Wright Center vice president of primary care and public health policy recognized as healthcare trailblazer in City & State PA list Laura Spadaro, vice president of primary care and public health policy for The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been named as one of Pennsylvania’s Trailblazers in Healthcare by City & State Pennsylvania, a multimedia news organization dedicated to covering the state’s politics and policy. The list recognizes public officials, hospital and healthcare executives, nonprofit leaders, union leaders, academics and others making a difference by framing, influencing and changing the healthcare industry. At The Wright Center, Spadaro leads federal and state regulatory strategy, health policy and government relations initiatives that expand access to high-quality primary and preventive health services and strengthen the healthcare safety net. Since 2021, she has directed more than 110 responses to proposed regulations and requests for information, helping shape Medicare, Medicaid and public health policy while amplifying the voices of patients and frontline clinicians. Through collaboration with national partners and policymakers, she contributed to advocacy efforts supporting multi-year reauthorization and increased federal investment in the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, growing annual funding from approximately $175 million to $225 million. Previously, Spadaro served as executive advisor to the Pennsylvania secretary of health, focusing on strategic initiatives and cross-agency priorities. “Laura’s deep understanding of health policy combined with her ability to build meaningful relationships with policymakers and partners makes her an invaluable advocate for our patients, clinicians, and communities,” said Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president of enterprise integrity, chief legal and governance officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “She brings a thoughtful, informed and persistent voice to some of the most important healthcare policy discussions facing our nation, always keeping in focus the real-world impact on access to care and the people we are privileged to serve. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of Laura’s leadership and the difference she continues to make.” The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education and Patient & Community Engagement are a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. The enterprise employs nearly 680 professionals, including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians, and trains more than 200 interprofessional healthcare learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center for Community Health recognizes the power of nursing with new quarterly award A licensed professional nurse at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley received the inaugural Nursing Excellence Award for her exceptional dedication, unwavering commitment, and continuous demonstration of what it means to be an outstanding nurse. Taylor Spencer accepted the award from David Hall, vice president and enterprise chief operating officer at The Wright Center, at a ceremony at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton on Wednesday, Sept. 30. “The idea for this award came from recognizing the important role nursing leadership plays in the success of our enterprise,” Hall said. “Nurses are often at the center of patient care, team development, and day-to-day operations, and strong nursing leadership has an impact that extends far beyond one department or one shift.” The Wright Center will present the Nursing Excellence Award quarterly to celebrate nurses who set the standard for exceptional leadership. Kari Machelli, chief nursing and community engagement officer at The Wright Center; Marianne Linko, deputy chief operating officer at The Wright Center; and Tiffany Richmond, nurse manager at The Wright Center, nominated Spencer. Their nominations cited her meticulous attention to detail, including her chronic care management duties, and the support she provides to new nurses during their training. Spencer, who began working at The Wright Center in November 2024, said she was grateful for the recognition. “I feel honored to be the first person to receive the Nursing Excellence award,” she said. “All of the nurses at The Wright Center go above and beyond for our patients and our clinical care teams every day, and this award recognizes that hard work.”
