The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, Patient & Community Engagement welcome new board members The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement have appointed eight new members to their governing boards, bringing decades of combined experience in healthcare, business, education, and community service to the nonprofit enterprise. The new board members will help guide The Wright Center’s mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve. Joining The Wright Center for Community Health’s Board of Directors are: ● Marie Beggin, the CEO of Penn East Federal Credit Union. A current patient of The Wright Center for Community Health, Beggin brings nearly 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. She also serves on the boards of Metro Action, Leadership Lackawanna, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council. ● Jill Durkin, Esq., of Factoryville, Pennsylvania, an attorney with a longstanding career in civil law. Durkin is active in community service through her work on several regional boards, including Meals on Wheels NEPA, Widener University Commonwealth Law School Advisory Board, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. ● Kirsten Smith of Clifford Township, Pennsylvania, director of career services at Fortis Institute. Formerly director of grants and education at WVIA, Smith has extensive experience in education, workforce development, grant and program management, and community partnerships. She also serves on the boards of Meals on Wheels NEPA and WRC (formerly the Women’s Resource Center) in Scranton. ● Adrian Wilck Summa, O.D., of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, a retired optometrist with more than 30 years of experience in clinical and hospital settings across New York. A patient of The Wright Center for Community Health, she brings extensive expertise in clinical care, healthcare delivery, and managed care. Joining The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Board of Directors are: ● Michael Clark, Pittston, Pennsylvania, the CEO of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. With more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, Clark brings a deep understanding of hospital operations, physician engagement, and performance improvement to the board. Before joining Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, he served as division president at LifePoint Health, a nationally recognized healthcare system. ● Peter Cognetti, M.D., of Waverly, Pennsylvania, director of medical education at Regional Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He has more than 40 years of experience providing patient care and mentoring future physicians. ● Himani Mongia, M.D., an Internal Medicine Resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, where she serves as president of the Housestaff Council and chief resident for advocacy. Prior to beginning her residency, Dr. Mongia worked in the humanitarian sector with Doctors Without Borders in India and served on the board of directors for Doctors Without Borders South Asia. Joining The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board is: ● Syeda Neha Aamer, M.D., an Internal Medicine Resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education and a graduate of Federal Medical and Dental College in Pakistan. A third-generation physician, Dr. Aamer’s commitment to medicine is rooted in a longstanding family tradition of service. She will serve as the resident leader liaison to the board, which supports programs and initiatives that assist under-resourced individuals and families in Northeast Pennsylvania, including those experiencing food and housing insecurity, social isolation, poverty, or other hardships
Serving Seniors marks support for older adults, honors Judge Vito Geroulo Serving Seniors, Inc., a nonprofit leader in advocating for and protecting vulnerable older adults in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will hold its annual dinner September 25 honoring Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo with its Legacy of Care Award. As Senior Judge, Geroulo served on Orphans Court, presiding over cases involving guardianships, estates, trusts, adoptions, and matters affecting vulnerable older adults and families. In a career spanning five decades, Geroulo served as assistant public defender and chief public defender and began a leader in the legal profession prior to his election to Lackawanna Court of Common Pleas where he heard a range of criminal, civil and family law matters. “Orphans Court is not a very high-profile court, but it is enormously consequential to those with matters beforeit,” said Serving Seniors Inc. Executive Director David Falchek. “Judge Geroulo brought a deep understanding of the law, thoughtful judgement and compassion to the bench in matters involving older adults,” The Annual Dinner will bring together community partners, volunteers, and supporters to reflect on the organization’s impact and renew its commitment to protecting and uplifting the aging population in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tickets for the event are available at https://ticketstripe.com/ServingSeniors. For sponsorship opportunities or more information, visit https://servingseniorsnepa.org or call (570) 574-4045.
