Lackawanna Historical Society Genealogy Forum Registration Now Open The Lackawanna Historical Society’s Genealogy Forum is an opportunity to learn more about specific topics in family history research and discuss particular research tactics to uncover your family story. These sessions are geared to those who are not new to genealogy research and who have a strong knowledge of their U.S. family history. In taking these courses, registrants should have an idea as to which places their ancestors are from in Europe. Saturday, April 12 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Ireland and Scots-Irish Records with Barbara Spellman Shuta, Kate Bohan and Madonna Munley at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library Community Room Saturday, May 10 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Poland with Tony Paddock at the North Pocono Library Saturday, June 14 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Italy with Ann Marie Castelgrande at Council Chambers, 2nd floor of Carbondale City Hall Saturday, July 12 from 10 am to Noon: Researching Carpatho-Rusyn Records with Natalie Asikainen at the Albright Memorial Library, Henkelman Room August (date TBA) Researching Germany with Tom Price at the Valley Community Library Saturday, September 13 from 10 am to Noon: Researching England and Wales with Tom Price at the Abington Community Library These sessions are free, but advance registration is required. For more information or to register for these sessions, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society at 570-344-3841 or email lackawannahistory@gmail.com.
Marywood President Emerita Sister Mary Persico Recognized with AICUP Awards Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood President Emerita and Director of Special Projects, was among three individuals recently honored for their service by the 85-member institutions of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP). Sister Mary, who is AICUP Chair Emeritus and has served the organization admirably in other leadership capacities, received the Francis J. Michelini Award for Outstanding Service to Higher Education, in recognition of distinguished work in higher education, particularly during her tenure at Marywood University, where she served as the 12th President from 2016-2024. Sister Mary continues to serve Marywood as President Emerita and Director of Special Projects, guiding the work of the university’s new strategic plan and its regular Middle States accreditation review process. Earlier in the year, Sister Mary and Marywood University were recognized in the Best Opinion category of the 2025 AICUP Comm Awards with the “Distinguished Communicator” designation, given for a piece she co-authored with AICUP President Thomas P. Foley, “A College Degree Is Well Worth the Investment,” which appeared in The Scranton Times-Tribune on January 2, 2024. The recognitions took place during the AICUP annual meeting on Monday, March 24. The award ceremony at the Hilton Harrisburg was attended by dozens of college presidents from across the Commonwealth, as well as legislators and VIP guests.
Moses Taylor Foundation Honored with Friend of School Nursing Award The Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners (PASNAP) recognized Moses Taylor Foundation as the recipient of the 2025 Friend of School Nursing Award for Pennsylvania. This award is presented to organizations and individuals outside the profession of school nursing who have made significant contributions to the practice of school nursing in the Commonwealth. Christine Marcos, Senior Program Officer, has been immersed in the Foundation’s strategic focus area of school-based health for seven years. She shares, “School nurses are on the front lines of meeting the health needs of students, and their work encompasses far more than what most people realize. They are key to helping students manage chronic diseases, connecting families to crucial resources, screening children for health concerns, and much more. Our Board and staff are continually inspired by their resilience, knowledge, and passion for student health, and it is our privilege to support their work.” Representatives from Moses Taylor Foundation accepted the award on March 22, 2025, in State College. Alongside key partners such as PASNAP, Moses Taylor Foundation has so far invested $1.7 million, countless staff hours, and other resources to support school nurses through a four-point strategy that includes: Advocacy for regular reevaluation of school health law, policies, and mandates Building awareness of the school nurse role and connections between school nurses and key partners Increased professional development opportunities specific to the role of the school nurse Research and piloting of innovative school nurse workforce and funding models “Since 2019, Moses Taylor Foundation has put school nurses front and center, advocating for solutions to barriers affecting school nurses, and helping to improve school health services for the students of Pennsylvania. I can think of no person or organization more deserving of this year’s Friend of School Nursing award,” said Kathy Verbel, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN, PASNAP’s Moses Taylor Foundation Liaison.
