Cancer Institute Names Co-Chairs for 24th Annual Cancer Survivors Day

 Q. Thomas Novinger, MD, MBA, and his wife, Lorraine Novinger MS, PA-C have been named co-chairs for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 24th Annual Cancer Survivors Day- Honoring, Remembering, Sharing.

Q. Thomas Novinger, MD, MBA, of Mountain Top, was the former senior medical director at Blue Cross of NEPA and prior to that was a medical director for the Geisinger Health Plan in Danville, with responsibility for Health Care Services, Eastern Region and Medical Informatics.  His primary focus included analysis and reporting of medical cost trends and for management of the Health Plan network in Northeastern PA. He graduated from Bucknell University and Jefferson Medical College.  He is presently board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and recently completed an MBA at the University of Massachusetts.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. He has been a co-chair for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s C.A.S.U.A.L. (Colon cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) Day.

Lorraine Novinger MS, PA-C is an academic director and associate clinical professor for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at King’s College. She graduated from the King’s College Physician Assistant program in 1988 and completed her MS Physician Assistant Studies with a concentration in Education and Leadership from the University of Phoenix in 2008. She is a member of the PSPA and AAPA. She has clinical experience in Family Practice, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery, and Otolaryngology as a clinical Physician Assistant. During the didactic phase, she is the instructor for Diagnostic Imaging, General Surgery, and coordinator of OSCE’s and Didactic year seminars. In addition, she co-teaches Physical Diagnosis Lab in the didactic year.

Cancer Survivors Day is a dual-location event set for Saturday, September 10^th at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre and Saturday, September 24^th at McDade Park in Scranton from 10am – 12pm and is free of charge although pre-registration is encouraged.  The events feature the Circle of Survivors, an activity during which every person in attendance has the opportunity to say a few words about their experience with cancer. Conversation and light refreshments provide an additional opportunity for connection and support. Cancer survivors, their families, and friends, as well as caregivers and healthcare professionals, are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.cancernepa.org or call the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute at (570) 941-7984.