Wright Center Dedicates Liberty Bell in Jermyn A piece of American history will forever be located at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. From left: Lauretta Graham, data manager; Kellie Knesis, vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer; Sheila Ford, vice president and chief compliance officer; Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO; Terrell H. McCasland, vice president and chief revenue officer; and Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer. Wright Center leaders and staff joined community members and local dignitaries at its community health center, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, for a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to dedicate a hand-painted fiberglass Liberty Bell in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, commonly known as America250PA, is working to place at least one fiberglass bell in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. It’s the fifth Liberty Bell sponsored by The Wright Center in Northeast Pennsylvania. Others are located at Carbondale City Hall, 1 N. Main St.; The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave.; Wayne Memorial Hospital, 601 Park St., Honesdale; and Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Tunkhannock. The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock is located in the Wyoming County Healthcare Center. Artwork adorning each bell was meticulously researched by Gina Lettieri, The Wright Center’s archivist, and hand-painted by Allison LaRussa, The Wright Center’s associate vice president of health and wellness, to reflect the unique spirit and landmarks of the communities where they are placed. “Each of our five Liberty Bells embodies the strength of our rich, collective history and our ongoing responsibility and commitment to safeguard the well-being of our communities,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, The Wright Center’s president and CEO. “May this Liberty Bell in Jermyn serve as a bedrock reminder of the innovation, compassion, solidarity, service, and leadership that define both this remarkable, hard-working community and our mission at The Wright Center to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.” For more information about America250PA and to see a full list of Liberty Bells across Pennsylvania, visit www.america250pa.org/PPE:_Bells_Across_PA. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org. The Wright Center for Community Health sponsored five Liberty Bells in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Each was hand-painted by Allison LaRussa. The Liberty Bell sponsored by The Wright Center for Community Health and placed at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley.
The Wright Center Announces October ‘Walk With a Doc’ Events The Wright Center for Community Health invites community members of all ages to step into better health by joining its ongoing Walk with a Doc initiative. These monthly walks promote both physical well-being and community engagement in a friendly environment. Each event is guided by local doctors and health care professionals who lead participants on a casual walk, offering valuable health tips and engaging in open, health-related discussions. It’s a chance to enjoy gentle exercise, ask questions, and meet others who share an interest in healthy living – all in a relaxed, welcoming setting. The October Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. The Scranton walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, 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. Walk with a Doc is a global nonprofit organization that promotes physical activity and meaningful conversations between physicians and community members. According to the American Heart Association, just 30 minutes of walking per day can improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, support weight management, boost mental health, and reduce the risk of conditions such as obesity and osteoporosis.
The Wright Center to Host Tinnitus Support Group The Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania will meet on Friday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Virtual meeting options are available for those unable to attend in person. The support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones, and anyone interested in learning more about this complex audiological and neurological condition. Participants can connect, share their experiences, and explore coping strategies in a compassionate and supportive environment. At the May meeting, Lisa Rigau, a registered nurse, nutrition counselor, and community educator of health, wellness, mindfulness, and nutrition, will guide mindfulness practices and offer daily exercises to support attention and self-care while living with tinnitus. Since 2003, she has been the owner of Healthy Lifestyle Management, where she provides private and group nutrition counseling, stress management through mindfulness, and educates clients on the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine: Plant-Predominant Nutrition, Exercise, Stress Management, Sleep, Social Relationships, and Avoidance of Risky Substances. Rigau is a certified mindfulness teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction through the Mindfulness Center at Brown University and the Brown School of Professional Studies and School of Public Health. She is a certified Mindful Eating-Conscious LivingTM teacher and certified mentor through the University of California, San Diego, having trained directly with the program’s creators, Jan Chozen Bays, M.D., and Char Wilkins, LCSW. Over the last 20 years, she has taught numerous workshops and lectures, eight-week courses, team-building retreats, and wellness programs. Her passion is to experientially teach health and wellness to support every individual’s greatest health potential. The support group meets the first Friday of each month from 2-3 p.m. For more information or to obtain the virtual meeting link, contact Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center for Community Health, at flynnn@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-230-0019.
New nurse practitioners at Wright Center’s Hawley and Jermyn practices Allison MillerKayla Gatto Two certified registered nurse practitioners with diverse experience in general nursing and acute patient care have joined The Wright Center for Community Health to provide primary and preventive care to people of all ages. Greentown resident Allison Miller, M.S.N., C.R.N.P., F.N.P.-C., joins The Wright Center’s primary care practice in Wayne County at 103 Spruce St., Hawley. She earned her master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees in nursing from The Pennsylvania State University. Miller is a board-certified registered family nurse practitioner and a member of the Emergency Nurses Association. Prior to joining The Wright Center, she worked as an education liaison for Regional Hospital of Scranton and as an emergency department nurse for Moses Taylor Hospital. At The Wright Center, Miller will see infant, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. To schedule an appointment with Miller at the Hawley Practice, please call 570-576-8081. Dunmore resident Kayla Gatto, M.S.N., C.R.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C., joins The Wright Center’s Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. She earned her master’s degree in nursing from The University of Scranton and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wilkes University. Gatto is a board-certified registered family nurse practitioner. She most recently served as a registered nurse in the medical surgical intensive care unit at Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre. At The Wright Center, Gatto will provide family practice care to patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with Gatto at the Mid Valley Practice, please call 570-230-0019.
