Geisinger, Softball Prospect Excels After Knee Surgeries A blur of motion. The arm whipping in a full circle, hips snapping forward, legs punching off the mound and a firm wrist snap at the release. The result is a ball hurling at more than 60 miles per hour toward the plate less than 40 feet away. Throwing a fast-pitch softball takes a sequence of mechanics, fast, explosive movements — and a lot of practice, according to Taylor Cawley of Archbald, Pa. Cawley has been pitching since she was seven years old. She had an illustrious career playing for Valley View High School, which culminated with her on the mound for the state championship game in June at Penn State University. “It was crazy. We had so many fans at the state championship game and they cheered for every pitch,” she said. “It felt really good to play in that game.” She didn’t just play, she shined. Cawley recorded 13 strikeouts and was named the state championship player of the game. The effort combined with her amazing senior season helped her secure a scholarship to continue her softball career at Binghamton University in New York. What makes these achievements even more amazing is Cawley’s hard work and determination to reach this point in her career, overcoming two significant knee injuries that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation during her high school career. My freshman year, in one of my first games, I threw a pitch and felt something pop in my left leg,” Cawley said. One of the team’s athletic trainers, employed by Geisinger, helped Taylor on the field and referred her to a Geisinger orthopaedic urgent care facility for an evaluation. An MRI during an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon the next day determined the worst: She had torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and had medial and lateral meniscus tears. “Given Taylor’s young age and high-level sports participation, I recommended ACL reconstruction as well as meniscal repair. I believed this would give her the best chance of returning to softball,” said Mark Pallis, D.O., a Geisinger orthopaedic surgeon. “After a thorough discussion with her and her father, she elected to proceed with surgery.” Cawley was put in a knee brace, provided crutches and started physical therapy to regain range of motion and decrease swelling prior to her surgery in May 2022. Dr. Pallis reconstructed Cawley’s ACL using a quadriceps tendon autograft, which involves taking a thin strip of the middle of the quadriceps tendon just above the knee. The tendon was then used to reconstruct the knee ligament. Dr. Pallis also repaired her meniscus tears during the surgery. “Taylor worked very hard, and she was cleared to return to softball without limitation in January 2023, eight months after surgery,” Dr. Pallis said. Cawley returned for her sophomore season and had success. However, in January 2024, during her junior year, she began to have some pain and issues with her knee. “Taylor came to see me with complaints of increasing lateral knee pain and clicking over the previous few days while pitching,” said Dr. Pallis. “An MRI confirmed that she had a new lateral meniscal tear. After a discussion, she decided to proceed with knee surgery, in an effort to maximize her potential for recovery and minimize time away from the sport.” She was on crutches for 6 weeks and her recovery lasted six months, but she was able to return to the field for her senior season. And what an amazing senior season it was. She garnered numerous accolades on her way to the state championship game, including Scranton Times Athlete of the Week and Softball Performer of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All Region Second Team Pitcher, PA Softball Coaches Association First Team All-State Pitcher and Lackawanna League D1 Player of the Year. “I am so thankful for everyone at Geisinger that helped me through these injuries. Dr. Pallis was amazing. He explained everything to me and my parents,” she said. “My Geisinger physical therapist Lynn Winter helped me through a lot as well. PT is not fun, but she made it the best it could be. She challenged me to get me where I am.” Dr. Pallis couldn’t be prouder of the work Cawley did to overcome her injuries. “It is extremely gratifying for me to see athletes overcome injuries and excel. This is exactly why I became an orthopaedic surgeon,” he said. “I am so proud of Taylor and what she has accomplished. She remained resilient through it all and fought hard to get back after her injuries. She deserves every bit of the recognition she has received, and I look forward to seeing what she does at Binghamton.”
