Northeast PA AHECKeystone College CampusOne College GreenLaPlume, PA 18440-1099

Phone: 570-945-5623FAX: 570-945-5613www.nepaahec.org

Northeast PA AHECBoard of Directors & Staff

Currently, our region employs 34,000 people in

the health care industry.

Fast Fact

Board Chair

Virginia Turano Executive Director Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Board Scranton, PA

Vice-Chair

Desiree Rockwell Executive Director Partners in Family & Community Development Towanda, PA

Treasurer

Jesse Ergott Executive Director Neighborhood Housing Services of Lackawanna County Scranton, PA

Secretary

Natalie Nilon Commission on Economic Opportunity Wilkes-Barre, PA

Board Members

Vera Walline, MPH, CHESExecutive Directorvera.walline@keystone.edu

Mary C. CaseySchool Coordinatormary.casey@keystone.edu

Carol M. Chaykosky, MSProgram Coordinatorcarol.chaykosky@keystone.edu

Northeast PA AHEC StaffSandra K. EggertBusiness Managersandra.eggert@keystone.edu

Amy H. RoweCommunications Coordinatoramy.rowe@keystone.edu

Maria E. ThorneAdministrative Assistantmaria.thorne@keystone.edu

Michelle Aldrich, CRNP Scranton Primary Health Care Center Scranton, PA

Dorothy Anthony, DC, DACBN, CCN Instructor/Coordinator Allied Health Programs Keystone College LaPlume, PA

Paul Bartoletti Executive Director CareGivers America Clarks Summit, PA

Penny Cannella President Penn’s Northeast, Inc. Pittston, PA

Alberto Cardelle, PhD, MPH Department Chair, Health Studies East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg, PA

Gwendolyn Galasso, MD Monroe-Noxen Health Center Noxen, PA

Gregory Germain, Esquire Gregory Germain Law Offices Scranton, PA

Christine Jerpbak, MD Assistant Professor & Director of Pre-Doctoral Education Department of Family & Community Medicine Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, PA

Vance Jones, DDS Together for Health Dental Center Honesdale, PA

Susan L. Rattner, MD, MS FACP Associate Professor of Medicine Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Undergraduate Medical Education Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, PA

Michael P. Rosenthal, MD Clinical Professor Vice-Chair Academic Programs Department of Family Medicine Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, PA

Eileen Sharp, MS Coordinator of Health Sciences Professional Programs, Division of Biology, Chemistry and Health Sciences Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA

Larry Stetson District Executive Director NE District, PA Dept of Health Wilkes-Barre, PA

Steve Szydlowski University of Scranton Department of Health Admin/HR Scranton, PA

Christina Whitney Assistant Director Career Services Marywood University Scranton, PA

Northeast PA AHEC Clinical Coordinators

William R. Dewar III, MDClinical Coordinator dewar3md@gmail.com

Martin McMahon Jr., DMDDental Clinical Coordinatorrhcmmcmahon@yahoo.com

Richard R. Silbert, MDBehavioral Health Clinical Coordinatorsilbertrr@ccbh.com

8.5” x 11” - Board of Directors & Staff

Northeast PA AHECKeystone College CampusOne College GreenLaPlume, PA 18440-1099

Phone: 570-945-5623FAX: 570-945-5613www.nepaahec.org

Northeast PA AHECBoard of Directors & Staff

Message from theExecutive Director

REPORT TO THECOMMUNITY

The Northeast PA Area Health Education Center continues its mission to provide support to our region’s health professionals, health professions students, K-16 pipeline programs and our community partners. Clearly the need for health professionals is critical now and in the future. According to Pennsylvania Department of Health statistics, Pennsylvania has lost more than 1600 doctors involved in direct patient care in the last two

licensing cycles. The United States as a whole faces a shortage of health care professionals, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists. As the baby boomers age, we face a critical and increased need for health care services and providers.

We see this in our own nine-county region. We have communities which have lost health care providers, health systems that struggle to recruit health professionals and talented health professions students who leave our region. Both rural and urban populations face shortages of primary care professionals. Dental and behavioral health professionals are in even shorter supply in our region. In response, the Northeast PA AHEC has added Martin McMahon Jr., DMD as our dental clinical coordinator and Richard R. Silbert, MD as our behavioral health clinical coordinator.

From our centrally located office on the Keystone College Campus, the Northeast PA AHEC reaches out to the entire region, providing interesting community experiences to hundreds of health professions students and programming and materials for thousands of younger students to interest them in health careers.

A recent and exciting development in our region has been the founding and accrediting of The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) in Scranton. The Northeast PA AHEC has served as a community partner in the development of TCMC. We are excited about the possibilities for the future and we will use our resources, in conjunction with other community partners, to offer TCMC our support and help it grow.

We know we cannot do all this alone. The Northeast PA AHEC would like to thank all our partners, and particularly Jefferson Medical College, for your support and dedication, past, present and into the future.

Challenging and exciting times are ahead. Together we can help our region make the most of the opportunities we find.

