The Wright Center Nationally Recognized for Diabetes Care and Prevention The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education has earned national recognition for its continued commitment to improving diabetes care and prevention. Quality Insights, a West Virginia-based leader in health care quality improvement, recognized The Wright Center for its annual review of diabetes and prediabetes care, as well as its targeted launch of the National Diabetes Prevention Program to support individuals at risk. The National Diabetes Prevention Program is a nationally recognized, evidence-based lifestyle change program designed to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients. The Wright Center partnered with Quality Insights to assess workflows, documentation, and referrals, driving ongoing improvements in care and cost efficiency. Quality Insights also lauded The Wright Center for achieving stronger glycemic control among its diabetic patients, which helps reduce the risk of serious complications. In 2024, The Wright Center reported a 20.7% rate for NQF 0059 and CMS 122, which is an inverse quality measure that tracks the percentage of diabetic patients ages 18–75 with poorly controlled blood sugar (hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels above 9% or missing data). Since lower rates are associated with better outcomes, The Wright Center’s rate indicates strong performance in managing diabetes and reducing risks of serious complications associated with it. The Wright Center’s consistent focus on this metric underscores its dedication to evidence-based, data-informed care. This recognition reinforces The Wright Center’s commitment to advancing health access, enhancing chronic disease management, and improving the lives of patients across Northeast Pennsylvania. “We are grateful to Quality Insights for this recognition and for its ongoing collaboration in our shared mission to improve chronic disease outcomes,” said Melissa Germano-Ryczak, MS, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian and director of Lifestyle Modification and Preventive Medicine at The Wright Center. “This important milestone reflects the dedication of our interprofessional health care teams and our patients’ commitment to their health. Through evidence-based programs like the National Diabetes Prevention Program, we are helping individuals make lasting lifestyle changes that help reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and improve their overall well-being.”
The Wright Center: Finding New Ways to Meet Mental Health Needs in the Community By Stephanie A. Gill, M.D., MPH We’ve made significant strides locally and across the nation in reducing the stigma of mental health and people are finally getting the help they need. But we still need to do better, especially when it comes to increasing access for people from underrepresented communities. It just so happens July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a yearly observance of the mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority groups and the need to expand access to mental health care. Many people simply don’t have easy access to care, particularly those from minority populations. We can attribute this to several factors, including a lack of health insurance, as well as lingering stigmas about mental health care that prevent people from getting the help they need. According to a November 2024 brief issued by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce, in 2023 approximately 59 million American adults — 23% of all adults — had some form of mental illness, with nearly half of them not receiving treatment. Behavioral health services can be difficult to access due to a lack of providers, high out-of-pocket costs, coverage gaps, and other factors. And the average wait time for services is 48 days, according to HRSA. Health care systems, governmental bodies, and other organizations all need to do a better job of increasing access to mental health treatment services. Fortunately, our mental health services available here in Northeast Pennsylvania continue to improve. At The Wright Center, we offer a variety of behavioral health services, including therapy, psychological assessments, and psychiatric care, for children, adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, adjustment disorders, depression, ADHD, bipolar and related disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, bullying, relationship stressors, trauma, loss and grief, and postpartum depression. Our care model continues to evolve. A few months ago, we began participating in a multi-year grant awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to improve access to whole-person primary health services for people with co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The Wright Center is one of multiple primary care sites in Pennsylvania participating in the five-year project to promote the use of collaborative care, an evidence-based model that enhances the coordination of behavioral health services in primary care settings. Meanwhile, we just recently expanded our psychiatry services via two recent hires — Dr. Jean Gauvin and Dr. Evan Silvi. Dr. Gauvin, who earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, will provide a full range of services to patients via office-based remote appointments five days a week. Dr. Silvi, a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, will also provide office-based remote psychiatry appointments for patients of all ages. Both will work with colleagues across The Wright Center to continue integrating behavioral health and primary health services. We’re thrilled to have Dr. Gauvin and Dr. Silvi on board. Through their office-based remote care, we’re making some significant gains in accessibility for individuals in underserved and under-resourced areas, reducing barriers to behavioral health care. Much work remains to be done in terms of improving mental health care, but with increased advocacy and innovation, we’ll continue to make notable strides toward greater equity. Stephanie A. Gill, M.D., MPH, is a board-certified family medicine physician at The Wright Center for Community Health and the program director and physician faculty member of the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Regional Family Medicine Residency Program. For more information about The Wright Center’s psychiatry services, go to TheWrightCenter.org/services/psychiatry-services.
