The Wright Center, Scranton Resident Dreams Of Becoming Kidney Doctor While Hoping For Life-Saving Transplant Patrick Gallagher dreams of finding ways to improve kidney transplants or pioneering medical breakthroughs to help people with kidney disease. He just needs a kidney first. The 21-year-old Scranton resident’s kidney troubles began in the womb. He was diagnosed with posterior urethral valves, which occurs when abnormal flaps of tissue in the urethra block the flow of urine out of the bladder. This causes urine to back up, leading to swollen kidneys, a damaged bladder, and potential kidney failure. Two decades later, after countless hospital stays, a kidney transplant at age 5, and nine years of dialysis treatments, he is hoping for another miracle. He’s on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) kidney transplant waiting list. However, Patrick and his parents, Roxane and William Gallagher, are hoping to find a living donor to increase the chances that his transplant will be a success. While the family waits, Jennifer Kalinowski, a board-certified registered nurse family practitioner at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton, and her team make sure Patrick and his parents remain as healthy as possible. “I always say that I’m the exception to every rule,” Patrick said with a laugh as he and his parents talked about his lifelong medical battle. “Maybe this time we’ll get good news.” Patrick is no stranger to hospital rooms. Two days after he was born, he was flown to Hershey Medical Center for his first surgery. Complication after complication and infection after infection followed, his parents said. In 2010, when Patrick was 5, his doctors put him on the UNOS waiting list. There are currently over 90,000 people on that list for a lifesaving kidney transplant in the United States, according to UNOS. Kidneys are by far the most in-demand organ, making up more than 86% of the entire national transplant waiting list. Within two days of Patrick being listed, a kidney was found. The Gallagher family rushed to Hershey Medical Center, where Patrick underwent the transplant. “I don’t remember too much about that time,” Patrick said, adding that his strongest memories from that year were the family’s trip to Disney World three months later, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “What I remember most is that I was too scared to go on the Haunted Mansion Ride.” When they returned from Disney, Patrick went right back to Hershey Medical Center for more care. Years of complications continued, including a month-long coma when he was in third grade. About nine years ago, doctors decided the donated kidney had reached the end of its usefulness, and Patrick had to begin dialysis. At first, he underwent a nightly procedure done at home called peritoneal dialysis. When infections and scar tissue became too much of a problem, Patrick had to switch to hemodialysis at a DaVita clinic in Scranton three times a week. The process leaves Patrick feeling fatigued and foggy. It’s impossible for him to have a job or go to college. He became a patient at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2024, and the family travels to the Iron City several times a year to see specialists. Back at home, Kalinowski and her team at The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton are doing what they can to keep Patrick and his parents healthy. While Patrick has a strong support system as he battles his chronic illness, not all patients are so lucky, the nurse practitioner said. “We’re a community health center, so part of our role is to advocate for our patients,” Kalinowski said. “In addition to providing whole-person primary health services, we want to make sure our patients are connected with the right specialists, that they’re getting their tests, going to their appointments, and that they feel heard about what’s going on in their lives.” Patrick has been put back on the transplant list, but it will be harder to find a match this time, according to Roxanne Gallagher. That’s why the Gallaghers are hoping to find a living kidney donor, which would increase the chances of a successful transplant. There were 6,521 kidney transplants from living donors in the U.S. in 2025, according to UNOS, roughly 24% of the 27,573 total kidney transplants performed that year. For more information, visit Patrick’s Kidney Place on Facebook or visit UPMC.com/LivingDonorKidney. While he waited for news, Patrick spent a week in June serving as a counselor at Camp Kydnie, a sleepaway camp especially for kids with kidney disease in Millville, Pennsylvania. Patrick has been attending the camp since 2013 and says it’s a rare chance to be around other children battling different kinds of kidney disease. “We do archery and arts and crafts and, before I had the dialysis port, I would go swimming,” he said, adding later that working with kids just like him is a goal he’s had since he was young. “My dream job is a pediatric nephrologist, or maybe doing medical research about kidney disease. It’s something I’ve been saying since I was 5, or maybe even younger.”
Wright Center Names First Philanthropy Officer A Marywood University and Misericordia University alumna who has spent the last two decades advocating for and securing investments to support higher education has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as its first chief philanthropy officer and vice president of grants and strategic initiatives. Renée Gregori Zehel, Ph.D., worked in business development in the health care industry for seven years before she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania in 1998 to serve in leadership roles at Misericordia and Marywood universities. There, she led transformative advancement initiatives, helping secure significant philanthropic investments that increased educational access and strengthened institutional sustainability. Most recently, she was vice president of university advancement at Marywood, where she led the successful completion of a $30 million campaign to expand health sciences programs, which will help strengthen the regional health care workforce and broaden educational opportunities. At The Wright Center, Zehel will spearhead the development of a new philanthropic foundation and guide its related endeavors. She will design overarching fundraising strategies and direct philanthropic events to build community support. She will also be responsible for driving grant development efforts across the organization. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts from then-Marywood College and a Master of Science degree in education from then-College Misericordia, she completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in human development at Marywood University. Across the region, Zehel has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the African Sisters Education Collaborative and the Patient Safety Council at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Dickson City. She and her husband, Shawn Zehel, reside in Scranton and have two adult children.