Wright Center – sponsored concert in Scranton wins national award for colorectal cancer prevention efforts The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education-sponsored concert at The Theatre at North in Scranton, aimed at spreading the word about the importance of colon cancer screenings, won an award from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). The one-of-a-kind community concert, “Louder Than Cancer!,” was organized by Dr. Vikas Khurana, program director of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s (TWCGME) Gastroenterology Fellowship Program, and TWCGME Gastroenterology fellows Drs. Peter Iskander and Udit Asija, who are also graduates of TWCGME’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. About 200 people attended the concert, which featured an hour-long performance by Rocdoc and the Healers, led by gastroenterologist Dr. Stephen Eskin. All songs, including cover songs with rewritten lyrics and original songs, included information about the importance of colon cancer screening and gastroenterological health. In addition to live music, the evening included educational information tables highlighting the importance of colorectal cancer screenings and connecting attendees with regional providers of whole-person primary and preventive health services. Attendees were also asked to fill out surveys before and after the event to gauge what they learned. The event won a SCOPY Award, which recognizes ACG members’ achievements in community engagement, education, and awareness efforts for colorectal cancer prevention. The award will be presented at a ceremony during ACG’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, Oct. 12. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. In many cases, routine screening can prevent it or catch it early. The Wright Center was the event’s platinum sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to prevention, education, and community well-being. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center for Community Health’s art showcased in national traveling gallery Several pieces of art representing The Wright Center’s community spirit and dedication to healthcare are included in the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) traveling art gallery, “Health for All: Community Health Centers Providing Primary Care Where It Matters Most.” NACHC’s gallery features an array of paintings, photographs, digital illustrations and mixed-media pieces submitted by community health centers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The Wright Center’s five fiberglass America250PA Liberty Bells – placed in Carbondale, Honesdale, Jermyn, Tunkhannock, and Wilkes-Barre after being hand-painted by Allison LaRussa, associate vice president of health and wellness at The Wright Center, to reflect each community’s unique history – were selected for the traveling art gallery. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, commonly known as America250PA, is working to place at least one fiberglass bell in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Additionally, two art pieces completed by staff, resident and fellow physicians and board members at The Wright Center, with the help of community partner Heart 2 Art, were selected to be displayed in NACHC’s traveling art gallery. One of the murals highlights The Wright Center’s commitment to fostering a trauma-informed culture. The other celebrates the enterprise’s longstanding commitment to training and retaining family medicine physicians in underserved communities. “Every community has a story to tell, and these works of art help us share ours,” said Brian Ebersole, senior vice president of strategic enterprise and ecosystem development at The Wright Center. “The Liberty Bells celebrate the history and character of the communities we are privileged to serve, while our murals tell stories about healing, resilience, education and our shared commitment to making a difference. Seeing this artwork recognized alongside work from community health centers across the country is a meaningful reminder that healthcare is about much more than what happens inside an exam room. It is about people, communities and the connections that help us all thrive.” The gallery debuted at NACHC’s Community Health Conference in Las Vegas on Aug. 16-18. NACHC’s gallery will also be on display at its 2027 Policies & Issues Forum in Washington, D.C., in February and at upcoming HLTH Inc. events, including HLTH USA 2026 scheduled for November in Las Vegas. Established in 1971, NACHC serves as the leading national advocacy organization for community-based health centers. NACHC works to expand access to affordable, high-quality and culturally competent primary care for underserved populations across the United States. The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education and Patient & Community Engagement are a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit enterprise and a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. The enterprise employs nearly 680 professionals – including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians – and trains more than 200 interprofessional healthcare learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center to host Tinnitus Support Group meeting in September The Wright Center for Community Health will host a Tinnitus Support Group meeting on Friday, September 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mid Valley Community Health Center at 5 South Washington Avenue in Jermyn. There are options to attend in person or virtually. The meeting is for people who are, or know someone who is, experiencing ringing, buzzing, whooshing or other sounds in their ears or head. Attendees can get support, practical advice and a sense of community at the meeting. The group is open to anyone who experiences tinnitus and those who want to learn more about it. There are meetings on the first Friday of every month at the Mid Valley Community Health Center in Jermyn. No RSVP is necessary for the meeting. For more information or to receive the virtual link, contact Joe Kelly, community health worker at The Wright Center for Community Health, at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center welcomes alumna as a physician and faculty member A graduate of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program has returned to The Wright Center for Community Health to serve patients while helping train the next generation of physicians and advance health policy and advocacy efforts. Dr. Sandra Rabat, who completed her Internal Medicine residency at The Wright Center in June 2026, is accepting adult patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. In addition to providing whole-person primary and preventive health services, she will serve as an internal medicine physician faculty member and physician liaison for health policy and advocacy. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Dr. Rabat spent three years in Scranton as a member of the inaugural cohort from A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. During medical school, she completed her clinical rotations at The Wright Center for Community Health, an experience that ultimately led her to remain in the region for residency training. Dr. Rabat provides comprehensive, whole-person primary and preventive health services, including checkups and physicals, preventive screenings, treatment of common illnesses and injuries, chronic disease management, and more. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. In her new role, Dr. Rabat will have medical, educational, and administrative responsibilities focused on high-quality patient care and clinical education. She will teach and supervise resident and fellow physicians, medical students, and interprofessional learners participating in clinical education at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. She will also work closely with The Wright Center’s advocacy team to champion legislative and regulatory changes at the state and federal levels that affect graduate medical education, public health policy, patient care, and healthcare workforce development. During medical school, Dr. Rabat participated in the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) prestigious Scholars Program, which strengthened her focus on caring for vulnerable populations, community engagement, integrating behavioral health services into primary care, and advancing access to healthcare. She received an honorable mention for the 2024 AHEC Alumni/Advocate of the Year Award. Dr. Rabat’s interest in advocacy developed during her residency at The Wright Center, where she became increasingly involved in local and federal advocacy. Working alongside Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO at The Wright Center, as well as The Wright Center’s advocacy team, colleagues, and enterprise leadership, she championed the vital role of teaching health centers and addressed the needs of rural and underserved communities. Her work with Dr. Thomas-Hemak and The Wright Center advocacy team helped shape her passion for health policy and advocacy. In her final year of residency, she served as chief resident of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, acting as a liaison between resident physicians and faculty members, mentoring junior residents, and helping facilitate clinical training. She previously served as a resident physician leader for advocacy in her second year of residency and as a resident physician leader during her first year. She has also led a community-oriented primary care project focused on increasing routine breast cancer screening rates, emphasizing preventive care and patient education. Dr. Rabat signed her employment contract on Feb. 17, 2026 – the 50th anniversary of The Wright Center. Founded on Feb. 17, 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement is a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. The enterprise employs nearly 680 professionals – including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians – and trains more than 200 interprofessional healthcare learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center to host September ‘Walk with a Doc’ events in Lackawanna County The Wright Center for Community Health is inviting people of all ages to lace up their sneakers and join a growing movement toward better health and stronger community connections with its monthly Walk with a Doc events. Led by local physicians and healthcare professionals, these community walks offer an easy, fun and social way to get moving while engaging in health-focused conversations. Participants enjoy light exercise, have the opportunity to ask health-related questions and connect with others in a relaxed, informal setting. The September Walk with a Doc in Jermyn will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. The Scranton Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, 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. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s Walk with a Doc program, please contact Melissa Germano-Ryczak at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org.
Leadership Lackawanna announces Core Program Class of 2026-27 Leadership Lackawanna, a division of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the 39 professionals selected for its Core Program Class of 2026–27. The 10-month Core Program develops participants’ leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills while expanding their understanding of issues affecting the greater Scranton region. Through monthly sessions led by recognized specialists, participants explore topics that may include community and economic development, government, health care, law, education, quality of life, sustainability, regional history and media. A cornerstone of the program is the Core Class Project experience. Working in teams alongside local nonprofit organizations, participants develop and implement service projects that address genuine community needs. The projects give class members practical experience in strategic thinking, goal setting, teamwork, consensus building, problem solving, fundraising, resource development, marketing, public relations, equity and inclusion, conflict resolution and evaluation. The