Moses Taylor grant supports peer specialist training program

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The Wright Center for Community Health completed a unique program to improve mental health treatment across the region with a $300,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation.

The Wright Center offers a wide range of mental and behavioral health services to help people of all ages address emotional challenges. The Moses Taylor Foundation grant supported the establishment of an integrated peer support service line that encompasses mental health and whole-person primary health services. It also provided training for individuals seeking to become certified peer specialists, expanding the number of professionals available to support patients while reducing the financial burden that often acts as an obstacle to obtaining training and certification for the position. 

Shannon Osborne

Shannon Osborne

Certified peer specialists are individuals who live with or have lived with a mental health condition, complete an approved course of training in peer support services, and pass an exam administered by the Pennsylvania Certification Board to earn their certification. In total, 20 people completed the two-week class hosted by The Wright Center and are preparing to take the certification exam. An additional 10 individuals – many from community partner organizations that offer peer services – have completed supervisor training.

“This training opportunity is rare in Northeast Pennsylvania, even though the demand for mental health services is high,” said Shannon Osborne, the manager of enterprise trauma-competent wellness initiatives at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “This program is another way The Wright Center, with the support of the Moses Taylor Foundation, is investing in workforce development, especially when it comes to increasing access to mental health treatment in the region.”

These in-demand professionals draw on their lived experience with mental health recovery to offer support and assistance to others in their recovery and community integration or reintegration process.

Lou Strazzeri

Lou Strazzeri

Certified peer specialists work closely with licensed professionals and health support workers to offer increased hope, empowerment, and quality of life while reducing hospital readmissions, including fewer recurrent psychiatric hospitalizations. They can enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatment services by developing recovery supports and helping individuals and their families become integral parts of their communities.

The Moses Taylor grant will also help The Wright Center develop its peer support service line and offer opportunities to community partners interested in expanding their mental health service lines, either by employing certified peer specialists or launching a peer specialist program to support their clients.

“Training more certified peer specialists will enhance our behavioral health services, which will be a great addition to our fully integrated, whole-person primary health services,” said Lou Strazzeri, director of behavioral health integration, social and case management services, and supervisor of certified peer support specialists at The Wright Center for Community Health.

Scott Constantini

Scott Constantini

Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration at The Wright Center for Community Health, added, “This grant will help us and our community partners expand our workforce and increase access to much-needed mental health peer services throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.”

The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Established in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement are a cornerstone of health care in the region. This physician-led, community-owned nonprofit drives innovation and workforce development, employing nearly 670 professionals – including 177 physician residents and fellows – and training more than 200 interprofessional health care learners annually.

In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.  For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

New pharmacy at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre opens March 16

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HNL Lab Medicine will also open new on-site walk-in lab on March 23

The new pharmacy at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre

The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will open an on-site pharmacy in mid-March.

The Wright Center for Community Health will expand access to essential health services in Luzerne County in March with the opening of a new on-site pharmacy at its community health center in Wilkes-Barre.

The 1,400-square-foot pharmacy, located at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, will be open to patients of The Wright Center as well as members of the surrounding communities. The pharmacy provides convenient access to prescription medications and pharmacist support as part of The Wright Center’s integrated, whole-person primary and preventive health services delivery
model.

The pharmacy will open Monday, March 16 and serve the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Operations will be led by three licensed pharmacists. Most common prescriptions can be filled while customers wait, while some specialty medications may require 24 hours’ notice.

Jignesh Sheth

Dr. Jignesh Sheth

“The opening of our Wilkes-Barre pharmacy reflects The Wright Center’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to the health services our communities need and deserve,” said Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer. “Several pharmacies around the region have closed over the past few years, so we’re excited to offer this service to our communities, whether they are Wright Center patients or obtain medical care elsewhere.”

The pharmacy will operate alongside a new 1,400-square-foot laboratory that will be operated by HNL Lab Medicine for routine testing, further enhancing the services available at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre. Together, the pharmacy and laboratory help reduce barriers to care for patients who might otherwise struggle to access these resources, Dr. Sheth said.

The new laboratory in Wilkes-Barre, which opens March 23, marks the third HNL Lab Medicine patient service center located within a Wright Center community health center, joining sites at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, and The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave.

Plans call for the Wilkes-Barre pharmacy to also deliver patient prescriptions to Wright Center locations in Lackawanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Patients will eventually be able to pick up prescriptions at the community health centers most convenient for them.

The Wright Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1976, The Wright Centers for Community Health, Graduate Medical Education, and Patient & Community Engagement are a physician-led, community-owned nonprofit and a cornerstone of health care in the region. The organization employs more than 665 professionals – including nearly 200 resident and fellow physicians, and trains more than 200 interprofessional health care learners each year.

