Heather Davis

What’s your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give me a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

 My current position is director of marketing and communications, and I’ve been at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for nine years. In my role, I serve as a marketing and communications strategist for not only our medical school and graduate school but all of education and academics at Geisinger, including graduate medical education, nursing education, and more.

 What would you say most motivates you to do the work you do? What are you most passionate about? 

 I’m motivated by our students and learners who are changing the future of healthcare to be more community-based, patient-centered, and committed to inclusion.

 I’m most passionate about mental health awareness and ally work. I’m a Mental Health First Aid facilitator as well as a facilitator for SafeZone LGBTQ+ awareness and ally training, Microagressions and Ally training, and Green Dot bystander intervention training. I believe in making our campuses, communities, and beyond safe and understanding places for everyone.

 Where did you grow up and did you go to a college/trade school after high school? Where did you go, and what was that like? How did you end up in NEPA?

I was born and raised and am currently living in Dunmore, Pa. I graduated from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., with a bachelors degree in communications, majoring in film studies and production. I also have a master of fine arts in creative writing, with a concentration in screenwriting, from Wilkes University.

Clearly, marketing is a different field than film, but I get to be creative and use the skills from my degrees often. And someday I just may write feature-length screenplays for stellar indie dark comedies!

Hofstra was on Long Island, close to New York City, where I love going. I ended up in NEPA after undergrad for various reasons. My family is here, I’ve met some of my closest and dearest friends here, and I love this area’s vibrant cultural scene. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Dunmore, Scranton, and Lackawanna County no matter where I end up in the world.

Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are? Tell a bit about them and what they did that influenced you.

I’m constantly inspired by the women in my life. My lady friends are my rock and I idolize every one of them — they are amazing friends, partners, mothers, businesswomen, and humans. They keep me going.

How did you learn about Leadership Lackawanna? In what class year and program did you participate? Describe your experience. How did the program affect you post-graduation? What has your involvement with leadership Lackawanna been post-graduation?

I learned about Leadership Lackawanna while working at Johnson College. I’m grateful that the college sent me to the Core Program, where I graduated with the Class of 2011. My group, Tracks to our Past, partnered with the Electric City Trolley Museum to renovate Bay 4 of the museum for exhibit and community event space. (Extremely proud that this space has housed the hilarious John Oliver train!) I met a lot of skilled people from various fields and our project was challenging and rewarding.

I went on to become a group project advisor, which I’ve continued to do for years, and I served a full, six-year term on the Board of Directors (2015-2021). The Core Program group I’m currently advising is working with United Way to launch Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for kids 0-5 in Lackawanna County, which is, not oddly, very on brand for me.

Leadership Lackawanna does so many wonderful things for our local leaders and our community. I’m happy to be involved in a staple of the county!