Wright Center Physician Receives Board Certification in Obesity Medicine Dr. Nirali Patel, a board-certified internal medicine physician at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, recently earned board certification in obesity medicine, increasing the number of physicians in the network who are prepared to better help patients manage obesity, its many comorbidities, and to lose weight. Patel is accepting adult patients at the primary care practice at 501 S. Washington Ave. A Scranton resident, Patel is also a core faculty member for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency program. She earned her medical degree from Medical University of Lublin, Poland, and completed her internal medicine residency and geriatrics fellowship training at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. Obesity is one of the nation’s most prevalent chronic diseases and is associated with many of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. The condition is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, certain cancers, and many additional comorbidities. The certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine gives physicians the insights and tools to help patients who are struggling with the complex issue of obesity. Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak, Jumee Barooah, and Manju Mary Thomas are also board-certified in obesity medicine and see patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. In addition, Barooah accepts patients at the Scranton Practice. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health and its network of primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Commits to ‘Change Maker Campaign’ Recognizing the risks posed by burnout among health care professionals and persistent physician attrition, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education recently joined the National Academy of Medicine’s “Change Maker Campaign for Health Workforce Well-Being.” The academy launched the campaign in October. About 270 organizations, including The Wright Center enterprise, have joined the campaign, committing to institutionalizing well-being as a long-term value. Other well-recognized campaign members include the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Geisinger, Penn Medicine, and the Veterans Health Administration. The National Academy of Medicine introduced the campaign to further the goals of its “National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being,” an initiative begun in 2022 and aimed at driving “collective action to strengthen health workforce well-being and restore the health of the nation.” “The capacity and well-being of the U.S. health workforce has been under threat for years by an epidemic of burnout, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this systems issue,” according to the academy. “Now more nurses, physicians, and state and local public health department employees than ever are considering leaving their professions.” Addressing the issue is a “shared responsibility,” according to the plan’s promoters at the National Academy of Medicine. The Wright Center – which provides graduate medical education training opportunities for more than 245 resident and fellow physicians annually – has, in recent years, amplified its efforts to prepare doctors and other clinicians to be resilient, long-term professionals. To support the well-being of its workforce, for example, The Wright Center has embraced initiatives such as mental health first aid training and the statewide “CEOs Against Stigma” campaign, both of which help to broaden awareness about depression and mental illness in the workplace. The Wright Center also is pursuing certification in the Sanctuary Model, a proven strategy for enhancing the workplace environment through the direct address of the effects of trauma. Similarly, The Wright Center has introduced employee wellness programs such as recurring meditation sessions, reflection and decompression sessions using artistic expression as a medium, and monthly visits by a therapy dog. These and other activities give clinicians and support staffers a chance to momentarily break from their workday routines and de-stress. Reflecting its strong commitment to employee wellness, The Wright Center was a recent finalist for the Workplace Excellence Award in the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s annual SAGE Award recognition program. To learn more about The Wright Center, and view a current list of career opportunities, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center Hosting Blood Drive in Honor of Injured Scranton Detective The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Friday, Feb. 9, to honor a city police detective injured in a January shooting. Regional residents can make an appointment to donate blood between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at The Wright Center’s Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., by visiting redcross.org and using sponsor code: The Wright Center or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. The drive is in honor of Scranton police Detective Kyle Gilmartin, who was shot on Jan. 11 in West Scranton. He and other Scranton police officers were investigating a pair of gang-related gunfire incidents at the time. After being treated at Geisinger Community Medical Center, Detective Gilmartin is recovering at a rehabilitation center. “As a medical organization, we want to help where the need is greatest, and January is a time when there are critical blood shortages here and nationwide,” said Gerri McAndrew, co-director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “We know that treating Detective Gilmartin required a lot of blood, so we thought hosting a blood drive in his honor would be fitting.” In addition to helping address the blood shortage, anyone who donates blood in February will receive a $20 Amazon gift card by mail. Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center operates 10 primary and preventive care practices, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health, in Northeast Pennsylvania. