Wright Center: Prioritize Quality of Life Needs in 2026 It is officially 2026, marking the start of a new year and a fresh beginning. As the saying goes, a new year brings new opportunities—especially when it comes to placing a greater emphasis on health. Dr. Erin McFadden January is recognized as International Quality of Life Month, a time to prioritize overall well-being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially—by adopting healthier daily habits. Improving quality of life can take many forms. Simple steps include focusing on a healthier diet by prioritizing whole foods and reducing or eliminating stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Regular exercise is also important, as physical activity can lower blood pressure, boost endorphins, and improve mood. Whether through joining a gym, walking, or running a few times a week, consistent movement makes a difference. Quality sleep is another essential factor. Chronic fatigue can negatively affect overall well-being and increase anxiety and depression, making it important to establish a calming bedtime routine and limit screen time before sleep. Finding time for rest and relaxation is equally valuable. In today’s fast-paced world, incorporating meditation, mindfulness, or simply moments of stillness into a daily routine can significantly reduce stress. Managing time effectively can also improve quality of life. Overloading a daily schedule can feel overwhelming, so prioritizing essential tasks before smaller items can help create balance. Making room for leisure activities—such as hobbies, movies, concerts, social gatherings, or sporting events—can provide joy and a healthy escape from everyday stress. Open communication plays a critical role in mental well-being. Talking through challenges with a trusted family member, friend, colleague, or licensed therapist can be one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Seeking help when needed is an important step toward maintaining mental health. Even making one or two of these changes can lead to noticeable improvements in how a person feels. At The Wright Center, these principles are incorporated through Lifestyle Medicine. The Lifestyle Medicine care team works with patients and families to improve health and quality of life through strategies such as stress management, tobacco cessation, improved nutrition, increased physical activity, stronger social connections, and better sleep habits. Clinicians trained in both conventional and lifestyle medicine develop personalized, sustainable self-care plans designed for long-term success. For individuals facing weight-related challenges, The Wright Center also offers non-surgical obesity management. Obesity affects millions of Americans and can contribute to chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and stroke. Board-certified obesity medicine physicians take a comprehensive approach, considering environmental, genetic, behavioral, and nutritional factors to provide evidence-based, safe, and effective weight management solutions. Achieving a healthy weight can reduce the risk of illness and significantly enhance overall quality of life. Ultimately, quality of life is a key driver of long-term health. Making it a priority in 2026 can set the foundation for a healthier future. Erin McFadden, M.D., is a senior vice president and chief medical officer at The Wright Center for Community Health. Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. McFadden is the clinical leader for all outpatient, inpatient, and specialty services. She sees adult patients at our Scranton Counseling Center, North Scranton, and Scranton health centers. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center for Community Health Earns National Recognition The Wright Center for Community Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) for its commitment to improving patients’ blood pressure control rates, earning Gold Plus-level recognition as part of Target: BP. Target: BP is a national initiative created by the AHA and AMA in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The highest award, Gold Plus, recognizes health care enterprises that have demonstrated evidence-based practices for blood pressure measurement and treatment, and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70% or more of the affected adult patients. The Wright Center also received two other Gold Awards from the AHA: one for improving the quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors through the Target: Type 2 Diabetes program; and the other for improving the quality of care through awareness, detection, and management of high cholesterol with evidence-based strategies and tools through the program, Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol. Target: Type 2 Diabetes addresses heart disease and stroke risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes and puts the unparalleled expertise of the AHA to work for health care organizations nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol supports physicians and care teams by offering access to the latest research, tools, and resources to reach and sustain cholesterol control rates among the adult patient population they serve. “Receiving these three Gold Awards from the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association underscores our commitment to advancing the health and well-being of patients living with these chronic conditions,” said Dr. Erin McFadden, chief medical officer at The Wright Center for Community Health. “Through timely diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed, empowering patients to achieve healthier, longer lives.” Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. – about 122.4 million – are living with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, according to the AHA. About 29.3 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another estimated 9.7 million are living with undiagnosed diabetes, the AHA said. Approximately 104 million adults in the United States (about 40%) have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All three chronic illnesses increase a person’s risk for serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease and stroke, which are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively. Stroke is a leading cause of disability, according to a 2025 report from the AHA. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people living with Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Howard Haft, a member of the American Heart Association’s National Quality Oversight Committee. “Organizations that participate in programs like this help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can improve patient outcomes. We are pleased to recognize The Wright Center for its commitment to quality care.” In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ethnic background, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that considers family size and income. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-209-0019.
