Geisinger purchases School of Nursing property in downtown Lewistown
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LEWISTOWN, Pa. – Geisinger Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing today announced the purchase of property at 111 E. Market St. in downtown Lewistown for $800,000, according to Kirk Thomas, chief administrative officer for Geisinger’s Western Region. The facility will be renovated and house the School of Nursing, with a planned opening in August 2023.
“Our School of Nursing is a point of great pride for our community,” Thomas said. “We are pleased that, by providing students and faculty with accommodations dedicated solely to the school, we’re underscoring our commitment to education and to building a health professions workforce pipeline in our region.”
“Nursing serves as the key foundation for health care systems and is fundamental to providing access to high quality care,” said Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Geisinger. “The nursing shortage is well known, and with today’s announcement, we highlight our continued commitment to offering a pathway to the profession through a program that is regularly recognized for its high quality.”
According to its interim director, Beth Finkbiner, MSN, RN, the school admits up to 35 students per year to the two-year, full-time program. The RN program is highly ranked, thanks to the high pass rate its graduates enjoy on the National Council of Licensing Examination. “We’re proud of our program and our students,” she said. “Now, we’re excited to create a true campus feel for our learners and improve services in a space that provides optimal educational experiences, as well as faculty and administrative offices.”
Thomas said that, in addition to its School of Nursing, Geisinger is investing in the future of health care in its Western Region with a dedicated campus within Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and the Geisinger State College Healthplex for medical students enrolled at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, which will officially launch in June.
The Western Region is also home to three graduate medical education residency programs:
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Family Medicine
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Pharmacy
• Geisinger Clinics (West) Pharmacy, State College
The School of Nursing is accepting applications for its fall 2022 semester. Visit Go.Geisinger.edu/SON or call 717-242-7930 to learn more and apply.
“Our School of Nursing is a point of great pride for our community,” Thomas said. “We are pleased that, by providing students and faculty with accommodations dedicated solely to the school, we’re underscoring our commitment to education and to building a health professions workforce pipeline in our region.”
“Nursing serves as the key foundation for health care systems and is fundamental to providing access to high quality care,” said Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Geisinger. “The nursing shortage is well known, and with today’s announcement, we highlight our continued commitment to offering a pathway to the profession through a program that is regularly recognized for its high quality.”
According to its interim director, Beth Finkbiner, MSN, RN, the school admits up to 35 students per year to the two-year, full-time program. The RN program is highly ranked, thanks to the high pass rate its graduates enjoy on the National Council of Licensing Examination. “We’re proud of our program and our students,” she said. “Now, we’re excited to create a true campus feel for our learners and improve services in a space that provides optimal educational experiences, as well as faculty and administrative offices.”
Thomas said that, in addition to its School of Nursing, Geisinger is investing in the future of health care in its Western Region with a dedicated campus within Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and the Geisinger State College Healthplex for medical students enrolled at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, which will officially launch in June.
The Western Region is also home to three graduate medical education residency programs:
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Family Medicine
• Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Pharmacy
• Geisinger Clinics (West) Pharmacy, State College
The School of Nursing is accepting applications for its fall 2022 semester. Visit Go.Geisinger.edu/SON or call 717-242-7930 to learn more and apply.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
