The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, a nonprofit subsidiary of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Central Atlantic Chapter of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to support essential initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity among children and families throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement advances The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education’s mission — to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve — by involving patients and communities in transforming primary health services, fostering workforce development, and addressing public health challenges.

Focused on education, advocacy, and tackling barriers, the nonprofit organization assists the region’s most vulnerable populations, including those experiencing poverty, homelessness, food and housing insecurity, limited access to education and job opportunities, lack of transportation, social isolation, and other challenges. Guided by a board of patients and local professionals, it organizes community initiatives, such as health fairs, food drives, and school supply giveaways, while its annual Dr. William Waters Golf Tournament generates essential funding to ensure access to high-quality, whole-person primary health services for everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.

The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, as well as the regional Dunkin’ franchisee group, Lufrankton, LLC, which operates 34 Dunkin’ stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including six in Scranton, have awarded numerous grants to The Wright Center over the years to help address food insecurity and other community outreach initiatives. Since 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted over $40 million to national and local nonprofits, supporting programs that combat child hunger — such as backpack and mobile and school pantry initiatives — and creating joyful experiences for pediatric patients and their families through specialized camps, sensory rooms, and art and music therapy.

Two of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary and preventive care community health centers again received national commendations from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., and The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., have successfully maintained their NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition, a prestigious certification that affirms the two community health centers’ ability to provide the right care at the right time through innovative tools, systems, and resources.

Founded in 1990 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization committed to elevating health care standards. Through robust measurement, transparency, and accountability, NCQA drives improvements in health care quality nationwide. Its PCMH program, developed in collaboration with organizations such as the American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association, evaluates clinical practices on their ability to operate as medical homes and recognizes those that excel in patient-centered care.

Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center’s growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health, provides affordable, high-quality, nondiscriminatory whole-person primary health services to everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

A chief fellow of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program and his program director will have their work published in an upcoming edition of the peer-reviewed journal Catheterization Cardiovascular Intervention.

The project began when Dr. Nischay Shah, one of the chief fellows of The Wright Center’s Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, treated a patient with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MMVT). In this condition, the heart’s bottom chambers beat too fast. This abnormal rhythm can lead to severe issues, such as heart attacks.

“These further tests or treatments didn’t appear to make a difference in preventing death or the return of the abnormal heart rhythm in the select group of patients studied,” Dr. Shah explained.

In November, Dr. Shah and Dr. Pancholy learned their manuscript detailing their methods and findings was accepted for publication by Catheterization Cardiovascular Intervention, an international cardiology journal. A publication date has not been announced.

A dentist at The Wright Center joined the faculty of the NYU Langone Health’s Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Programs and will begin teaching Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residents at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice.

Dr. Regan completed the necessary training through NYU Langone Health, along with approximately 275 hours of additional continuing education, to qualify for the faculty position. He will be joining Caitlin McCarthy, D.M.D., a dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, who supervised the residency training of both Dr. Regan and Ryan Rebar, D.M.D., a dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn.

Dr. Regan decided to stay and practice dentistry at The Wright Center after seeing the growing need for dental services in Northeast Pennsylvania during his residency. Since opening on Aug. 6, the Wilkes-Barre dental clinic has handled nearly 1,000 visits as of Oct. 30.

“A majority of our patients so far have been waiting months or years for dental care,” Dr. Regan said. “There’s not a lot of dentists locally who accept Medicaid patients if they’re accepting new patients at all.”

In fiscal year 2024, more than 3,400 unique patients were treated at The Wright Center’s dental clinic in Scranton, and nearly 3,400 unique patients visited the Mid Valley dental clinic. All three clinics offer exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, emergency services, oral cancer screenings, and denture care to people of all ages, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

Legislators joined officials with The Wright Center for Community Health and Friendship House for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 24 to celebrate the Friendship House’s new Whole Person Care Center at 200 Wyoming Ave. in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Participants in the ribbon-cutting included from left, state Rep. Kyle Donahue, Wright Center for Community Health Board Vice Chair Richard Krebs, Friendship House Board Treasurer Laurie Cadden, state Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, Friendship House President and CEO Alex J. Hazzouri, Wright Center President and CEO Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, state Sen. Marty Flynn, and Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Durkin.

