The Wright Center Announces October ‘Walk With a Doc’ Events The Wright Center for Community Health invites community members of all ages to step into better health by joining its ongoing Walk with a Doc initiative. These monthly walks promote both physical well-being and community engagement in a friendly environment. Each event is guided by local doctors and health care professionals who lead participants on a casual walk, offering valuable health tips and engaging in open, health-related discussions. It’s a chance to enjoy gentle exercise, ask questions, and meet others who share an interest in healthy living – all in a relaxed, welcoming setting. The October Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. The Scranton walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, at 9 a.m., also along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, with walkers meeting at the Olive Street entrance. These events are free and open to the public, welcoming individuals of all fitness levels. No pre-registration is required. Walk with a Doc is a global nonprofit organization that promotes physical activity and meaningful conversations between physicians and community members. According to the American Heart Association, just 30 minutes of walking per day can improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, support weight management, boost mental health, and reduce the risk of conditions such as obesity and osteoporosis.
The Wright Center: Dr. Hassan Joins As Teaching Hospitalist A teaching hospitalist and physician has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Faiza Hassan will serve as a teaching hospitalist for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, supervising resident physicians in clinical learning environments across Northeast Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Geisinger Community Health Center. In this role, Dr. Hassan will support program leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum for the internal medicine residency program, as well as mentoring resident learners and assessing their progress. Additionally, Dr. Hassan will provide responsive and inclusive whole-person primary health services for individuals 18 and older, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and injuries at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. The community health center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. Dr. Hassan earned her medical degree from Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She moved to the United States in 2014 and completed her internal medicine residency at Central Michigan University Health in Saginaw, Michigan, in July 2025. The program focuses on training resident physicians for careers as hospitalists and primary care physicians.
The Wright Center: Depression Screenings Proactive Form of Health Care Preventative screenings represent health care at its most proactive. They are convenient, and they can quickly address and improve an issue well before it escalates. Depression and other mental health disorders fall into this category. October marks National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, and Mental Health Awareness Week (Oct. 5–11), which Congress established in 1990 through the advocacy of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week carried the theme “Building Community: Supporting Mental Well-Being Together.” According to NAMI, the focus was on “the power of meaningful connections, grassroots advocacy, and local action to strengthen mental health support nationwide.” The theme served as an inspiring reminder of how collective efforts can make a real difference. Greater emphasis on depression screenings is urgently needed, as the disease does not discriminate and affects individuals of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups. With the everyday stresses of modern life, it is unsurprising that rates of anxiety and depression continue to increase each year. According to a November 2024 brief issued by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce, about 59 million U.S. adults – 23% of the population – experienced a mental illness in 2023, with nearly half of them not receiving treatment. Access to behavioral health services remains limited due to provider shortages, high out-of-pocket costs, coverage gaps, and other barriers. The national average wait time for behavioral health services is currently 48 days, according to HRSA. Screenings are recommended for anyone experiencing several of these common symptoms of depression: Persistent sadness or anxiousness Too little or too much sleep Reduced or increased appetite and weight loss or gain Loss of interest in favorite activities Restlessness or irritability Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Fatigue or loss of energy Thoughts of death or suicide The Wright Center for Community Health provides a wide range of behavioral health services, including therapy, psychological assessments, and psychiatric care, for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, substance-related and addictive disorders, bullying, relationship stressors, LGBTQI+ issues, trauma, and grief. Earlier this year, The Wright Center 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 several primary care sites in Pennsylvania engaged in the five-year project to promote collaborative care, an evidence-based model that strengthens coordination of behavioral health services in primary care settings. The organization is also addressing the regional shortage of mental health specialists through the hiring of new staff psychiatrists. These professionals are providing office-based remote and in-person psychiatry appointments for patients of all ages, while also collaborating with colleagues across The Wright Center to integrate behavioral health and primary care services to improve overall outcomes. Staff members continue to improve accessibility for individuals in underserved and under-resourced areas, working to reduce barriers to behavioral health care. The Wright Center remains committed to ensuring that people receive the support they need to lead happy, productive lives.
