Wright Center Resident Earns 2023 PA-ACP Eastern Regional Professionalism Award

Dr. Richard Bronnenkant, a resident physician in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, was honored with the 2023 Pennsylvania American College of Physicians (PA-ACP) Eastern Regional Professionalism Award at a ceremony in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 21.

Dr. Ivan Cvorvic, a faculty member in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program and a primary care provider for The Wright Center for Community Health, presented Dr. Bronnenkant with the award. Dr. Bronnenkant, a Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine graduate, was selected for the honor because of his exemplary professionalism and compassion, as well as his commitment to teamwork and passion for whole-person care.

“Richard has been an exemplary resident physician who is kind, caring, compassionate, and patient-centered,” said Dr. Timothy Burke, program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. “The ACP Professionalism Award recognizes a resident or fellow member of the American College of Physicians who has demonstrated qualities that exemplify the college’s mission to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.”

Among his peers, Dr. Bronnenkant is known as a leader at The Wright Center, according to Dr. Burke. In June 2023, Dr. Bronnenkant received the Sandy Furey, M.D., FACP, Golden Stethoscope Award after his fellow medical residents selected him as the graduating medical resident who made the most significant contribution to their training. In addition, he joined several other resident and fellow physicians at The Wright Center in interacting with local legislators to advocate for various health care topics at the PA-ACP’s Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and at the American College of Physicians Leadership Day in Washington, D.C. 

He’s also led or participated in several research projects as a resident physician, including a review of outpatients with heart failure and Type 2 diabetes mellitus at The Wright Center for Community Health and the contribution of energy drinks to myocarditis/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a young, healthy male. Dr. Bronnenkant completed his Internal Medicine residency in October and then began a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.

The PA-ACP has identified the importance of recognizing the hard work of residents in not only their research endeavors but also in their outstanding commitment to professionalism on a daily basis. Each year, one resident from each internal medicine training program is selected for the PA-ACP Resident Professionalism Award.

ACP is the nation’s largest medical specialty organization, with 159,000 internal medicine physicians and medical students as members. Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, is the governor for PA-ACP’s Eastern Region.

For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.