Geisinger Commonwealth graduates fifth MD class, eighth MBS class

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Geisinger Commonwealth) conferred 87 doctor of medicine (MD) and 69 master of biomedical sciences (MBS) degrees upon students who composed Geisinger Commonwealth’s graduating Class of 2017. Commencement ceremonies were held Sunday, May 7 at the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre.

After graduating medical student, Ghamar Bitar, sang the National Anthem, Monsignor Joseph Quinn, pastor of Our Lady of the Snows parish in Clarks Summit, gave the invocation.

Steven J. Scheinman, MD Geisinger Commonwealth’s president and dean, welcomed guests and graduates, noting that the Class of 2017 is the first to receive a Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine diploma. Dr. Scheinman observed that person-centeredness is central to the School of Medicine’s mission, saying the graduates “Have mastery of all of the tools of your specialty, but also the wisdom and compassion to deploy them thoughtfully and in the interests of what the patient wants.” He also reminded the graduates that, “It is a great privilege to be invited into the lives of patients as physicians are. You have earned this degree that we’ve given you today.  But this privilege is something that you have to earn anew every day.”   

Greetings were offered on behalf of the school’s board of directors by the board chair, Mr. Robert Dietz, and on behalf of the Geisinger Health System by its president and CEO, Dr. David Feinberg.

William F. Iobst, MD, vice president for academic and clinical affairs and vice dean, together with Dr. Scheinman, presented the commencement speaker, Deborah E. Powell, MD, for the honorary doctor of medical arts degree.  Dr. Powell is a leader in academic medicine, and currently dean emerita and professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Minnesota.

Patrick Schofield, MD, a member of the Class of 2014, delivered greetings from Geisinger Commonwealth’s growing Alumni Society. The ceremony concluded with a benediction given by Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum, Congregation B’nai Harim, Pocono Pines.

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.