The Wright Center: Bridging Gaps, Restoring Smiles Mark National Dental Hygiene Month with better oral care When Maryann Havrilak first walked through the doors of The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn, the 74-year-old retiree wasn’t looking forward to being in a dental chair. Mary Ann Havrilak of Waymart checks in for a dental appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn. The Wright Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, accepts most dental insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program to ensure oral care services are affordable for everyone. To make an appointment, call call 570-230-0019. “I’ve had bad teeth my whole life,” said the South Canaan Twp. native who lives in Waymart. “I’ve been going to the dentist since I was little, even when I lived in New York City, and you can imagine how expensive that was. But as soon as I walked into The Wright Center, I felt comfortable. The girls were great, the dentist (Dr. Ryan Rebar) explained everything to me, and it felt like home.” Havrilak, a retired secretary who spent 45 years working in New York City before returning to her roots in Wayne County, is on a fixed income since retiring. She had to carefully weigh her options when selecting new medical and dental providers. When her insurance company offered a list of choices, she picked The Wright Center for Community Health and never looked back. Her dental journey is one of many that reflect the importance of access to compassionate dental care, especially during October’s National Dental Hygiene Month, a time to spotlight the vital role oral health plays in overall well-being. Oral health is directly tied to heart health, diabetes control, and even early detection of serious illnesses like oral cancer. Yet, for many patients, fear, stigma, lack of insurance, or transportation barriers keep them from seeking the dental care they need. That is where The Wright Center’s integrated dental care model steps in. To ensure high-quality oral care is available to everyone, The Wright Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, accepts most dental insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program to those who qualify based on federal poverty guidelines that take into account family size and income. No patient is turned away because of an inability to pay. “We believe everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable, and trauma-informed dental care,” said Dr. Rebar, a general practice dentist and clinical site director at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. “Our approach is centered around meeting patients where they are physically, emotionally, and financially.” Mary Ann Havrilak of Waymart, seated, talks to her dentist, Dr. Ryan Rebar, during a recent appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn. The Mid Valley dental team is part of The Wright Center’s growing network of community health centers, which includes medical, behavioral health, and dental care under one roof. This model enhances access and outcomes while also building trust, particularly among patients with long-standing fears or previous negative experiences. “A lot of patients come to us in pain, discouraged, and understandably nervous, but with every visit, we build trust,” said Dr. Rebar, who received his doctoral degree in dental medicine from the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry after graduating from The University of Scranton. “We talk through everything, make sure patients feel in control, and we don’t rush anything. It’s never just about teeth. It’s about dignity, quality of life, and restoring confidence. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.” Havrilak has been receiving ongoing care for the past seven years at The Wright Center’s Mid Valley location at 5 S. Washington Ave. Jermyn, including extractions, partials, and most recently, a bridge. She credits Dr. Rebar and The Wright Center’s dental care team for their skill, compassion, and gentle approach, especially when it comes to something most patients dread. “I’ve had butchers just shove the needle in,” she said. “Here, they’re so gentle you don’t even know it’s happening. They don’t want to hurt you, and that makes all the difference.” Her most recent procedure has been life-changing in a simple but profound way. “I just got a new bridge, and today I’m going to sit down and have a salad for the first time since April,” she said. “I couldn’t chew before. Now I can eat, I smile more, and feel more like myself.” For Havrilak, The Wright Center’s dental care team is like family. “They talk to you about anything to make you comfortable,” she said. “Even people who aren’t working on you get involved in the conversation. The dental team is wonderful, the whole staff is so smart, and they all really care. The girls at the front desk always call if they have an earlier opening and ask if I can make it. I never say no to a dentist appointment.” Her advice to anyone who may be fearful about seeing a dentist, especially those who have had bad experiences, is simple: “Go to The Wright Center for Community Health. They’ll put you at ease. They’ll treat you with respect. And they’ll make sure you can smile again.” Dr. Ryan Rebar, right, meets with his patient, Mary Ann Havrilak of Waymart. Dr. Rebar believes ‘everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable, and trauma-informed dental care.’ Good oral hygiene tips National Dental Hygiene Month is observed each October to celebrate dental hygienists and raise awareness of the importance of good oral health to prevent oral diseases such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Here are some tips from The Wright Center for Community Health’s dental team to practice good oral hygiene: Brushing Use fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth from decay and cavities. Fluoride strengthens the tooth’s enamel. Angle your toothbrush bristles toward your gumline so the bristles clean between your gums and teeth. Brush all the sides of each tooth gently with small, circular motions. Avoid back-and-forth scrubbing. Brush your tongue. Flossing Use a string of floss about two feet long. Wrap it around your middle finger on each hand and grip it between your thumb and index fingers. Gently ease the floss between your teeth until it reaches your gumline. Do not force the floss into place, as this could harm your gums. Curve the floss around the side of each tooth, like the letter “C.” Slide the floss up and down under your gum.