Johnson College to Host Free Community Resource Fairs Johnson College will host two free Community Resource Fairs on its Scranton campus this summer. These events are open to the public and are designed to connect current and prospective college students with local resources and support services. The fairs will feature a variety of community organizations offering guidance and assistance on topics such as education, employment, health, and wellness. The fairs will be held on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Both events will take place inside the Moffat Student Center Gym at the Johnson College Scranton campus, located at 3427 North Main Ave., Scranton. “The Community Resource Fair is an opportunity for students to learn about services available to them both on and off campus,” said Dr. Kellyn Williams, Associate Vice President of Special Programs at Johnson College. “We’re proud to bring together organizations that are making a positive impact in our region.” Participating organizations include: Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA American Water Community Services for Children County of Lackawanna Transit System Educational Opportunity Centers of PA Goodwill Industries of NEPA Greater Scranton YMCA Maternal and Family Health Services Inc. Outreach Center for Community Resources PA Careerlink Lackawanna County Parent Pathways of NEPA RISE NEPA Scranton Area Community Foundation The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement And many more For more information, please contact Sam Lehman at slehman@johnson.edu or 570-702-8341.
The Wright Center: A 117-year-old legacy at risk: Why Regional Hospital’s survival matters to Northeast Pennsylvania Since 1908, Regional Hospital of Scranton, including Moses Taylor, remains a NEPA health care ecosystem legacy pillar, delivering lifesaving services to generations of families to promote our health and well-being. Regional’s sustainability is vital for acute care access when patients are most vulnerable. Its obstetrical center of excellence ensures the safe arrival of the vast majority of babies born in our community. The Wright Center is eager to collaborate with new ownership to ensure seamless, forward momentum of community-responsive, high-quality health services and community-based physician and interprofessional health care workforce development. All stakeholders should meaningfully engage to ensure new ownership seeks and values community input, while maintaining and improving access to health care services, employment, and workforce development opportunities. Recently announced potential plans to preserve Regional brings hopeful but cautious optimism to a broad coalition of community members, legacy partners, advocacy organizations, and the health care union. Our collective commitment to collaboratively ensure preserving access to health care services, protecting family-sustaining jobs, upholding crucial hospital partnerships, and empowering our community’s priorities is unwavering. For nearly 50 years, The Wright Center has been deeply mission-intertwined with Regional 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. Community benefit impact, health outcomes, and economic vitality generated by our enduring partnership are undeniable. Together, we have cared for countless patients and families; trained over 1,000 physicians, possibly including your doctor amongst many serving NEPA today; and educated innumerable health care students from a dozen academic institutions to understand and serve our unique needs. In 2024, almost half of The Wright Center’s total economic impact of $198,978,143, supporting 1,199 local jobs, was generated by The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, a cherished community asset dependent on its foundational Regional partnership for its existence. My personal connection to Regional runs deep. So much of who I am professionally was determined by my recruitment home 25 years ago as a Mercy physician to join Dr. Tucker Clauss, who delivered me in 1968 at the then Mercy Hospital. The valuable mentorship and learning I received serving patients, families, and communities inside Regional’s walls can never be overstated. My deeply personal, hard-won journey culminated in a historic election as the first female and, as fate would have it, final president of Mercy’s medical staff, a landmark achievement quickly and tragically overshadowed by heartbreak when our cherished hospital transitioned to for-profit ownership. Its turbulent, uncertain future continues today. Faithfully, I continue caring for multigenerational families who depend on Regional for life-saving services. Like many of you, losing Regional would feel like losing family. Stabilizing NEPA’s acute hospital services is undeniably urgent, particularly given our aging population and prevalence of chronic disease. Allowing Regional to close would trigger a devastating, modern-day “Tragedy of the Commons,” immediately crippling access to acute hospital services. The devastating human and economic aftershocks on our community would be long-lasting. Future generations would pay the price for decades. Regional delivers 380,000 encounters annually, including 36,000 emergency visits. Closure would instantaneously create a critical shortage of nearly 30,000 acute hospital “bed days” and longer wait times for everyone in our region’s already overflowing and overburdened ERs. Impact on maternal and newborn care would be equally catastrophic. Over 1,700 expectant mothers and 70% of babies born in Lackawanna County rely on Regional’s services annually. Other area hospitals simply lack capacity to accommodate this volume or the ability to replace Lackawanna County’s only Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The next closest NICU is 45 minutes away – an eternity for newborns struggling to breathe. Beyond patient care, Regional’s major employer contributions are vital to our local economy, providing more than 1,000 family-sustaining, union-supported jobs, injecting $148 million in wages and benefits. Failure to secure Regional’s viable future is simply not an option. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s existence depends on a community solution. All stakeholders, including elected officials, leadership of health systems, educational institutions, labor, and business, and, most importantly, each of us whose lives are on the line, must engage meaningfully to ensure a welcoming transition to new ownership. Together, we need to communicate our expectations to ensure new ownership will truly seek and value meaningful community input to honor our legacies and collective priorities, while steadfastly maintaining and improving access to essential health care services, employment opportunities, and workforce development.
