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 earns Federally Qualified Health Center designation The Wright Center for Community Health has been designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This distinction will significantly broaden the organization’s ability to provide access to affordable, high-quality whole-person primary and preventive health services throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Awarded through HRSA’s highly competitive New Access Point (NAP) Program, the designation transitions The Wright Center from a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike to a funded FQHC. The Wright Center currently operates 15 community health center locations across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties, including its Driving Better Health mobile medical and dental unit, serving patients throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. About 70% of the enterprise’s patients live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, including 46% who live below 100% of the guidelines, underscoring the continued need for affordable, accessible healthcare throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.
Wayne Bank makes donation to help develop local park Jim Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce that Wayne Bank has made a donation in support of the Waymart Borough and its development of Wayside Park. With this donation, Wayne Bank helps the Waymart Borough support its project of developing Wayside Park into a centerpiece for all residents. “At Wayne Bank, we believe strong communities are built through partnerships and investments that make a lasting impact,” said Mr. Donnelly. “Wayside Park is an important gathering place for the residents of Waymart, and we’re proud to support the Borough’s vision of creating a space where families, children, and neighbors can come together for generations to come.” The goal for the project is to expand the park, providing equipment and toys for all ages. With the help of donors like Wayne Bank, the Borough plans to complete this phase in the development of Wayside Park this spring.
The Wright Center for Community Health earns federal recognition for health quality measures The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized The Wright Center for Community Health for quality and access improvements that enhance patient care. HRSA annually reviews the performance data of health centers across the United States to highlight organizations that meet or exceed its goals in categories of special focus, including quality, access, and health information technology, using data from the Uniform Data System (UDS). During National Health Center Week, HRSA awarded Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges for excellence in clinical quality to more than 1,200 health centers across the country. HRSA first awarded CHQR badges in 2021. Since then, The Wright Center has earned more than a dozen badges. For 2026, HRSA awarded The Wright Center with the following badges: Improving Health Care Access, which recognizes health centers that have increased the total number of patients and the number of patients receiving comprehensive services – including mental health, substance use disorder, dental, and other services – by at least 5% between calendar year 2024 and 2025, the two most recent UDS reporting periods. National Quality Leader – Heart Health, which recognizes health centers that demonstrate outstanding performance in clinical quality measures related to heart health, including screening patients for tobacco use and offering help to quit, preventing heart disease, using the proper medications to improve heart health, and helping patients control high blood pressure. Advancing Health Information Technology, which recognizes health centers that use technology to improve healthcare and make it easier for patients to access care. This includes increasing access to telehealth, helping patients stay involved in their care, sharing information between health systems, and collecting data to better meet patients’ health needs. In January, HRSA awarded The Wright Center for Community Health a 2024 Operational Site Visit Badge, after a virtual Operational Site Visit that determined The Wright Center demonstrated full compliance with all Health Center Program requirements. The Wright Center has also maintained HRSA’s annual Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) badge since 2022, which recognizes health centers that prioritize a commitment to continuous quality improvement and a patient-centered approach to care. HRSA-funded health centers, which include The Wright Center, provide comprehensive, whole-person primary and preventive health services at more than 16,000 service sites nationwide to one in eight children, one in five rural residents, and one in 15 adults 65 and older. Information about badge recipients can be found on an online dashboard at hrsa.gov. 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 enterprise 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 nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike 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.
Geisinger hosting free event spotlighting knee replacement Area residents can learn about knee replacement surgery and how to recover successfully at a free event Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Geisinger School of Medicine campus, 525 Pine St., Scranton. “Walk This Way: Recovering After Knee Replacement” will feature Geisinger orthopaedic surgeon James Murphy, MD, who will explain the knee replacement process — from evaluating candidacy to recovering and staying active after surgery. Knee replacement is a common procedure, yet many patients and families have questions about when surgery is appropriate, what it involves and how to achieve the best possible recovery. Murphy will explain: – How to determine if knee replacement is the right option – The latest technology, including robotic-assisted surgery – Strategies for maintaining mobility and staying active during recovery – Rapid recovery protocols Murphy is an adult reconstruction specialist with expertise in robotic knee replacements, hip replacements, rapid recovery protocols and revision surgery. He completed his medical training at The Pennsylvania State University, his residency at Case Western Reserve University and his fellowship in adult reconstruction at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. Visit go.geisinger.edu/walkthisway or contact gchscommunityevents@geisinger.edu. This event is part of Geisinger’s Third Wednesday Community Education Series, which brings trusted health expertise to the Scranton community each month. Murphy is available for interviews before the event.
