Geisinger Updates Visitation Policy With COVID-19 cases slowly on the decline, adult inpatients at Geisinger will now be allowed two designated visitors rather than one, effective Wednesday, Feb. 9. While patients are allowed to designate two visitors, only one will be allowed per patient in the hospital room at a time. These guidelines protect the health and safety of our patients and staff. The visitor must be designated and wear a wristband the entire time the patient is hospitalized. Visiting hours are between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. All patients and visitors must wear a mask when on Geisinger property, regardless of vaccination status. Visitors who do not comply with Geisinger’s policies, such as masking, will lose their visiting rights. For general questions and information about COVID-19, visit geisinger.org/coronavirus.
Geisinger Honors 195 Providers for High Patient Satisfaction Ratings Geisinger recently honored 195 caregivers for being named among the best in the country by their patients, according to national surveys. Geisinger providers — including physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners — were recognized for ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience at the health system’s annual Top Patient Experience Clinicians Awards, which were held virtually this year. Scores were based on Press Ganey survey results, which gives patients an opportunity to grade the service and care they received from a provider. “There’s no better indicator of being a truly exceptional provider than to hear it from your patients,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., Geisinger’s executive vice president and chief medical officer. “Each year we have more Geisinger providers ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience, all while the standards keep getting tougher. The bar keeps getting higher, and our care providers continue to excel in making better health easier for our patients.” Among the 195 clinicians honored, three were spotlighted for exemplary work, receiving Geisinger awards for going above and beyond when it comes to compassionate patient care. Shane Daniel Newhouser, DOAkiko Kawamura, MDDebra Kaleta, PA-C Shane Daniel Newhouser, DO, family medicine physician at Geisinger State College, and Akiko Kawamura, MD, pediatrician at Geisinger Mount Pocono, received the Victor J. Marks Award for best Primary Care Physician and Outpatient Specialty Physician, respectively. The award was established in 2002 to honor Dr. Victor Marks, who served as Geisinger’s interim CEO from 2000 to 2001, and his commitment to making patients the primary focus of the health system. It is given to the primary care physician and the outpatient specialty physician at Geisinger who have the highest overall scores on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey. Debra Kaleta, PA-C, in family medicine at Geisinger Mount Carmel, received the Christina Appleman Award. The award is named in honor of Christina Appleman, certified registered nurse practitioner, and is given to the advanced practitioner at Geisinger with the highest overall score on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey. The 90th percentile Geisinger winners are: Central region:Robin L. Adams, CRNP, Obstetrics/GynecologyKenneth Wayne Altman, MD, OtolaryngologyMadiha Mubarik Alvi, MD, EndocrinologyChristina Jo Appleman, CRNP, Obstetrics/GynecologyAmy Gregory Barrett, PA-C, PediatricsMaria C. Bermudez, MD, NephrologyJudith Bianchi Bowser, OD, OphthalmologyThomas J. Bules, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseGreg F. Burke, MD, Internal MedicineJoyce A. Burnside, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseRonald Byerly, PA-C, Internal MedicineJames Tran Connolly, PA-C, Orthopaedic SurgeryMichelle Annabella Cornacchia, MD, Internal MedicineNicole Deckard, LGC, GeneticsDevin M. Conrad, PA-C, ConvenientCareKendall Dobbins, MD, OphthalmologyDan