Geisinger Hosting Super Saturday Flu Shot Clinics Flu season is quickly approaching, and Geisinger is making it easy to get vaccinated at Super Saturday drive-through flu shot events. This Saturday, Sept. 13, is the first event. Drive-thru flu shots will be available for anyone age 3 and older at dozens of participating Geisinger locations. Patients 6 months and older can receive their flu shot at Geisinger pediatrics locations. All Super Saturday events are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Events will also be held Oct. 4 and Oct. 18. “The flu vaccine protects you against serious illness and keeps you from spreading the flu to those at high risk of severe illness, such as newborns, children, pregnant women, elderly and immunocompromised people,” said Stanley Martin, M.D., Geisinger director of infectious diseases. Flu season typically begins in the fall and lasts throughout the winter, although the virus can be spread year-round. Super Saturday drive-throughs will be held at the following Geisinger locations: Central Region: Clinics Geisinger Berwick (2200 W. Front St.) Geisinger Medical Clinic Buckhorn (240 Mall Blvd.) Geisinger Frackville (701 West Oak St.) Geisinger Kulpmont (119 Nevada Drive) Geisinger Lewisburg (250 Reitz Blvd.) Geisinger Orwigsburg (300 Hollywood Blvd.) Geisinger Pottsville (529 Terry Reiley Way) Geisinger Woodbine (16 Woodbine Lane) Pediatrics Geisinger Pediatrics Pottsville (529 Terry Reiley Way) Geisinger Pediatrics Lewisburg (55 Medical Park Drive) Geisinger Pediatrics Woodbine (16 Woodbine Lane) Geisinger Pediatrics Bloomsburg (2407 Reichard Road) 65 Forward Geisinger 65 Forward Buckhorn (240 Mall Blvd.) Geisinger 65 Forward Pottsville (529 Terry Reiley Way) Geisinger 65 Forward Shamokin Coal Township (933 Route 61) North Central Region: Clinics Geisinger Medical Clinic Lock Haven (68 Spring St.) Geisinger Medical Center Muncy (255 Route 220) Pediatrics Geisinger Pediatrics Lock Haven (68 Spring St.) Geisinger Pediatrics Muncy (255 Route 220) Western Region: Clinics Geisinger Healthplex State College (132 Abigail Lane) Geisinger Lewistown (21 Geisinger Lane) Geisinger Mifflintown (27 CJEMS Lane) Geisinger Philipsburg Multi-Specialty Clinic (210 Medical Center Drive) Geisinger Primary Care Huntingdon (3228 Cold Springs Road) – Sept. 13 and Oct. 4 only Pediatrics Geisinger Pediatrics Healthplex State College (132 Abigail Lane) Geisinger Pediatrics Lewistown (21 Geisinger Lane) Geisinger Pediatrics Philipsburg (210 Medical Drive) Northeast Region: Clinics Geisinger Dallas (114 Lt. Michael Cleary Drive) Geisinger Healthplex CenterPoint (1201 Oak St.) Geisinger Kingston (560 Pierce St.) Geisinger Mountain Top (35 S. Mountain Blvd.) Geisinger Mt. Pocono (126 Market Way) Geisinger Tunkhannock (809 Hunter Highway) CommunityCare CommunityCare Hazleton (426 Airport Road) CommunityCare Kistler Clinic (175 S. Wilkes-Barre Blvd.) CommunityCare Mt. Pleasant (531 Mt. Pleasant Blvd.) Pediatrics Geisinger Pediatrics Mt. Pocono (126 Market Way) Geisinger Pediatrics Scranton (5 Morgan Highway) Geisinger Pediatrics Forty Fort (190 Welles St.) 65 Forward Geisinger 65 Forward Hazleton (20 Diana Lane) Geisinger 65 Forward Kingston (499 Wyoming Ave.) Geisinger 65 Forward Scranton (3 W. Olive St.)
