Lycoming College News

Symposium to feature health care discussion

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College will host a panel discussion, “The Health Care Crisis in America: An Open Conversation,” on Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall. This free, public event is part of the College’s Spring Symposium on health care.

Following an introduction from Steven P. Johnson, Lycoming alumnus and CEO of Susquehanna Health System, moderator Dr. Neil Boyd, assistant professor of management at Lycoming and symposium committee member, will lead five experts in a discussion of the state of health care in America.

Panelists include Alice Brody, a consumer advocate and outreach director for Single Payer New York, who spearheaded a statewide effort in support of universal, guaranteed and cost-effective health care; Gary Colberg, Lycoming alumnus and CEO of Southeast Georgia Health System; Dr. Donald Hess, instructor of medical ethics at The Commonwealth Medical College and retired physician in charge of medical education at Susquehanna Health; Alison Hirsch, central Pennsylvania coordinator for PA Health Access Network; and state Rep. Rick Mirabito, Williamsport, sponsor of the state health care bill who works closely with Susquehanna Health.

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.

Symposium to feature short documentary “Poster Girl”

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Academy Award Nominated Short Documentary “Poster Girl” will be screened at Williamsport’s Community Arts Center on Wednesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. This free public event is part of the College’s Spring Symposium focusing on the state of health care in America.

“Poster Girl” is the story of Robynn Murray, an all-American high school cheerleader turned “poster girl” for women in combat, distinguished by Army Magazine’s cover photo. When Murray returned home from Iraq, her tough-as-nails exterior begins to crack, leaving her struggling with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and the challenges of rebuilding her life. Shot and directed by first-time filmmaker Sara Nesson, “Poster Girl” is an emotionally raw documentary that follows Robynn over the course of two years as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption, using art and poetry to redefine her life.

Following the screening, a reception with Murray and Nesson will be held in the Patron’s Lounge of the Community Arts Center.

Spring symposium to focus on health care in America

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College Spring Symposium will feature a variety of events focusing on the state of health care in America.

“The current crisis in health care impacts almost everyone on campus and in the surrounding area in one way or another,” said Lynn Estomin, professor of art and symposium committee member. “Health issues of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be the focus of two events that we expect to be of particular interest to psychology, political science, pre-med and sociology students as well as to veterans and medical and mental health professionals in the area. We hope to involve the campus and Williamsport community in a dialogue and search for ethical solutions.”

“Chromatherapy,” an exhibition from artist Patrick Nagatani, will be in the College’s Art Gallery in Snowden Library Feb. 24-March 25. A gallery opening and talk is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24, from 4-5:30 p.m.

Nagatani is an internationally recognized photographer, artist and Hollywood model maker. In “Chromatherapy,” he creates real and imaginary relationships between photography, light and healing as he photographs persons, animals and objects being exposed to a variety of colored lights. Nagatani explores popular culture’s fascination with growth and healing, teasing the fine line between a staged fiction masking as a documented reality, and the undeniable need humans have to embrace magic and pagan rituals for their own sake.

On Wednesday, March 9, Dr. Joshua Wilk will deliver a lecture on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers in Heim Building G-11 at 7:30 p.m. Wilk is deputy branch chief in the Division of Military Psychiatry in the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the Army’s leading center for mental health research of active duty and National Guard soldiers

The documentary “Poster Girl” will be screened at Williamsport’s Community Arts Center on Wednesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. The film is the story of Robynn Murray, an all-American high school cheerleader turned “poster girl” for women in combat, distinguished by Army Magazine’s cover photo. When Murray returns from Iraq, her tough-as-nails exterior begins to crack, leaving her struggling with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Following the screening, a reception with Murray and film director Sara Nesson will be held in the Patron’s Lounge of the CAC.

A panel discussion titled, “The Health Care Crisis in America: An Open Conversation,” will take place Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in Mary L. Welch Honors Hall. Moderator Dr. Neil Boyd, assistant professor of management at Lycoming, will lead four panelists in a discussion of the state of health care in America.

Panelists include Alice Brody, a consumer advocate and outreach director for Single Payer New York, who spearheaded a statewide effort in support of universal, guaranteed and cost-effective health care; Gary Colberg, Lycoming alumnus and CEO of Southeast Georgia Health System; Dr. Donald Hess, instructor of medical ethics at The Commonwealth Medical College and retired physician in charge of medical education at Susquehanna Health; and state Rep. Rick Mirabito, Williamsport, sponsor of the state health care bill.

All symposium events are free and open to the public.