Wright Center’s Sister Ruth Neely, CRNP, honored by National Health Organization for Decades of Work with HIV/AIDS Patients in NEPA

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Scranton, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2020) – Sister Ruth Neely, a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, recently received recognition from a national health care advocacy organization as part of its “Year of the Nurse” campaign.

“Your expert medical care mixed with profound compassion have been critical to the lives of people living with HIV,” wrote Dr. Ron Yee, Chief Medical Officer of The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in his announcement letter to Sister Ruth, adding “We… were really impressed by your hard word, dedication and perseverance throughout your career.”

Sister Ruth, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, has devoted her life to serving the vulnerable and underserved in the region. A graduate of Misericordia University, she started offering HIV outreach services back in 1997, years before The Wright Center’s Ryan White Clinic was formally established. The Wright Center received its federal Ryan White designation in 2000, and since then, has provided comprehensive HIV primary medical care, essential support services and medications for those living with HIV, including the uninsured and underserved, throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Susquehanna counties.

Sister Ruth Neely, CRNP

Scranton, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2020) – Sister Ruth Neely, a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, recently received recognition from a national health care advocacy organization as part of its “Year of the Nurse” campaign.

“Your expert medical care mixed with profound compassion have been critical to the lives of people living with HIV,” wrote Dr. Ron Yee, Chief Medical Officer of The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in his announcement letter to Sister Ruth, adding “We… were really impressed by your hard word, dedication and perseverance throughout your career.”

Sister Ruth, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, has devoted her life to serving the vulnerable and underserved in the region. A graduate of Misericordia University, she started offering HIV outreach services back in 1997, years before The Wright Center’s Ryan White Clinic was formally established. The Wright Center received its federal Ryan White designation in 2000, and since then, has provided comprehensive HIV primary medical care, essential support services and medications for those living with HIV, including the uninsured and underserved, throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Susquehanna counties.

Director of County Area Agency on Aging Joins Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors

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Scranton, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2021) – The Wright Center for Community Health recently welcomed Jason Kavulich, Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, to its Board of Directors. Kavulich brings 21 years of experience within the human service field to The Wright Center’s governance table.

Kavulich previously was employed by the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services, where he progressed from a caseworker to a supervisor followed by an administrator position. In his current leadership role with the county Area Agency on Aging, he promotes the innovation and expansion of services for older adults and strongly advocates to guarantee their rights and independence. 

“I’m honored to join The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors and expand on the ties that will best serve the older adults of our community,” Kavulich said. “Partnering with Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes like The Wright Center is the future of local healthcare. It demonstrates the power of alliances between organizations and individuals who share the same mission: to provide better, more comprehensive services that tie mental health, medical needs and social support all into one care package for our most vulnerable.”

Kavulich is a graduate of the University of Scranton and a lifelong resident of Scranton. As a human services professional, he has dedicated his efforts to ending food insecurity and homelessness and improving access to services and opportunities to the residents of Lackawanna County through his active board participation with the United Way, Penn State Scranton, Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Food Policy Council, Lackawanna County Pro Bono and the Anthracite Heritage Museum.

Former White House Communications Director Joins Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors

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The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education recently welcomed Kevin Sullivan, a career communications expert who has had experience in the White House, corporate and sports media relations at the most senior levels, to its Board of Directors.

Sullivan served as White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush, overseeing message development and communications planning, including oversight of the White House website, rapid response operation, media outreach, and production of Presidential events. He also served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.

Sullivan’s other outstanding career accomplishments include acting as Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NBC Universal and serving as Vice President of Communications at NBC Sports.

Since 2009, he has led Kevin Sullivan Communications, Inc., a national consulting firm specializing in communications strategy and messaging, media training, and presentation skills coaching.

“I look forward to contributing my expertise to the great work of The Wright Center and its mission to educate the future primary care workforce that serves the most vulnerable,” Sullivan said. “I plan to use my skills in strategic communications and leadership development to further the goals of the organization and its learners, faculty, and staff.”

Sullivan earned a master’s degree in mass communications from Iona College in New York and his bachelor’s degree in management from Purdue University.

The Wright Center names Associate Vice President of Grants Operations

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Scranton, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2021) – Tom Glaser, a Northeast Pennsylvania native with extensive experience in public health administration, has been named Associate Vice President of Grants Operations at The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.

