Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Scholars’ Research Accepted at Health Resources & Services Administration Conference Ronakkumar PatelEdward DzielakNirali PatelJumee BarooahLinda Thomas-Hemak The federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has accepted a scholarly research abstract from The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education for presentation at its highly competitive national conference in April. Dr. Nirali Patel, a board-certified internal medicine and board-eligible geriatrics physician and associate program director of the Geriatrics Fellowship and core faculty for internal medicine, will present the paper, “Value Impact of a Community-Based, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-Accredited Geriatrics Fellowship Immersion in an Essential Community Provider’s COVID-19 Response.” She co-authored the abstract with Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO; Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official, Edward Dzielak, a geriatrics and internal medicine physician and program director of the Geriatrics Fellowship, and Ronakkumar Patel, a resident physician in the internal medicine program. The abstract, one of 72 accepted for presentation, illustrates how HRSA’s investment in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Geriatrics Fellowship led to the successful training of its first graduating class during the height of the pandemic. Fellows acted as a key pandemic workforce, offering safely managed and supervised in-person clinic, home-based and telehealth visits for geriatric patients. In addition, fellows also engaged in deployment of The Wright Center for Community Health’s 34-foot mobile medical unit, Driving Better Health, to deliver primary health services, as well as COVID-19 testing, monoclonal antibody infusions and vaccinations at senior living facilities. Along with primary care residents, geriatric fellows formed a vital workforce for the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Education Support and Clinical Coaching Program that provided support to personal care, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. HRSA’s abstract review committee chose the research article for its Bureau of Health Workforce Virtual All Grantee and Stakeholder Meeting. The focus of the meeting is for participants to learn from grantees and trainees about programs, ideas and research that can improve the health workforce. Overall, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has had 75 scholarly abstracts, written on a wide array of topics in medicine, accepted for presentation at professional conferences since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. The fellowship in geriatrics is a one-year program that emphasizes quality of care and a deep understanding of socioeconomic determinants of health for older patients that face the unique health challenges that come with aging. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to thewrightcenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Scholars Present Cardiovascular Research at International Conference Dr. Muhammad PirDr. Najam Saqib Dr. Hamza HanifDr. Muhammad Affan A team of cardiovascular disease fellows and internal medicine residents at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education recently presented their scholarly research, “Comparison of Radial vs. Femoral Arterial Access for Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” at an international conference in Orlando, Florida. The Cardiovascular Research Foundation’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Conference, an annual scientific symposium, is the world’s foremost educational forum that specializes in interventional cardiovascular medicine. It features major medical research breakthroughs and leading researchers and clinicians from around the world presenting and discussing the latest evidence-based research. Drs. Muhammad Pir and Najam Saqib, cardiovascular fellows, and Drs. Hamza Hanif and Muhammad Affan, internal medicine residents, co-authored the research presentation. It involved the review of 14 studies and 12,272 patients to assess existing literature on radial versus femoral arterial access for complex percutaneous coronary intervention. Radial access was associated with a significantly lower rate of major bleeding, but the work discovered that overall procedural success was superior when utilizing the femoral artery. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education features three fellowships: Cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology and geriatrics. Over three years, the cardiovascular disease fellowship trains fellows in community-based settings with globally and nationally recognized, board-certified cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Fellows also hone the knowledge and skills needed to provide state-of-the-art cardiac care, while advancing the specialty field through their own scholarly research and practice. Overall, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has had 75 scholarly abstracts, written on a wide array of topics in medicine, accepted for presentation at professional conferences since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to thewrightcenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
