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As the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly eroded their fourth-year expectations, 26 Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students decided on a new plan. Having completed all of the required objectives, they asked to receive their medical doctorate degrees early.

Steven J. Scheinman, president and dean of GCSOM and executive vice president and chief academic officer at Geisinger, found their decision inspiring. “We believe students who apply to medical school do so because they want to serve – to promote health and help the sick. That is certainly true of these graduates. Many of them sought early graduation because they were motivated by a desire to get into the fight against COVID-19.”
 
One such student is Chris Musto, MD, a student who matched into a radiology residency at Geisinger. When he learned he could begin to help Geisinger patients before his residency began in July, he applied to get his degree early. He received it on April 17 and on April 20 began training at Geisinger to take calls on COVID-19 for Employee Health Services, answering questions from his new co-workers about symptoms, return-to-work guidelines and other concerns.
 
Chris said, “I hit me how great the need must be when we were offered early graduation. Geisinger has invested a lot in me and I feel I owe it to the community. It’s perfect for me, especially since I will be staying in this community. Naturally, if I am assigned to the testing activity, I have concerns. But others are already taking great risk to help and it’s what I signed up to do as a doctor. So, I’m ready.”
 
Congratulations to the 26 MDs who were graduated early between April 10 and April 24!
 
In lieu of GCSOM's in-person MD commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for May 3, the school and Class of 2020 leaders have planned a virtual celebration on Sunday, May 17.

 

 

About Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) is a member of the Geisinger family. GCSOM offers a community-based model of medical education with campuses in Danville, Lewistown, Scranton, Sayre and Wilkes-Barre. Geisinger Commonwealth offers Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a portfolio of graduate degrees. The school’s innovative curriculum, focused on caring for people in the context of their lives and their community, attracts the next generation of physicians and scientists from within its region, as well as from across the state and the nation. Geisinger Commonwealth is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities. Visit www.geisinger.edu/gcsom.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Christopher Musto, MD '20
Christopher Musto, MD '20, shown here on Match Day 2020, graduated early on April 17.
Nishant Modi, MD '20
Nishant Modi, MD '20, shown here with his Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine diploma, graduated early on April 17.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Elizabeth Zygmunt
Director, Media and Public Relations 
Office: 570-504-9687
On Call: 570-687-9703
ezygmunt@som.geisinger.edu
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