Geisinger College’s School of Medicine Announces TEDx Event Geisinger College’s School of Medicine is bringing a TEDx event to Scranton on Thursday, Oct. 2. TEDx events, delivered under the banner “ideas worth spreading,” feature insightful, engaging speakers with fresh takes on topics of immediate community interest. The event will feature seven speakers who will share their points of view on fostering humility. Speakers will explore humility in science, medicine and education. “For far too many of us, humility is equated with being weak or lacking confidence,” said event planner Calvin Kiniale, a member of Geisinger’s MD Class of 2027. “We want to challenge that idea and showcase humility as a great strength that empowers you to connect with others and embrace lifelong learning. We are looking for speakers who will explore humility in science, medicine and education. Our goal is to spark thought-provoking conversations on the topic.” Event Details: Thursday, Oct. 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Medical Sciences Building, 525 Pine St., Scranton Theme: “Fostering Humility”
Geisinger College of Health Sciences Presents Preventive Medicine Lecture Series What if the foods you eat could help prevent or even reverse some of today’s leading causes of death? Dr. Michael Greger will share research on how nutrition impacts heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more. Gain practical tips to make healthier choices. What: How Not to Die When: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. Where: Geisinger College of Health Sciences, Auditorium 525 Pine St., Scranton, PA Register: go.geisinger.edu/hntd
Geisinger Holds Narcan Distribution Events Geisinger’s pharmacy, emergency medicine, addiction medicine and Free2BMom teams are collaborating again this year on two Narcan® (naloxone) distribution events in northeastern Pennsylvania. Geisinger personnel will hand out boxes of nasal naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, and teach attendees how to properly use them at community resource events in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. The Geisinger team will be joined by community health partners who will set up information tables and offer resources to those in recovery or seeking recovery. The first event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, on the lawn across from Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre’s emergency room. The hospital’s address is 25 Church St., Wilkes-Barre. The second event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in the Linden Street courtyard of Courthouse Square at 200 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton. The events are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville Opens to Patients Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville, at 206 Maria Hall Drive, will open its doors and begin accepting patients on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The 96-bed facility will provide care for adults, pediatric and adolescent patients with acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis and posttraumatic stress disorder. This array of acute behavioral health services provides a level of care unparalleled in central Pennsylvania. This is the second behavioral health center opened by Geisinger through a joint venture with Acadia Health. The first center opened in Moosic in August 2023. “Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville will serve patients with mental health conditions and in an acute setting where they get an intensive treatment plan to help them recover and get back into the community to continue their treatment outside the hospital,” said Imad Melhem, M.D., Geisinger chair of psychiatry. “As a psychiatrist who spent my whole career serving underserved communities, seeing the investment that Geisinger has placed in behavioral health and opening services in our areas couldn’t be more rewarding.” The center will allow Geisinger to consolidate inpatient behavioral health programs from Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, providing additional capacity to expand medical care availability at those hospitals. It will also serve as a teaching hospital, training students and residents from Geisinger’s College of Health Sciences, many of whom will go on to practice in Pennsylvania and carry forth Geisinger’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the region. “I feel this is the fulfillment of what Abigail Geisinger wanted us to do. She wanted to bring health care to our rural communities,” said Dawn Zieger, Geisinger vice president of behavoral health. “For the first time in central Pennsylvania, we’ll be able to offer mental health care in Danville so adults and children can stay in their communities, where they’re connected to their families and support systems. This is a place you’d be proud to stay yourself or send a family member. It really honors patients when they’re in probably the worst crisis of their life.” The total facility investment for the behavioral health center was $49 million.
