Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Partnership for Quality Measurement’s (PQM) Endorsement & Maintenance Committee Advisory Group on Cost and Efficiency.

The federally funded, consensus-based PQM brings together leaders and experts from across the health care spectrum to evaluate and endorse performance measures. Its mission is to ensure that measures are evidence-based, patient-centered, fair, and effective in driving quality improvement nationwide. Dr. Thomas-Hemak will contribute her clinical and leadership expertise to the Endorsement & Maintenance Cost and Efficiency Committee’s 45-member advisory group in evaluating and refining measures that assess total health care spending, resource use, and efficiency, ensuring they drive higher quality, lower cost care, improve value, and promote better use of health services across the U.S. health system.

A quintuple board-certified primary care physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition, Dr. Thomas-Hemak sees generations of patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley in Jermyn, her hometown, alongside her executive leadership. She is recognized nationally for her work in advancing community-based primary health care models, access to care, and interprofessional health care workforce development. 

Guided by a people-over-profit philosophy, Dr. Thomas-Hemak has built The Wright Center into one of the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums, shifting physician training from hospitals to community-based health centers and preparing nearly 450 learners each year, many of whom remain to serve locally. She has expanded a network of 13 community health centers and a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, delivering compassionate, high-quality, whole-person primary health services in rural and underserved populations. Under her leadership, The Wright Center has integrated primary care, behavioral health, dental, school-based, and advanced health information services to ensure accessible, coordinated care for all.

Under Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s leadership, The Wright Center has garnered numerous accolades, including designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike; a Pennsylvania Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence and Coordination Center for Medication-Assisted Treatment; a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Top 30 Site for National Primary Care Innovations; recognition as both a University of California, San Francisco, Center of Excellence in Primary Care and an American Association of Medical Colleges’ Premier Primary Care Residency; membership in the prestigious 2024 American Medical Association ChangeMedEd Consortium; and leading partner in the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program for pregnant women and new mothers with substance use disorder. Following the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre locations achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home certification. 

Dr. Thomas-Hemak also leads The Wright Center’s engagement in the Keystone Health Information Exchange and its catalytic role in a public television-based education campaign aimed at accelerating the wide-scale adoption of local, regional, and national health information interoperability.

A founding member of the consortium that established the Scranton-based Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the governor for the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (PA-ACP), the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization, and is vice president, as well as a founding board member, of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers, which represents community-based Teaching Health Centers that train primary care physicians. She serves on numerous local, regional, and national health care and medical education nonprofit governing boards, cross-sector committees, and workgroups, including HRSA’s Council on Graduate Medical Education, a federal advisory committee that assesses and recommends actions on physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies. 

She is also the governing board chair and executive committee member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NEPA AHEC), a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s (NACHC) New Health Center CEO Affinity Group, Women Leaders, and an advisory board member of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Health Center Controlled Network. Additionally, she serves as a board member of the National AHEC Organization; the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s Undergraduate Medical Education-Graduate Medical Education (GME) Task Force: GME Growth in Action Group; the Pennsylvania Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council; Keystone Accountable Care Organization; The Institute; and the Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action. 

Dr. Thomas-Hemak has received several prestigious state and national awards for her leadership, mentorship, and advocacy initiatives, including: the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce 2025 Athena Award for career excellence, service, and women’s empowerment; the 2024 Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award from PACHC; the 2024 Hometown Scholars Advocacy Award from NACHC and A.T. Still University; the 2022 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award from NACHC for her efforts in engaging Congress and expanding grassroots advocacy; and the 2020 Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award from the PA-ACP for advancing women’s leadership in medicine. City & State Pennsylvania has also named her a Trailblazer in Health Care and one of Pennsylvania’s 100 most powerful and influential female leaders.

She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Mason, Maya, and Antoinette. Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the daughter of the late William Thomas and Johanna Cavalieri Thomas, who lives in Archbald.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized The Wright Center for Community Health for quality and access improvements that enhance patient care.

An Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education presented research at a national conference for cardiovascular innovations.

Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year medical resident based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, attended the Cardiovascular Innovations meeting in Austin, Texas, in July. At the three-day conference, which focused on state-of-the-art therapy for peripheral, coronary, and structural heart disease, Dr. Tabassum presented research on peripheral artery disease (PAD) mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

“We found a decline in PAD-related mortality among patients with metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Tabassum said. “However, notable disparities persist across demographic and regional groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and further research.”

