President & dean
A message from the president and dean
My goal has always been to approach medical education and training pragmatically, considering it from the twin perspectives of what a doctor needs to know and what the community needs a doctor to know. Medicine is most effective when it’s informed by a deep understanding of the interplay of neighborhood, income, education — all the internal and external factors that influence health and well-being. There’s more to know in medicine than one can ever learn. We must set priorities about what we’re going to demand from each student and how we best prepare them to serve patients and populations. To state it succinctly, Geisinger believes, as I do, that we must make better health easier for our patients.
Our School of Medicine’s new Total Health Curriculum delivers a unique, distinct medical education that leverages Geisinger’s acclaimed clinical and technological strengths — including its international prominence in genetics and genomics. We also emphasize early clinical exposure, active case-based learning and community immersion to address social determinants of health from day one. Clinical learning is infused with community immersion, as well as health system citizenship, so our students learn how to navigate the complexities of American medicine while always maintaining a focus on the immediate needs of those they serve.
In addition to the MD, Geisinger Commonwealth offers a variety of outstanding degree programs, including master's degrees. We have more than 580 trainees in 37 graduate medical education programs and offer 31 advanced fellowships from addiction medicine to vascular surgery. Geisinger also has a School of Nursing that consistently ranks among the best in Pennsylvania. We’re dedicated to providing education that will make all our learners leaders of healthcare teams of the future.
Our faculty are not only expert clinicians and teachers, but also scientists making discoveries that will improve health locally and beyond. Much of our research is translational and focuses on precision health implications for improving people’s lives.
Geisinger Commonwealth graduates are known for their brilliance and their caring — for authenticity coupled with superior clinical skills and knowledge. This is what a pragmatic approach to medical education delivers. If this is the future health professional you’d like to be, Geisinger Commonwealth is the place to learn.
Sincerely,
Julie Byerley, MD, MPH
President and Dean, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Geisinger
jbyerley1@som.geisinger.edu