The Wright Center for Community Health Earns National Recognition The Wright Center for Community Health has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) for its commitment to improving patients’ blood pressure control rates, earning Gold Plus-level recognition as part of Target: BP. Target: BP is a national initiative created by the AHA and AMA in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure. The highest award, Gold Plus, recognizes health care enterprises that have demonstrated evidence-based practices for blood pressure measurement and treatment, and in which high blood pressure is controlled in 70% or more of the affected adult patients. The Wright Center also received two other Gold Awards from the AHA: one for improving the quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors through the Target: Type 2 Diabetes program; and the other for improving the quality of care through awareness, detection, and management of high cholesterol with evidence-based strategies and tools through the program, Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol. Target: Type 2 Diabetes addresses heart disease and stroke risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes and puts the unparalleled expertise of the AHA to work for health care organizations nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol supports physicians and care teams by offering access to the latest research, tools, and resources to reach and sustain cholesterol control rates among the adult patient population they serve. “Receiving these three Gold Awards from the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association underscores our commitment to advancing the health and well-being of patients living with these chronic conditions,” said Dr. Erin McFadden, chief medical officer at The Wright Center for Community Health. “Through timely diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed, empowering patients to achieve healthier, longer lives.” Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. – about 122.4 million – are living with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, according to the AHA. About 29.3 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another estimated 9.7 million are living with undiagnosed diabetes, the AHA said. Approximately 104 million adults in the United States (about 40%) have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All three chronic illnesses increase a person’s risk for serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease and stroke, which are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively. Stroke is a leading cause of disability, according to a 2025 report from the AHA. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people living with Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Howard Haft, a member of the American Heart Association’s National Quality Oversight Committee. “Organizations that participate in programs like this help raise awareness of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can improve patient outcomes. We are pleased to recognize The Wright Center for its commitment to quality care.” In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ethnic background, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that considers family size and income. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-209-0019.
The Wright Center: Turning Pain into Progress How one man’s story fuels hope for others. Five days a week, Rick Frey talks to people experiencing substance use disorder, helping them set goals, cheering on their successes, and sometimes pointing out inconsistencies in the stories they tell themselves. Certified recovery specialist Rick Frey in his office at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre. After struggling with substance use disorder for 20 years, Frey has been sober for five years, and now helps guide patients in their own recovery journeys. He knows firsthand about the battles his patients fight every day. For 20 years, the certified recovery specialist at The Wright Center for Community Health lived with substance use disorder. A state prison sentence in 2020, coupled with the realization that he was failing his two young children, sparked Frey’s desire for a new kind of life. He began working for The Wright Center in July 2024 after participating in a grant-funded program called Project PROGRESS, which stands for Providing Recovery Opportunities for Growth, Education, and Sustainable Success. With funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission, The Wright Center and several regional community partners provided access to career training while challenging the stigma associated with employing people with substance use disorder. “I shouldn’t be here. I was hit by a car. I was thrown from a truck. I survived several overdoses,” Frey said. “But God had a different plan.” ‘Numb the pain’ Frey and his colleagues at The Wright Center celebrate National Recovery Month each September to raise awareness about mental health and substance use disorders and to celebrate the achievements of individuals in recovery. Substance use disorder has deep roots in Frey’s family. His own began at just 12 years old, when friends of his sister introduced him to LSD, a powerful hallucinogen. Throughout his teenage years, he continued experimenting with drugs and alcohol. When he was 18, the sudden death of his father sent him into a downward spiral. “Grief was the starting point for my descent into addiction,” he said. “Losing my father unexpectedly left me feeling empty, and I sought ways to numb the pain. That’s when I turned to heroin and methamphetamine.” What began as an escape quickly turned into a trap. With the support of his