The Wright’s Center Ryan White Clinic Presenting the Annual Pridefest Parade The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic will be the presenting sponsor for the Northeast Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance’s annual Pridefest Parade and Celebration in downtown Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, June 23. The parade begins at noon, with the celebration to follow on Public Square until 4 p.m. The Northeast Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance provides education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families who are LGBTQ+ while working to advance fairness and equality. The Rainbow Alliance envisions a future where all people in the region can live openly and free from fear, and where individuals, organizations, and businesses work collaboratively to build an equal, inclusive community. The formation for the parade begins at 11 a.m., near East South and South Main streets, two blocks off Public Square. The program includes more than 75 vendors, drag performances, and more. For more information, go to RainbowAlliance.org/Pridefest. For almost 25 years, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic has been providing comprehensive whole-person primary health and support services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including integrated primary care, medication assistance, case management, mental health, and other support services. The Ryan White Clinic offers services at The Wright Center for Community Health locations in Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., and Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and serves Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, and Monroe counties.
The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education Staffer Leaders Provide Workshop at National Conference Two staff leaders at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education led a workshop during the Andrus Sanctuary Institute’s annual Network Days Conference in Armonk, New York. Shannon Osborne, project manager at The Wright Center for Community Health, and Ann Hart, director of the graduate and undergraduate medical education experience at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, presented, “Brave Spaces: Going Slow to Go Fast,” during the April 17-19 conference at the IBM Learning Center. They joined presenters from around the country, promoting practices that aligned with this year’s conference theme: “Repairing Culture, Reimagining Trauma-Informed Care.” The event attracted hundreds of national and international attendees. The Sanctuary Institute, of Yonkers, New York, offers training and consultation services to more than 275 organizations worldwide using its evidence-supported Sanctuary Model. Among its Pennsylvania clients are The Wright Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The Sanctuary Model, which originated in the Philadelphia area in the 1980s through the pioneering work of Dr. Sandra Bloom and her colleagues, offers trauma-informed approaches to clinical and organizational development. The model calls for acknowledging the impact of trauma on individuals, organizations, and systems and delivering services in a manner that does not re-traumatize individuals and treats the underlying trauma that prevents progress. Its guiding principles stem from four pillars, one of which consists of seven commitments: democracy, non-violence, social responsibility, open communication, social learning, growth and change, and emotional intelligence. Organizations that successfully implement the Sanctuary Model can attain certification from the Sanctuary Institute, a process that can take three to five years. The Wright Center embarked on its journey to certification in August 2022 and would become the first certified organization in Northeast Pennsylvania, and one of just a few in the state. “We’re committed to this model for the betterment of our workforce and the communities we serve,” said Osborne, a dual-certified mental health first aid instructor and integrative community therapy facilitator and trainer. With more than half of The Wright Centers’ 650-plus employees working directly with patients, prioritizing patients’ needs over Sanctuary Model training remained imperative, Hart said. Taking a deliberate, slower pace to achieve certification ensures thorough training for all staff members without sacrificing patient care. This approach also allowed for the organic emergence of The Wright Center’s Whole-Person Wellness initiative, which includes Sanctuary, Mental Health First Aid, a thorough review of health benefits, environmental, social, and governance programming, and other actions that align with the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. In their workshop, Osborne and Hart, who holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, shared insights into The Wright Center’s ongoing efforts to obtain Sanctuary Model certification. Osborne emphasized the importance of patience, strategic pacing, and remembering that the model is a framework — all of which were highlighted during their presentation. “By proceeding slowly and deliberately, leaders emerge, trust is cultivated, and engagement with staff deepens,” Osborne said.”It’s not a light switch or overnight process. You have to do what’s best for your organization, and that takes time.”
The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy MOMS Program Benefitted by Local American Legion Fundraiser The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program received dozens of baby items and a monetary donation, thanks to a bingo fundraiser organized by the Michael Steiner American Legion Jessup Post 411 Ladies Auxiliary. Co-founded by The Wright Center five years ago, Healthy MOMS assists pregnant women and new mothers with substance use disorders and aims to lower the incidence of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Since October 2018, the program has helped more than 467 moms and 274 babies across nine counties in Northeast Pennsylvania: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Wyoming, and Schuylkill. Accepting the donations, from left, are Healthy MOMS Case Manager Michele Coyle and Maria Kolcharno, MSW, LSW, director of addiction services at The Wright Center for Community Health and a key leader of the Healthy MOMS program. Donations included more than 30 packs of diapers, 50 packs of wipes, 30 packages of baby formula, four homemade blankets, and plenty of other baby supplies. For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, visit www.healthymoms.org/.
