The Wright Center Welcomes Medical School Dean as Graduation Speaker Members News June 9, 2025 The dean of an osteopathic medicine school in Arizona that has been a longtime partner of The Wright Center will address graduates at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s 46th annual graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 21, at Hilton Scranton and Convention Center. The Wright Center’s graduation ceremony will honor and recognize 67 resident physicians from six disciplines: 35 in Internal Medicine, 15 in National Family Medicine, seven in Regional Family Medicine, five in Geriatrics, three in Cardiovascular Disease, and two in Gastroenterology. Dr. Sharon Obadia, a member of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors, serves as the dean of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), which has been ranked No. 1 nationally in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings for medical schools with the most graduates practicing primary care. She works closely with officials at The Wright Center, which has been a training and educational site for ATSU-SOMA students since 2020. The Wright Center hosts about 26 second- through fourth-year medical school students from ATSU-SOMA who are completing their education in The Wright Center’s clinical learning environments across Northeast Pennsylvania. Several of these students have gone on to complete their medical residencies and fellowships with The Wright Center, including one doctor in the Internal Medicine Residency Program who will graduate at the June 21 ceremony. “For nearly 50 years, The Wright Center has been deeply committed to training the primary care physician workforce of tomorrow – a commitment shared by Dr. Obadia and ATSU-SOMA,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official and senior vice president of education at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “Their national recognition reflects the strength of our partnership and the impact of our collective efforts. We are honored to welcome Dr. Obadia as our keynote speaker – a meaningful symbol of our aligned purpose and the preferred future we are building together through primary care.” Dr. Obadia, who lives in Mesa, Arizona, previously served as ATSU-SOMA’s associate dean for clinical education and services and is an associate professor of internal medicine. She has also served as chair of the Clinical Science Education Department and director of faculty development at ATSU-SOMA. She is a 1997 graduate of ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and trained at Banner University Medical Center/Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Obadia has been board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2001 and is a fellow of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators.