Marywood University Aviation Program Soars into Philadelphia Region Marywood University is expanding the reach of its longstanding Aviation Management program into the Philadelphia region at Wings Field Airport (LOM), commonly known as “the Blue Bell Airport,” in the Philadelphia suburb of Blue Bell. Established 25 years ago, Marywood’s aviation program has seen a rising demand, especially as commercial pilots retire in record numbers and a global shortage of certified pilots escalates. Now, through its partnership with Fly Gateway Aviation Institute, Marywood is extending its proven Scranton-based program into the Philadelphia area, offering students in Southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding regions the ability to stay, learn, and train close to home. “What Marywood University offers is a distinctive, professional, immersive aviation experience, which is more than just pilot training—students earn a business degree, in addition to flight certification, which ultimately gives them more options, greater flexibility, and better employability throughout their career,” said Captain Joseph McDonald, Director of Marywood’s Aviation Management Program and a retired American Airlines Captain. “Our partnership with Fly Gateway allows Marywood to go beyond Scranton and offer this incredible opportunity to students in the Southeastern Pennsylvania/Delaware region.” Marywood University offers two tracks in its Aviation Management Program—one for Pilot/Flight Operations, for those who wish to become certified pilots, and another for Airline/Airport Management, for those interested in the business side of the industry. Through an all-in-one integrated program, students receive aviation-specific training with a strong business foundation, providing the leadership and management skills needed to succeed in today’s aviation industry. Students can take all non-pilot related courses online to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, while taking in-person flight courses and instruction at the Blue Bell Airport. As part of their training, students will have access to a fleet of modern aircraft, including the 2022-2024 Piper Archer 100i. These advanced airplanes feature cutting-edge electronic displays, ensuring that students train on the latest industry technology and are well-prepared for the modern cockpit environment. Another distinctive feature of Marywood’s Aviation Management Program is the ability for those in the Pilot/Flight Operations track to fly sooner. “At Marywood University, we believe in learning by doing. Students in our program fly during their freshman year,” said Anthony Nestico, Assistant Director of Marywood’s Aviation Management Program and a JetBlue First Officer. “Most pilot programs make them wait until their sophomore or junior year before they ever get to fly a real airplane. While we have airplane simulators to get them started, they are soon prepared and equipped to take flight in their first year.”
Scranton Cultural Center Tickets for The Rock Orchestra Out Soon Tickets for The Rock Orchestra will be available on April 11 at 10am. MEGA Events will present The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight on December 7 at 8:00 PM at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. The show will take place in the Weinberg Theatre and will feature an epic 90-minute concert, breathing beautifully dark energy into legendary rock and metal. After mesmerizing audiences across Europe and the UK, The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is set to electrify the USA once again. In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 14 classical musicians unleash effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion. Audiences will witness the unexpected union of classical music and metal. The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight features top hits from iconic bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Rage Against The Machine, My Chemical Romance, Linkin’ Park, SOAD, Guns N Roses, Evanescence, Papa Roach, The Cranberries and more. The show will take place in the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Theatre, located on the building’s first floor, with doors opening for bar and concessions at 7:00 PM. Tickets start at $62.80 including fees. Prices are subject to change. Tickets will be available for purchase on April 11 at 10 AM at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. For more information or to view a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org.
The Wright Center’s Jignesh Sheth Reflects on National Doctors’ Day March 30 was National Doctors’ Day – a perfect opportunity to celebrate all the great physicians out there, including those who practice locally. The annual observance honors the “dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment of physicians in providing high-quality health care to individuals and communities worldwide,” according to the American Medical Association. The first National Doctors Day was held all the way back in 1933 by Dr. Charles B. Almond in Winder, Georgia. Now it’s observed by health care organizations across the country, offering institutions and patients the chance to express their appreciation for physicians working in all facets of medicine. At The Wright Center, we take immense pride in our doctors. Since our beginnings in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, we have been dedicated to providing high-quality primary and preventive care to the residents of Northeast Pennsylvania. Today, our doctors uphold a twofold mission: delivering comprehensive, whole-person primary health services to all – regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay – and educating the next generation of physicians and interprofessional health care professionals. And as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, or FQLA, we’ve been able to expand our local network’s locations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties, as well as our Driving Better Health mobile medical and dental unit, that all told serve tens of thousands of patients annually. Our doctors follow a patient-centric model, with an emphasis on overcoming barriers to care by delivering coordinated and comprehensive services, including primary and preventive care, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental care, infectious disease services, lifestyle medicine, obesity medicine, and addiction recovery services. Through that full spectrum of care, we strive to improve access to care by emphasizing care management of patients with numerous medical needs, as well as through the use of key quality improvement practices, among them health information technology. Given the topic, I’d like to take the opportunity to boast about some recent accolades we received. In February, our president and CEO, Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, received the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award, presented by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and sponsored locally by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants. The award honors an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. Dr. Thomas-Hemak certainly embodies all of these fine qualities. Meanwhile, our community health centers in Clarks Summit, Jermyn, South Scranton Wilkes-Barre recently received the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient-Centered Medical Home certificate of recognition. The award recognizes our locations’ commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services through the patient-centered medical home model. In addition to strengthening patient-clinician relationships and enhancing the management of chronic conditions, the patient-centered medical home model also increases staff satisfaction and reduces health care costs. It’s wonderful to receive awards and certifications like these, which reaffirm the first-rate, cutting-edge work our physicians are carrying out every day. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Northeast Pennsylvania.