Dr. Tabassum, a native of Faisalabad, Pakistan, developed an interest in cardiology through a combination of clinical exposure and academic curiosity. 

“It was a pleasure and an honor to represent The Wright Center on a national stage,” Dr. Tabassum said. “Attending a conference with so many like-minded professionals was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from leading experts, and stay updated on the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.”

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency program. Today, The Wright Center is one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums in the nation. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains resident and fellow physicians in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance its mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, speaks about his research project during the Cardiovascular Innovations meeting in Austin, Texas. His project examined peripheral artery disease mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome. 

Families can enjoy a day of fun and wellness at The Wright Center for Community Health’s children’s fair, part of National Health Center Week. The inaugural event will feature yoga sessions, backpack giveaways, health snacks, face painting, and visits with a friendly therapy dog – offering something for kids and the young at heart. 

The wellness fair is just one of several special events The Wright Center will host or participate in as part of National Health Center Week from Aug. 3-9. Community health centers, such as The Wright Center, are nonprofit, patient-governed organizations that provide high-quality, comprehensive, whole-person primary health services to medically underserved communities, serving all patients regardless of income or insurance status.

This year’s National Health Center Week theme – “60 Years of Improving Our Nation’s Health” – is especially relevant to The Wright Center, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The Wright Center, one of nearly 1,500 community health centers nationwide, served about 38,300 unique patients in fiscal year 2024-25. Community health centers represent the largest primary care network in the nation, delivering care to more than 32.5 million people annually, or one in 10 people nationwide. Of those served, one in three people live in poverty, and one in five are uninsured, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers, which organizes National Health Center Week.

“National Health Center Week is an important reminder of the critical role that community health centers play in strengthening the delivery of responsive, whole-person primary health services to underserved populations here in Northeast Pennsylvania and across the nation,” said Kara Seitzinger, the executive director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president/CEO. “We’re excited to host this children’s wellness fair and several other events to celebrate how community health centers like The Wright Center are woven into the fabric of our region.”

The Wright Center’s other National Health Center Week activities include:
● Monday, Aug. 4: 10 a.m.-noon, backpack and school supply giveaway, The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
● Tuesday, Aug. 5: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Community Closet, Wayne County Visitors Center, 32 Commercial St, Honesdale.
● Tuesday, Aug. 5: 6-9 p.m., information table at Scranton’s National Night Out, Scranton High School, 63 Mike Munchak Way.
● Wednesday, Aug. 6: noon to 3 p.m., backpack and school supply giveaway, plus information on health services, and summer safety tips at Scranton Co-op Farmers Market, 900 Barring Ave.
● Wednesday, Aug. 6: 5-7 p.m., information table and backpack and school supply giveaway at Archbald’s National Night Out, A.C. Field, 183 Harrison St.
● Thursday, Aug. 7: noon to 2 p.m., food giveaway, The Wright Center for Community Health North Pocono, 260 Daleville Highway, Covington Township.
● Thursday, Aug. 7: 4-7 p.m., backpack and school supply giveaway, Tunkhannock Health Fair, 5950 U.S. Route 6.
● Friday, Aug. 8: 10 a.m. to noon, backpack and school supply giveaway, The Wright Center for Community Health North Scranton, 1721 North Main Ave.
● Friday, Aug. 8: 3-5 p.m., backpack and school supply giveaway, Carbondale Public Library, 5 N. Main St.

Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was selected as a 2025 Trailblazer in Healthcare by City and State Pennsylvania.

• Pioneered a cutting-edge telemedicine model that brings care directly into patients’ homes, especially in rural areas, through remote monitoring of vitals like heart rate, blood pressure, and steps. By integrating Humhealth technology into electronic health records (EHR) at The Wright Center, he ensured seamless data transfer and empowered patients to take an active role in their care.
  
• Reengineered The Wright Center’s EHR system into a powerful data platform that drives precise clinical interventions, supports population health management, and strengthens grant applications through actionable insights.
  
• Launched advanced business analytics tools that enhanced operational performance, ensured federal compliance, and supported The Wright Center’s FQHC Look-Alike designation.
  
• Introduced innovative patient-facing technologies, including a service that provides real-time interpreter services that support more than 350 languages, and “Neo,” an interactive, HIPAA-compliant chatbot that helps patients navigate services, schedule visits, and manage care online at TheWrightCenter.org.
  