Lawrence Dometita, DO, Internal MedicineCassondra A. Ellison, MD, DermatologyJames R. Elmore, MD, Vascular SurgeryMatthew A. Facktor, MD, Thoracic SurgeryTammie Christine Ferringer, MD, DermatologyHenry F. Fesniak, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseBrant R. Fulmer, MD, UrologyChristine Anne Gallagher, OD, OphthalmologyTullika Garg, MD, UrologyKeith Gibson, MD, Family MedicineNathalie M. Guibord, MD, OphthalmologyMichael John Halupa, Dental SurgeryCharles Eugene Heid, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseEric John Hodgson, MD, Maternal & Fetal MedicineNeil Robert Holland, MD, NeurologyDawn R. Hornberger, CRNP, EndocrinologyElyssa M. Johnson, PA-C, Family MedicineDebra M. Kaleta, PA-C, Family MedicineRosalind L. Kellum, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseJoel C. Klena, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryErin Elisabeth Kohrherr, PA-C, Reproductive Endo/InfertilityBenjamin Robert Kuhn, DO, Pediatric GastroenterologyLauren Elizabeth Samuels, PA-C, Convenient CareMark R. Lentz, MD, Internal MedicineJenna Marie Lindenmuth, PA-C, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports MedicineLindsay Anne Hauser, CRNP, ConvenientCareKevin Carl Long, MD, Colon & Rectal SurgeryRobert Blake Lowe, DO, Family MedicineMichele S. Maroon, MD, DermatologyShannon M. McShea-Johansson, PA-C, GastroenterologyRobert Alain Meloy, MD, Internal MedicineBrittany Eve Meyer, PA-C, Obstetrics/GynecologyO. Fred Miller III, MD, DermatologyBrian Richard Monroe, MD, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementMegan Marie Moran, DO, PediatricsDonald C. Moyer, DO, PediatricsMisha Matongo Mutizwa, MD, DermatologyEric D. Newman, MD, RheumatologyJess W. Oren IV, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMatthew Lee Palmer, MD, DermatologyRajiv P. Panikkar, MD, Medical OncologyLori A. Parke, CRNP, General SurgeryMayur A. Patel, MD, Medical OncologyPriyanka Pathak, MD, HematologyHoward B. Pride, MD, DermatologyJohn Stephen Quick, MD, AnesthesiologyArsalan Rafiq, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMarylou Rainone, DO, General SurgeryJodie Alton Reider, MD, EndocrinologyWells T. Reinheimer, DO, OphthalmologyDavid D. K. Rolston, MD, Internal MedicineDana L. Rubin, PA-C, Plastic SurgeryLisa Lorrae Schroeder, MD, Internal MedicineElizabeth Keslar Scott, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseMark Alan Seeley, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryJohn A. Semian, MD, General SurgeryKeith E. Shalongo, OD, OphthalmologyMatthew J. Shellenberger, DO, GastroenterologyCatherine Terese Shoff, DO, Pulmonary DiseaseDennis Randall Smith, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseJordan Bennett Southern, MD, UrologyRandle H. Storm, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseAlexis Svokos, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologyJill Susan Sweigard, CRNP, PediatricsJohn Robert Tomedi Sr., MD, Family MedicineTyler William Baran, PA-C, ConvenientCareTyler Raymond West, DO, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementCaitlin Jean Wiscount, MD, PediatricsSandrina Dawn Womer, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseJessica Gidaro Yancoskie, CRNP, OphthalmologyKathya Michelle Zinszer, DPM, Podiatry North-central:Mark Judson Rockwell, PA-C, ConvenientCareMelissa Jean Kireski, CRNP, ConvenientCareTena Delores Miller, PA-C, Family MedicineNicholas Showman, PA-C, DermatologyDana M. Smith, DO, PediatricsRoy Erroll Tuller, DO, OphthalmologyJessica Ann Zozos Stehman, PA-C, Obstetrics/Gynecology Northeast:Christian Stephen Adonizio, MD, Medical OncologyAlexander M. Piczon, PA-C, Ortho & Sports Medicine Urgent CareJoseph Patrick Bannon, MD, General SurgeryLouis C. Blaum Jr., MD, General SurgeryElizabeth A. Bordy, PA-C, Family MedicinePranjal Kumar Boruah, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMary Catherine Brady, MD, DermatologyLaurie Campfield, DO, PediatricsJose