Fall at the Furnaces Brings Four Arts and Cultural Events to Scranton’s Historic Iron Furnaces This fall, one of Scranton’s most distinctive historic landmarks will become a destination for live music, theater, visual art, and performance as Valley In Motion (VIM) presents Fall at the Furnaces, a four-event series at the Scranton IronFurnaces, 159 Cedar Avenue. Presented in partnership with Good Things Are Happening! Fest, Scranton Shakespeare Festival, Scranton Fringe Festival, and the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Fall at the Furnaces celebrates Northeastern Pennsylvania’s creativity, culture, and community while bringing new activity to one of the city’s most significant historicpublic spaces. Four events. One historic destination. “Fall at the Furnaces activates an incredible place in our community,” said Gus Fahey, President of Valley In Motion. “The Iron Furnaces are an important part of Scranton’s founding story. This series brings new experiences to the community, creating memories through music, theater, and art.” Fall at the Furnaces 2026 Schedule Saturday, September 12 at 12:00 p.m. — Good Things Are Happening! Fest A day of music, art, food, drink, and vendors. goodthingsfestpa.com Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. — Scranton Shakespeare Festival’s “September Serenades”A family-friendly evening of Broadway music performed by vocalists and an orchestra.scrantonshakes.com Thursday, October 1, 5:00–10:00 p.m. & Friday, October 2, 5:00–9:00 p.m. — ScrantonFringe Festival Launch EventDynamic performances and immersive 3D projection art installations transform thehistoric site. scrantonfringe.org
WVIA Earns W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award WVIA has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award, one of Little League International’s highest honors, recognizing the organization’s longstanding commitment to the Little League community and its dedication to sharing the stories of Challenger Division athletes with audiences nationwide. The honor comes as WVIA prepares to produce the 25th Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game, Presented by Eggland’s Best, a beloved tradition of the Little League Baseball World Series that celebrates inclusion, perseverance, teamwork, and the joy of playing the game. WVIA will be recognized for the award during an on-field ceremony at Howard J. Lamade Stadium on Saturday, August 29, prior to the International Championship Game. Established in 1988 in memory of W. Howard Hartman, one of Little League’s most devoted supporters, the Friendship Award is presented annually to individuals and organizations whose service embodies the spirit of friendship and commitment that defined Hartman’s legacy. For fifteen years, WVIA has produced and nationally distributed the Challenger Division Exhibition Game, bringing the inspiring athletes, families, coaches, and volunteers of Little League’s Challenger Division into homes across America. This year’s broadcast will once again be shared by more than 28 public media stations nationwide, in addition to digital streaming platforms. “This recognition is deeply meaningful because it celebrates something much larger than a television broadcast,” said Carla McCabe, President & CEO of WVIA. “Every year, we have the privilege of sharing stories that remind us what sports, and public media, are truly about: inclusion, community, perseverance, and belonging. We are incredibly honored that Little League has entrusted WVIA with helping bring these remarkable athletes and their families into homes across America.” The 2026 Challenger Division Exhibition Game will feature the Berwyn-Paoli Area Little League Challenger Division of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and the East County Little League Challenger Division of Oakley, California. The teams will take the field at Volunteer Stadium in Williamsport on Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. ET, celebrating the athletes and communities who make Challenger Division baseball possible.
Urban Co-Works hosting free networking event Urban Co-Works is hosting a free networking event on Tuesday, September 8 from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. The event will be at the Urban Co-Works building located at 116 North Washington Avenue 3rd Floor Scranton, PA. ‘Networking 5 to 7″ is designed to foster connections and collaboration among professionals in diverse industries. Attendees will be able to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and explore opportunities in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and corporate professionals are all welcome. You can secure your spot for this event here.
Urban Co-Works hosting free First Friday coworking event Urban Co-Works is hosting a free First Friday Co-Working event that’s open to professionals throughout the region. It will be on Friday, September 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Urban Co-Works building at 116 North Washington Avenue 3rd Floor Scranton, PA. Attendees will be able to get their work done in a distraction-free environment. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and office workers are all welcome. You can reserve a spot for this event here.