In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients across its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including its mobile medical and dental unit, Driving Better Health. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves all patients, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.

Operating for over 25 years, HNL Lab Medicine is a leading multi-regional, full-service medical laboratory providing testing and related services to physician offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, employers, and industrial accounts throughout Pennsylvania. HNL Lab Medicine has more than 50 patient service centers in Pennsylvania and has 31 acute care laboratories within partners’ hospital sites. The HNL Lab Medicine team consists of over 2,022 employees, including over 109 industry-leading pathologists and scientific directors. HNL Lab Medicine’s multidisciplinary team of experts is focused on providing expert medical and technical diagnostic guidance so that patients may get diagnosed and treated faster.

The new pharmacy at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre

The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre’s new on-site pharmacy opens on Monday, March 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The new pharmacy’s services will be available for patients and the general public. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-491-0126.

The Wright Center achieves Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence

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The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) again recognized The Wright Center for Community Health as a Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE). 

To earn the national designation, community health centers must demonstrate advocacy at all levels of government to champion investment in the affordable, innovative care that strengthens communities. In 2022, The Wright Center became the first community health center in Pennsylvania to earn the gold standard. NACHC awards three levels of ACEs: bronze, silver, and gold. 

NACHC’s ACE designation is valid for two years and recognizes organizations that demonstrate sustained engagement, measurable success, and an ongoing commitment to making advocacy a strategic priority. ACEs actively participate in NACHC initiatives and federal policy forums, collaborate closely with their state primary care associations, and engage in platforms that address critical state and local policy issues affecting community health centers and the patients they serve.

Advocacy Center of Excellence Gold

“Achieving Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence status reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to the patients and communities we serve,” said Brian Ebersole, senior vice president of strategic enterprise and ecosystem development at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “At The Wright Center, we believe high-quality care goes hand in hand with advocacy at the local, state, and national levels to ensure care is accessible and affordable for all. This recognition affirms our role as a leading voice for health, health care, and medical education in Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond.”

To earn ACE status, a community health center must complete a checklist of activities and accomplishments as outlined by NACHC. The Wright Center regularly hosts elected officials at its community health centers, including a recent visit by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr.

Additionally, The Wright Center’s employees develop and write guest editorials that raise awareness and address important public health issues that affect community health centers and patients. An in-house advocacy committee offers training for staff and learners. The executive leadership team participates in important meetings at the local, state, and national levels to advance responsive solutions to health care delivery issues and health outcomes.

In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. The Wright Center accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program to ensure whole-person primary and preventive health services are affordable for everyone. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. 

The Wright Center to host free soup and bread at Scranton and Wilkes-Barre community health centers

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The Wright Center invites community members to enjoy a warm, cozy, and free bowl of soup at its community health centers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited quantities.

The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., will offer soup and bread donated by or purchased from area restaurants on Monday, Jan. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsors include state Senator Rosemary Brown’s office, state Senator Marty Flynn’s office; state Representative Bridget M. Kosierowski’s office, the Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Office, Caravia Fresh Foods, Pasquale’s Pizzeria and Family Restaurant, the Sacco family, and others. Community officials will join The Wright Center’s employees to serve the hot meal.

Additionally, The Wright Center’s community health workers will be at the event to provide information about services, including help with temporary housing, utility assistance, transportation to medical appointments, health insurance, food, and clothing.

The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will host a similar event with soup and bread donated by or purchased from area restaurants on Monday, Feb. 16, from 11:30 to 2 p.m.

The Wright Center will also provide information about whole-person primary and preventive care services, including pediatric and geriatric services, as well as the Ryan White HIV Clinic.

“This is about more than soup – it’s about showing up for our communities,” said Gerri McAndrew, director of development and relations for community outreach at The Wright Center. “While we offer a warm meal, we’re also helping people understand the high-quality, whole-person primary health services available to them at The Wright Center, no matter their circumstances.”

The events are organized by The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, which helps many of the most under-resourced individuals and families in Northeast Pennsylvania, including those experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, social isolation, poverty, or other hardships. To learn more, visit TheWrightCenter.org/patient-and-community-engagement. For a full list of upcoming community events, visit TheWrightCenter.org/events.

Gerri McAndrew headshot

Gerri McAndrew

The Wright Center for Community Health, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, offers affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary and preventive health services at its growing network of 13 community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program to ensure primary and preventive care services are affordable for everyone. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-209-0019.

