The Wright Center Interns Gain Hands-on Experience The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted 26 high school and college interns over the summer, providing hands-on experience for students following multiple career paths. The interns were assigned to several departments, including administration, clinical, finance, legal, and marketing and communications. Their experience was capped off with an Internship Poster Capstone event, which board members, executives, and employees attended to hear students discuss their projects and answer questions about their findings, internship experience, and future plans. Attendees at the annual event cast ballots for the scholarly posters. Prizes were awarded to the top three vote-getters: First place: Katherine Mena Pereyra, of American University in Washington, D.C., created the scholarly poster, “Advocacy Coffee Connections: Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill. She was mentored by Aimee Wechsler, director of government affairs at The Wright Center. Second place: Noah Lynch of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, for his research poster, “Increasing the Uptake of PrEP Among Women.” The project focused on educating providers and women in the community about the importance of pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, which can significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Melissa Bonnerwith, grants administrator at The Wright Center’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic, was his mentor. Third place: Shane Cegelka, of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, showcased his poster, “The Importance of Proper Informed Consent in Healthcare.” Cegelka was mentored by Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer, and Courtney Kuschke, paralegal, at The Wright Center. To learn more about internship opportunities, visit TheWrightCenter.org/internships.
The Wright Center Resident Presents at National Cardivovascular Conference An Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education presented research at a national conference for cardiovascular innovations. Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year medical resident based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, attended the Cardiovascular Innovations Meeting in Austin, Texas, in July. At the three-day conference, which focused on state-of-the-art therapy for peripheral, coronary, and structural heart disease, Dr. Tabassum presented research on peripheral artery disease (PAD) mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses. He led a research team, which included Dr. Douglas Klamp, the Internal Medicine Residency Program director, chief medical education officer, senior vice president, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition at The Wright Center, and Wright Center Internal Medicine resident physician Dr. Aroma Naeem, that analyzed data using a free, online public health information system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The team examined data collected between 2000-2019 about patients’ gender, race and ethnicity, state, census region, and metropolitan status. “We found a decline in PAD-related mortality among patients with metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Tabassum said. “However, notable disparities persist across demographic and regional groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and further research.” Dr. Tabassum, a native of Faisalabad, Pakistan, developed an interest in cardiology through a combination of clinical exposure and academic curiosity. “It was a pleasure and an honor to represent The Wright Center on a national stage,” Dr. Tabassum said. “Attending a conference with so many like-minded professionals was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from leading experts, and stay updated on the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.” The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency program. Today, The Wright Center is one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums in the nation. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains resident and fellow physicians in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance its 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. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.
The Arc of Northeastern PA Names New Executive Director The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization committed to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities IDD, has named Marsha Pigga their new Executive Director. The Arc-NEPA is a grassroots organization formed in 1955 by a group of parents seeking public education for their children with IDD. Since that time a growing number of parents, neighbors, and members of the business and professional communities have faced numerous challenges in advocating for children and adults with IDD. Previously, Ms. Pigga was the Executive Director of Domestic Violence Service Center which is a nonprofit organization committed to working towards an end to the problem of domestic violence in our culture. Domestic Violence Service Center is founded in the belief that violence in the home is a crime, primarily committed against women and children, which has a devastating impact on the lives of all family members and society as a whole. Prior to the Domestic Violence Service Center, Marsha served as the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania where she delivered over 20 years of experience in non-profit administration providing mission-focused results through team-oriented strategic processes. Her culmination of experience working in mental health counseling and mental health administration fostered her success in creating a culture of care to further the mission. Ms. Pigga holds a MA from Marywood University and a BS from King’s College. She served as a Student Assistance Program Regional Trainer and Commonwealth Prevention Alliance State Board Member and is a former member of the Scranton Counseling Center Board of Directors, Trauma Informed Care Community Committee, NEPA Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the University of Scranton Graduate Nursing Program-Community Advisory Board. “We are thrilled to welcome Marsha Pigga to The Arc, said Bill Burnell, Board President. “She brings an impressive combination of experience, vision, and energy. Her passion for service aligns with The Arc’s mission of ensuring that people with IDD in Northeastern Pennsylvania are valued, respected, and fully included in the community.” Pigga expressed enthusiasm about joining The Arc. “I welcome the opportunity to lead an organization that has such a wonderful impact on the community,” she said. “To continue the mission and hard work will be a privilege.”