Wright Center Participates in Pilot Program Addressing Naloxone The Wright Center for Community Health has partnered with health care technology company to test a new digital platform that promotes naloxone readiness and empowers individuals to respond to overdoses. Contingency Management Innovations (CMI), a division of Q2i, developed the groundbreaking digital platform, NALCAM, which combines mobile technology with behavior reinforcement and public health education to strengthen community overdose response capacity. CMI contacted The Wright Center, which has worked with the company on another project, to test the new platform. In all, seven patients involved in The Wright Center’s state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence participated in the recently completed research pilot. “We know that Narcan prevents overdose deaths,” said Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration at The Wright Center for Community Health. “The Wright Center is always looking for ways to innovate, so when programs like this are developed, we want to participate.” Through the NALCAM app, participants who register their naloxone kits will receive digital check-ins and brief learning modules to ensure they carry their kits and know how to use them. Completing check-ins and modules provides participants with small rewards to motivate them to carry naloxone and stay ready to use it. The approach is rooted in evidence-based contingency management principles, a behavioral science model proven to improve engagement and retention across a range of backgrounds, according to CMI. “NALCAM demonstrates how digital contingency management can drive measurable public health outcomes,” said Steven Jenkins, CEO of Q2i. “By rewarding proactive, life-saving behaviors like naloxone carriage and overdose education, we’re helping states, counties, and health care organizations build scalable, data-informed programs.” The Wright Center for Community Health, a Scranton-based provider of whole-person primary health services, is committed to helping individuals with substance use disorder. The Wright Center became a state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence in 2016. Since then, it has provided outpatient addiction treatment and recovery services, including medication-assisted treatment, to thousands of people in Northeast Pennsylvania. The Wright Center is one of many approved, community-based distribution sites, officially known as “recognized entities,” that receive naloxone kits through the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program. The program was launched in 2023 as a joint initiative between the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Anyone can pick up a free naloxone kit at any of The Wright Center’s 13 community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. For a list of locations and hours, visit TheWrightCenter.org/locations. To learn more about the services available through the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, call 570-230-0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org/services/coe. For more information on NALCAM, visit nalcam.com.
Wright Center for Community Health’s CEO Elected to State Health Board Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers’ (PACHC’s) Board of Directors. PACHC represents the commonwealth’s largest network of primary health care providers that serve nearly 1 million patients annually at more than 475 sites in underserved rural and urban areas in 55 counties. Its 15-member Board of Directors is made up of community health center CEOs from across Pennsylvania, representing a broad spectrum of expertise that spans finance, clinical care, workforce development, advocacy, policy and regulation, nonprofit health care administration, and human resources. “I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to join the reputable Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers. I am excited for the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated and talented colleagues from across our state as we work together to advance access, affordability, and excellence in community-based primary and preventive health services for all Pennsylvanians,” said Dr. Thomas-Hemak. “Together, we will continue to strengthen the mission-driven voice of community health centers to ensure that the patients, families, and communities we are privileged to serve remain at the forefront of health care conversations and strategies.” Dr. Thomas-Hemak is a quintuple board-certified primary care physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition. Alongside her executive leadership, she continues to care for multigenerational families at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn, her hometown. She has earned national recognition for advancing innovative community-based primary care delivery models, expanding access to essential health services, and cultivating the current and future interprofessional health care workforce. A proud graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton, Dr. Thomas-Hemak went on to earn her medical degree as a Michael DeBakey Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, followed by completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston. Guided by a profound sense of service to her community roots, she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania to practice primary care. She joined The Wright Center in 2001, became its president in 2007, and assumed the role of CEO in 2012. She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald, and the late William Thomas. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Launches Free Monthly Newsletter The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education is excited to announce the launch of The Wright Source, a brand-new, free monthly electronic newsletter. The Wright Source will keep patients and community partners informed, inspired, and connected to the health and wellness landscape of Northeast Pennsylvania. Each issue will be filled with valuable insights, local updates, and uplifting stories, including: Practical health and wellness tips you can use every day Community events and activities for all ages Delicious, healthy recipes to try at home Introductions to our newest clinicians and their specialties Updates on new service lines and programs And much more to help improve the health and well-being of our communities across Northeast Pennsylvania To subscribe to The Wright Source, visit bit.ly/WrightSource and enter your name and email address to get started.
