Geisinger School of Medicine student group wins national award for prioritizing community service

SCRANTON – Geisinger School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Interest Group has earned a 2025 American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Program of Excellence Award, which recognizes groups that seek innovative ways to serve their communities. 

Student leaders accepted the award at AAFP’s FUTURE conference on July 31 in Kansas City.

“We are honored that AAFP recognized our interest group,” said Savanna Shaw, MD ’28, the group’s president. “Finding innovative ways to serve our communities is something family medicine physicians will do for the rest of our careers.”

Gesinger College’s chair of Jason Woloski, MD, serves as the group’s faculty adviser. “His mentorship has been an inspiration,” Shaw said. “He encourages us to advocate for comprehensive, accessible and equitable healthcare through the lens of primary care.”

The group’s 104 student members have undertaken a variety of successful community-oriented programs, including:

• Family Medicine sub-specialty dinner, where students engaged with physicians in sports medicine, geriatrics, medical education and addiction medicine
• Walk with a Doc monthly wellness walks that bring together students, health professionals and community members
• A “mental health dinner” that fostered meaningful discussions on the importance of mental health in family medicine and psychiatry
• Participation in Scranton’s annual Spring Health Fair to increase health awareness and prevention in the local population
To win a Program of Excellence Award, a Family Medicine Interest Group must demonstrate that it is well-rounded with competency in key areas, including:
• Community service
• Exposing students to family medicine and family physicians
• Promoting the value of family medicine as primary care
• Professional development

About Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Educating. Inspiring. Leading. At Geisinger College of Health Sciences, we bring innovation and purpose together to educate the next generation of healthcare leaders. As the academic and research arm of the Geisinger family, our college was founded to enhance and improve community health, with a focus on discovery, hands-on learning and applied practice across our system. Today, we offer a research institute, graduate medical education, schools of medicine, graduate education and nursing, and faculty and professional development programs. Visit geisinger.edu/gchs.

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