Northeast Counties Medical Society honors Geisinger College of Health Sciences leaders

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Northeast Counties Medical Society, representing Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, honored Julie Byerley, M.D., MPH, president and dean of Geisinger College of Health Sciences, and Jason Woloski, M.D., academic chair of Geisinger College’s Family Medicine Department, at its Presidential Reception on March 1. They were recognized for their contributions to regional health and well-being. 

Dr. Woloski, an active champion of elevating family medicine and expanding access to primary care throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, was honored as the outgoing Medical Society president. The inaugural chair of Geisinger College’s new Family Medicine Department, he has earned several teaching awards, as well as an award for the Geisinger primary care physician with the highest patient satisfaction scores. 

After accepting the Medical Society’s President’s Award, Dr. Byerley delivered remarks. She noted, “Dr. Woloski represents everything we want for our medical school and our region – exemplary physicians who are leading, teaching, and providing outstanding clinical care.” 

She also shared Geisinger College’s vison for health professions education in the region, including these achievements:

• The School of Medicine surpassing 1,000 physician graduates.
• The College’s signature pathway program, REACH-HEI, claiming 27 of the 115 members the MD Class of 2024.
• A new School of Nursing, complete with state-of-the-art building, in Lewistown. 
• A new Masters of Genetic Counseling program at the School of Graduate Education.
• Of the 446 medical alumni finished with all residency and fellowship training, 36% are practicing in Pennsylvania with 60 new physicians in the Geisinger footprint.  
• Geisinger College’s signature initiative, the Abigail Geisinger Scholars program, invests up to $16 million per year to provide forgivable loan incentives to cover full tuition and a living stipend for students who commit to work for Geisinger in critically needed specialties like primary care.
• 66 Abigail Geisinger Scholars have graduated to date, with at least 40 more in each class currently enrolled.  
• The College has opened fast-track “3+3 programs” from the School of Medicine into Geisinger residency programs. Specialties include family and internal medicine, with a new oral and maxillofacial surgery program just introduced. 

“We don’t just wait for our students to graduate to start helping our communities, though,” Dr. Byerley said. “Each student completes a meaningful community service project, and we have partnered with the University of Scranton to re-open the Leahy Clinic as a student-led volunteer free medical clinic in Scranton.”

She noted the clinic is “another place Dr. Woloski is leading,” thanking him for his efforts in teaching the students who work there.

About Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Educating. Inspiring. Leading. At Geisinger College of Health Sciences, we bring innovation and purpose together to educate the next generation of healthcare leaders. As the academic and research arm of the Geisinger family, our college was founded to enhance and improve community health, with a focus on discovery, hands-on learning and applied practice across our system. Today, we offer a research institute, graduate medical education, schools of medicine, graduate education and nursing, and faculty and professional development programs. It’s all in service of Geisinger’s mission to make better health easier for all. Visit geisinger.edu/gchs. 

The College is committed to nondiscrimination in all employment and educational programs or activities. Concerns or questions may be directed to the Title IX coordinator whose contact information is available at geisinger.edu/titleix.