The Wright Center for Community Health Earns First Accreditation The Wright Center for Community Health’s case management services recently earned a three-year accreditation from an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Following a site visit in August 2025, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International granted The Wright Center’s case management services accreditation through Aug. 31, 2028 – the highest level possible. Founded in 1966, CARF International’s mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process. “This achievement is an indication of your organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of patients served,” according to CARF International’s accreditation letter to The Wright Center. “There is strong evidence that patients are benefiting from the services they receive from The Wright Center, as evidenced by their own words, reviews of individual records, and a variety of other reviews and reports.” The Wright Center sought accreditation through CARF International for its case management services at its Ryan White HIV Clinic and Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, according to officials. Case management is a process in which clinicians assess patients and develop a team-based treatment plan tailored to each person’s specific needs. The patient is regularly monitored and assessed to make sure they are progressing as expected. CARF officials visited several of The Wright Center’s community health centers, including Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, North Scranton, and Scranton, to interview staff and patients, and review records. They also examined records from The Wright Center’s community health centers in Hawley, North Pocono, Tunkhannock, Wayne, and Wilkes-Barre. An accreditation report issued by CARF praised The Wright Center’s excellent technology planning and implementation, as well as its exceptional knowledge and use of a variety of data gathering, measurement, analysis, and reporting activities. They also noted The Wright Center’s deep focus on expanding services to meet community needs, as well as its commitment to whole-person primary health services for patients of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses. “This accreditation shows that The Wright Center is providing the highest standard of evidence-based care,” said Louis Strazzeri, director of behavioral health integration, social, and case management services. “We are honored that CARF has validated what we have long understood – that our patients receive exceptional, team-based care that empowers them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.” Click here for information about The Wright Center’s case management services at its Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence Click here for information about its case management services at its Ryan White HIV Clinic
The Wright Center’s Brian Ebersole Recognized and Honored Brian Ebersole, vice president of academic affairs and associate designated institutional official for The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was recently selected for City & State Pennsylvania’s “Forty in their 40s” list. The list celebrates Pennsylvania’s most influential and accomplished leaders across nonprofits, government, business, and media, honoring their exceptional achievements, visionary leadership, advocacy, philanthropic contributions, and deep commitment to bettering lives and championing progress throughout the commonwealth. The multimedia news organization selected Ebersole in recognition of his visionary leadership in transforming health care workforce development through innovative, community-rooted graduate medical education models that are expanding opportunities, addressing physician shortages, and improving health equity across the nation. To read the list, go to cityandstatepa.com. “I’m grateful to City & State Pennsylvania for this recognition that reflects the collective efforts of so many of my mission-driven partners at The Wright Center who are working to reshape how we train physicians and serve communities,” said Ebersole. “At The Wright Center, we believe the future of health care starts in the neighborhoods that need it most, and I’m proud to help build that future alongside such dedicated colleagues, board members, learners, patients, and partners.” A visionary leader in graduate medical education, Ebersole played a pivotal role in designing and advancing The Wright Center’s innovative Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium. Through this model, he transformed residency training by placing physician learners in community health centers, rather than traditional hospital settings, to equip them with better practical, community-rooted experience while addressing physician shortages and improving retention in underserved areas. Ebersole also secured critical federal funding, forged strategic partnerships, and established a sustainable health care workforce pipeline that prioritizes community health over institutional convenience. In 2013, he further advanced The Wright Center’s mission “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” by launching its National Family Medicine Residency Program, which was the first nationally coordinated network of high-performing, patient-centered Federally Qualified Health Centers serving as unified training sites under a single, centrally managed program. Under his leadership, both initiatives have become scalable and replicable national models that redefine how and where America’s future physicians are trained. Ebersole has more than two decades of experience in health policy and innovation. Before his current position, he served as senior vice president of mission delivery and business development at The Wright Center, successfully securing federal, state, and local funding to support and expand a wide range of programs. He previously held public health leadership roles under four Pennsylvania governors and served as senior director of health innovations at Geisinger Health System, where he focused on initiatives addressing social needs across Northeast Pennsylvania. A founding member of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers, he rejoined the organization’s executive committee as treasurer in 2023. He also serves on The Institute’s Health and Health Care Task Force and is actively involved with several community-based nonprofits. A native of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, Ebersole earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics and education from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He has a son, Keegan, and resides in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, with his husband, Jeff Smith. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
Wright Center Adds Psychiatrist to Behavioral Health Team The Wright Center for Community Health has expanded access to high-quality psychiatry services in Northeast Pennsylvania by welcoming Dr. Maximo B. Lockward, a bilingual Spanish-speaking psychiatrist, to its behavioral health team. He is now available for adult patients through office-based remote appointments. Dr. Lockward earned his medical degree from Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York, and completed his psychiatry residency at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, a specialty division of UPMC in Pittsburgh. At The Wright Center, he serves in a combined clinical, educational, and administrative role, providing direct patient care while also teaching and supervising resident physicians and medical students. He will offer a full spectrum of psychiatric services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management. In addition, Dr. Lockward will oversee three psychiatric nurse practitioners and/or physician assistants and serve as a consultative resource for primary care physicians across The Wright Center’s 13 community health centers. His leadership supports the organization’s ongoing effort to fully integrate behavioral health into its whole-person, community-based primary care model. Dr. Lockward brings extensive experience in community psychiatry and telepsychiatry, having previously practiced in western and southeastern Pennsylvania as well as in Ohio. His arrival comes as a critical time. The United State is facing a mental health crisis, with widespread shortages of behavioral health clinicians. According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce, 23% of U.S. adults – about 59 million – experienced a mental illness in 2023, and nearly half did not receive treatment. Patients often face long waits, high costs, or lack of coverage. The national average wait time for behavioral health services in currently 48 days. The Wright Center is working to close those gaps. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lockwood or another member of the behavioral health team, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
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.