The Wright Center’s community health centers in Clarks Summit, Jermyn recognized for providing patient-centered care

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Mid Valley Community Health Center also receives recognition for behavioral health

Patient-centered medical home logo

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently awarded The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit and Jermyn locations with Patient-Centered Medical Home certificates for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

The Wright Center for Community Health Clarks Summit, 1145 Northern Blvd., South Abington Township, and The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, each again achieved this special recognition, acknowledging that they have the tools, systems, and resources to provide patients with the right care at the right time.

Four of The Wright Center’s community health centers have retained the NCQA voluntary accreditation in recent months. In October, The Wright Center’s community health centers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were notified that they had successfully retained the recognition seal. Every year, The Wright Center’s community health centers undergo a formal review to ensure compliance with the Washington, D.C.-based organization’s high standards.

Mid Valley NCQA certificate

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Its Patient-Centered Medical Home program reflects input from the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Osteopathic Association, and others. It was developed to assess whether health centers are functioning as medical homes and to recognize their efforts.

Clarks Summit NCQA certificate

The Patient-Centered Medical Home model is designed to enable patients and their care teams to foster stronger relationships, help patients manage chronic conditions more effectively, and enhance the overall patient experience. The model has been shown to increase staff satisfaction and reduce health care costs. It also increases patient satisfaction by offering open access to health care services and extended hours.

For the public, NCQA accreditation signals that The Wright Center for Community Health maintains a focus on quality improvement and has key processes in place to help patients prioritize their health.

“We are proud to retain this recognition seal at our community health centers,” said Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “The NCQA seal communicates to the public that we are fully committed to prioritizing patient-centered care, including offering morning, evening, and weekend hours to allow patients to access care when it is convenient for them and expanding behavioral health and dental services to truly offer a team-based approach to care.”

Mid Valley’s certification carries an additional NCQA distinction in behavioral health integration. This recognition demonstrates that recipients have the resources, evidence-based protocols, standardized tools, and quality measures to meet patients’ needs, according to NCQA.

“Many times, primary care physicians will be the first to identify a health issue that requires behavioral health services,” Dr. Sheth said. “Offering affordable, high-quality behavioral health services where patients are already receiving whole-person primary health services eliminates barriers and helps improve patient health overall.”

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

Wright Center doctors earn board certification in lifestyle medicine

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Dr. Kristina Tanovic and Dr. Ivan Cvorovic

The Wright Center for Community Health continues to strengthen its commitment to preventive care as two more doctors earn board certification in lifestyle medicine, equipping them to help patients prevent, manage, and even reverse chronic disease through sustainable lifestyle change. 

Dr. Ivan Cvorovic, FACP, CPE, and Dr. Kristina Tanovic, FACP, joined The Wright Center in 2020. The Wright Center’s Lifestyle Medicine program focuses on the six pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, relationships, and the avoidance of risky substances.

“This training enhances the care we provide today, giving our patients more evidence‑based tools and support,” Dr. Cvorovic said. “It also allows us to offer patients a more holistic, empowering approach to their health.”

There’s a clear need for lifestyle medicine services locally and nationwide. In 2023, for example, 76.4% of American adults – about 194 million – reported having at least one chronic condition, and 51.4% of U.S. adults, or about 130 million, reported having more than one chronic condition, according to a report that was published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April 2025.

Chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, can lead to more serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, some cancers, and arthritis. The CDC report shows that many chronic conditions are influenced by lifestyle risk factors, including excessive alcohol use, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.

As part of its commitment to provide whole-person primary and preventive health services to people of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses, The Wright Center offers lifestyle medicine at its 13 community health centers across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. The Wright Center’s physicians and clinicians conduct a thorough patient assessment of current health habits and then introduce and empower individualized treatment plans based on specific risk factors. Treatment plans can include improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, managing stress, eliminating tobacco use, and moderating alcohol consumption.

“Earning this certification strengthens what we can offer patients, aligns with our values, and supports The Wright Center’s mission to build healthier communities,” Dr. Cvorovic said.

Dr. Cvorovic is also a board-certified internal medicine hospitalist and certified physician executive at The Wright Center for Community Health. He serves as director of hospital services and the internal medicine residency hospitalist faculty for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Tanovic is also board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine and serves as associate program director, a teaching hospitalist, and core faculty of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Both doctors graduated from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine and completed their internal medicine residencies at Icahn School of Medicine at James J. Peters VA Medical Center, a Mount Sinai School of Medicine-affiliated facility in the Bronx, New York.

Drs. Cvorovic and Tanovic are each accepting new patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves everyone, from pediatrics to geriatrics. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.

The Wright Center accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program to ensure whole-person primary and preventive health services are affordable for everyone. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.