To aid blood cancer patients, Wright Center resident physician will conduct ‘Be The Match’ donor registration event on Nov. 9

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Dr. Ashley Zhan, a resident physician training at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, is joining with the national “Be The Match” campaign to add individuals to its donor registry and potentially save the lives of people with blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia.

Dr. Zhan, who is in her third year of The Wright Center’s four-year psychiatry residency, has organized a blood stem cell donor registration event that will be open to her colleagues as well as the public.

The event is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, in the auditorium of The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave.

Dr. Ashley Zhan

Dr. Ashley Zhan

Participants between the ages of 18 and 35 will be asked to complete an online registration form and submit a DNA sample using a cheek swab kit, which is then mailed to the “Be The Match” registry. The entire registration process, including the 20-second swab, takes only a few minutes.

“It’s quick and easy,” says Dr. Zhan. “There are going to be volunteers on hand to help facilitate everything and answer questions.”

This and similar registration events elsewhere – which are often held on college campuses and promoted by encouraging young adults to “give a spit” – help to raise awareness about blood cancers and the need for genetically matched blood stem cell donors.

Someone in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer every three minutes, according to “Be The Match.” In certain cases, cancer patients can pursue a cure by turning to a family member, typically a brother or sister, who matches their human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, type, and agrees to provide stem cells or bone marrow.

“However, 70% of patients do not have a fully matched donor in their family” and need to search more widely, according to information from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

Dr. Zhan and others who are keenly aware of health disparities facing the nation’s Black, Latino, and other minority populations are quick to emphasize that a patient is far more likely to match with a person of the same ethnic background, making it essential that the potential donor pool be richly diverse.

“There’s a great need for people of color, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, to join the registry,” Dr. Zahn says.

If you join the registry and are determined to be a potential match, you will be contacted for further evaluation. The vast majority of people who are ultimately selected as donors will give blood stem cells during a process very similar to donating plasma. In 10 percent of cases, donors will be asked to provide bone marrow through a surgical procedure.

This marks the second year in a row that Dr. Zhan, a graduate of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, has conducted a “Be The Match” event at The Wright Center’s primary and preventive care practice in Scranton’s South Side neighborhood. At last year’s event, she and other volunteers registered 25 people.

For more information about joining the “Be The Match” registry, or to sign up to receive a swab kit at home, visit bethematch.org.

Wright Center resident earns PA-ACP Eastern Regional Professionalism Award

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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 Bronnenkant headshot

Dr. Richard Bronnenkant

“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.

The Family Medicine Education Consortium presents Dr. Litchman with a creative writing award

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Maureen Litchman, M.D., the medical director of The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice and a board-certified family medicine physician, was recently presented with a Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC) award for creative writing in the prose category. She received the award during FMEC’s Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, on Oct. 13-15.

FMEC seeks to identify and recognize individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to family medicine and primary care. The award is for her story, “Not Knowing,” which occurred when Dr. Litchman delivered a baby in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Emergency Room. The mother had received no prenatal care and, at the time, the hospital had no obstetrics department. Dr. Litchman was among four individuals who were honored in the category.

Dr. Litchman headshot on a blue background

Maureen Litchman, M.D.,

Dr. Litchman graduated from Hahnemann Medical College and completed her family medicine residency training at United Health and Hospital Services (now The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Family Medicine Residency Program). She recently earned her master’s degree in creative writing from Wilkes University.

FMEC works to improve health communities by strengthening family medicine, primary care, and medical education. It serves 14 states and the District of Columbia, working with 60 medical school departments of family medicine, 190 family medicine residency programs, and thousands of family physicians, and other health care providers in community settings.

To learn more about The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary and preventive care services and convenient locations, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. The Wright Center treats patients of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses. No patient is turned away for lack of health insurance or an inability to pay. Certain patients may be eligible for the sliding-fee discount program that is based on family size and income.

