Geisinger Pediatrician, Child Abuse Advocate Awarded Humanitarian Award

A Geisinger pediatrician and former medical director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Central Susquehanna Valley in Sunbury was recently presented with an award in recognition of his commitment to improving the lives of others through personal sacrifice, and his leadership through his vocation.

Pat Bruno, M.D., was presented with the Juniata College William E. Swigart Alumni Humanitarian Award for his selfless service to his community and beyond through his commitment to preventing child abuse and developing programs to evaluate and serve children who have been abused.   

“I am honored to receive this award. I have been fortunate to have a team that has worked with me for more than 20 years helping to advocate for children,” Dr. Bruno said. “Many thanks go to my team for the difficult work that they have done.” 

Despite the emotional and practical challenges that come with treating child abuse and neglect cases, after so many years of specializing in the topic, Dr. Bruno understands its complexities. “Child maltreatment is a preventable multidisciplinary, multigenerational community problem,” he said. 

Until 2024, Dr. Bruno served as medical director and child abuse pediatrician at the Children’s Advocacy Center and was the director of the Division of Child Safety and Advocacy at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. He continues to work in general pediatrics and child abuse pediatrics while serving as associate professor of pediatrics at Geisinger School of Medicine.

During his career, Dr. Bruno has evaluated and treated more than 6,000 children referred for child maltreatment evaluations and has testified in many counties in the state on behalf of child victims.  

As a certified member and fellow of the American Board of General Pediatrics, Dr. Bruno is board certified in child abuse pediatrics. He has lectured on child abuse prevention to medical students and residents, and is the author of “How Can I Not?: Reflections on a Life Evaluating and Treating Victims of Child Maltreatment.”   

Dr. Bruno has been twice recognized with the Thomas Paine Award for Journalism from the Central Susquehanna ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in 2013 and 2019, and the Dr. Chuck Fasano Memorial Red Cross Award for Medical Heroes in 2014. Dr. Bruno was named Sunbury Citizen of the Year by the Sunbury Rotary Club in 2016. 

Geisinger School of Medicine and Northeastern Health Care Foundation Celebrate at Annual Reception

Geisinger School of Medicine and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation (NEPA HCF) recently held their annual reception to review the progress and impact of the NEPA Health Care Foundation Scholars Program. The program continues to play a pivotal role in supporting medical students committed to serving the healthcare needs of northeastern Pennsylvania.

In October 2014, the board of the NEPA HCF approved a grant to the School of Medicine (then called The Commonwealth Medical College). The grant, payable over 11 years, established the NEPA HCF Scholars Program, funding scholarships for 20 Doctor of Medicine (MD) students. Two students were chosen from each incoming class, beginning in 2015 with the incoming members of the Class of 2019, and ending in 2024 with the Class of 2028. To date, a total of 20 scholarships to 20 students have been awarded through the NEPA HCF Scholars Program.

Laura Ducceschi, administrator of NEPA HCF, and President & CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, emphasized the program’s alignment with the foundation’s mission, “Establishing this scholarship made sense, given NEPA HCF’s goal to improve the region’s health and well-being. Supporting medical students committed to practicing medicine in our community ensures a healthier future for northeastern Pennsylvania.”

The reception also focused on the group’s annual report, detailing the program’s achievements. Key accomplishments include the continued support of students through substantial scholarship awards and the reinforcement of partnerships aimed at enhancing health care access in the region.

“The NEPA Health Care Foundation Scholars Program is a wonderful example of how strategic philanthropy and medical education can work together to strengthen our region’s health care system,” said Julie Byerley, M.D., M.P.H., Geisinger College of Health Sciences president and dean. “By investing in our students and encouraging them to stay and practice in northeastern Pennsylvania, we’re building a healthier future — one physician at a time.”

First row, L to R: Parita Ray, Laura Barna, M.D. (alumna, Class of 2019) Caitlin Doughton, Kyle Kidd, Evan Florey, Madison Ziobro, Alexis Blackburn, Abigail Glynn, Jake Parrick, M.D. (alumnus, Class of 2019), Alivia Roberts

Back row, L to R: Tonyehn Verkitus, Catherine Mihalick, Sarah Wodder, Shubhra Shetty, M.D., Jason Woloski, M.D., Laura Ducceschi, Barbara Grimaud, Michael Cordaro, Joseph Burke, Patrick Connors, Julie Byerley, M.D., M.P.H., Peter Cognetti

Geisinger School of Medicine Student Wins Prestigious Sarnoff Fellowship

The Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation has selected Geisinger School of Medicine’s Emily Halbedl, MD ’26 as a 2025-26 Sarnoff Fellow. She and 19 other medical student fellows were introduced at the Foundation’s 45th Annual Scientific Meeting held May 2–4 in Cambridge, Mass. 