The Wright Center’s Dr. Sheth Named 2025 Healthcare Trailblazer Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was selected as a 2025 Trailblazer in Healthcare by City and State Pennsylvania. The multimedia news organization recognized Dr. Sheth for his bold, forward-thinking leadership at The Wright Center, where he has championed the expansion of telemedicine, the modernization of clinical systems through advanced health information technology, and the advancement of Pennsylvania’s public health infrastructure. He is among a distinguished group of 2025 Trailblazers in Healthcare that includes physicians, lobbyists, educators, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and nonprofit leaders who are driving meaningful change across the commonwealth. “It’s an honor to be recognized among leaders who are working to solve some of health care’s toughest challenges,” Dr. Sheth said. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team at The Wright Center to modernize care, expand access, and deliver meaningful, measurable impact for the communities we proudly serve.” City & State also acknowledged Dr. Sheth’s leadership in remote patient monitoring and his role in securing The Wright Center’s 2019 designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike. Dr. Sheth has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have significantly elevated care quality across Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond: Pioneered a cutting-edge telemedicine model that brings care directly into patients’ homes, especially in rural areas, through remote monitoring of vitals like heart rate, blood pressure, and steps. By integrating Humhealth technology into electronic health records (EHR) at The Wright Center, he ensured seamless data transfer and empowered patients to take an active role in their care. Reengineered The Wright Center’s EHR system into a powerful data platform that drives precise clinical interventions, supports population health management, and strengthens grant applications through actionable insights. Launched advanced business analytics tools that enhanced operational performance, ensured federal compliance, and supported The Wright Center’s FQHC Look-Alike designation. Introduced innovative patient-facing technologies, including a service that provides real-time interpreter services that support more than 350 languages, and “Neo,” an interactive, HIPAA-compliant chatbot that helps patients navigate services, schedule visits, and manage care online at TheWrightCenter.org. Modernized vaccine and medication management with a secure, automated system that tracks inventory to the dose level, safeguards patient safety, and improves regulatory compliance. Streamlined clinical workflows and strengthened strategic planning through the deployment of advanced technologies, including an AI-powered digital scribe; tools that focus on data visualization and business intelligence by providing real-time care analytics; and a centralized grant inventory management system that enhanced organizational efficiency and accountability. Dr. Sheth earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with honors in biochemistry, medicine, and public health in 2004 from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha, India. He later received a Master of Public Health with a specialization in health promotion in 2006 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. After completing his internal medicine residency in 2009 through the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, now The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Sheth joined The Wright Center as an internal medicine primary care physician and lead physician for population management and reporting. Over the years, Dr. Sheth has pioneered innovative approaches that have significantly enhanced patient wellness and health care delivery. His impactful contributions have led to a series of leadership promotions at The Wright Center, beginning with vice president for patient safety and quality in 2013, followed by senior vice president and chief medical and information officer in 2018, and culminating in his current role as senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer. Dr. Sheth has been honored with numerous national and state awards in recognition of his leadership, innovation, and contributions to advancing health care. In 2024, Dr. Sheth was recognized nationally and statewide for his visionary leadership and impact on community health. He received the Outstanding Primary Care Clinician Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and the Innovative Research in Primary Care Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers, honoring his contributions to clinical innovation, care coordination, and public health. He was also named a 2024 Trailblazer in Building and Infrastructure by City & State Pennsylvania for transforming 10 facilities across three counties into The Wright Center’s state-of-the-art primary health care centers, dramatically improving access and outcomes for patients and medically underserved communities. In April 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro selected Dr. Sheth to serve as a member of the state’s newly formed Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders Advisory Committee. Established in October 2024, the Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders Advisory Committee is tasked with advising the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and other state agencies on the development and implementation of a state plan for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other related disorders. Dr. Sheth and his wife, Hetal Sheth, live in Clarks Summit with their children, Zian, 10, and Jiaa, 6. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.