Geisinger Hospitals Receive Perinatal Quality Improvement Awards Five Geisinger hospitals were recently recognized as recipients of the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s (PA PQC) Designations Awards which were presented at its annual conference in Altoona on May 21. Designation signifies the hospital has established multidisciplinary teams that have demonstrated continuous quality improvement work in maternal and newborn care by sharing best practices and data in their hospital and community in specific issue areas impacting maternal mortality, including Maternal Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), Maternal Sepsis (MS), and Safe Sleep (SS). A gold designation signifies a hospital’s proven commitment to data-driven, population-specific health goals and patient voice in their quality improvement work. A silver designation signifies a hospital’s dedicated commitment to incorporating data driven population-specific health goals or patient voice in their work. A bronze designation signifies the hospital has consistently met quality improvement submission goals. The awards were announced and presented during a ceremony at the Blair County Convention Center. Those earning the silver or gold designation level have undertaken additional projects focused on health equity and/or patient voice within maternal and neonatal health-care. The five Geisinger hospitals receiving recognition included: Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital: bronze for SS; silver for OUD; gold for NAS Geisinger Community Medical Center Scranton: bronze for OUD and SS Geisinger Lewistown Hosptial: bronze for SS; silver for OUD and NAS Geisinger Medical Center, Danville: bronze for MS and OUD; silver for SS Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre: bronze for OUD; gold for SS and MS. “Geisinger has participated in the PA PQC since its inception in 2019. Our hospital teams collect and submit data to the PQC every quarter and, in the spirit of a collaborative, share their successes and challenges so that outcomes can be improved across the system,” said James Cook, M.D., Geisinger director of newborn services and co-chair of the PA PQC advisory committee. “The gold/silver/bronze designations are highly appreciated by our team members who are taking the time to improve patient care to those patients affected by opioid use and those who work to increase safe sleep awareness for newborns in our communities.” Designation awards and levels are based on meeting quality improvement milestone criteria over a 12-month period from April 2024 to March 2025. In Pennsylvania, perinatal health issues persist, including racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes, higher than average maternal sepsis rates, and drug overdose deaths during pregnancy and postpartum. Through collaborative efforts, the PA PQC aims to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes across the state. The PA PQC is administered by the JHF and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeast PQC (NEPaPQC). About the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) provides quality improvement support to healthcare teams to improve the standard of care for pregnant and postpartum people and babies. Seventy-seven birth sites and NICUs from across the commonwealth participate in the PA PQC. The PA PQC is administered by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeast PQC (NEPaPQC). For more information, visit papqc.org. About the Jewish Healthcare Foundation The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and its three operating arms — the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI), Health Careers Futures (HCF), and the Women’s Health Activist Movement Global (WHAMglobal) — offer a unique brand of activist philanthropy to advance healthcare innovation, advocacy, collaboration, and education in the interest of better population health. For more information, visit jhf.org.
Geisinger Opens New Kidney Specialty Clinic in Northeast PA With a mission to bring specialty kidney care to northeastern Pennsylvania, Geisinger has opened a brand-new kidney specialty clinic with three new physicians. Located on the second floor of 521 Mount Pleasant Drive, Geisinger Nephrology Scranton offers specialized kidney care to diagnose and treat a variety of kidney conditions. The clinic cares for conditions ranging from kidney stones to more complex kidney issues, including treatment for hypertension, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Three nephrologists will practice out of the new office. Mohammad Al Khateeb, M.D., and Badar U Din Shah, M.D., have begun seeing patients at the clinic. Mugda Kulkarni, M.D., recently completed her nephrology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) and will join the team in August. Dr. Al Khateeb graduated from Hashemite University School of Medicine in Jordan. He spent the last two years as a nephrology fellow at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where he helped diagnose and treat acute and chronic kidney diseases and oversaw care for renal transplant patients. Dr. Shah is a graduate of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. During his fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center, Dr. Shah conducted comprehensive assessments and helped manage patients with various kidney disorders, including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances and hypertension. Dr. Kulkarni earned her medical degree from Ashwini Rural Medical College in India. She treated patients with a wide spectrum of kidney disorders during her fellowship at UCMC, was involved with numerous research projects and also headed clinical case presentations. The team at Geisinger Nephrology Scranton will provide consultations and comprehensive kidney care. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To request a consultation, call 800- 275-6401.