The Wright Center for Community Health is partnering with Friendship House to improve access to whole-person primary health services, especially for individuals with complex mental health and/or substance use disorder needs.

Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, The Wright Center will offer primary health services at Friendship House’s new Whole Person Care Center, 200 Wyoming Ave., Suite 250, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The new location will begin by opening from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, providing a range of services such as checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. These services will be available to individuals of all ages, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.

Patients do not need to be clients of Friendship House to receive care at The Wright Center’s new location.

Friendship House provides support to children, adolescents, and adults facing developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioral challenges, or the effects of distress from loss, abuse, or neglect. In March 2022, the nonprofit acquired the two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility, which spans the Davidow Building at 200-216 Wyoming Ave., and the former Murray Building at 413-415 Biden St.

The new center’s goal is to integrate mental health, substance use disorder, and physical health services, improving health outcomes while optimizing the use of resources. Along with The Wright Center’s primary health services, Friendship House will offer mental health and substance use disorder services, and The Prescription Center will provide pharmacy services.

“This integrated model will enhance care coordination and improve patient care outcomes, especially in terms of chronic medical condition management,” said Kathleen Barry, deputy chief operating officer of The Wright Center for Community Health. “We’re thrilled to be able to work closely with Friendship House, one of our great community partners, and enhance our ability to address the complex health and social needs of patients in our communities.”

Hazzouri noted that his organization has been in discussions with The Wright Center for several years about a collaboration. The Wright Center and Friendship House treat patients of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses.

“Thousands of people live, work, and study in downtown Scranton every day,” Hazzouri said, noting that 17 of the county’s 22 bus routes pass by the new Whole Person Care Center. “The accessibility will help make the center integral to a healthy Scranton and a healthy Lackawanna County.”

Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and chief medical and information officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, received the 2024 Outstanding Primary Care Clinician Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) in recognition of his significant contributions in the delivery of primary care to vulnerable populations. He accepted the award on Oct. 8 during the organization’s Annual Conference and Clinical Summit in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Dually board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, Dr. Sheth also sees adult patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn.

His initiatives, such as remote patient monitoring, electronic health records integration, and the use of AI-powered tools, have enhanced patient outcomes, supported population health management, and strengthened operational efficiency. Dr. Sheth’s leadership and creative problem-solving have also contributed to The Wright Center’s designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and successful grant acquisitions.

Under his leadership, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice earned the highest Level-3 Patient-Centered Medical Home accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Dr. Sheth received 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 earned his Master’s in 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.

His pioneering and innovative approaches that have significantly improved patient wellness and health care delivery have earned him several promotions at The Wright Center, including vice president for patient safety and quality in 2013, culminating in his current role as senior vice president and chief medical and information officer, a position he has held since 2018.

In August, Dr. Sheth won the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) 2024 Innovative Research in Primary Care Award, and City and State Pennsylvania named him a 2024 Trailblazer in Building and Infrastructure.

The NACHC award, which honors a health center clinician who has been active in primary care research or evaluation in community practice, prevention, public health, care coordination, or the clinical practice of medical services, was presented during the organization’s 2024 Community Health Institute (CHI) & Expo Conference held Aug. 24-26 in Atlanta.

City and State Pennsylvania recognized Dr. Sheth for his visionary leadership, strategic planning, research, and meticulous attention to detail in transforming 10 buildings across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties into The Wright Centers’ welcoming and comprehensive primary health care centers. These centers provide whole-person primary health services to people of all ages regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay, and have significantly enhanced care delivery and overall well-being for underserved populations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Dr. Sheth and his wife, Hetal Sheth, live in Clarks Summit with their children, Zian, 9, and Jiaa, 5.