I. Castillo, MD, Medical OncologyPeter Joseph Cawley, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseCharlea Natasha Pedro, CRNP, ConvenientCareStacy J. Conway, OD, OphthalmologyKelly Jo Dalton, OD, OphthalmologyBrian A. Delvecchio, DO, RheumatologyLaurel Foxworth Dodgson, PA-C, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementMitchell J. Gross, MD, NeurologyCollin Douglas Hair, MD, OphthalmologyMegan Ward Harris, PA-C, DermatologyJulia Ann Zafia Carey, PA-C, ConvenientCareKarla Grace Dalious, PA-C, ConvenientCareAkiko Kawamura, MD, PediatricsAmanda Katherine Keegan, PA-C, UrologyEric J. Kemmerer, MD, Radiation OncologyKimberly Kaminsky, PA-C, ConvenientCareDavid J. Kolessar, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryKimberly A. Kovalick, DO, Family MedicineMichael A. Kovalick, DO, Family MedicineMelissa Laporte, CRNP, EndocrinologyLeopoldo Legaspi, MD, PediatricsLauren Nicole Polanin, PA-C, ConvenientCareKara Anne Levandoski, PA-C , Cardiovascular DiseaseMaya Lillyan Lichtenstein, MD, NeurologyPaul R. Long, MD, DermatologyBenoit Mapa, DO, Obstetrics/GynecologyDavid R. Mariner, MD, Vascular SurgeryVernon H. Mascarenhas, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMartin Eugene Matsumura, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseEvan Lee McClennen, DO, Obstetrics/GynecologySandeep Mehrok, MD, Family MedicineElizabeth Erin Miller, DO, General SurgeryCarl Andrew Nieweld, MD, Pulmonary DiseaseKathleen Marie Noss, DO, PediatricsFrank C. Olshemski, MD, Family MedicineMark Peter Pallis, DO, Orthopaedic SurgerySandra L. Pensieri, DPM, PodiatryJohn Mark Prater, MD, Family MedicineBrogdan Protyniak, MD, Colon & Rectal SurgeryJohn Robert Ramey, MD, UrologyWaqarun Nisa Rashid, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologyJamian M. Ryan, DO, PediatricsLakshmi Neeharika Saladi, MD, Pulmonary DiseaseThomas Spencer Samuelsen, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologySarah Ann Brown, CRNP, Urgent CareKenny Alan Schwartz, MD, NeurologyShreya Sinha, MD, Oncology, MedicalAlessandro G. Smeraldi, MD, Surgery, VascularJohn Joseph Sobuto III, DO, Critical Care MedicineJames A. Tricarico, DO, Family MedicineCassandra Lynn Tunis, DO, Family MedicineJustin Gerard Tunis, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports MedicineDaniel William Upton, MD, OphthalmologyPugazhendhi Vijayaraman, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseKathleen Iezzi Walsh, MD, PediatricsMary Rachel Wolf, PA-C, Surgical OncologyJason Raymond Woloski, MD, Family MedicineJoseph Alexander Wong, MD, Physical Medicine & RehabilitationSarah Ann Worsnick, PA-C, Cardiovascular DiseaseBonnie Tong Young, CRNP, Cardiology (Interventional)Shane Steven Young, MD, Family Medicine West:Lorraine L. Rosamilia, MD, DermatologyTrevor Sherrick Smith, DO, Family MedicineNatalie Rebeccah Steffen, PA-C, Family MedicineMichelle Jane Thal, PA-C, Allergy & ImmunologyKathleen Mary Zazzali, DO, Cardiovascular Disease
Narayana S. Murali, M.D., Named Chief Medical Officer of Medicine Services at Geisinger Geisinger announced that Narayana Murali, M.D., will serve as the new chief medical officer of medicine services at Geisinger. This leadership position will oversee Geisinger’s strategic plan and operations for the medicine, cancer, and women’s and children’s institutes throughout the system. Dr. Murali has served as executive vice president of care delivery and chief strategy officer at Marshfield Clinic Health System in Marshfield, Wis., since 2014, where he was heavily involved in driving and shaping its transformation. “Geisinger is always working on ways to make better health easier for our patients. Bringing Narayana Murali, M.D., on board as the new chief medical officer of medicine services will further our mission to enhance care for our patients, our members and our communities,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., executive vice president and system chief medical officer. “Given