family, the Wilkes-Barre Township native made multiple attempts at rehabilitation. At 25, he remained sober for nearly a year and began rebuilding his life in Philadelphia with help from his aunt. But when he returned to Scranton for a court hearing, a broken-down car extended his stay. Reunited with old friends, he soon fell back into familiar patterns. Rick Frey, a certified recovery specialist, meets with someone in a behavioral health meeting room at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre. Frey said he uses what he learned from counselors who helped him on his recovery journey to help others who have substance use disorder. Now, he realizes he was missing a key step in his recovery journey. “I would do what they told me, and I’d work the steps,” Frey said, referring to the main tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. “But I wasn’t facing my grief over losing my father. I wasn’t facing my depression and my anxiety, so I never really made any meaningful progress.” ‘I can’t keep doing this’ A series of difficult blows starting in 2018 – including back-to-back DUI charges and the end of his relationship with the mother of his two children – left Frey struggling to regain stability. “I realized I can’t keep doing this,” Frey said. “My daughter wouldn’t even look at me. So, I just surrendered.” He cut ties with old friends and went into a rehabilitation program for 45 days. From there, he lived for seven months in a halfway house, followed by a year in a sober living house. It was the longest he’d ever maintained sobriety. Inspired by the counselors and staff who helped him with his recovery journey, he enrolled at Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) to earn his associate degree in human services. He began his current career path at Clearbrook Treatment Centers, where he started as an intake coordinator and then served in various roles, including case manager. While earning his associate degree and working at Clearbrook, Frey began pursuing certification as a recovery specialist through Project PROGRESS. It was during this time that he was first introduced to The Wright Center and its unique services for people with substance use disorders, including its Pennsylvania-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence. The Wright Center uses a team-based approach to tailor treatment plans to each patient, integrating treatment for substance use disorder with behavioral and primary health services. Impressed by the passion and expertise of The Wright Center’s staff, Frey was eager to join the team. He is now based at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Rick Frey, one of The Wright Center’s certified recovery specialists, talks with colleague Jill Kalson at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Frey is part of a team-based approach that integrates substance use disorder treatment with behavioral and primary health services. He remembers the techniques his counselors used throughout his recovery, especially the frustrating moments when they helped him see how his excuses were holding him back. Today, he uses those same methods with his patients. “Recovery isn’t easy and everyone’s journey is different,” Frey said. “But I learned that you can be the victim of your trauma, or you could use it to help you transform into something better and stronger.” ‘Make a difference’ Frey is just one of 101 people who participated in certified recovery specialist training programs through Project PROGRESS, which concluded in September. A total of 76 people completed the training; dozens of them went on to work with people recovering from substance use disorders at companies across the region. “When I hear Rick’s story, and the stories of so many others who successfully went through the program, I feel like The Wright Center has made a difference,” said Shannon Osborne, a project manager who oversaw Project PROGRESS at The Wright Center. “I am grateful to work on projects that provide such positive outcomes for people in our communities.” As he celebrates five years of sobriety, Frey is attending Misericordia University part-time, working on his bachelor’s degree in social work, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work and public administration. When he isn’t studying or working with his clients, you can find the former high school athlete coaching his 11-year-old son’s football and basketball teams. Recently, he volunteered as an assistant coach for his 8-year-old daughter’s soccer team, helping lead them to an undefeated season. In addition to guiding his kids’ sports teams to victory, Frey dreams of becoming more deeply involved in the conversation about how to best address the still-growing addiction crisis locally and nationwide. “We need advocates to show up at rallies, meet with our elected representatives, and talk about what we can do to help people,” Frey said. “Everybody knows someone who has been impacted by addiction.” Rick Frey, far right, with his 8-year-old daughter, Isabella, far left, and 11-year-old son, Ricky. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Community Health’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. Get to know Project PROGRESS Funded in part through an Appalachian Regional Commission INSPIRE grant. Led by The Wright Center for Community Health with regional partners including Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, The Institute, Luzerne County Community College, and Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center. Hosted six Certified Recovery Specialist training sessions attended by 101 individuals. Of the 76 people who completed the training, 48 earned certifications as either certified recovery specialists, certified family recovery specialists, certified recovery specialist supervisors, or a combination of the certifications. Learn more at projectprogressnepa.org