Leadership Lackawanna Core Program Class of 2026–27 includes: • Emily Arcaro, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania • Nicole Ash, Aramark at the University of Scranton Catering Dept. • Alyssa Bartoli, Fidelity Bank • Rik Bhattacharyya, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company • Jonathan Brady, Fidelity Bank • Melissa Calachino, The Wright Center for Community Health • Dylan Cawley, Geisinger • Nicole Cesarini, Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA • Camille Dantone, Everhart Museum • Sean Dempsey, Alliance Wealth Advisors • Samantha Donahue, The Arc of NEPA • Brittany Dougherty, Penn State Scranton • Laura Dunn, Merrill Lynch • Angelina Elders, NBT Bank • Elizabeth Ephault, The Wright Center for Community Health • Kevin Farrell, Marywood University • Morgan Farrell, Geisinger College of Health Sciences • Kyle Frable, Benco Dental • Lauretta Graham, The Wright Center for Community Health • Claire Guarneri, Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. • Natasha Hazzouri, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education • Kristen Hoover, Maximus • Teresa Kalinay, Montage Mountain Resorts • Fletcher Kanas, Barry Callebaut • Curt Kromko, Prudential • Kim Lazuka, Greater Scranton YMCA • Kristen McGoff, Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. • Todd Monahan, Stone House Investment Management, LLC • Elisheva-Lydia MR, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania • Rich Mullen, Posture Interactive, LTD • Nicole Piccoletti, Outreach – Center for Community Resources • Theodor Radu, The Honesdale National Bank • Monica Reich, Penn East Federal Credit Union • Alondra Vazquez Rivera, Wells Fargo • Lewis Schweppenheiser, Penn East Federal Credit Union • Nicholas Sherman, Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center • Kelly Siekierka, Plaskolite Pennsylvania • Jeff Snyder, Allied Services • Anthony Walaitis, Plaskolite Pennsylvania
The Wright Center hosts ribbon-cutting for Carbondale location The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the opening of its newest community health center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Carbondale. The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale, located inside Friendship House’s new Whole-Person Care Center at 30 N. Main St., Suite 100, began seeing patients Thursday, Aug. 13. Led by Medical Director Bryan Boyle, a longtime board-certified physician assistant, the community health center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new location provides whole-person primary and preventive health services, including checkups, health screenings, and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. Care is available for everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients do not need to be a Friendship House client to receive care at the community health center. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-591-5298. “For generations, Friendship House has helped children, adults, and families build resilience through an extraordinary continuum of care that includes mental and behavioral health services, autism and developmental disability programs, social services, school-based behavioral health support, and integrated primary care,” Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The Wright Center complements that work by providing comprehensive whole-person primary and preventive health services while educating and training the next generation of physicians and interprofessional healthcare teams. Together, we are making it easier for individuals and families to access compassionate, coordinated care in one trusted setting – care that recognizes each person’s inherent dignity, supports recovery and resilience, promotes lifelong wellness, and helps people achieve their fullest potential.” The community health center in Carbondale marks The Wright Center’s second partnership with Friendship House. Since November 2024, The Wright Center’s clinical team has provided primary care at more than 3,500 patient visits at Friendship House’s Whole Person Care Center in Scranton, located at 200 Wyoming Ave. The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement is a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of health care in the region. The organization employs nearly 680 professionals – including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians – and trains more than 200 interprofessional health care learners each year. In fiscal year 2025-26, The Wright Center served more than 39,000 unique patients across all care settings in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a Federally Qualified Health Center and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
Scranton Area Community Foundation awards grant to The Wright Center The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education will use a $18,700 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to help its patients in need with transportation, hygiene supplies and household items. Specifically, the grant money will be used to buy bus passes, transportation vouchers and gas cards for patients enrolled in The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program and patients being helped by The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s new street medicine program to get to and from doctor appointments at Wright Center community health centers and at community partners across the region. “Transportation assistance is essential to help patients access critical services and reduce barriers to care,” said Dr. Douglas Klamp, who leads the street medicine team and serves as The Wright Center’s senior vice president, chief medical education officer, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition. “By improving transportation access, patients will be better able to attend appointments, adhere to treatment, and remain engaged in care, especially if they are experiencing financial difficulties, housing insecurity, or other challenges.” The money will also be used to provide hygiene supplies and household items to patients at the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic.