The Wright Center for Community Health Welcomes New Students to Training Program The Wright Center for Community Health welcomed two students into a unique training program that allows aspiring medical assistants to gain hands-on experience alongside flexible online training provided by the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA). Over 29 weeks, the students will be immersed in various aspects of the profession, including maintaining patient medical records, assisting during examinations, and ensuring the security of medical records. They will work closely with physicians, patient care teams, and medical assistants at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Scranton and Mid Valley practices. Additionally, they will participate in skill labs led by experienced medical assistants, providing them with comprehensive training. The workforce development partnership has trained four students, two of whom are employed as certified medical assistants at The Wright Center. Daileen Morales of Scranton expressed her enthusiasm for the program, citing her passion for helping people and the valuable learning experiences she has already gained during the early part of the program. Her sentiment aligns with the growing demand for medical assistants, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 14% growth in employment over the next decade. “I thought this would be a great way to start,” said Morales, who is also joined in the training program by Judy Hanvey of Dickson City. “I have been in the program for two weeks and have already learned a lot.” Amber Bello, co-manager of medical assistants at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, highlighted the program’s significance in providing a realistic job preview for aspiring medical assistants. She, Nicole Munley, certified medical assistant manager; Laura Sweeney, co-manager of medical assistants; and Lida Kiefer, certified medical assistant II; supervise and train the students. “It’s a great way for them to get some hands-on experience and really get a feel for the job,” Bello said. “The Wright Center provides the space, supplies, and the expertise for them to learn.” The Wright Center operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. Together, these clinical locations provide whole-person primary health services, offering a safety net for the region’s residents and ensuring everyone in The Wright Center’s eight-county service area can access integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. NIMAA is a nonprofit education institute that trains medical assistants to work effectively in today’s high-performing primary care settings. NIMAA’s fully accredited, affordable programming offers students hands-on education and prepares graduates to work in high-performing, team-based practices. Applications for the Medical Assistant Training Program are being accepted through May 29, offering interested individuals the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in the health care sector. For more information or to apply, visit NIMAA.edu.
The Wright Center for Community Health Names VP of Strategic Marketing and Communications The Wright Center for Community Health named Bob Adcroft as vice president of strategic marketing and communications. Adcroft has four decades of experience in network TV, radio, digital, and print advertising. His skill set encompasses motivational leadership, strategic media planning, purchasing and negotiation, mentoring, and coaching. At The Wright Center, Adcroft will lead the development, planning, and implementation of a marketing and communications strategy integrating the approach across all service lines, initiatives, programs, and activities to advance the enterprise’s mission and vision. The Scranton native was inspired to pursue opportunities in the health care field after successfully fighting cancer in 2019. Five years ago, Adcroft underwent a successful bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. The experience sparked his journey towards a healthier lifestyle and inspired him to seek opportunities to promote wellness initiatives and improve the local health care landscape. Adcroft is deeply familiar with Northeast Pennsylvania, having been a proud partner in a family-owned local franchise for more than 50 years. In 2019, he received the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award, which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the regional advertising market and advance industry standards, creative excellence, and social responsibility. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast, “Be Real Now,” which features special guests from around the region sharing their stories. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Shares Tips for Stress Awareness Month Below is a health column written by Dr. Aditi Sharma, a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health, in which she provides tips to reduce and/or cope with stress in everyday life. We live in a world where many things can cause us great stress, whether it be things close to home (family, job, finances) or farther afield (politics, wars, global pandemics). Yes, it’s a lot to cope with, and over time it can be incredibly detrimental to our health, both mentally and physically. So, I’m happy there are awareness campaigns like National Stress Awareness Month. The annual observance focuses on combating the harmful effects of chronic stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life and can be experienced in situations that are both positive and negative in prolonged form, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, headaches, muscle tension, and, when it’s particularly serious, cardiovascular disease. But with some focus, stress can be managed in relatively simple ways, allowing us to live happier, healthier lives. Here are a few helpful stress-reduction tips you might consider: Improve your diet: Eat whole foods, and curtail or completely eliminate stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Exercise: Increased exercise can lower your blood pressure, boost your endorphins and just make you feel a whole lot better, whether you join a gym or just go out for a walk or run a few times a week. Sleep more: Lack of sleep and the ensuing fatigue can lead to a plunge in overall well-being and eventually lead to increased anxiety and depression, so it’s important to establish a calming vibe every night before you go to bed – and to curtail your screen time significantly. Relax: In our go-go-go lives, simply taking time to relax can be difficult, but a daily regimen