The Wright Center, Honesdale Boy Recieves Kidney Transplant Jake Algerio plays at Honesdale Central Park, less than four months after receiving a new kidney from a deceased donor. The sixth-grader has coped with kidney problems all his life, including undergoing nightly dialysis for the last nine years. When the call came from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Brianne Algerio missed it. Cellphone trouble meant the initial good news, which she’d been waiting for since 2019, went straight to her voicemail. As she scrambled to call the hospital back, CHOP staff called again and informed her that a kidney had been found for her 12-year-old son, Jake Algerio. Her joy was tempered with skepticism. “I was actually thinking, are they sure?” she said about the call on May 1. “We had been to CHOP two months before because they had a kidney for Jake, but it didn’t work out. He didn’t get the surgery.” Algerio, a certified medical assistant at The Wright Center for Community Health Hawley in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, didn’t begin to feel hope until CHOP staff wheeled Jake into the operating room on a gurney. Jake Algerio with his mom, Brianne Algerio, at Honesdale Central Park. When she got the call on May 1 from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia about having a new kidney for Jake, her joy was tempered with skepticism. They had a similar call in March, but the surgery didn’t happen. Jake’s medical challenges began before he was born. One of his kidneys measures only half a centimeter and the other just one centimeter – far smaller than the average of nearly nine and a half centimeters for a child his age. Since birth, he has endured countless hospitalizations, surgeries, and infections. For the past nine years, he has relied on nightly peritoneal dialysis, which uses a catheter to filter toxins through the lining of his abdominal wall. In September 2019, Jake underwent a kidney transplant at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. Complications led to the removal of the new kidney shortly thereafter, and Jake celebrated his sixth birthday in a hospital bed. Since then, Algerio and her husband, Don Sweeley Jr., have worked to find a living donor for Jake. Nearly 104,000 people across the United States need an organ transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a private, nonprofit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government. Of those, more than 96,000 need a kidney, according to UNOS. Most patients wait between three to five years for a kidney donor. Jake’s new kidney came from a deceased donor, about a year after his name was re-added to the UNOS waiting list. Incredibly, the kidney he received was a near-perfect match for Jake, CHOP staff told Algerio. “The hospital staff were all celebrating,” Algerio said. Before she could join in, however, her son had to endure the eight-hour transplant surgery. She described the agonizing wait alone at CHOP that day, receiving texts from her husband and her mother asking for updates that she didn’t have. After the surgery was complete, she briefly visited Jake in his hospital room to reassure him. He was groggy and disoriented from surgery, she said. Mom and son spent about two weeks at CHOP after Jake’s surgery. After they returned home to Honesdale, they visited the hospital weekly for about two months. These days, they make the trip every other week to ensure Jake is recovering as scheduled. “We’ll eventually start going monthly until about November or December, just to make sure Jake’s body doesn’t reject the transplant,” Algerio said. “I won’t really relax until it’s been a year since the surgery. It still feels like it’s just the first hurdle for him.” Four months after the surgery, though, there’s no denying how much healthier he looks and feels. Algerio smiled as she watched Jake, sporting bright red Sketchers sneakers, race around with his younger sisters – 7-year-old Zoey and 5-year-old Emma – at Honedale Central Park on a sunny afternoon in September. His older brother Ryan, 18, was waiting at home. “Jake couldn’t play like this in April,” Algerio said. “He’d get tired so easily. He was like a little old man, hunched over and out of breath.” In addition to being more energetic, Jake has gained a little weight and grown a few inches taller. He also celebrated a fun milestone this summer – a visit to Honesdale Borough Pool on Aug. 9. Pre-transplant, he had to avoid public pools because the chlorine could have damaged the catheter inserted into his stomach or caused an infection. “He was hesitant to swim at first, but I told him, ‘Just jump in,’” Algerio said. “He did, and he had a ball playing with his friend.” Pausing from his playground games, Jake said he’s feeling better since he received his new kidney. He hiked up his shirt to show off his stomach scars – a little pucker where his catheter once was and some healing surgical incisions from the transplant procedure. Post-transplant, Jake is looking forward to going on vacation because his dialysis machine has made it difficult for him to travel. After he came home from CHOP in mid-May, his family returned his dialysis machine to the hospital and discarded all the dialysis equipment that was a part of his nightly routine for most of his life. “Maybe to Florida to visit my grandpa,” he said about where he’d like to go. “That would be fun.” Jake Algerio with his sisters Zoey, and Emma at Honesdale Central Park. Four months after receiving a kidney transplant, Jake has gained weight, grown a few inches, and can now keep up with his younger sisters on the playground.