“This fellowship is highly prestigious and a wonderful accomplishment for Emily and for our school,” said Sonia Lobo, PhD, RYT, Halbedl’s sponsor and the associate dean for research and scholarship at Geisinger College of Health Sciences. “As a Sarnoff Fellow, Emily will work with top cardiovascular scientists and investigators and have the chance to conduct cutting-edge research. Best of all, as an Abigail Geisinger Scholar, she will return to Geisinger and share her expertise with our communities.”

Fellows are guided by the Sarnoff Scientific Committee, consisting of the nation’s preeminent physician-scientists in cardiovascular science. The research, however, is conceived, designed and conducted by the fellow.

Halbedl, a member of Geisinger School of Medicine’s Medical Research Honors Program, is involved in research with Geisinger’s pediatric weight management program and its effects on childhood obesity and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. She also spent time between her first and second years at Geisinger at the NIDDK Medical Student Research Program in Diabetes at Vanderbilt University, where she researched a novel treatment for atherosclerosis.

The mission of the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation is to engage medical students and young investigators in a personalized research experience with preeminent cardiovascular scientists, and to foster the next generation of leaders in the field. 

Emily Halbedl Recognized as a Sarnoff Fellow

Allied Services Hospice Honors Geisinger’s School of Medicine with Star Volunteer Award

Medical students’ No One Dies Alone chapter ‘sits vigil’ with hospice patients

Allied Services Hospice recognized Geisinger School of Medicine with its Star Volunteer Award on April 22. The medical school’s chapter of No One Dies Alone (NODA) was honored for its dedication and compassion “sitting vigil” with actively dying patients, offering a comforting presence in the room. The volunteers’ presence provides solace, so that no one faces their final moments in solitude.

The program started modestly with just three students, but every September, new volunteers were recruited, expanding the reach and impact of NODA.

“With the help of Dr. (Lauren) Nicholls, assistant professor, who is also the Palliative Care Interest Group’s facilitator, we partnered with Allied Health Services and their hospice in Scranton,” said club founder SooYoung VanDeMark, MD ’25. “If students can provide companionship so that patients feel less alone, that’s such a straightforward way for a medical student to make a profound impact. I also find that hospice volunteering helps keep the pressures, demands and rigor of medical school in perspective.”

Student volunteer Katelyn Whetstone, MD ’28, agreed that the hospice experience has helped her confront her own ideas about mortality. “I joined the NODA club to confront the aspect of medicine that intimidated me most: death,” she said. “And I have no regrets. Through this experience, I gained a profound understanding that medicine is not solely about healing, but also about providing comfort and presence in life’s final moments.”

The program has grown significantly, with 15 student volunteers from Geisinger School of Nursing and a total of 82 volunteers participating in various activities. Laurie Fleming, volunteer coordinator at Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Care Programs, coordinates the schedules, sending out text messages to find available volunteers. She is mindful of their academic commitments, allowing them to bring their studies while sitting with non-responsive patients. Volunteers introduce themselves to the patients, reminding them of their presence throughout their shift, and gently touch the patients before leaving.

In addition to personal growth, Ms. Fleming said, students gain a professional sense of hospice and learn how it takes a team to deliver optimum care. 

“I’m proud to see them learn what hospice is and is not,” she said. “Hospice is for the living. Our student volunteers learn this. It also teaches them bedside manner and how to deal with other staff, nurses and family members.”

Aubrey McGovern, MD ’27, is now president of the NODA club and was present to accept the Star Volunteer Award on behalf of the club. “It has been such a privilege to lead this group and continue the NODA program with my classmates, especially with such an incredible hospice center and all the amazing staff at Allied,” she said. “It’s about more than just being there physically for individuals in the process of passing on — it’s about respect and providing comfort and support to their loved ones. We are so honored to carry on this partnership with Allied Services Hospice.”

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students accept their Star Award from Allied Services Hospice. Seen from left are Laurie Fleming, volunteer coordinator at Allied Services Hospice and Palliative Care Programs; Tommy Ahlin, MD ’28, of Pittsburgh; Aubrey McGovern, MD ’28, of Carbondale; and Kelly Langan, RN, BSN, CHPN, director of inpatient hospice servicesfor Allied Services Hospice.