The Wright Center for Community Health to host August ‘Walk with a Doc’ events in Scranton and Jermyn The Wright Center for Community Health is encouraging people of all ages to attend its August “‘Walk with a Doc” wellness events. These community walks are led by local physicians and healthcare professionals. They 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 July Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, 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, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m., also along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, with walkers meeting at the Olive Street entrance. The events are free and open to the public. People of all fitness levels are welcome, and no 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.
Tinnitus Support Group meeting at Mid Valley Wright Center location on August 7 The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley location on South Washington Avenue in Jermyn will host the Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania on Friday, August 7 for a meeting. There is also a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. The support group welcomes people living with tinnitus, as well as their family members and friends. Anyone interested in learning more about the complex audiological and neurological condition is also invited to attend. Participants can connect with others who share similar experiences, exchange practical coping strategies, and find encouragement in a compassionate, confidential setting. At the August meeting, featured presenter Erin Walborn Sterantino, Au.D., CH-TM, will discuss how to move beyond just “managing symptoms” through the principles of Polyvagal Theory and Mind-Body Medicine, to retrain your system to move from “survival mode” back into “rest and digest.” As the director and certified MBSR teacher at the Mindfulness Center of the Capital Region and an audiologist at Audiologic Solutions Hearing Center, she provides treatment for hearing loss, tinnitus, sound sensitivity, and mindfulness-based stress reduction to her patients. For more information or to request the virtual meeting link, contact Joe Kelly, community health worker at The Wright Center for Community Health, at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-903-0492.
Outreach – Center for Community Resources to host Children’s Career Fair Outreach- Center for Community Resources will host its annual Children’s Career Fair on Saturday, August 22, from 10 am to 1 pm. The career fair will be at 431 North 7th Avenue in Scranton and will have the theme “Professions for Parents, Too!” Kids ages 2 to 12 and their parents will be able to explore more than 40 career options and discover their interests in a fun, hands-on environment. Professionals from local industries will lead interactive activities. Parents and caregivers will also be able to speak with local employees to learn about potential career pathways and opportunities in the area. This year’s “Professions for Parents, Too!” component will allow adults to explore careers alongside their kids. Each child will complete a “career passport” as they move through the booths at the event. When it’s complete, they can choose an educational item from the free children’s store. There will also be face-painting, live music, STEAM projects, free back-to-school haircuts, back-to-school supplies, take-home career materials, and complimentary food and treats. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to dream big and aspire to greatness,” said Lori Chaffers, MSW, President/CEO of Outreach. “The Children’s Career Fair gives children the chance to explore different professions, spark their imaginations, and picture a bright future. By connecting parents with local employers at the same time, we support the whole family in working toward stability and self-sufficiency.” For more information about this event, you can contact Liz Ratchford at (570) 558-7562 or lratchford@outreachworks.org.
Menah Pratt named regional chancellor for three local Penn State campuses Menah Pratt has been named regional chancellor for Penn State’s Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre campuses, effective August 1. In this role, she will oversee Penn State’s northeast campuses, working closely with faculty, staff, students and community partners to support academic excellence, student success and regional engagement. Pratt previously served in executive leadership roles at Virginia Tech, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Vanderbilt University. “Menah is a highly accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success, institutional strategy and community engagement,” said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “She understands the important role Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses play in expanding opportunity and strengthening the regions they serve. I am confident she will provide thoughtful leadership for our northeast campuses while building strong relationships across the University and throughout the community.” Most recently, at Virginia Tech, Pratt served as vice president for strategic affairs since 2016. She has led university-wide strategic planning efforts, supported enrollment and student success initiatives, and worked across academic and administrative units to guide institutional priorities and support shared governance efforts. “I am honored to join Penn State and to serve the Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre communities,” Pratt said. “These campuses have longstanding traditions of student-centered education, community engagement and regional impact. I look forward to building on the conversations I began during the interview process and working alongside students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to deepen and enhance the campuses’ impact throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.” Pratt holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in sociology and a law degree from Vanderbilt University, as well as a master’s degree in literary studies and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa.
Chicken BBQ Dinner to Benefit Community Intervention Center Grab dinner and support a great cause by attending a drive-thru Chicken BBQ Dinner on August 15 from 2-4 p.m. The event will be at the Waverly United Methodist Church on Church Street in Waverly. For $15 per person, you’ll get 1/2 pound of barbecue chicken, a baked potato, cole slaw, dessert and rolls. A portion of each dinner will benefit the Community Intervention Center in Scranton. Pre-orders are recommended and can be made by calling (570) 313-7719. The CIC has served the unhoused population in Lackawanna County since 1972. It is a behavioral health recovery drop-in center and homeless day shelter located on North 6th Avenue in Scranton.