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 President/CEO Appointed to National Committee Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Partnership for Quality Measurement’s (PQM) Endorsement & Maintenance Committee Advisory Group on Cost and Efficiency. The federally funded, consensus-based PQM brings together leaders and experts from across the health care spectrum to evaluate and endorse performance measures. Its mission is to ensure that measures are evidence-based, patient-centered, fair, and effective in driving quality improvement nationwide. Dr. Thomas-Hemak will contribute her clinical and leadership expertise to the Endorsement & Maintenance Cost and Efficiency Committee’s 45-member advisory group in evaluating and refining measures that assess total health care spending, resource use, and efficiency, ensuring they drive higher quality, lower cost care, improve value, and promote better use of health services across the U.S. health system. A quintuple board-certified primary care physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition, Dr. Thomas-Hemak sees generations of patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn, her hometown, alongside her executive leadership. She is recognized nationally for her work in advancing community-based primary health care models, access to care, and interprofessional health care workforce development. An alumna of Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton, she earned her medical degree as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston before completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston. She returned to Northeast Pennsylvania to practice medicine, driven by a profound commitment to the community that shaped her. She joined The Wright Center in 2001, rose to president in 2007, and assumed the role of CEO in 2012. Guided by a people-over-profit philosophy, Dr. Thomas-Hemak has built The Wright Center into one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums, shifting physician training from hospitals to community-based health centers and preparing nearly 450 learners each year, many of whom remain to serve locally. She has expanded a network of 13 community health centers and a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, delivering compassionate, high-quality, whole-person primary health services in rural and underserved populations. Under her leadership, The Wright Center has integrated primary care, behavioral health, dental, school-based, and advanced health information services to ensure accessible, coordinated care for all. Under Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s leadership, The Wright Center has garnered numerous accolades, including designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike; a Pennsylvania Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence and Coordination Center for Medication-Assisted Treatment; a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Top 30 Site for National Primary Care Innovations; recognition as both a University of California, San Francisco, Center of Excellence in Primary Care and an American Association of Medical Colleges’ Premier Primary Care Residency; membership in the prestigious 2024 American Medical Association ChangeMedEd Consortium; and leading partner in the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program for pregnant women and new mothers with substance use disorder. Following the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre locations achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home certification. Dr. Thomas-Hemak also leads The Wright Center’s engagement in the Keystone Health Information Exchange and its catalytic role in a public television-based education campaign aimed at accelerating the wide-scale adoption of local, regional, and national health information interoperability. A founding member of the consortium that established the Scranton-based Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the governor for the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (PA-ACP), the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization, and is vice president, as well as a founding board member, of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers, which represents community-based Teaching Health Centers that train primary care physicians. She serves on numerous local, regional, and national health care and medical education nonprofit governing boards, cross-sector committees, and workgroups, including HRSA’s Council on Graduate Medical Education, a federal advisory committee that assesses and recommends actions on physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies. She is also the governing board chair and executive committee member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NEPA AHEC), a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s (NACHC) New Health Center CEO Affinity Group, Women Leaders, and an advisory board member of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Health Center Controlled Network. Additionally, she serves as a board member of the National AHEC Organization; the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s Undergraduate Medical Education-Graduate Medical Education (GME) Task Force: GME Growth in Action Group; the Pennsylvania Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council; Keystone Accountable Care Organization; The Institute; and the Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action. Dr. Thomas-Hemak has received several prestigious state and national awards for her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives, including: the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce 2025 Athena Award for career excellence, service, and women’s empowerment; the 2024 Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award from PACHC; the 2024 Hometown Scholars Advocacy Award from NACHC and A.T. Still University; the 2022 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award from NACHC for her efforts in engaging Congress and expanding grassroots advocacy; and the 2020 Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award from the PA-ACP for advancing women’s leadership in medicine. City & State Pennsylvania has also named her a Trailblazer in Health Care and one of Pennsylvania’s 100 most powerful and influential female leaders. She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of the late William Thomas and Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald.
The Wright Center Interns Gain Hands-on Experience The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted 26 high school and college interns over the summer, providing hands-on experience for students following multiple career paths. The interns were assigned to several departments, including administration, clinical, finance, legal, and marketing and communications. Their experience was capped off with an Internship Poster Capstone event, which board members, executives, and employees attended to hear students discuss their projects and answer questions about their findings, internship experience, and future plans. Attendees at the annual event cast ballots for the scholarly posters. Prizes were awarded to the top three vote-getters: First place: Katherine Mena Pereyra, of American University in Washington, D.C., created the scholarly poster, “Advocacy Coffee Connections: Understanding the Big Beautiful Bill. She was mentored by Aimee Wechsler, director of government affairs at The Wright Center. Second place: Noah Lynch of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, for his research poster, “Increasing the Uptake of PrEP Among Women.” The project focused on educating providers and women in the community about the importance of pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, which can significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Melissa Bonnerwith, grants administrator at The Wright Center’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic, was his mentor. Third place: Shane Cegelka, of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, showcased his poster, “The Importance of Proper Informed Consent in Healthcare.” Cegelka was mentored by Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer, and Courtney Kuschke, paralegal, at The Wright Center. To learn more about internship opportunities, visit TheWrightCenter.org/internships.