Lackawanna College’s Spring Pop-up is Back Lackawanna College is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of its magical Spring pop-up dining experience, Wisteria, set to open in April 2025. This one-of-a-kind event transports guests to a whimsical, enchanting garden where they will be immersed in an atmosphere filled with celestial floating lights, a mystical wishing tree, and an unforgettable array of delicious food, beverages, and desserts.Guests will be able to experience the wonders of Wisteria on the following dates: April 9, 10, 16, 23, 24, and 30 May 1, 7, 8, and 14 Doors open at 5:00 PM, and the magic will continue until 10:00 PM each evening. What makes Wisteria truly special is its role as a live classroom, where students from Lackawanna College’s School of Hospitality and Marywood University’s School of Architecture collaborate to bring this magical experience to life. As a result, the pop-up not only delights visitors but also provides invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for students. “We’re incredibly proud of how our pop-up events, including Wisteria, have drawn thousands of visitors to Scranton and helped boost the local economy,” said Stephanie Decker, AVP of Advancement at Lackawanna College. “This initiative is an incredible way to showcase the talent of our students while supporting important programs on campus.”The funds raised from Wisteria directly support key initiatives at Lackawanna College, including: Providing loaner laptops to students in need to ensure they have the tools to succeed academically. Addressing food insecurity through the College’s on-campus food program, The Common Kitchen. Supporting leadership development by offering $3,000/semester scholarships to third and fourth-year students in leadership roles. Providing scholarships to students facing financial barriers to further their education. Lackawanna College is now seeking sponsors for the 2025 Wisteria season. Sponsors will play a vital role in supporting the College’s initiatives and the future workforce. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available, with benefits including exclusive event access, promotional visibility, and recognition on the College’s website and social media channels. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to become a sponsor, please review the enclosed sponsorship materials or contact Stephanie Decker at (570) 241-6975 or deckers@lackawanna.edu.“Your support of Wisteria will have a lasting impact on our students and the greater Scranton community,” added Decker. “Together, we can continue to make a difference!” Sponsorship Opportunities: Granting Wishes Sponsor – $5,000 – Includes invitations to the opening night, complimentary drink passes, and extensive brand exposure. Magic Maker Sponsor – $2,500 – Includes invitations to the opening night, drink tokens, and brand recognition. Light Up a Life Sponsor – $1,500 – Includes invitations, company logo on menus, and event signage Workforce Sponsor – $500 – Includes website and social media recognition. Innovation Sponsor – $250 – Includes social media recognition. For more information, contact: Stephanie Decker AVP of Advancement, Lackawanna College Phone: (570) 241-6975 Email: deckers@lackawanna.edu
The Wright Center Resident Wins National Advocacy Award Dr. Usman Rana never considered how decisions made on Capitol Hill could affect the community where he lives and works – until one of those decisions impacted his life. A federal policy change in 2022 prevented him from completing a geriatrics fellowship at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Witnessing The Wright Center’s leaders advocate for him and his fellow physicians ignited his passion for advocacy. After transitioning to The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, which he’ll complete in June, Dr. Rana became actively involved with the enterprise’s Advocacy Team. Less than three years later, Dr. Rana earned national recognition for his advocacy work at The Wright Center. In February 2025, he accepted the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) 2025 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award at the association’s Policy & Issues Forum in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes efforts to educate federal and state legislators about community health centers and establish and expand grassroots advocacy efforts at health centers across the country. “I had no idea what was happening in Washington, D.C., or how it affected health care here in Scranton or across the country,” he said. “I realized that being a voice for your community, colleagues, and patients can work miracles.” For the past two years, first as a resident leader and now as the resident chief, Dr. Rana has actively engaged in advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. His work centers on key issues such as securing long-term reauthorization of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, increased funding for community health centers like The Wright Center, and expanding access to health care and prescription medications. In his nomination for the NACHC award, leaders at The Wright Center noted Dr. Rana’s remarkable efforts to continue building a culture of advocacy within the enterprise and the larger community. “Dr. Rana, The Wright Center’s chief resident of advocacy for public health priorities, is a remarkable physician servant leader in support of our work to enact policy change in our nation’s public health policies. In this role, he is a member of the advocacy committee of our governing board and works closely with The Wright Center’s Advocacy Team,” said Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “His passion is helping to elevate the key role that physicians can play in helping to shape federal and state policies to better serve patients, their families, and the communities they serve.” After receiving his doctorate of medicine from Allama Iqbal Medical College, a public medical college in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, in 2010, he worked as a medical officer there before coming to the United States to complete externships in New York City. He married Dr. Huma Chudhary, a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist in Pakistan, in 2014. The couple worked in the medical field in Pakistan, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom. The married couple had a son, now 10, and a daughter, now 7, before they moved to Scranton in 2022 so Dr. Rana could start his residency at The Wright Center. Since then, the couple has welcomed two more daughters, now 3 years old and 18 months old. As Dr. Rana finishes his medical residency, Dr. Chudhary is preparing to take her medical licensing exam to begin providing care in the United States. Dr. Rana has included his family in his advocacy