Fall Schemel Forum at University of Scranton to feature nationally recognized presenters The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will offer an eclectic lineup of programs this fall, spanning topics including culture, health care, history, media, politics and beyond. The events are sponsored by Munley Law. The first of the Schemel Forum’s two evening courses this fall explores television series M*A*S*H as a lens through which to examine American culture, war and storytelling. Charlie Cino, English and theatre instructor at The University of Scranton, will lead the course. The second evening course examines Karl Marx’s “Das Kapital,” one of the most debated and influential works of economic and political thought. Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at The University of Scranton, will lead the course. The M*A*S*H course will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning Sept. 10 and concluding Oct. 15, in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The Karl Marx course will be held from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on Mondays, beginning Oct. 19 and concluding Nov. 23, also in Room 305 of the library. The first of four World Affairs Luncheon Seminars will feature Rev. James Martin, S.J. H’17, a New York Times best-selling author and frequent media commentator seen and heard throughout the world. Father Martin’s lecture will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, inside the McIlhenny Ballroom on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center. Terence Keel, Ph.D., an award-winning professor at UCLA, will discuss death records and accountability in cases involving police violence from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Dr. Keel’s presentation will be held inside the Rose Room on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall. Victor Goines, jazz chair at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, will explore the various forces that have shaped the evolution of jazz from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Rose Room in Brennan Hall. Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., dean emeritus of the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, will present on the “social determinants of health” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Rose Room in Brennan Hall. The Schemel Forum will co-sponsor two collaborative programs, beginning with Peace Ike’s presentation and discussion on “The 3 Degrees of Why: Moving Beyond Positions to the Stories That Shape Us.” Ike is a culture strategist, dialogue facilitator and speaker who works across secular and faith-based spaces to build bridges and foster cultural transformation. Ike’s presentation, offered in conjunction with the University’s Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities, will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall. Beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Pearn Auditorium on the second floor of Brennan Hall, the documentary, The Librarians, will be screened. A panel discussion will follow featuring Susan Campbell Bartoletti, an award-winning author; Kate Cummings, assistant professor and research and instruction librarian for business and AI at the University’s Weinberg Memorial Library; and Michele Legate, district consultant for the Northeast Library District, based out of the Scranton Public Library. The screening and panel are presented in partnership with the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. The Schemel Forum’s annual University for a Day program will return from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Participants will attend three lectures presented by University faculty members on topics ranging from theology and mindfulness to college football analytics. Presenters include Will Cohen, Ph.D., professor of theology; Katherine J. Stefanelli, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services; and David A. Mahalak, D.Eng., assistant professor of operations and analytics. Registration fees vary by program and membership level. The collaborative programs are offered free of charge. World Affairs Luncheon Seminars are priced at $30 per person. University for a Day is $35 per person; however, the first 100 high school students to register may attend free of charge. Membership options and package rates are also available. For complete program details, registration information and membership rates, please visit the Schemel Forum website, email schemelforum@scranton.edu or call 570-941-4740.