Wright Center hosting breast cancer support group event on Nov. 15

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Wonderful Woman

The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., will host a Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support Group program on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Family and friends are invited and light refreshments will be served. Special guests include Julie Rutkowski of the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation and Tiffany Carroll and Kaitlyn Carroll of The Salted Pixie. Dolly Woody, the former director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania, will serve as the keynote speaker. The program is free, but you must RSVP by calling Holly Przasnyski at 570-209-3275 or emailing her at przasnyskih@TheWrightCenter.org.

Event organizers include, front row from left, co-chairperson Mary Mararra, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board; co-chairperson Gerri McAndrew, director of development & relations for community outreach, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; and committee member Lorraine Lupini, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board; second row, committee member Helayna Szescila, deputy chief governance officer, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; committee member Ellen Walko, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board; honorary chairperson Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; committee member Kim Robinson, manager, The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice; committee member Holly Przasnyski, Community Health and Patient & Community Engagement boards coordinator and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement director; and liaison volunteer Dr. Muhammad Waqas, Internal Medicine resident, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. 

Wright Center employee receives statewide honor as health center ‘community ambassador’

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Kara Seitzinger, executive director of public affairs and advisor liaison to The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education’s president and CEO, was named by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers as the recipient of a 2023 Award for Primary Care Excellence (APEX) in recognition of her work as a community ambassador.

The association annually bestows its APEX awards in 10 categories to recognize the outstanding efforts of dedicated individuals and teams who work or volunteer for Pennsylvania’s community health centers. An APEX represents the pinnacle of service, quality, innovation, and achievement in primary health care. The association awarded two Community Ambassador Awards this year.

Kara Seitzinger

A Scranton resident, Seitzinger received the award on Oct. 11 at the association’s Annual Conference and Clinical Summit in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“Kara is truly worthy of this prestigious award. I cannot think of anyone who is a stronger advocate for the patients, families, and communities we serve,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “She embodies the mission of The Wright Center to improve the health and welfare of our communities through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

“Thanks to her efforts, our patients and families struggling with food insecurity receive nutritious foods; community members who need warm clothing are given winter garments; and those who need transportation to doctor’s appointments receive travel vouchers. Her monumental public service efforts are honestly hard to quantify, but our communities are healthier and safer because of her reliable and tireless efforts.”

The Community Ambassador Award is “presented to an individual who champions the community health center mission through a steadfast commitment to build relationships, enact change, and promote awareness and bring positive attention to their health center,” according to the association.

Seitzinger works to expand The Wright Center’s visibility and public health impact throughout the region, often identifying and joining forces with mission-aligned community partners to conduct outreach programs that support vulnerable populations and medically underserved communities.

As part of a collaboration with the CDC Foundation, she coordinated with government, business, and nonprofit leaders at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to launch a public health campaign in the Hazleton area to expand access to COVID-19 education, testing, vaccines, and treatment. Later, the campaign also succeeded in delivering CDC-recommended childhood vaccinations to more than 700 school-aged children, enabling their uninterrupted participation in the classroom.

Seitzinger has also played a key role in the planning and execution of fundraising events that allow The Wright Center to provide goods and services to patients and community members in need. For example, the “Road to Recovery” car show in Scranton helps to offset transportation costs for certain individuals who are served by The Wright Center’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence and Healthy MOMs program so they can get to and from their medical appointments.

Seitzinger often serves as the health center’s point person for high-profile community impact projects, such as sponsoring the region’s annual PrideFest Parade, most recently held in Wilkes-Barre. The Wright Center’s participation in the event helps to raise awareness of its Ryan White HIV Clinic and to reach community members who might otherwise not have the resources needed to seek care.

The Wright Center currently operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical vehicle called Driving Better Health. 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 care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. It accepts most major health insurance plans, including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Medicare, and CHIP, noting that no patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.

To learn more about The Wright Center’s mission and many services, call 570-230-0019 or visit TheWrightCenter.org.

Wright Center leader selected to sit on Pennsylvania Mental Health Planning Council

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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.

Scott Constantini

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.

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Community Health’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.