work, bringing them along on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. “They visited some places in the city while I worked,” he said. “It was nice to show them what I’m doing. I think my wife was impressed.” On his most recent solo trip to Washington, D.C., to accept the NACHC award, Dr. Rana joined several other leaders from The Wright Center in meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill, including freshman U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, who took office in January 2025. He represents Pennsylvania’s 8th District, which includes Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike counties, as well as most of Luzerne and Monroe counties. Dr. Rana said sharing patient stories with U.S. Representative Bresnahan and other federal, state, and local leaders is an effective way to educate them on the role The Wright Center and other community health centers across the country play – not just in providing affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services to everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay, but also as educational powerhouses addressing the growing shortage of primary care physicians nationwide. His interest in advocacy has also influenced his plan for the future. The 40-year-old plans to stay in Northeast Pennsylvania after graduation to continue delivering care in the community. He also plans to continue sharing stories about his patients, colleagues, and his own experiences in health care. “Sharing these stories creates an impact that can lead to positive change,” Dr. Rana said. “It’s something that I want to continue to do even after I graduate in June.” Established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, The Wright Center is one of the nation’s largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains residents and fellows in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance their shared mission to provide whole-person primary health services to everyone regardless of a patient’s insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. For more information abut The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Celebrates Doctors Day – Highlights Dr. Simran Bhimani Internal Medicine resident following in parents’ footsteps takes on new leadership role at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education As a child, Dr. Simran Bhimani had a bird’s-eye view of her parents’ medical clinic in their small village near Karachi, Pakistan. Dr. Bhimani’s childhood home doubled as a medical clinic, where her mother, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and her father, a pediatrician, cared for patients on the first floor. Some of her earliest memories include her mother tending to her between patient visits. “Becoming a doctor is something that was ingrained in me from an early age,” said Dr. Bhimani, a second-year Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (TWCGME) in Scranton, Pennsylvania. “Training in the United States was my mother’s dream, so it’s special to me to be able to come here and train.” Now, as the resident physician follows her parents’ path, she’s taken on a unique leadership role at The Wright Center: Participatory Citizenship Chief Resident. The post serves as a bridge between resident and fellow physicians and TWCGME’s leadership. Participatory citizenship is an international concept that is gaining in popularity. It seeks to improve decision-making and enhance accountability by emphasizing the involvement of ordinary citizens in the overall process of building a better society. “The position was created to ensure that the voices of the residents and fellows are heard,” said Dr. Bhimani. “Some residents may feel hesitant to voice concerns or give feedback to faculty or Graduate Medical Education Committee members, but as a colleague and friend, I hope they feel comfortable speaking with me.” Dr. Bhimani’s primary goal is to boost resident and fellow physician participation in TWCGME surveys. These surveys gather feedback on various topics, including faculty engagement and learning environments. In her first email to residents and fellows, she praised the strong response rate to a recent clinical climate survey and highlighted the steps Wright Center officials are taking based on the feedback they received. “As we strive for excellence, one key area for improvement emerged: enhancing the patient-centered continuity experience. We have enhanced our team-based continuity model in our primary clinics to address this concern,” she wrote in the message. “While this initiative is still in its early stages, we are committed to refining and expanding it in the coming months.” Dr. Bhimani emphasized that informing residents and fellows about how their feedback contributes to improving and refining training programs is essential for boosting survey participation. “When I was a first-year student, I didn’t understand the importance of filling out a survey,” she said. “Now I know that responding to a survey is a chance to make my mark on the program and contribute to making it better for all stakeholders – the residents and fellows, TWCGME leadership, the patients, and most importantly, future learners.” Coming from a family of physicians – including her brother, Dr. Sameer Bhimani, a first-year Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center – she understands the importance of open communication in medical training. This trait was recognized by TWCGME leadership, who praised her enthusiasm for the new role. “Together with Dr. Bhimani and our resident and fellow physicians, we are demonstrating the value of participatory citizenship, sharing opportunities to contribute, and offering a venue for action plans,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official at TWCGME. “We look forward to working with her to develop and define this role as we continue our efforts to improve the graduate medical education experience.” Dr. Bhimani views the new role as another valuable opportunity to develop skills for her future career as a primary care physician. Inspired by her parents’ dedication to whole-person care in Pakistan, she is committed to providing the same level of compassionate treatment. Along her journey, she has drawn inspiration from leadership at The Wright Center, including President and CEO Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Erin McFadden, and Dr. Barooah. “I connect to the type of care offered here because my parents also took a whole-person approach to treating their patients,” Dr. Bhimani said. “The doctors I’ve worked with take the time to listen and understand their patients. The whole sum of The Wright Center’s program is community care and community outreach. That’s what I want to provide as a doctor, too.” For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019