. “I’m really excited to get started. The people that I’ve had the opportunity to meet and that I’m starting to work with are truly experts in what they do,” said Shane. “They’re so committed to the work that they’re doing and believe strongly and passionately that the work is really going to benefit the communities in which we serve.” Ms. Powers currently resides in Tunkhannock with her husband, Christopher and her 3 children.
University of Scranton Announces January Events Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage. Jan. 16 2:30 p.m.The Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Community Celebration: “Covid 19: Recognizing the trauma. Healing the soul.” Interactive Zoom webinar with audience question and answer. Free. Registration required. Call 570-941-6645 or email jennifer.pennington@scranton.edu. Jan. 29 8 a.m. Virtual Campaign School 2022. Learn how to run a successful campaign for public office. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County, the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service at The University of Scranton, WNEP-TV and Toyota of Scranton. Registration required. Fees vary. Email lwvlackawanna@gmail.com or visit www.lwvlackawanna.org.
Geisinger Brings Specialty Care to Hazleton Area Geisinger is poised to open a new multi-specialty clinic that makes better health easier for patients and members by bringing needed outreach services into their community. Geisinger Multi-Specialty Clinic Hazleton will open Jan. 17 and offer care in a variety of disciplines at 1525 N. Church St. in Hazle Township. Appointments will be offered in person and via telemedicine, and the clinic may increase availability based on the needs of the community. When it opens, the clinic will provide pediatric and adult cardiology, nephrology, laboratory services and outpatient appointments for general surgery, colorectal surgery, vascular surgery and neurosurgery. Urology and pediatric dermatology services will begin in February. Laboratory services: Daily Monday through FridayPediatric cardiology: Once a weekUrology: Once a week beginning in FebruaryGeneral surgery: Once every other weekColorectal surgery: Once every other weekAdult cardiology: Twice a monthNephrology: Twice a monthVascular surgery: Twice a monthNeurosurgery: Once a monthPediatric dermatology: Once a month beginning in February Rheumatology, endocrinology and adult dermatology will be added in coming months. “By expanding the services we offer in Hazleton and the surrounding communities, we are keeping care closer to home for our patients and members,” said Kenric Maynor, M.D., chair of the Geisinger Medicine Institute. “Our data tells us 82% of our patients from this area have traveled in the past to seek specialty care. Geisinger Multi-Specialty Clinic Hazleton will now provide much of that care without the need for travel to Wilkes-Barre or another city.” The newly renovated space houses 9 exam rooms and has ample parking. It is approximately 1.5 miles from CommunityCare Federally Qualified Health Center and about 3 miles from Geisinger 65 Forward Hazleton and ConvenientCare West Hazleton. Telemedicine capability will allow the clinic’s providers to see patients at home or to connect them with other specialists while they are at the clinic. George Ruiz, M.D., chair of Cardiology for the Geisinger Heart & Vascular Institute, is among the cardiologists who will practice at the multi-specialty clinic. “I’m excited to better understand and serve our patients in Hazleton,” said Dr. Ruiz, a bilingual physician with experience caring for English- and Spanish-speaking patients. “This clinic allows us to better connect with our friends and neighbors in the Hazleton area and build important relationships focused on the community’s health.” Patients can reach Geisinger Multi-Specialty Clinic Hazleton Monday through Friday at 570-751-5900.
Stephanie Mihal, CPA, Named Partner at McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates, P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Consultants is pleased to announce the promotion of Stephanie M. Mihal, CPA to Partner. Joining MMQ in 2005 as an intern, Stephanie has more than 16 years of experience with our firm in a vast number of areas including audit, tax, consulting, and compliance. She specializes in audits of not-for-profit organizations, employee benefit plans and foundations and also focuses on the health care, retail and manufacturing industries. She manages firm recruiting for internships and new hires and oversees career development for the firm. As a Partner, Stephanie uses her communication and relationship building skills to provide exceptional client service, increase firm visibility and provide growth opportunities. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Scranton in 2006. She is a member of the AICPA and PICPA. Stephanie is currently on the Board of Directors of Outreach – Center for Community Resources and has been a member of the board for 11 years. She served as Board President from 2017-2019. Stephanie is a member of the University of Scranton ADPAC (Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council) since inception in 2015. She also volunteers her time with the University of Scranton Career Coaches Program and other student mentor programs. Stephanie volunteers with the Scranton Area Community Foundation to provide informational sessions with participant programs, learning conferences, and donor education seminars. “We are very excited for Stephanie and her family as she elevates to partner within our Firm” said Dan Gerrity, MMQ’s Managing Partner. “Stephanie’s skills and expertise have become very valuable over the years. We look forward to her continued contributions to the growth of our firm.”