Vera Walline Executive Director

According to Pennsylvania Department of Health statistics, Pennsylvania has lost more than 1600 doctors involved in direct

patient care in the last two licensing cycles.

Fast Fact

“NEPA AHEC has guided me on my journey towards becoming a health care professional. Through key experiences, shadowing, community service, and leadership, AHEC has allowed me to immerse myself in the world of health care. AHEC’s support for students is unyielding, and I am grateful to work closely with such a fantastic group of people.”

– college pre-med student quote

Northeast PA AHECKeystone College CampusOne College GreenLaPlume, PA 18440-1099

Phone: 570-945-5623FAX: 570-945-5613www.nepaahec.org

Health Professions Students & Preceptors

“When Carol Chaykosky visited our site we found out how helpful the AHEC can be to students, particularly with rural rotations and learning about loan repayment. When I am practicing in Pennsylvania, I plan to be involved with student rotations through the AHEC.”

– 4th year medical student

“Dr. Wood was a wonderful preceptor; my rotation was the highlight of my senior year. It solidified my commitment to primary care and rural medicine. Thank you.”

– 4th year medical student

“This was my best clerkship in regards to the educational experience and feeling like an important part of a health care team.”

– 3rd year medical student

The Northeast PA AHEC creates collaborative, community based education and training for health professionals, health professions students and primary care residents. Our preceptors are committed to providing the best health care to the community and quality training for their students.

Michelle Aldrich, CRNPJoseph A. Anistranski, MDCharles D. Aronica, DOAmy H. Betz, MDRonald Black, MDFrederick J. Bloom, Jr. MDYoon-Taek Chun, MDKrista Civiletti, DOJulie Cleary, RDHFelix DeSio, MD

William R. Dewar III, MDPaul Diamond, MDRobert Dohner, DORichard English, MDNatale Falanga, MDGwendolyn Galasso, MDDina Geren-Bocko, PA-CNancy Gilhooley, MDJonathan Goldner, DOVance Good, MD

Gretta Gross, DOGarry Hamilton, MD Richard Hacker, MDRichard Huntington, MDHassan Khalil, MDJohn Kirkowski, DODariusz Koscielniak, MDJoseph Litchman, MDJames McKenna III, DOLinda Mendelsohn, MD

Paula Miller, OPAGenevieve Minick, MDWasique Mirza, MDFariba Modares, MD Sushil Mody, MDMoiz Mohyuddin, MDRobert Morton, MDLouis O’Boyle, DOAllen Orehek, MD Michael Peterson, DO

Scott Prince, DODeborah Spring, MDJon K. Sternburg, MDLinda Thomas, MDRamiah Vahanvaty, MDDaniel Williams, MDDavid Wood, DOEdward Zurad, MD

Our Dedicated Preceptors:

Continuing Professional EducationNortheast PA AHEC preceptors have access to continuing professional education programs and materials; faculty development; networking, mentoring and recognition; and the support of the Northeast PA AHEC staff and resources.

Northeast PA AHECKeystone College CampusOne College GreenLaPlume, PA 18440-1099

Phone: 570-945-5623FAX: 570-945-5613www.nepaahec.org

Health Careers

The Northeast PA AHEC provides health career awareness programs throughout our nine-county region, showing students the diverse and interesting career possibilities in the health care field. We work hard to encourage them to return to our region as our community health care providers. In collaboration with numerous partners we reach students from kindergarten through high school. Offering up-to-date career information for high school students; and programs ranging from dental health and the workings of the human body for younger children, the AHEC strives to encourage interest in science preparedness and health careers.

Contact Mary Casey regarding health career programming and guidance for students looking into secondary education in health care.

We also participate, with community partners, in numerous annual programs, including: Kids! Judge Neuroscience; Science Discovery Day; Brain Bee and Healthy You.

“NEPA AHEC assisted me in getting more involved in my community. Mary Casey is always there to ensure that I am climbing the right steps towards my goal.”

– a high school student

“Thanks to you and the AHEC, my children had wonderful, enlightening experiences that will be very helpful in their future endeavors.”

– a parent

Northeast PA AHECKeystone College CampusOne College GreenLaPlume, PA 18440-1099

Phone: 570-945-5623FAX: 570-945-5613www.nepaahec.org

8.5” x 9” - News Briefs

FYINews Briefs

Sixty-six percent of rural households have Internet

access and 34% do not.

Fast Fact

More than 90% of nursing homes in the United States have been cited for violations of federal health and safety standards in 2007. Nursing homes will now be rated by a five-star system (five being the best) that will be published on a federal website.

Fast Fact

Approximately 22% of adults in the United States smoke. In a recent study it was shown that smokers who abstain from smoking for even a few weeks find that their moods improve dramatically.

Fast Fact

DiabetesConsortium

Tara Gramigna, an AHEC volunteer, teaches children about the water cycle from an AHEC traveling trunk, Water, Water Everywhere.

Presentation of AHEC award for community service to LCCC dental hygiene graduate.

Preceptor Dr. Daniel Williams with medical student.

Dr. George Henning, MD, VMD, speaking on agroterrorism.