that includes meditation or mindfulness – or good, old-fashioned daydreaming – can substantially decrease stress levels. Prioritize your schedule: Cramming too much stuff into a day inevitably causes stress, so check off the things that need to be done before pursuing the smaller-scale items. Do something fun: Make time for enjoyable activities, such as hobbies, movies, concerts, dinners with friends, sporting events – really anything that puts you in a good mood. Talk to someone: Sometimes, the best de-stressor is just talking about your problems with a trusted family member, friend, colleague, or licensed professional therapist. Speaking of therapy, here at The Wright Center, stress prevention is a significant component of our behavioral health services for adults, children, and adolescents. Our first-rate team of experts can help you identify the causes of behavioral issues and provide solutions via comprehensive therapy services, psychological assessments, and psychiatric care. We also provide specialty services for children with severe mental illness as well as those who have experienced abuse or violence. Managing chronic stress is also a core mission of our Lifestyle Medicine practice, which works with individuals and families to improve their health and quality of life through lifestyle modifications such as stress relief techniques, eliminating tobacco use, improving diet, increasing physical activity, strengthening personal relationships and connections, and adjusting sleep habits. Our team is trained in conventional and lifestyle medicine and can work with you to create a personalized lifestyle self-care plan that’s sustainable for the long haul. I can confidently say that if you proactively work to reduce your stress levels, eventually, you’ll feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you’ll improve your overall health – what could be better than that? Aditi Sharma, M.D., MPH, is a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice. An alumna of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Psychiatry Residency, she treats adults experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, providing consultations and evaluations to develop personalized behavioral health and medicinal care plans.
The Wright Center Achieves Gold Status for Advocacy Center The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) recently recognized The Wright Centers for Community Health as a Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) for the second time. The Wright Center was first awarded Gold ACE status in January 2022 – the first community health center in Pennsylvania to achieve the recognition. Being awarded a second Gold ACE status, effective Dec. 19, 2023, shows The Wright Center’s continued dedication to advocating for and supporting community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations in rural and urban areas. “The Wright Center is honored to be recognized by NACHC for the second time with designation as a Community Health Center Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “We are very grateful and proud to be expanding our mission-driven advocacy efforts to ensure our elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels understand and commit to investing in the comprehensive, affordable, equitable, and innovative primary health services that The Wright Center and our community health center colleagues across our country provide to people of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses.” ACE levels recognize consistent engagement, success, and ongoing commitment to prioritizing advocacy. Community health centers that receive the designation are actively engaged with NACHC and forums addressing federal policy issues, as well as their state primary care association and platforms to address key state and local policy issues that impact the entities and their patients. NACHC awards three levels of ACES: bronze, silver, and gold. The status is valid for two years. In order to earn ACE status, a community health center must complete a checklist of activities and accomplishments as outlined by NACHC. The Wright Center’s employees, for example, developed and wrote guest editorials that addressed important public health issues that affect community health centers and patients and hosted round table discussions with elected officials. Additionally, an in-house advocacy committee offers training, and the organization also hosts elected officials at its primary care practices. “Earning Gold ACE status requires serious dedication and prioritization of advocacy,” Ky Rhee, M.D., MPP, president and CEO of NACHC, wrote in his letter congratulating officials at The Wright Center about the achievement. “Your organization is now part of an elite group that serves as an example to other community health centers striving to achieve advocacy excellence.” 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, 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 make an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.
The Wright Center Welcomes New Psychiatrist Psychiatrist Aditi Sharma, M.D., MPH, has joined The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, where she is accepting new patients. Dr. Sharma will treat adults who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, providing consultations and evaluations to develop personalized behavioral health and medicinal care plans. Additionally, Dr. Sharma will serve as core faculty and associate program director in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency program. Dr. Sharma is a 2023 alumna of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. She earned her medical degree from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Himachal Pradesh, India. She also holds a master’s degree in public health and health promotion from London South Bank University. After completing her studies in Britain, Dr. Sharma came to the United States and has previously lived in Texas and Illinois. She speaks English, Hindi, and Punjabi. Dr. Sharma is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society. 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. The health center treats individuals of all income levels and insurance statuses, including the underinsured and uninsured. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. To learn about the many services offered at The Wright Center, including its psychiatric and behavioral health services, go to TheWrightCenter.org. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sharma at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., call 570.941.0630.