The Dime Bank celebrates employee graduations The Dime Bank is proud to recognize five of its dedicated employees for graduating from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s Schools of Banking, a significant achievement that highlights their commitment to professional growth and excellence in the banking industry. Gary Schemel II, Amanda Abbruzzi, and Cora-Ann Grossman have successfully completed the Advanced School of Banking, a comprehensive three-year leadership development program designed to prepare banking professionals for management and leadership roles within the financial services industry. Through a curriculum focused on financial services knowledge, leadership development, and strategic thinking, participants gain a deeper understanding of the many disciplines within banking and how they work together to drive organizational success. Caitlin Babyak and Madison Irish completed the PA Bankers School of Banking, a comprehensive one-year program designed to provide a strong foundation in core banking principles. “We are incredibly proud of our team members for their hard work and commitment to professional development,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich. “Completing these rigorous programs demonstrates their dedication to advancing their careers and strengthening the future of The Dime Bank. Their achievements reflect both their individual talents and the bank’s ongoing investment in building the next generation of leaders.” Schemel II has served the banking industry for 12 years. As vice president, BSA/fraud officer, he leads the bank’s programs to stop financial crime and manage risk related to fraud. He oversees compliance with anti-money laundering laws and directs fraud prevention strategies. His daily focus centers on monitoring transactions, investigating suspicious activities, and ensuring strict adherence to complex federal guidelines. Additionally, he designs comprehensive risk-mitigation policies and delivers essential training to safeguard both the institution and our customers from emerging threats. Abbruzzi has served the banking industry for eight years. As training manager, she oversees employee training programs, coordinates the bank’s training curriculum, monitors employee progress, and helps ensure completion of required learning and compliance initiatives. She works closely with departments to support employee development and foster a culture of continuous learning. Throughout her career, Abbruzzi has built experience in training and professional development, helping team members gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their roles. Grossman has served the banking industry for seven years, joining The Dime Bank as universal banker in 2022 and recently promoted to branch manager II. She manages branch operations, leads her team, and helps customers achieve their financial goals. Known for her dedication to customer service and team development, she is committed to creating a positive banking experience for every customer. Babyak has five years of experience in the banking industry and currently serves as HR & training generalist I. She supports the bank’s recruitment efforts by sourcing and screening candidates for open positions, manages administrative responsibilities, and assists the training department with onboarding and training new hires. Prior to transitioning into her current role, she assisted customers with their everyday banking needs and provided exceptional service while building strong customer relationships. Irish has been in the banking industry for three years. As the insurance/escrow representative, she is dedicated to providing accurate, timely support to both customers and colleagues. Irish maintains and analyzes escrow accounts, assists borrowers and peers with escrow inquiries, and performs general loan operations functions.
The Wright Center to host September ‘Walk with a Doc’ events in Lackawanna County The Wright Center for Community Health is inviting people of all ages to lace up their sneakers and join a growing movement toward better health and stronger community connections with its monthly Walk with a Doc events. Led by local physicians and healthcare professionals, these community walks offer an easy, fun and social way to get moving while engaging in health-focused conversations. Participants enjoy light exercise, have the opportunity to ask health-related questions and connect with others in a relaxed, informal setting. The September Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. The Scranton Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m., also along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, with walkers meeting at the Olive Street entrance. These events are free and open to the public, welcoming individuals of all fitness levels. No pre-registration is required. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s Walk with a Doc program, please contact Melissa Germano-Ryczak at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center hosts ribbon-cutting for Carbondale location The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the opening of its newest community health center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Carbondale. The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale, located inside Friendship House’s new Whole-Person Care Center at 30 N. Main St., Suite 100, began seeing patients Thursday, Aug. 13. Led by Medical Director Bryan Boyle, a longtime board-certified physician assistant, the community health center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new location provides whole-person primary and preventive health services, including checkups, health screenings, and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. Care is available for everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients do not need to be a Friendship House client to receive care at the community health center. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-591-5298. “For generations, Friendship House has helped children, adults, and families build resilience through an extraordinary continuum of care that includes mental and behavioral health services, autism and developmental disability programs, social services, school-based behavioral health support, and integrated primary care,” Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The Wright Center complements that work by providing comprehensive whole-person primary and preventive health services while educating and training the next generation of physicians and interprofessional healthcare teams. Together, we are making it easier for individuals and families to access compassionate, coordinated care in one trusted setting – care that recognizes each person’s inherent dignity, supports recovery and resilience, promotes lifelong wellness, and helps people achieve their fullest potential.” The community health center in Carbondale marks The Wright Center’s second partnership with Friendship House. Since November 2024, The Wright Center’s clinical team has provided primary care at more than 3,500 patient visits at Friendship House’s Whole Person Care Center in Scranton, located at 200 Wyoming Ave. The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement is a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of health care in the region. The organization employs nearly 680 professionals – including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians – and trains more than 200 interprofessional health care learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