Misericordia University Announces Emeritus Status for Occupational Therapy Professor Misericordia University’s (MU) Board of Trustees recently awarded the rank of professor emeritus to Joseph Cipriani Ed.D., OTR/L to recognize his 34 years of exceptional service in teaching, research, and contributions to the university. In addition to the contributions Cipriani has made to teaching, research and service, he helped shape the lives of numerous students as a teacher and mentor, demonstrating an impressive record of scholarly achievement, authoring papers—both presented and published—and providing extensive service to his discipline, to MU and to the larger community. During his tenure he served as chair of the Occupational Therapy Department for more than three years, and he received the Misericordia University Teaching Excellence Award, the Louis & Barbara Alesi Excellence in Scholarship Award, and the Pauly and Sidney Friedman Excellence in Service Award. Cipriani assumed multiple leadership roles during his tenure at MU and developed several courses and experiences for students to gain real-world experience while serving their community. He created an occupational therapy elective that included working with Ruth’s Place in Wilkes-Barre as well as an elective that incorporated service-learning in Jamaica, working in concert with Mustard Seed communities. Cipriani leaves an impressive legacy at Misericordia University, where his teaching portfolio included vital courses such as Applied Functional Anatomy, Geriatric Occupational Performance Intervention, Research Design, and Contemporary and Emerging Interventions. His extensive involvement in the field of occupational therapy is widely recognized. Cipriani’s work on topics such as horticulture therapy, occupational therapy interventions for mental health, and international service learning has garnered recognition and significantly advanced occupational therapy practice. He has presented extensively at national and international conferences and published numerous articles in esteemed journals, including serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Occupational Science, OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, and Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. He also served on the editorial board of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics. Throughout his career, Cipriani has been an active member of leading professional organizations, including the American Occupational Therapy Association, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, the Occupational Therapy Association, and the PA Occupational Therapy Association. His commitment to service extended to numerous university committees, including the Middle States Self-study Steering committees and the Mission and Values Committee, and he advised the student honor society. Cipriani shared his insights in the classroom from his clinical experience as an occupational therapist at Geisinger Health Care System and the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at Allied Services. Cipriani earned his Ed.D. in higher education from Nova Southeastern University. He holds a Master of Arts degree in community psychology from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from College Misericordia, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Wilkes College.
Geisinger to Launch State-of-the-Art Disinfection Devices in Hospitals Geisinger is deploying advanced ultraviolet (UV) disinfection devices across its hospital campuses, enhancing infection prevention efforts in patient care areas. These cutting-edge devices use UV light to eliminate harmful pathogens. They improve safety by disinfecting patient rooms following manual cleaning, specifically if the room was occupied by someone with an illness that can be spread. “Bringing UV disinfection technology into our hospitals is a powerful step forward in protecting our patients,” said Mark Shelly, M.D., medical director of infection prevention. “It’s not just about adding new tools. It’s about strengthening our commitment to safety and quality and doing everything we can to prevent hospital-acquired infections. A visibly clean surface is just the beginning. Because germs are invisible, they’re susceptible to UV light. This technology helps us take another meaningful step toward becoming a high-reliability organization, where safety is at the center of everything we do.” How the technology works Fast and effective: Disinfects rooms in just 12 to 30 minutes, depending on room size. Smart technology: Tracks usage and automatically adjusts UV light levels to ensure thorough disinfection, even in shadowed or hard-to-reach areas. Safe and secure: Operated exclusively by trained Environmental Services technicians. Rooms are clearly marked during use to ensure safety. Targeted use: Used in patient rooms previously occupied by someone with an illness that can be spread. Tested, trusted and now everywhere Following successful trials at Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, where the devices were integrated without disrupting patient flow, 16 of the devices are now being introduced systemwide. Stopping germs in their tracks The UV disinfection devices are effective against a wide range of pathogens, including: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) Acinetobacter baumannii Klebsiella pneumoniae Influenza A Norovirus