The Settlers Inn Earns Award for World’s Best Restaurant for Wine The Settlers Inn has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine. “A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year—we raise a glass to all our winners.” “The Settlers Inn team is proud to be the only restaurant in Northeast PA to receive the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence in 2025,” explains Sommelier Claude Briere. “We have curated a wine list covering the most important wine regions of the world, packed full of gems for everyone to experience. From novice to connoisseur, there is a wine for everyone to discover, at prices that can accommodate all budgets.” Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,010; 1,704; and 97 winners this year in each respective category. The Settlers Inn has won the Best of Award of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year. Best of Award of Excellence recipients display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue is available to readers now. Follow Wine Spectator on Instagram (@wine_spectator) and use hashtag #WSRestaurantAwards for posts about this year’s awards. WineSpectator.com/Restaurants also features coverage of winners, interviews with leading wine directors, wine picks and pairing tips from sommeliers at award-winning programs. In the Restaurant Search, all winners can be searched by name, location, award level, cuisine, wine specialties and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.
Pennsylvania Treasury, Secretary Visits Coffee Inclusive for National ABLE Savings Day Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today visited Coffee Inclusive in Pittston, Luzerne County to celebrate National ABLE Savings Day and promote the PA ABLE Savings Program. PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts are a tax-free way for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and their families, to save without affecting eligibility for important benefits. Frank Bartoli, founder and CEO of PA Inclusive, parent organization of Coffee Inclusive, led a tour of the coffee shop and bakery. Coffee Inclusive employs over twenty people with intellectual disabilities and autism. “The opportunities provided by Coffee Inclusive are life-changing, and their facility is incredible,” Treasurer Garrity said. “I’m always inspired by the people I meet in every corner of the Commonwealth who save with PA ABLE, and I encourage everyone who has a family member or friend with a disability to learn more about what PA ABLE can do for them.” “It was an honor to host Treasurer Stacy Garrity at Coffee Inclusive for National ABLE Savings Day and to learn more about improvements coming to ABLE eligibility,” said Frank Bartoli, Founder and CEO of PA Inclusive. “As a parent of an adult child with Down Syndrome, an ABLE account will allow my daughter, Ellie, to live an even better life.” Since 2021, annual account maintenance fees have been reduced five times for PA ABLE account owners. Currently, to be eligible to save with an ABLE program, a person’s disability must be onset prior to their 26th birthday. Starting in January 2026, ABLE eligibility will be expanded to include those whose disability is onset prior to age 46. This gives more than six million more Americans, including one million Veterans the opportunity to save with ABLE programs. States were authorized to create ABLE programs with the passage of federal ABLE legislation in 2014. PA ABLE was enacted in 2016 with leadership from Senator Lisa Baker; the first PA ABLE account was opened the following year. Since then, the program has grown to be the fifth largest in the nation with nearly $170 million saved and over 11,000 accounts. Under Treasury Garrity’s leadership, PA ABLE account assets have more than tripled. PA ABLE account owners can save and pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses, like groceries, rent, healthcare, transportation, and longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology. “PA ABLE is a tremendous tool to help our family and friends with disabilities live more independently and plan for a secure future,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Treasury is celebrating National ABLE Savings Day by helping more and more families learn about this great program with a live webinar tonight. Anyone can register to learn more about this empowering program, and I encourage anyone with a family member or friend who can benefit from PA ABLE to attend and learn more.” PA ABLE offers several different savings and investment options, including a checking account. PA ABLE account owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year. Contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes. To learn more about PA ABLE, the Pennsylvania Treasury will host a free webinar tonight at 6 p.m. with additional webinars slated for September and October. To register for this webinar, or others, please visit paable.gov/webinars. To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov, email info@paable.gov or call 855-529-2253.
