On April 1 a group of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students traveled with Dr. Vicki Sapp, GCSOM's director for student engagement, diversity and inclusion to attend Strengthening Latino Health: The 2019 Latino Health and Health Disparities Conference held at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistryin Rochester, N.Y.

Two members of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's (GCSOM) master of biomedical sciences (MBS) Class of 2019 presented a poster of their research in collaboration with several Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's medical students entitled, "Trends in the Acquisition and Distribution of Opioid Drugs Among 10 Contiguous States," at an event held March 21.

Kristin Feickert of Purcellville and Ceilia Severini of Clarks Summit, together with faculty member Dr. Brian Piper, co-authored the research that examined the pattern of acquisition/distribution between 2007 and 2017 for 19 different opioid medications across 10 contiguous states (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky), with particular emphasis on Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the studied period, the students' research showed there has been a general downward trend in legal acquisition/ distribution of common opiates such as hydrocodone, morphine and oxycodone. With a better understanding of patterns of use and how that may affect adjacent states, public policy may be shaped to best mitigate the worst outcomes of the opioid epidemic locally and nationwide.

The research was presented at GCSOM's Spring Research Symposium for faculty, staff, physicians, students and researchers.

Three Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) students recently helped to plan and organize a First Aid Meet for about 50 scouts from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Scouts BSA. The annual competitive event was held on March 16 and was co-sponsored by the Council and the Emergency Medicine Interest Group at GCSOM.