Dr. Murali’s wealth of experience and expertise and his passion for always enhancing patient care, we’re confident that he will continue to set the bar even higher for us to deliver a premier patient experience.” “After 15 fulfilling years at Marshfield Clinic Health System, I’m honored to be joining Geisinger,” said Dr. Murali. “This system has a longstanding history in the community and is nationally recognized for innovating healthcare. Geisinger’s patient-first mindset is one many in the healthcare industry aspire to follow, and I look forward to finding ways to transform the industry by creating an exemplary patient experience in our communities.” As the new chief medical officer, Dr. Murali will work closely with institute chairs to develop strategic plans that address customer expectations, as well as quality and cost of care with the goal of driving change for the betterment of patient care and Geisinger communities. Dr. Murali earned his medical degree at the University of Madras in India, completed his internship at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa., and his residency at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minn. He also completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored Clinician Investigator Training Program and a fellowship in kidney disease at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, as well as the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Geisinger Completes First Phase of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Scranton Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Scranton opens Monday, Feb. 7, in the Marketplace at Steamtown, making better health easier for patients and members in the area by consolidating and expanding services at one easy-to-reach downtown location. Patients of all ages will find the most comprehensive spectrum of services for bone, muscle and joint conditions — including arthritis, sports injuries, back pain, wound care and fractures — in Lackawanna County. With a focus on convenience and patient experience, the facility will offer expanded orthopaedic urgent care so patients can avoid the emergency room for sprains, strains and minor injuries. When complete, Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Scranton will be Lackawanna County’s largest bone, muscle and joint-focused facility of its kind and occupy 83,000 square feet inside the marketplace — triple the space of the former location at West Olive Street. The project’s second phase, expected to be complete in late 2022, brings additional programs in physical medicine & rehabilitation, as well as patient-tailored therapy solutions. Market research shows the population of Lackawanna County residents 65 and older continues to grow, driving an increased demand for orthopaedic services through 2024. “Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Scranton will provide all the world-class bone, muscle and joint outpatient services our community needs under one roof,” said Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., chair of Geisinger’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Our highly specialized team brings a personalized approach and the latest technology to treating each joint condition, sports injury or spinal disorder.” More patient-friendly features include abundant parking and access to several bus routes, along with proximity to Geisinger Community Medical Center. There, people can continue receiving surgical care with technologies only Geisinger provides in its service area, such as Mako® robotic-arm-assisted joint replacement. “We’re committed to contributing to a healthier, more vibrant Lackawanna County by providing the orthopaedic and sports medicine services our patients and members need close to home,” said Suk. “Geisinger has served northeastern Pennsylvania for decades, and our new facility at the Marketplace at Steamtown furthers our commitment to better health for this community.”