Misericordia University Program Supports Early Literacy Development Misericordia University recently concluded its Free Kindergarten Readiness Program, designed to help preschool-aged children build the foundational literacy skills needed for a confident start to school. The two-hour, small-group sessions were held at the university’s Literacy Center in Passan Hall and led by Kathleen Scaler Scott, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, along with experienced graduate student clinicians in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology. This summer, the program served 12 children—six in a morning group and six in an afternoon group—and generated significant community interest, with 35 children placed on a waiting list. Due to this overwhelming demand, the university is already accepting names for next summer’s program. The program introduced children to essential skills proven to support strong reading and writing, including phonological awareness, oral and written language comprehension, letter-sound knowledge, and understanding narrative structure. Delivered in a fun and engaging environment, the sessions provided small group instruction while giving student clinicians valuable hands-on experience. “It was so exciting to provide this service to children in the community,” said Dr. Scaler Scott, who has been a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for more than 30 years and has worked in three schools for children with literacy challenges. She is a professor, Board-Certified Specialist in Stuttering, Cluttering, and Fluency (BCS-SF), and ASHA Fellow. “This is just the start of the literacy programs we’d like to provide for preschoolers through adults. We hope to provide programming to address skills in reading, writing, and spelling. Since these skills are language-based, SLPs play a critical role in assisting with their development. According to the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, SLPs play a role in preventing, identifying, assessing and treating literacy challenges. We collaborate with educators, reading specialists and other professionals to support literacy acquisition. Because we are training SLP student clinicians, we are able to provide affordable services.” The initiative reflects Misericordia University’s commitment to serving the community through accessible, evidence-based literacy support. Plans are already underway to expand offerings to additional age groups, from early learners to adults, ensuring that individuals at all stages of life have access to the tools they need for literacy success. For more information about future literacy programs, or to add a child’s name to the waiting list for next summer, contact Dr. Kathleen Scaler Scott at 570-674-1437 or kscott@misericordia.edu.
Corky’s Garden Path Voted 2025 Best Garden Center Corky’s Garden Path was voted the 2025 Best of the Abingtons and 2025 Best of Lackawanna County for garden centers.
The Greater Scranton Chamber Announces Two New Additions to Its Team The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce leadership is pleased to announce the hire of Kira Loomis as business development specialist and Lindsay May as workforce and leadership assistant. Kira Loomis, business development specialist Lindsay May, leadership and workforce assistant In her new capacity, Loomis will support the Chamber’s business development divisions: The Scranton Plan and Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO). Her responsibilities encompass site selection marketing, business recruitment and expansion, and client engagement, in addition to assisting in the coordination of community-facing events aimed at fostering investment and employment opportunities in Lackawanna County. Loomis brings with her experience in marketing, communications, and community engagement. Her most recent position was as marketing and community outreach coordinator at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), where she managed prominent events, spearheaded workforce awareness initiatives, and oversaw marketing strategies, both digital and print. A native of Scranton, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Media and Journalism with a specialization in Public Relations from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. As Workforce and Leadership Assistant, May will provide administrative and programmatic support for two of the Chamber’s divisions: Leadership Lackawanna and Skills in Scranton—while also assisting with daily operations and office management across the organization. May brings expertise in client support, operations, and team leadership across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. Her recent role was as Customer Specialist at DealerOn, where she managed high-level customer inquiries and website operations. Her previous positions at Benco Dental and Uline further demonstrate her skills in relationship management, training, and sales support. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Kutztown University. “We are enthusiastic about welcoming both Kira Loomis and Lindsay May to our team,” stated Amy Luyster, vice president of business and workforce development. “Their impressive skills and experience, complemented by a genuine passion for our mission and the communities we serve, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our business and workforce development initiatives.” The Chamber leadership is delighted to welcome Loomis and May and anticipates their valuable contributions toward advancing the organization’s mission to support local enterprises and fortify communities throughout the region.
TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty Extend Application Deadline The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Lackawanna County announce that applications for a fourth cohort of TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty are extended to August 29, 2025. The program is a partnership between Lackawanna County, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA, and The Chamber, in collaboration with tecBRIDGE as the program administrator. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a 10-week, in-person experience in which participants can access mentors, educational resources, and subject matter experts on business formation strategies, customer discovery, marketing, financial planning, and risk management. The goal of the ten weeks is to build, share, and pitch their early-stage start-ups. Previous TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty programs have helped 23 entrepreneurs gain traction toward achieving their American dreams. In this fourth cohort, eight more can experience the same resources and excitement. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a competitive application process. Residents of Lackawanna County with tech, for-profit business, or early start-up ideas are encouraged to apply. Participants who complete all program requirements may be eligible for a $10,000 reimbursable grant towards select start-up costs. To apply, visit ScrantonChamber.com and look for TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty under events. Applications close on Friday, August 29.
The Wright Center, Breastfeeding a Healthy Habit for Mother and Child August is National Breastfeeding Month, which is a great opportunity for us to talk about the many health benefits this critical practice provides to mother and child. Breastfeeding Month was established to promote human milk in child development and lactation practices and policies. We’re all for that here at The Wright Center, where we support it for patients and employees, alike. The Pennsylvania Department of Health recognizes breastfeeding as the ideal nutrition for infants, while the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that women exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least the first six months after birth, and up to two years or beyond, depending on the mother and child’s wants and needs. Simply put, mother’s milk is the ideal nutrition for babies, providing benefits that can’t be found in baby formula. The research is clear on this — breastfeeding can lower a baby’s risk of certain infections, asthma, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome. And for mothers, it can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and breast and ovarian cancers. Any discussion about breastfeeding should also include its relation to the workplace, as women with infants and young children are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. labor force. Unfortunately, too many women cease breastfeeding when returning to work, due to the challenges of finding a safe, private place to pump and store milk. However, I’m happy to report that an increasing number of employers are now providing designated lactation stations for breastfeeding employees. It’s a trend that hopefully will only continue to grow, especially since breastfeeding-friendly workplace programs are relatively easy and inexpensive to implement, and provide savings through reduced health care claims and employee absences. The Wright Center has been highly supportive of breastfeeding employees, and we’ve gone above and beyond to support patients through our primary and pediatric care services, as well as the Healthy MOMS (Maternal Opiate Medical Support) program, a collaborative effort between The Wright Center and several other community organizations that assists pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. That includes a $7,500 grant we secured from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide essential breastfeeding resources and supplies to Healthy MOMS participants, including manual breast pumps, breast milk storage sets, educational materials, consultations with lactation specialists, and access to breastfeeding counselors. The grant also went toward doula training for Healthy MOMS collaborators. If you’re interested in learning more about resources pertaining to breastfeeding, the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Referral Guide contains detailed information on lactation specialists, community programs, support/mother groups, community coalitions, breast pump rentals, and local, state, and national help lines. For additional information, call the Healthy Baby Line at 1-800-986-BABY (2229). Breastfeeding women and their children are high priority here at The Wright Center, and we’ll continue doing our part to ensure their good health. Manju Mary Thomas, M.D., board-certified in pediatrics and obesity medicine, serves as deputy chief medical officer and medical director of pediatrics and school- and community-based medical home services at The Wright Center for Community Health. She is also a physician faculty member for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Family Medicine Residency Pediatrics Program. She is accepting pediatric and adolescent patients at our Mid Valley Community Health Center. To make an appointment, call 570-230-0019.