Prior to joining The Wright Center in August as the Post-Awards Grants Manager, Glaser served as the Department Administrator at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center-Mailman School of Public Health, New York, for 18 years. He also worked with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as Deputy Director of Operations. In this new position, Glaser will provide internal leadership and administrative supervision for Wright Center programs funded by federal, state and private funds, ensuring grants accomplish program initiatives and meet compliance and reporting requirements.

“We are very fortunate to have this talented and experienced professional in our grants department, and will surely benefit from his expertise in this leadership role,” said Lisa Baumann, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for The Wright Center.

“I look forward to contributing to the community-centric operations of The Wright Center by shepherding the financial resources we are entrusted with, and working closely with our dedicated teams to ensure we act as responsible stewards of the funds we gratefully receive,” Glaser said.

Glaser earned his master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, City University of New York, Graduate School of Public Affairs, and his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. A Moscow ntive, he now resides in Jessup.

Key Staffers Appointed Board Directors of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement

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Three integral employees of The Wright Center for Community Health recently were appointed board directors for The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. Each brings unique backgrounds in patient care or health information technology to the governance table.

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement enhances The Wright Center for Community Health’s ability to determine outreach priorities as it continues to meet the health care needs of the most vulnerable in the community. Board members provide oversight, direction, and support for Wright Center team members and their efforts, offering their unique perspectives on community needs, resources, and connections, to develop and maintain active, collaborative relationships with patients and the community at large.

Kari Machelli, R.N., serves as Director of Care and Case Management Services for The Wright Center for Community Health. In this leadership role, she oversees the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence Case Managers, Certified Recovery Specialists and Community Health Workers. Machelli has been with The Wright Center for more than 20 years, starting as an RN Care Manager. She earned her nursing degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Danielle Hennessey is Electronic Medical Records and Health Informatics Manager for The Wright Center. She joined the organization in 2019 as an EMR Application Support and Trainer for the Mid Valley Practice and Ryan White HIV Clinic, and was integral in building the interface that allowed for the exchange of data between two separate electronic health records systems. Hennessey graduated from Valley View High School and attended Lackawanna College and Marywood University. She has a background in information technology, having worked for TMG Health for four years prior to joining The Wright Center.

Cheri Lewis-Aulisio is a licensed medical social worker for The Wright Center for Community Health. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Marywood University. Cheri has a background working with various patient populations and has practiced in various clinical settings, including nursing homes, in-patient physician rehabilitation facilities and acute hospital-based settings. She has experience in behavioral health services and has worked with homeless women and children, and Children & Youth Services. She also is part of the National Association of Community Health Center’s PRAPARE Tiger Team.

Over $1.75M in Grants Received

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The Wright Center for Community Health Receives Grants for Over $1.75M from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Wright Center for Community Health recently received a pair of grants from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to help establish a primary care practice in the city’s South Side neighborhood to treat previously underserved patients.

The two grants, totaling $1.75 million, supported the startup of the practice at 501 S. Washington Ave., which offers patients a single location to access comprehensive primary care services, including medical, behavioral and dental care and addiction/recovery services. The practice opened to patients in early December. The site also serves as a hub for The Wright Center’s administrative and graduate medical education activities.

The Weinberg Foundation awarded a $950,000 capital grant to assist in converting the site, a former warehouse, into a clinical primary care space with 30 exam rooms. Six of the exam rooms are dedicated to infectious disease care and the practice also houses four dental operatories. This grant also covered medical equipment, such as ultrasound machines, EKGs and AEDs, and other office necessities.

Simultaneously, the Weinberg Foundation provided an operating grant of $800,000 to be used over two years to support much-needed healthcare provider positions, including a pediatrician, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, a dentist and a psychiatrist.

The new practice is expected to annually treat more than 7,000 patients, including underinsured, uninsured and low-income individuals, regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

The Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty. In 2020, the Foundation will provide approximately $130 million in grant activity supporting nonprofits, primarily in the US and Israel, which provide direct services in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Community Services. Grants support organizations that serve a range of populations, including older adults, women at risk and their children, people with disabilities, and veterans, as well as the Jewish community.

Northeast Pennsylvania is one of the foundation’s “priority communities.” The foundation’s prior support has enabled The Wright Center to enhance the oral care clinic at its Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn, and to expand its school-based health center program. Grant funding also allowed The Wright Center for Community Health to successfully attain designation last year as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike.

The Scranton Practice is open Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling 570-941-0630.