Geisinger Medical Group Physician Joins 65 Forward Team in Scranton Brenda Goodrich, D.O., Geisinger Medical Group family practice physician and medical director for Geisinger Convenient Care Clinic, is joining Geisinger 65 Forward in Scranton. Geisinger 65 Forward is a health care program designed exclusively for people age 65 and over where patients get longer appointments, more on-site health services and social, educational and wellness activities. With over 25 years of experience as a family practice physician in Pennsylvania, Dr. Goodrich earned her doctor of osteopathy from Philadelphia College of Osteopathy after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Scranton. Staying close to home, she completed her family practice residency at Bryn Mawr Hospital in 1996. In the same year, she joined Geisinger Medical Group, where she continues to practice family medicine. She also worked at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Urgent Care Center from 2012-2018 and has served as the medical director for Geisinger Convenient Care Clinic since 2015. “I’ve had the privilege of practicing at Geisinger throughout my career, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue providing care for my neighbors at Geisinger 65 Forward in Scranton,” said Dr. Goodrich. “I’ve seen Geisinger’s mission of making better health easier in action for many years, and the 65 Forward program is a vital part of creating access to better care for our communities.” Dr. Goodrich, who is board certified in family medicine, is accepting new patients for Geisinger 65 Forward Scranton. For more information about the program, call 570-207-5970 or visit geisinger.org/patient-care/65-forward/scranton to learn
Geisinger Honors Susan M. Robel Award Winners Geisinger has recognized 10 employees who go above and beyond in their dedication to patients at work and in the community with the Susan M. Robel Nursing Scholarship and Caring Award. Created to honor the legacy of Sue Robel, Geisinger’s former chief nursing officer and co-chief patient experience officer, the two award programs annually recognize the dedicated work of Geisinger employees. “Our Geisinger family members are always looking for ways — big and small — to improve the patient experience and make better health easier for everyone,” said Janet Tomcavage, chief nursing executive at Geisinger. “Congratulations to all of these deserving recipients. We thank you for your service to our patients and the communities we serve.” The Caring Award honors Geisinger employees who are dedicated to caring for others in the workplace and beyond. Like Robel, who defined collegiality and was an exemplary colleague to all, these people demonstrate a steadfast commitment to serving others and are incredible advocates throughout our community. They inspire with their compassion, thoughtfulness and selflessness. In addition to other honors, winners receive $500 in cash and $500 for their charity of choice. The Caring Award winners are: Carlos Castillo, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical CenterCandace Cremard, RN, Geisinger Community Medical CenterAshley Hoffman, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical CenterJudy Rockey, RN, Geisinger Scenery ParkMichele Swida, RN, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center The Nursing Scholarship program recognizes employees currently enrolled in nursing school who exemplify what it means to go above and beyond in providing patient care. These people continually show a commitment to meeting the highest standards of bedside care and work tirelessly to make sure patients are treated with the utmost compassion and kindness. Each scholarship recipient receives $1,000 toward their tuition, funded by the Alice E. Steele Endowment. The Nursing Scholarship winners are: Brianna Benscoter, RN, Geisinger Medical CenterMegan Harshbarger, Geisinger Lewistown HospitalJasselis Pozo-Guzman, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical CenterTerri Seidel, RN, Geisinger Medical CenterKatelyn Urbina, RN, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Geisinger Encourages Ordering Free, At-Home COVID-19 Tests Geisinger is encouraging the community to take advantage of ordering free, at-home COVID-19 tests through the new federal website. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests at CovidTests.gov and have them shipped right to their doorstep. “COVID-19 testing is an essential tool in stopping the spread in our communities,” said Kurt J. Wrobel, Geisinger Health Plan president and executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger. “Over-the-counter tests can save you a trip to your doctor’s office, an urgent care clinic or a testing center. In fact, if you have mild or no symptoms, at-home testing is your most convenient and safest testing option, especially with the long wait times at urgent care clinics and testing centers. Due to high demand and limited supply, the easiest way to find at-home tests is through CovidTests.gov.” Tests available through the federal website are rapid antigen at-home tests. They can be taken anywhere and give results within 30 minutes, with no lab drop-off required. If you have COVID-19 symptoms or you’ve been around someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID — you meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines for testing. If you have mild or no symptoms, at-home tests are an appropriate first step. If you test positive on your at-home test, follow the latest CDC guidance for isolation. If you test negative, you should test again within a few days with at least 24 hours between tests. Learn more in our Coronavirus Resource Center at geisinger.org/coronavirus.
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.
