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LUZERNE COUNTY – The Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross hosts community blood drives throughout the month.

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Nikam

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Donors who are 16 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in relatively good health may give blood every 56 days.

To find out how to donate or to schedule a blood donation, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Blood drives are conducted at the Red Cross regional blood center, 29 New Commerce Blvd., Hanover Industrial Park, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1-6 p.m. and Thursdays, 1-7 p.m. Collections also take place every Monday from 9 a.m.-noon at the Hazleton Chapter House, 165 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazleton.

For a complete donation schedule, visit nepagivelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, ext. 2150.

PENNSYLVANIA – Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, a nonprofit foundation created to recognize and retain nurses in the state, will award scholarships to nursing school students for tuition, books and/or educational fees for spring semester 2010. The deadline for applying for a scholarship is Jan. 31.

To qualify for a scholarship, an applicant must be a resident of Pennsylvania who is enrolled in the state in a nursing school that prepares students to become a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse or be working toward an advanced degree in nursing. In addition, the student must have a minimum of a “B” grade point average, be enrolled in at least one course designated as “nursing,” and may not have ever received a Nightingale scholarship.

For more information or to download an application, visit www.nightingaleawards.org or call the awards office at (717) 909-0350.TUNKHANNOCK — The Tyler Memorial Hospital Capital Campaign to build a new emergency department is moving full-speed ahead, according to Tyler President and CEO, Denise Gieski.

Tyler and Mercy Health Partners announced recently that, as of Jan. 1, 2010, Tyler Memorial Hospital will become Mercy Tyler, a member hospital of MHP, Scranton, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Catholic Health Partners, one of the largest, not-for-profit, multi-hospital systems in the United States. CHP is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The updated project includes an expanded emergency department designed to meet the growing health demands of a changing community.

The revitalized campaign has a goal of four to six million dollars.

Pledge cards may be downloaded from the Tyler Web site, www.tylerhospital.com, and donations may be made by credit card.

HEALTH PEOPLE Dr. Shivprasad Nikam, board-certified vascular and general surgeon at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center’s Richard and Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital, recently completed the Endovascular Specialty Examination of the American Board of Vascular Medicine to earn additional board certification.

Nikam’s surgical specialties include minimally invasive endovascular treatments such as carotid stents; stent graft treatment for aneurysms of the aorta; and angioplasties and stent treatment of peripheral arterial disease. He also specializes in minimally invasive varicose vein techniques and traditional open vascular surgery for diseases of the aorta, carotid arteries and peripheral leg arteries.

Dr. William M. Brown, of Clarks Summit, was recently named chief of the Division of Podiatric Surgery at Scranton’s Mercy Hospital. Board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, Brown earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association and the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Maria Scopelliti recently completed her administrative residency at Geisinger Northeast. She will continue her work with Geisinger as an administrative fellow.

A graduate student at the University of Scranton, Scopelliti logged 1,000 hours of service at Geisinger under the leadership of Lissa Bryan-Smith, chief administrative officer, Regional Ambulatory Campus, to earn her final eight academic credits. She will graduate in December with a master’s degree in health care administration.

Health briefs are limited to nonprofit entities and support groups. To have your health-oriented announcement included, send information to Health , Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0250; by fax: 829-5537; or e-mail health@timesleader.com . Information must be received at least two weeks in advance.