The Wright Center for Community Health to host resource fair for Alzheimer’s, dementia caregivers, and family members The Wright Center for Community Health is hosting a Caregivers Resource Fair for family members and caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The free, public event will be held at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. Agencies from across the region, including Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging, Scranton Counseling Center, Telespond Senior Services, LIFE Geisinger, Lackawanna Pro Bono Inc., Interim Health Care, United Neighborhood Centers, Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, and more will provide information about the resources they offer. A legal expert and a local caregiver will give presentations. No registration is required to participate in the Caregivers Resource Fair. Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs memory, thinking abilities, and daily functioning. In Pennsylvania, it affects about 282,000 individuals. About 465,000 family members and friends across the state serve as caregivers, often providing unpaid, around-the-clock care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, frequently with limited opportunities for respite. The Wright Center’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program provides coordinated, comprehensive support for patients, families, and caregivers. It is part of a collaborative, county-wide effort called Age-Friendly Lackawanna that includes nearly 30 community organizations. Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center, said many caregivers have a hard time finding the resources they need for their loved ones. “We’ve heard from so many people who don’t know what is available,” she said. “Since we’re part of this network, we thought we could help by hosting an event where caregivers can come to one place to get information, hear from experts, and better help their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
The Wright Center’s Dr. Doug Klamp Gives Message for National Nurses Week I don’t need to tell you how vital nurses are to our health care system. They are, without question, the most essential of essential personnel – skilled, compassionate, dedicated, and absolutely indispensable to physicians like me. Nurses are the ones at the bedside day and night, answering calls, comforting patients, coordinating care, and often serving as the bridge between patients and the rest of the care team. Their impact is immeasurable. That’s why I’m especially glad to recognize National Nurses Month – and more specifically, National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6-12. It’s a time to thank nurses for their tireless efforts, professional excellence, and the deep humanity they bring to everything they do. The idea for the observance came from Dorothy Sutherland, an employee of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, who sent a letter to President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 proposing a specially designated day for nurses for that October. While Eisenhower never signed the proclamation, the first National Nurses Week was celebrated in October 1954 – the 100th anniversary of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale’s service in the Crimean War. It took two more decades before the observance gained official recognition. In 1974, President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation designating a National Nurses Week. Then, in 1981, the state of New Mexico took it a step further by declaring May 6 – Nightingale’s birthday – as a National Recognition Day for Nurses. President Ronald Reagan formalized this recognition the following year. This year, the American Nurses Enterprise is promoting the theme “The Power of Nurses.” It’s a fitting tribute to the remarkable contributions that nurses make every day – often while navigating enormous challenges like staffing shortages, public health emergencies, and increasing demands on their time and expertise. At The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, we’re proud to celebrate our exceptional team of nurses and nurse practitioners. They are not just caregivers – they are educators, advocates, and leaders in every sense of the word. In fact, several of our nurse practitioners serve as clinical leads in our community health centers, managing teams and ensuring all of our patients – from pediatrics to geriatrics – receive affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services. Recognizing the need to prepare more nurses for advanced practice roles, The Wright Center launched a 12-month Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Family Medicine, one of the few programs of its kind in Pennsylvania. Modeled after the pioneering initiative created by Community Health Center Inc., in Connecticut, the fellowship provides newly certified nurse practitioners with intensive hands-on experience and mentoring during their first year in practice. The fellows rotate through clinical settings focused on pediatrics, mental and behavioral health, infectious diseases, and addiction and recovery services at our Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, and Scranton health centers. This program is a testament to our commitment to developing the physician, nursing, and interprofessional health care workforce that America needs to address gaps in primary care. As the demand for health care continues to grow – particularly in underserved areas – nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses will play an increasingly central role. So, whether you’re a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse, know this: Your work is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated. You are the lifeblood of health care. This Nurses Week, and every week, I tip my hat to you. Thank you for all that you do for our patients, our clinicians, our care teams, and our communities.