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. To make an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Encourages Donating for National Donor Day The Wright Center promotes the upcoming National Donor Day, which is observed every year on Feb. 14. Also on Valentine’s Day, The Wright Center encourages individuals to take a moment on that lovely day to consider the many benefits of donation, organ and otherwise. Started in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and the United Auto Workers, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Donor Day focuses on spreading awareness about organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets, and marrow donation. The day also recognizes those who have given and received the gift of life through donation, who are currently waiting for a transplant, and who have tragically passed away while awaiting a donation. It’s a highly noble cause, especially when considering the critical need for the many types of donation. Statistics always put things in perspective, so here are a few to ponder, courtesy of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance: A new name is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes; An average of 20 people die every day waiting for a transplant; One organ donor can save up to eight lives; A single donor can restore eyesight to two people; 70 percent of bone marrow patients don’t have a matching donor in their family; Every 30 seconds, someone needs platelets, which are essential for patients battling cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries; Roughly every two seconds, someone requires a blood transfusion, which, taken as a whole, equates to more than 41,000 daily donations. Of course, I should note that registering as an organ and tissue donor means thinking about events that will transpire after your death, which, for most people, isn’t the easiest thing to contemplate. That’s why discussing these matters with your loved ones is important, ensuring your wishes are understood and honored. Want to learn more about becoming a donor here in Pennsylvania? Visit donatelifepa.org, the website for Donate Life Pennsylvania, a collaboration between the Gift of Life Donor Program, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, and the state Departments of Health and Transportation. The initiative is funded by voluntary contributions made via driver’s license renewals, vehicle registrations, and state income tax filings that are then used by the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund to inform state residents about the importance of organ and tissue donation and to increase the number of people who sign up to become donors on their driver’s license, learner’s permit, or state identification card. Among its big advocacy events is the annual PA Donor Day, which we at The Wright Center have proudly supported and will continue to support. To read more about our advocacy efforts, go to TheWrightCenter.org/our-stories. Becoming a donor is, as the people at Donate Life Pennsylvania put it, “the greatest gift you can give.” So, if you haven’t become one yet, please consider it seriously. It’s truly an excellent way to make a difference in this world. Dr. Timothy Burke, is a board-certified internal medicine physician. He accepts adult patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley and Scranton practices. Dr. Burke is also the associate program director of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency.
The Wright Center to Host Pop-Up Food Pantry for Community Members The American College of Physicians’ Pennsylvania (PA-ACP) Eastern Chapter will conduct a volunteer-driven “Leap into a Day of Giving” in partnership with The Wright Centers for Graduate Medical Education, Community Health, and Patient & Community Engagement to address food insecurity in Northeast Pennsylvania. PA-ACP Eastern Chapter members and inclusive community partners are supporting and staffing the pop-up food pantry for members of the community at Weston Field, 982 Providence Rd., Scranton, on Thursday, Feb. 29 from noon-3 p.m. Free prepackaged bags of nonperishable food items will be provided to those in need. Food resources include shelf-stable pantry items such as dry cereal, breakfast bars, pasta, soups, cans of vegetables, tuna, and chicken, and more. Bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis due to a limited supply. The Wright Center is also accepting donations of food items from the public. Donations are being accepted at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, and Scranton practices. Volunteers representing the PA-ACP Eastern Chapter and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program will pack and distribute the bags of food. The nation’s largest medical specialty organization, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has about 159,000 members who are internal medicine physicians and medical students. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the ACP consists of three regions: Eastern, Western, and Southeastern. Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, also serves as governor of the PA-ACP Eastern Chapter. The food pantry is another example of The Wright Center living its mission is to improve the health and welfare of communities through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired and competent workforce that is privileged to serve. “The health and welfare of our communities depend on equitable access to high-quality, affordable primary and preventive care and nutritious foods,” said Dr. Thomas-Hemak. “I am honored to be organizing this initiative and calling forth all my PA-ACP Eastern Chapter member colleagues to engage. Days of Giving offer us all opportunities to come beyond our usual daily responsibilities to answer what Martin Luther King, Jr. identified as life’s most persistent and urgent question: “What are you doing for others?” For more information about the pop-up food pantry or to donate to it, please contact Gerri McAndrew, co-director, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, at mcandrewg@TheWrightCenter.org.