Wright Center’s Chief Fellow Publishes 100th Scholarly Article The chief fellow for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Gastroenterology Fellowship recently published the 100th scholarly article during his fellowship, “Scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Gastrointestinal Oncology,” in Cancers, a peer-reviewed journal of oncology that is published semimonthly. Dr. Hemant Goyal, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, was invited to review literature that addressed the most current information available about the role of AI in diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, which cause more than 2.8 million deaths annually worldwide. He and his co-authors labeled the advancements and use of AI in endoscopic procedures as a “significant breakthrough in modern medicine.” The diagnostic accuracy of AI systems has markedly improved in screening, diagnosing and treating various cancers by accurately analyzing diagnostic clinical images, but it needs additional collaboration among physicians. Overall, he has published more than 175 peer-reviewed articles in various national and international scientific journals. Goyal’s research, “Taste Changes (Dysgeusia) in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis,” appeared in the Gastroenterology, the No. 1 scientific journal in the field of gastroenterology. It was the first published meta-analysis that highlighted taste changes as one of COVID-19’s symptoms. Goyal also published, “Hyperlipasemia and Potential Pancreatic Injury Pattern in COVID-19: A Marker of Severity or Innocent Bystander,” in the Gastroenterology. The research highlighted the importance of elevation in lipase levels, which help the human body digest fats, in patients with COVID-19. The International Journal of Colorectal Diseases included his scholarly research article, “Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Hospitalization Trends and Gender Disparities in the United State 2010-14.” It showed that white females between 41-50 years of age with colorectal cancer have higher hospitalization rates. The abstract earned first place at the 2019 Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology meeting. Goyal, a gastroenterologist-in-training and doctor of internal medicine, accepts adult patients at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, for treatment of Hepatitis C. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Institutional Review Board-approves research studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has had 75 scholarly abstracts written on a wide array of topics in medicine accepted for presentation at professional conferences since the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to www.thewrightcenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
State Funding Enables Wright Center to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts The Wright Center for Community Health recently was awarded $75,000 in state funding to encourage hesitant residents in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The new grant funding is part of the state’s $2.5 million COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Program that supports grassroots efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy across the commonwealth. The program, administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development, builds upon the ongoing statewide public health awareness campaign, PA United Against COVID-19. “The Wright Center is extremely grateful for the complete support the state has exhibited in providing us the necessary tools to get as many COVID-19 shots into the arms of our patients,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, chief medical officer of The Wright Center for Community Health. “The COVID-19 vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. medical history. “Vaccinations are an effective way to protect yourself, your loved ones and others in the community and reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization or long-term complications.” The state funding supports efforts by nonprofit organizations, and child care and educational institutions to communicate the efficacy and importance of vaccinations through local media advertisements, and creation of training materials, vaccine-related community events and more. “The Department of Health remains committed to eliminating obstacles and challenges that prevent Pennsylvanians from getting vaccinated,” Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said in a press release announcing the 65 grant recipients. “I am impressed by the tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians who are stepping up every day to get their first, second or third dose of vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones and their neighbors against COVID-19. With the grant funding, The Wright Center for Community Health will build upon its existing Driving Better Health program in the Hazleton area that delivers COVID-19 vaccines to members of the Hispanic community with the 34-foot mobile medical unit. The collaborative program involves the Hazleton Integration Project, Hazleton Area School District and community leaders reaching vulnerable, underserved populations in southern Luzerne County. The Wright Center also will build vaccine confidence through outreach and community engagement that overcomes structural, behavioral and informational barriers, including education, rural residency that limits access to health care, people who speak limited English, individuals with low incomes and other under-resourced communities. The mobile medical unit enables clinical staff to establish community clinics and see patients where they live and work thanks to community collaborations that include schools, rural partners, community organizations and ethnic groups. The grant will enable The Wright Center for Community Health’s Driving Better Health to conduct up to 36 outreach events in the coverage area over 12 months. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, call 570.343.2383 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center to Deploy CDC-Funded ‘Community Vaccine Ambassadors’ The Wright Center for Community Health has been selected as one of 15 health centers across the nation to participate in a grant-funded Community Vaccine Ambassador Project, aimed at increasing COVID-19 immunizations among groups that historically have been marginalized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will fund the initiative, which involves health centers in 12 states. The project is being conducted in partnership with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the National Association of Community Health Centers. The Wright Center will receive $200,000 in grant funding to focus on administering vaccines to individuals with substance use disorders and individuals who experience homelessness. These populations have been identified as being at increased risk for COVID-19 infection because, among other reasons, they “experience barriers to accessing health care and might have low levels of trust in the medical system due to previous experiences of trauma or stigma,” according to the project’s organizers. The Wright Center’s community health workers and certified recovery specialists will serve as project “ambassadors,” providing vaccination education and information over the year-long project to people in the organization’s five-county service area in Northeast Pennsylvania. Since December 2020, when the new COVID-19 vaccines first became available, The Wright Center has administered more than 40,500 vaccine doses. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration earlier this year presented a 2021 Community Health Quality Recognition award to The Wright Center, recognizing the nonprofit organization’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts in response to the public health crisis. The Wright Center, which serves as one of about 50 Pennsylvania-designated Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence, has significant experience in treating and supporting individuals who are coping with substance use disorder. It has assisted individuals living in recovery who have been involved in the criminal justice system, and it co-founded the region’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (MOMS) program, which assists pregnant and new mothers who have a substance use disorder. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, call 570.343.2383 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center Appoints Infusion Therapy Nurse The Wright Center for Community Health recently appointed Cyndi Colman, a registered nurse, as an infusion therapy nurse at its Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn to improve the health and welfare of the community. A Clarks Summit resident, Colman’s role will support physicians to carry out a variety of treatments and procedures in nursing care, including COVID-19 positive patients. Colman will assist in assuring effective and efficient coordination of nursing activities within the Scranton Practice by preparing, administering and managing infusion therapy of monoclonal antibody therapy in an outpatient infusion suite. “As an infusion therapy clinician, I always keep in mind that our patients are the reason I do what I do,” said Colman, who has 40 years of experience in the nursing field. “I am grateful to have the qualifications to provide this needed service and have no doubt that our efforts will have a positive impact toward the care of our patients and in our clinics.” The Wright Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike. All patients are provided access to health care regardless of their ability to pay. People who are not insured or lack adequate coverage might be eligible for the sliding fee discount program, which allows The Wright Center to reduce fees for eligible patients, depending on household income and family size. Visit thewrightcenter.org/sliding-fee-scale for more information. A comprehensive medical home to more than 30,000 patients, The Wright Center provides services at eight primary care practices to patients primarily from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. To make an appointment, call 570-941-0630 or go to thewrightcenter.org.
The Wright Center Announces Plan to Add Psychiatry Residents The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has approved the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s application to add an additional three resident physicians to the psychiatry residency. To meet the growing national demand for psychiatric care, the current workforce of about 45,580 psychiatrists must increase by 2,800 behavioral specialists by 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Today’s estimated 6.4% shortage of psychiatrists is expected to nearly double to 12% by 2025. “As demand grows, workforce shortages during the pandemic have exacerbated our nation’s health crisis,” said Dr. Sanjay Chandragiri, program director of the Psychiatry Residency. “The ability to expand our psychiatry team will help us provide patients with the care and treatment they deserve and expect from The Wright Center.” ACGME is the body responsible for accrediting all graduate medical training programs for physicians in the United States. The growth of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency enables 25 resident physicians to serve the region at eight community practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties, while also replenishing the nation’s health care workforce in this specialty field. The additional residents will join The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency in July. For more information about behavioral health services or to make an appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health, please go to thewrightcenter.org or call 570-941-0630.
Wright Center’s Associate Director Elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians Dr. Mark Madhok, associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, has been elected a fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP). ACP fellows are a distinguished group of doctors dedicated to continuing education in medical practice, teaching and research. More than 31,000 physicians have earned this mark of distinction since 1975. It represents the pinnacle of integrity, professionalism and scholarship for those who aspire to pursue careers in internal medicine, according to the college. “The Wright Center is extremely proud of Dr. Madhok’s accomplishments and dedication to the advancement of his resident physicians and patients in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “His contributions to the field of medicine extends to his noted scholarly research and broader community involvement.” A board-certified internal medicine physician, Madhok also is a primary care and internal medicine physician at the Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center practices. In addition, he is a clinical associate professor of medicine at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and an adjunct clinical associate professor of medicine at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, A.T. Still University. “The FACP status that you now hold reflects your commitment and accomplishments within the internal medicine community,” Dr. Saba A. Hasan, chair of the ACP Credentials Committee, wrote to Madhok. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, call 570.343.2383 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center Shares Tips for the Winter Season The winter of 2020-21 will not soon be forgotten. Not only was Northeast Pennsylvania coming to grips with the global COVID-19 pandemic, but we also were shoveling, salting and cindering seemingly nonstop due to heavy snow, sleet and ice. It was a winter to remember, or dare I say – forget. A year later, COVID-19 and its variants continue to make us behave cautiously, while we also prepare for wintry weather and how the global pandemic has affected the rest of our lives. There is little we can do to ward off eventual snow and slick roadways and sidewalks other than to stockpile cinders and rock salt, and make sure our shovels are handy and fresh gasoline is in our snowblowers and generators. The supply chain disruption that is fueling inflation and shortages in various products, though, will be felt a little more during the winter months. Sharply higher gasoline, electric, heating oil and natural gas bills will hit consumers in the wallet just as we’re preparing to pay off our holiday shopping sprees. As a registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist for The Wright Center for Community Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Program, I have a few tips to keep you warmer, safer and healthier as you turn your thermostats down a few degrees to save on energy bills or pick up a shovel to help family and neighbors dig out of another near-record snowfall. It is important to remember the following are just tips for overall wellness and prevention of injury during cold weather months and related weather events. My tips include: Maintain adequate hydration: Stretch your back and legs in preparation for strenuous exercise before donning your winter gear and reaching for that snow shovel. Just as important, though, is hydration. Research has shown that cold weather alters our thirst mechanism, which results in the decrease of fluid intake and eventually, dehydration. It is important to maintain your hydration level, especially when you are outside carrying firewood, clearing an ice dam in rain gutters or performing any seasonal activity. Consuming regular water remains one of the best ways to keep hydrated. Wear layers: Layers of light, warm clothing underneath a windproof winter coat will do wonders for your mindset as you struggle to clear driveways and walkways – or enjoy outside activities with kids. The importance of proper headwear and footwear also cannot be understated. They work in tandem to keep you warm and dry, preventing heat loss, hypothermia and even frostbite from setting in. Remember: A good winter hat keeps a cap on your body’s heat! Plan ahead: Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages. Stockpile bottled water and nonperishable food that cannot be spoiled by lack of refrigeration. You never know how long you may be without power during a winter storm. Do not forget the importance of storing shelf-stable foods. Keep a variety of fruit and nut bars, aseptic packaged beverages, vacuum sealed proteins, dried fruits and pickled vegetables. Keep an up-to-date emergency kit: An emergency kit should be a staple in every home and vehicle. It includes extra batteries, a flashlight, weather radio, first-aid kit, cell phone and extra medicine. You should adjust this list based on your individual needs, especially if you are on a regular regimen of medication. Plan before you travel: Winter is also a season filled with travel to friends and family due to the holidays. For safety’s sake, it is important to be aware of current and forecast weather conditions. Avoid travel when the National Weather Service has issued advisories. If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival. Be a good neighbor: Everyone knows a friend, relative or neighbor who needs a special hand during the winter months. Check on those who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards, such as young children, older adults and the chronically ill. Also, if you have pets bring them inside or provide them with adequate warm shelter and unfrozen water to drink. No one can stop the onset of winter. However, if you follow these suggestions, you will be ready when it arrives. Walter Wanas, LDN, a licensed dietitian nutritionist, is director of lifestyle modification and preventive medicine for The Wright Center for Community Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Program.
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Resident Physicians Presenting Scholarly Research in Puerto Rico Dr. Navharsh Sekhon Dr. Anshul Patel Dr. Shams Tasnim Dr. Yamini Patel Four resident physicians at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education have had their scholarly research abstracts accepted for presentation at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 51st Critical Care Congress Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in February. Dr. Yamini Patel will present, “Recurrent Bowel Angioedema Diagnosed Retrospectively after Oropharyngeal Angioedema,” and “Double Trouble Presentation of Lung Cancer: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Cardiac Tamponade.” Both abstracts are based on case reports. Dr. Shams Tasnim will offer the scholarly presentation, “A Case Report on Human Babesiosis in a Nonendemic Region.” Dr. Anshul Patel will share his abstract, “Unmasking Babesiosis in a Cirrhotic: A Diagnostic Dilemma,” which is based on a case report. Dr. Navharsh Sekhon will present, “Hemorrhage into Neurofibroma with Anticoagulant use in Neurofibromatosis Type I.” It is based on a case report. The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s annual meeting is the largest critical care event. It brings together members of multiprofessional teams to explore the latest in critical care. Overall, resident physicians in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education have had 71 scholarly abstracts, written on a wide array of topics in medicine, accepted for presentation at professional conferences during the 2021-22 academic year.
