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Pocono News Section
Classes Begin at Commonwealth Medical College
Classes Begin at Commonwealth Medical College - Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:25PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Aug 17, 2009 @ 05:25pm EST
var images = new Array(); SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Monday was a monumental day for the city of Scranton. After several years of planning, classes began at the Commonwealth Medical College. It is the first new medical college to open in the state of Pennsylvania in 40 years.
Students too a break outside their classrooms Monday after the first session of classes wrapped up.
"I was nervous going into it but they sort of put us at ease right away and it was a good first day," student Stephen Chorney of New Jersey said.
A total of 65 students make up the medical school's first class. Many are local. Others come from as far away as Seattle and California. After a week of orientation, they say they're ready to get down to business.
"It's very exciting. We get to start all of the traditions here and sort of make the path for what this school is going to be in the future," student Zachary Lyons said.
"We're going to be creating a student government. We're going to be creating student clubs to be set up for years to come," student Linda Sanders said.
The current students will learn at Lackawanna College while the college's permanent home is under construction. That facility will be completed in 2011. The medical school expects to put 425 new trained physicians in northeast Pennsylvania over the next 20 years and pump $70 million into the economy.
"This is a great feeling. A great time. This is the culmination of so many people contributing so much," Dr. Robert D'Alessandri said.
For the students, the first day also meant something a little different.
"There's not that competitive spirit that you have at other medical schools. Everyone wants to work together," Sanders said. | | |
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