• Modernized vaccine and medication management with a secure, automated system that tracks inventory to the dose level, safeguards patient safety, and improves regulatory compliance.
  
• Streamlined clinical workflows and strengthened strategic planning through the deployment of advanced technologies, including an AI-powered digital scribe; tools that focus on data visualization and business intelligence by providing real-time care analytics; and a centralized grant inventory management system that enhanced organizational efficiency and accountability.

Dr. Sheth earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with honors in biochemistry, medicine, and public health in 2004 from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha, India. He later received a Master of Public Health with a specialization in health promotion in 2006 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

After completing his internal medicine residency in 2009 through the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, now The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Sheth joined The Wright Center as an internal medicine primary care physician and lead physician for population management and reporting. 

Over the years, Dr. Sheth has pioneered innovative approaches that have significantly enhanced patient wellness and health care delivery. His impactful contributions have led to a series of leadership promotions at The Wright Center, beginning with vice president for patient safety and quality in 2013, followed by senior vice president and chief medical and information officer in 2018, and culminating in his current role as senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer.

Dr. Sheth has been honored with numerous national and state awards in recognition of his leadership, innovation, and contributions to advancing health care.

In 2024, Dr. Sheth was recognized nationally and statewide for his visionary leadership and impact on community health. He received the Outstanding Primary Care Clinician Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and the Innovative Research in Primary Care Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers, honoring his contributions to clinical innovation, care coordination, and public health. He was also named a 2024 Trailblazer in Building and Infrastructure by City & State Pennsylvania for transforming 10 facilities across three counties into The Wright Center’s state-of-the-art primary health care centers, dramatically improving access and outcomes for patients and medically underserved communities.

In April 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro selected Dr. Sheth to serve as a member of the state’s newly formed Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders Advisory Committee. Established in October 2024, the Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders Advisory Committee is tasked with advising the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and other state agencies on the development and implementation of a state plan for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other related disorders.

Dr. Sheth and his wife, Hetal Sheth, live in Clarks Summit with their children, Zian, 10, and Jiaa, 6.

Dr. Stephen S. Long Jr., a dual board-certified internal medicine and pediatrics (Med-Peds) physician and associate program director of faculty development for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been selected as one of Pennsylvania’s Top Physicians Under 40 by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED).

“I’m incredibly honored to receive this humbling recognition from the Pennsylvania Medical Society,” Dr. Long said. “It’s a reflection of the patients, mentors, and communities that have shaped me. The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education have provided me with the opportunity to practice medicine in a manner that aligns with my values, serving the whole person, investing in future physicians, and advancing access to primary and preventive care for all. I’m proud to be part of this mission-driven organization that believes so deeply in meeting people where they are and walking with them on their journeys to better health.”

A 2016 graduate of the University of Scranton with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and philosophy, Dr. Long, a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania native, earned his medical degree from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton in 2020. After completing his Med-Peds residency at MaineHealth’s Maine Medical Center in Portland, he returned to Northeast Pennsylvania in 2024 to serve the very communities that shaped his professional journey.

In just nine months, Dr. Long has become a vital member of The Wright Center’s interprofessional health care teams at two of its busiest teaching community health centers, Mid Valley and Clarks Summit, in Jermyn and South Abington Township, respectively. Dr. Long provides compassionate, comprehensive, whole-person primary health services to patients of all ages, from children to senior citizens.

In January, Dr. Long was selected as a 2025 Well-being Champion by the Eastern Region of the American College of Physicians, further cementing his status as a statewide leader in physician wellness, burnout prevention, and resilience-building.

His influence extends into community service and advocacy. Dr. Long has mentored aspiring first-generation college students through Geisinger Health System’s REACH-HEI Program, helping underserved eighth-graders explore pathways to careers in health care. He also served as a volunteer camp counselor and primary caregiver at Camp Bruce McCoy, a program of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, where he provided compassionate care and support to adult male survivors of traumatic brain injuries.

Dr. Long is married to Archbald native Juliette Meyers, an art therapist at The Wright Center.

Dr. Long is available for appointments with patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health Clarks Summit, 1145 Northern Blvd., South Abington Township, on Mondays and Tuesdays, and The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, from Wednesdays through Fridays. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Long, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call the Clarks Summit location at 570-585-1300 or the Mid Valley location at 570-230-0019.