Wright Center Leader Selected To Sit On Pennsylvania Mental Health Planning Council Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration for The Wright Center for Community Health, has been named to a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Mental Health Planning Council’s (MHPC) Adult Advisory Committee. The Adult Advisory Committee is one of three MHPC committees under the direction of the deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). Before he was promoted to his current role in 2022, Constantini served for six years as the director of behavioral health at The Wright Center for Community Health. In his current role, he collaborates with hospitals, school districts, public health agencies, government entities, and other community partners to expand access to and improve behavioral services across the region. He also sits on the Lackawanna County Overdose Fatality Review Committee under the direction of county District Attorney Mark Powell. Constantini has a strong track record of developing sustainable projects in the recovery and primary care realms, working with the state Department of Health Services, Department of Health, and Department of Drug and Alcohol programs through The Wright Center for Community Health’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence program, the Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication Assisted Treatment Program and a variety of other key programs designed to improve the behavioral health of Pennsylvanians. He also oversees various federal grants to expand addiction services, such as medications for opiate use disorder, to address the opiate overdose crisis. “I will represent The Wright Center for Community Health, our patients, and the region with integrity and pride to help guide the state on the future of mental health services across Pennsylvania,” he said. “As we know, there is a lot of work to be done.” The MHPC consists of three committees: The Children’s Advisory, Adult Advisory, and Older Adult Advisory committees. They aim to advise on a broad behavioral mandate that includes mental health, substance misuse, behavioral health disorders, and cross-system disability.
The Wright Center’s: Health Literacy Goes A Long Way Toward Long-term Wellness Here at The Wright Center, we’re big proponents of our patients serving as their own best advocates for their long-term health. So, naturally, we’re happy to promote awareness campaigns like Health Literacy Month. Observed throughout October, Health Literacy Month was started in 1999 by health communication expert Helen Osborne as a way for organizations and the general public to spread awareness on the need for patients to more efficiently process, analyze, and evaluate the information they are receiving from their health care providers. Through better health literacy, people can overcome challenges that result in bad health outcomes and in the process, create a more equitable world “where everyone can access high-quality care and achieve positive health outcomes,” according to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), the group that oversees Health Literacy Month. According to IHA, studies have shown that a large number of patients have significant difficulty reading, comprehending, and acting on the health information provided to them, often due to the complexity of the information and a lack of clear, plainspoken communication on the part of the provider. In addition, basic literacy skills, language differences, age, disability, cultural context, and emotional responses can also hinder a patient’s health literacy, which can negatively affect health outcomes and costs. Thankfully, efforts like Health Literacy Month are helping to bridge that gap. In recent years, the event has become a worldwide initiative with numerous health care organizations, government agencies, literacy programs, colleges, professional organizations, businesses, social service organizations, and community partnerships hosting and collaborating on various health literacy events every October. Fitting into that theme, earlier this year The Wright Center joined an impressive list of organizations across the country when it was designated by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), an office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a Healthy People 2030 Champion, affirming our longtime commitment to improving the health and well-being of all people. Applicants are selected on the basis of possessing a demonstrated interest in and experience with disease prevention, health promotion, health equity, well-being, and health literacy. One of the main focuses of the Healthy People initiative is addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH). These social conditions impact people in the places where they live, learn, work, and play and can affect their quality of life and health. Examples of SDOH include exposure to polluted air and water, exposure to racism and violence, and an individual’s level of access to things such as nutritious foods, educational attainment, job opportunities, safe housing, and outlets for physical activity. The Wright Center has made SDOH a critical part of our mission, and we’re firmly committed to providing exceptional integrated primary and preventive health care services to our diverse patient population throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. That means giving patients the tools they need to become their best advocates, including spending as much time as needed with them and their families and delivering information with clarity, purpose, and empathy. Our resident physicians also partnered with community organizations to address SDOH. For example, we delivered educational programming at the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary for regional children about the importance of healthy eating habits and collaborated with Child Hunger Outreach Partners to package nutritious food for regional children experiencing food insecurity. It is important to know that a little knowledge goes a long way. My colleagues and I at The Wright Center for Community Health are adamant about providing patients with the right information so they can make the right decisions about their health. For more information about Health Literacy Month, visit https://healthliteracymonth.org. Ayushi Jain, M.D., is a resident physician in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency program and serves as the chief resident liaison for The Wright Center for Patient and Community Engagement Board.