Geisinger Working to Drive Down Prescription Costs with EQRx Geisinger is working to lower prescription drug costs thanks to their work with EQRx, a new type of pharmaceutical company committed to developing and delivering important new medicines to patients at radically lower prices. Geisinger is committed to working to provide safe, effective, and affordable medications easily accessible to its patients and health plan members. The parties have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides a roadmap for Geisinger and EQRx to enter into a commercial agreement that would give Geisinger’s members and patients access to EQRx’s pipeline of innovative medicines, contingent upon approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The MOU contemplates an expansion of the existing, long-term strategic collaboration between the two organizations with a shared goal of bringing innovative therapies to the people Geisinger serves, in a financially sustainable way. The agreement would initially focus on EQRx’s two lead oncology programs, aumolertinib and sugemalimab, and could be expanded to other EQRx pipeline programs. Aumolertinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, and sugemalimab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, have both shown promising Phase 3 data for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). “Our partnership with EQRx is well aligned with Geisinger’s commitment to our community to make better health easier by directly addressing the rising costs of healthcare and medications in particular,” said Mike Evans, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Geisinger. “Ballooning medication costs are placing an unsustainable burden on both patients and the U.S. healthcare system. This partnership marks Geisinger’s commitment to disrupt the status-quo and help make lower-cost medications for our patients a reality.” “We are committed to partnering with different types of health systems worldwide to increase access to medicines, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Geisinger, a leading integrated delivery network,” said Melanie Nallicheri, chief executive officer of EQRx. “The MOU provides a roadmap for access to future EQRx products, beginning with our two lead oncology programs, and paves the way to delivering these lower-cost, innovative medicines to the more than one million people within Geisinger’s health system upon FDA approval.”
Geisinger Doctors Recognized Among PA Medical Society’s Top Physicians Under 40 Four Geisinger providers were honored among the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s (PAMED) Top Physicians Under 40 for 2021. Family medicine physician Jason Dinko, M.D., cytopathologist Renee Frank, M.D., palliative medicine specialist Lauren Nicholls, M.D., and clinical informatics fellow Raghuveer Puttagunta, M.D., were nominated by their colleagues and selected by a committee of PAMED’s member physicians. The awards are bestowed yearly to talented, early-career physicians who are already performing at a high level throughout the commonwealth. Dr. Dinko is a board-certified physician specializing in family medicine. He is the site leader for the family medicine practice at Geisinger Healthplex Woodbine in Danville, where he leads a group of eight providers and mentors local medical students. Dr. Dinko has been recognized for his leadership by example and his continual effort toward excellence in care. He grew up in White Haven and graduated from The Commonwealth Medical College (now Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine) in 2014. After completing his residency in Washington, Pa., Dr. Dinko returned to central Pennsylvania to serve communities near his hometown. Dr. Renee Frank is a cytopathologist who works in laboratory medicine at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. Since joining Geisinger, the Dupont native has served on tumor boards and lectured and mentored medical students. She was recently promoted to assistant chair of education for laboratory medicine, where she serves on numerous medical school and hospital committees to optimize medical student education, bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical practice and explore new curriculum opportunities. Dr. Frank was described by her nominator as embodying the “spirit of a doctor’s doctor.” Dr. Lauren Nicholls is a dually trained palliative care and family medicine physician focused on improving quality of life for her patients. A Scranton native, she practices at Geisinger Community Medical Center and specializes in adult, perinatal and pediatric palliative medicine. She provides compassionate care for patients with terminal illnesses, attending to their emotional and physical well-being while managing their symptoms. Dr. Nicholls also provides guidance and support to patient families, and she has a clinical interest in end-of-life care. She has published several works on end-of-life symptom management and communication. Dr. Nicholls has been recognized for going above and beyond to engage patients and families during their most difficult times. Dr. Raghuveer Puttagunta is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics with a clinical focus on caring for families and patients living with pediatric chronic disease throughout their life. He is currently in fellowship training in clinical informatics at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Dr. Puttagunta is leading several Institutional Review Board research projects with a focus on improving health care utilization for people managing chronic diseases, specifically those with intellectual disabilities, autism and adult congenital heart disease. He is also leading initiatives to improve provider efficiency within the electronic health record as part of the Geisinger Clinical Efficiency Program. Dr. Puttagunta has been recognized for his mentorship of trainees through medical school, internship and residency.