Wright Center’s Scholars Day Highlights Cutting-Edge Research Dr. Harshaman Kaur, a resident physician explains her scholarly research poster to Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D., chair of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Board of Directors. Dr. Aroma Naeem, a resident physician entered her collaborative scholarly poster in the annual Scholars Day Program. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education hosted our annual Scholars Day Program on May 24, 2025, at our auditorium in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Our event included 31 scholarly research posters presented by physician learners from our residency and fellowship programs, as well as from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, the Geisinger Internal Medicine Residency Program, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center, and the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital Department of Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Erin McFadden – Our deputy chief medical officer, medical director of our primary care centers in Scranton and the Scranton Counseling Center, co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), and dean and director for undergraduate medical education and interprofessional education – Case Report Session. Dr. Qi Shi – Geisinger – Research and Quality Improvement Session. Dr. Nevena Barjaktarovic – Our rheumatologist and regional director of medical education for ATSU-SOMA – Community-Oriented Primary Care Session. The program opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. McFadden, followed by the keynote address, “From Clinic to Community: Partnering with AHEC to Shape Health Beyond the Exam Room,” delivered by Debra Youngfelt, executive director of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC). Dr. Amninder Singh, a resident physician in our Internal Medicine Residency Program and scholarly activity chief resident, delivered the closing remarks to conclude the day. Prizes were awarded for first, second, and third place in each poster session category. The winners included: SESSION A WINNERS (Case Reports) 1st Place Presenter: Dr. Himani Mongia, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “A Novel Case of Utilizing Overlapping Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents for Treatment of Complicated Marginal Ulcers at the Gastrojejunal Anastomosis” 2nd Place Presenter: Dr. Chukwuemeka Christian Aghasili, Internal Medicine resident physician, Geisinger Internal Medicine Residency Program Poster: “When Arteries Fracture without a Cause: A Case of Multivessel Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Associated Extracoronary Arterial Vascular Dissections in the Absence of Connective Tissue Disease” 3rd Place Presenter: Dr. Harshaman Kaur, Internal Medicine resident physician, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center Poster: “Unmasking the Silent Transformation: Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia Emerging Decades Post-Liver Transplantation” SESSION B WINNERS (Research and QI) 1st Place Presenter: Dr. Aroma Naeem, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expanding Valves in Patients with Small Aortic Annuli Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Propensity Score Matched Studies” 2nd Place Presenter: Dr. Harshaman Kaur, Internal Medicine resident physician, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center Poster: “Readmission Risk Associated with Falls in Decompensated Cirrhosis: Insights from a National Database” 3rd Place Presenter: Dr. Yuexiu Wu, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “Surveillance Study of Lyme Disease in The Wright Center for Community Health from 2015-2024” SESSION C WINNERS (Community-Oriented Primary Care) 1st Place Presenter: Dr. Sonam Gautam, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “One-Time Routine HIV Screening in Primary Care” 2nd Place Presenters: Drs. Justine Carlo Guevarra and Imran Hamid, Family Medicine – Scranton Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “Investigation into Possible Improvement in HSM Rotation for Effectiveness of Intern Orientation and Preparedness for Unsupervised Patient Care” 3rd Place Presenter: Dr. Archana Sridhar, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Poster: “Predictive Value of PREVENT Calculator for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients at Outpatient Clinics in Northeast Pennsylvania” Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education resident physicians, Drs. Sonam Gautam, left, and Lokendra Channtyal, display their scholarly research poster at the Scholars Day Program. They are in the Internal Medicine Residency Program. Drs. Amninder Singh, left, and Harshaman Kaur, Internal Medicine resident physicians at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, showcase their scholarly research poster at The Wright Center’s annual Scholars Day Program.
