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Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

Dec. 8, 2021
This chart will be updated approximately once a week. Last update: Dec. 8, 2021

Updated Oct. 8, 2021

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) is committed to the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The following protocols are in place to enter the Medical Sciences Building (MSB) located at 525 Pine Street, Scranton, Pa.:

  • All persons, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when inside the building.
  • Observe social distancing when possible.
  • Frequent hand washing is encouraged.
  • Only vendors, contractors and outside visitors on school-related business may enter the MSB at this time. The visitors will be asked the following questions before entering our building:
    • Have you had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 10 days?
    • Have you had fever, cough, shortness of breath, recent loss of taste or smell or a flu-like illness in the past 3 days?
    • Have you had recent exposure to anyone suspected to have COVID-19?
    If a visitor answers “no” to each question, then access will be granted, provided a mask is worn. We will urge any visitor who answers affirmatively to seek the advice of a healthcare professional. That person will not be permitted to enter our building.
  • Students, faculty and staff should complete Geisinger's screening survey only if they are experiencing at least one of the following symptoms:
    • Cold/flu symptoms or loss of taste
    • Exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in past 14 days
    • Requested by Employee Health to report daily symptoms
    When you complete the screening survey, you will receive either a green check mark or a red X. If you get a red X, you cannot enter the building. Employees should contact Employee Health (570-214-9424) and students should contact Student Health Services (570-558-4291).

 

GCSOM event guidelines

As of Aug. 31, 2021

Geisinger’s policy of restricting event and meeting room spaces to capacities of 50% remains in effect.

Because we are limiting outside access to our campus, the committee that reviews all events will take a strict look at fall and early winter events using the guidelines below:

  • Only curricular events limited to members of the GCSOM community may continue as planned, with mask and vaccine mandates in mind.
  • Non-curricular events and those that involve the general public will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Steve Jarbola at sjarbola@som.geisinger.edu or Kara Badyrka at kbadyrka@som.geisinger.edu at least seven days before your event to give the committee ample time to review for approval. Include the following information: Name, date and brief description of event, number of attendees and if any are open to the public, as well as the location.

 

Financial aid

  • CARES Act: Current GCSOM students can learn about COVID-19 emergency grants here. CARES Act reporting information can be found here.
  • Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA): Current GCSOM students can learn about CRRSAA here. CRRSAA reporting information can be found here.
  • Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III): Current GCSOM students can learn about HHEERF III here. HHEERF III reporting information can be found here (student portion) and here (institutional portion). 

 

GCSOM medical students

Current and incoming GCSOM students should check CANVAS and our internal COVID-19 Faculty, Staff and Student Hub regularly for up-to-date information.

 

Visiting students

Visiting students can contact Stacey Fenstermacher, clerkship coordinator, at sefenstermacher@geisinger.edu or 570-271-6697 or Megan Longenberger, medical education coordinator, at mrlongenberger@geisinger.edu or 570-271-8121 for information. 

 

MD admissions

Prospective medical students can find updates concerning our upcoming application cycle here.

 

Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) admissions

Prospective MBS students can find updates concerning our upcoming program start dates here.

 

Residencies and fellowships

Prospective residents and fellows can check individual program pages or contact individual programs for COVID-19-related updates.

 
 
Geisinger is following protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Pennsylvania Department of Health. Please visit their sites for more detailed information about COVID-19.

Geisinger has set up a hotline for those with questions about care recommendations and more at 570-284-3657. For more information, visit geisinger.org/coronavirus.