Dentist at The Wright Center Receives Faculty Appointment with Partner Organization Dr. Surbhi Abrol, a board-certified dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health, has been appointed as a faculty member at NYU Langone Dental Medicine. In her new role, Abrol will mentor dental residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program, sharing her clinical knowledge in general dentistry and background in prosthodontics. Each academic year, two dental residents train at The Wright Center’s primary care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania as part of an affiliation established in 2021 with NYU Langone Dental Medicine. The organization, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., operates the world’s largest postdoctoral dental residency program of its kind, training about 400 residents annually at partner sites, including community health centers, hospitals, and other affiliates in nearly 30 states. The Wright Center is currently the only organization in Pennsylvania to partner with NYU Langone to offer its AEGD program. Through the affiliation, The Wright Center is able to attract additional health professionals to the region to address the community’s pressing need for dental services. “I am pleased to receive this faculty appointment and contribute to The Wright Center for Community Health’s vision in clinical training and dental education,” said Abrol, who joined The Wright Center in 2022. “As a faculty member at NYU Langone Dental Medicine, I am excited to help shape the next generation of dentists, particularly those committed to serving in rural and medically underserved communities. This role aligns perfectly with my passion for dental education and community health.” Abrol earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and has been practicing since 2021 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Wright Center for Community Health operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. The Wright Center accepts most major health insurance plans, including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Medicare, and CHIP. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. To schedule a dental appointment at the Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn, call 570-230-0019. To schedule a dental appointment at the Scranton Practice in the city’s South Side neighborhood, call 570-941-0630. For more information about The Wright Center, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
Wright Center Physician Receives Board Certification in Obesity Medicine Dr. Nirali Patel, a board-certified internal medicine physician at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, recently earned board certification in obesity medicine, increasing the number of physicians in the network who are prepared to better help patients manage obesity, its many comorbidities, and to lose weight. Patel is accepting adult patients at the primary care practice at 501 S. Washington Ave. A Scranton resident, Patel is also a core faculty member for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency program. She earned her medical degree from Medical University of Lublin, Poland, and completed her internal medicine residency and geriatrics fellowship training at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. Obesity is one of the nation’s most prevalent chronic diseases and is associated with many of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. The condition is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, certain cancers, and many additional comorbidities. The certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine gives physicians the insights and tools to help patients who are struggling with the complex issue of obesity. Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak, Jumee Barooah, and Manju Mary Thomas are also board-certified in obesity medicine and see patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. In addition, Barooah accepts patients at the Scranton Practice. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health and its network of primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
Wright Center Dentist Receives Faculty Appointment with Partner Organization Dr. Surbhi Abrol, a board-certified dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health, has been appointed as a faculty member at NYU Langone Dental Medicine. In her new role, Abrol will mentor dental residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program, sharing her clinical knowledge in general dentistry and background in prosthodontics. Each academic year, two dental residents train at The Wright Center’s primary care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania as part of an affiliation established in 2021 with NYU Langone Dental Medicine. The organization, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., operates the world’s largest postdoctoral dental residency program of its kind, training about 400 residents annually at partner sites, including community health centers, hospitals, and other affiliates in nearly 30 states. The Wright Center is currently the only organization in Pennsylvania to partner with NYU Langone to offer its AEGD program. Through the affiliation, The Wright Center is able to attract additional health professionals to the region to address the community’s pressing need for dental services. “I am pleased to receive this faculty appointment and contribute to The Wright Center for Community Health’s vision in clinical training and dental education,” said Abrol, who joined The Wright Center in 2022. “As a faculty member at NYU Langone Dental Medicine, I am excited to help shape the next generation of dentists, particularly those committed to serving in rural and medically underserved communities. This role aligns perfectly with my passion for dental education and community health.” Abrol earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and has been practicing since 2021 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Wright Center for Community Health operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. The Wright Center accepts most major health insurance plans, including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Medicare, and CHIP. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. To schedule a dental appointment at the Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn, call 570-230-0019. To schedule a dental appointment at the Scranton Practice in the city’s South Side neighborhood, call 570-941-0630. For more information about The Wright Center, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center Fights Against National Lack of Maternal Health Services One of the more unfortunate trends in American medicine is the lack of access to health services available to new mothers and their babies. Fortunately, this dire situation is getting some much-needed attention via the annual observance of Maternal Health Awareness Day, which will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 23. This year’s theme is the highly appropriate “Access in Crisis.” All over the country, maternal health services are becoming increasingly unobtainable for too many mothers and their babies, due to financial, staffing, and policy challenges that have led to more and more labor and delivery units shutting down, both in urban and rural areas. More than 2.2 million women ages 15 to 44 live in maternity care deserts with no hospitals that provide obstetric care, birth centers, OB-GYNs, or certified nurse-midwives, according to a 2022 March of Dimes report. Meanwhile, numerous mothers in the postpartum period lost their Medicaid coverage as the COVID-19 public health emergency drew down. That 12-month period is enormously critical to patients, given the potential for pregnancy-related complications. This is a significant crisis, so people should be striving to play a role in raising awareness about the crucial role maternal health care access plays for mother and baby. The Wright Center is happy to say that locally they have high-quality maternal health care providers, among them Maternal & Family Health Services. The Wright Center also delivers exceptional pediatric services. From newborn check-ups and well-visits to vaccinations, school physicals, and guidance through all the development stages, The Wright Center is here to help patients navigate their child’s health and well-being from infancy through the beginning of adulthood. The Wright Center’s pediatricians, family medicine physicians, and medical care teams are specially trained to manage all aspects of your child’s health care needs. Services include newborn care, routine vaccinations, well-child visits that test children’s hearing, vision, height, and weight, same-day sick appointments, back-to-school and daycare physicals, sports and camp physicals, asthma management, mental health screenings for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and counseling centered on growth, development, nutrition, safety, and injury prevention. Great work is also being done by the Healthy MOMS (Maternal Opiate Medical Support) program, which was launched by The Wright Center and several other community organizations more than five years ago to assist pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. The program provides medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health, case management, and social services, ideally engaging mom and baby all the way up until the child’s second birthday. The evidence suggests that mothers who join the program and participate in recovery services well before their delivery dates are less likely to give birth to babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a potentially painful and costly medical condition caused when a newborn withdraws from opioids or other drugs that the baby had been exposed to in the womb. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of community partners representing Northeast Pennsylvania’s health care, legal, housing, and social service organizations, Healthy MOMS has proven to be a resounding success, with more than 151 mothers active in the program today and 257 children born in the program since its inception. The Wright Center will continue doing it’s part to ensure local mothers have the care and resources needed for them and their children to enjoy a happy, healthy life.
Wright Center Executive Completes Workforce Leadership Program Tiffany Jackson, MSM, SHRM-CP, organizational development director at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, recently completed the 2023 Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy and joins alumni of the program as members of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network. The Scranton Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the Aspen Institute and Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, hosted the Workforce Leadership Academy. The 10-month peer-learning community engaged 22 fellows from Lackawanna and Luzerne counties in a series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. The regional program aims to create system changes in the workforce development field. Fellows worked with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepened networks, strengthened systems leadership skills, applied race, equity, and system change frameworks to their work, and increased their understanding of effective strategies and programs. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy is one of eight national academies that were launched in 2023. As an alumnus of the academy, Jackson joins fellows from 14 previous academies in 11 cities in the United States and Canada. The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy organization based in Washington, D.C. The Wright Center for Community Health operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. It develops the physician workforce of tomorrow in eight residency and fellowship programs.For more information about The Wright Center, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