The Wright Center Hosts U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr. The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr., R-8, Dallas Twp., and several members of his staff on Friday, April 25, at the Teaching Health Center in Scranton. Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, met with Representative Bresnahan to share information about The Wright Center and its 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. The Wright Center is one of 1,400 community health centers in the United States. Community health centers serve as a medical home for more than 32.5 million patients, are proven to reduce health care costs – saving an average of 24% per Medicaid patient compared to other providers – and generate an estimated $118.4 billion in total economic impact in local communities, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers. Since 2019, The Wright Center has been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQLA) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). FQLAs “ensure health care for our nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations through service provision to all, regardless of ability to pay,” according to HRSA. In addition to stressing the importance of protecting funding that supports community health centers, including FQLAs, Dr. Thomas spoke about how essential Medicare and Medicaid funding are to residents of Northeast Pennsylvania. They also discussed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s nearly 50-year legacy of training physicians and strengthening the interprofessional health care workforce pipeline to meet the region’s complex health care and workforce needs. “We wanted to thank Representative Bresnahan for stepping up to represent our region in Washington, D.C. and for the partnership we have built with him and his staff, both here in his district and in our capital, over the past few months. We are grateful for the commitment he has shown in supporting community health centers,” Dr. Thomas-Hemak said. “Today was an opportunity to thank him and welcome him to our Teaching Health Center in Scranton so we can share the critical work we are doing throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.” During his visit, Representative Bresnahan toured The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton with Dr. Erin McFadden, The Wright Center’s deputy chief medical officer, medical director for the community health centers in Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center, and co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. The visit concluded with a group discussion with Representative Bresnahan, his staff, and The Wright Center’s board members, executive team, faculty, resident physicians, and other key staff members. “The Wright Center is doing extraordinary work to ensure high-quality, affordable care reaches every corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Representative Bresnahan. “I want to thank The Wright Center for the opportunity to visit their Scranton health center and to discuss ways in which we can work together to strengthen both the health and future of our communities. “The Wright Center serves as a national model for how community-based health care and workforce development can go hand-in-hand to improve lives.” Born in Kingston and raised in Wyoming and Hughestown boroughs, Representative Robert Bresnahan represents the 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike, and parts of Monroe and Luzerne counties.
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.
The Wright Center to Offer Free Skin Cancer Screenings The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, in partnership with Lackawanna Valley Dermatology Associates and the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, will offer free skin cancer screenings on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over 5 million cases diagnosed annually. Early detection through regular screenings can significantly increase survival rates. To register for a screening, go to bit.ly/TWCSkinScreening. With May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the event aims to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention, empowering individuals to take steps toward protecting their skin health. Dr. Kirelos Younan, a second-year internal medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, organized the program after hearing about two local cases: a young patient who died after being diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and another patient who survived after doctors detected the melanoma early. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 212,200 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2025, and an estimated 8,430 people will die from it this year. Dr. Younan rallied other resident physicians to volunteer for the program to fulfill The Wright Center’s mission to improve the health and welfare of regional communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve. “Residents will gain valuable experience in identifying the most common cancer globally, while their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm will enable them to educate patients on preventive strategies,” Dr. Younan said. “Additionally, our diverse group of residents can provide patient education in over 10 languages, which is crucial in getting our message out.” That message includes the importance of using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, which reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50%. Early detection is key, too. The estimated five-year survival rate for U.S. patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99%. “I’m eager to see our volunteer providers interact with attendees and convey reassuring messages that skin cancer is preventable and that cure rates are highly favorable if the cancer is detected early,” Dr. Younan said. “And I’m certainly looking forward to educating more people about the importance of sunscreen ahead of sunburn season.”