HRSA awards Community Health Quality Recognition badges to our health centers

Written by

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.

HRSA HVC badge

HRSA annually reviews the performance data of health centers across the United States to highlight organizations that meet or exceed its goals in categories of special focus, including quality, access, and health information technology, using data from the Uniform Data System (UDS). In August, HRSA awarded Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges for excellence in clinical quality to nearly 1,000 health centers across the country. 

HRSA first awarded CHQR badges in 2021. Since then, The Wright Center has earned more than a dozen badges. HRSA awarded The Wright Center with the following badges:

HRSA badge health access
  • High-Value Care, which recognizes health centers that demonstrate improvements in clinical quality while effectively managing costs.

  • Improving Health Care Access, which recognizes health centers that have increased the total number of patients and the number of patients receiving comprehensive services – including mental health, substance use disorder, dental, and other services – by at least 5% between calendar year 2024 and 2025, the two most recent UDS reporting periods.
HRSA AHIT badge
  • Advancing Health IT, which recognizes health centers that use technology to improve health care and make it easier for patients to access care. This includes increasing access to telehealth, helping patients stay involved in their care, sharing information between health systems, and collecting data to better meet patients’ health needs.

  • Heart Health, which recognizes health centers that demonstrate outstanding performance in clinical quality measures related to heart health, including screening patients for tobacco use and offering help to quit, preventing heart disease, using the proper medications to improve heart health, and helping patients control high blood pressure.

HRSA badge heart health

HRSA-funded health centers, which include The Wright Center, provide comprehensive, whole-person primary health services at more than 16,000 service sites nationwide to one in eight children, one in five rural residents, and one in 15 adults 65 and older. Information about badge recipients can be found on an online dashboard at hrsa.gov.

Resident physician presents scholarly work at national cardiovascular conference

Written by

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.

Dr. Shehroze Tabassum


He led a research team, which included Dr. Douglas Klamp, the Internal Medicine Residency Program director, chief medical education officer, senior vice president, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition at The Wright Center, and Wright Center Internal Medicine resident physician Dr. Aroma Naeem, that analyzed data using a free, online public health information system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The team examined data collected between 2000-2019 about patients’ biological characteristics, race and ethnicity, state, census region, and metropolitan status.

“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. 

Children’s fair highlights our National Health Center Week activities

Written by

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 Wright Way to Wellness: Kids Edition will take place from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the auditorium at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. The event will feature fitness and art activities, healthy snacks and nutrition demonstrations, a backpack and school supply giveaway, visits with The Wright Center’s therapy dog, Sadie, athletic equipment giveaways with Build-N-Athlete, and information about school physicals and vaccinations. 

Children’s yoga instructor Kerri Bonich will lead demonstrations, and the Lackawanna County Bookmobile will be on site from 2-4 p.m. Several area nonprofits, including the Carbondale YMCA, Penn State Nutrition Links, the Commission on Economic Opportunity, and Valley in Motion, will participate. The event will also feature raffles, including one for a youth fitness watch. 

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.

City and State PA names our SVP and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer a Trailblazer in Healthcare

Written by

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.

Dr. Jignesh Sheth, portrait

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

The multimedia news organization recognized Dr. Sheth for his bold, forward-thinking leadership at The Wright Center, where he has championed the expansion of telemedicine, the modernization of clinical systems through advanced health information technology, and the advancement of Pennsylvania’s public health infrastructure. He is among a distinguished group of 2025 Trailblazers in Healthcare that includes physicians, lobbyists, educators, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and nonprofit leaders who are driving meaningful change across the commonwealth. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized among leaders who are working to solve some of health care’s toughest challenges,” Dr. Sheth said. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team at The Wright Center to modernize care, expand access, and deliver meaningful, measurable impact for the communities we proudly serve.”

City & State also acknowledged Dr. Sheth’s leadership in remote patient monitoring and his role in securing The Wright Center’s 2019 designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike. Dr. Sheth has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have significantly elevated care quality across Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond:

  • 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.

Our Meds-Peds physician named one of Pennsylvania Top Physicians Under 40

Written by

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).

Dr. Stephen Long

Dr. Stephen S. Long Jr
Internal Medicine and Pediatric physician
The Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education

The statewide award honors physicians under the age of 40 who are making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and communities while shaping the future of health care through clinical excellence, education, and advocacy. Dr. Long’s remarkable achievements across multiple domains of medicine in such a short time — particularly in underserved communities across Northeast Pennsylvania — earned him this prestigious recognition.

He joins 22 physicians across Pennsylvania who will receive their 2025 Pennsylvania Top Physicians Under 40 awards in September at one of PAMED’s two award ceremonies to be held in Hershey and Latrobe.

“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.

Wright Center’s Caregivers Resource Fair features screening of PBS documentary, ‘Caregiving,’ by Bradley Cooper

Written by

The Wright Center for Community Health is collaborating with community partners and WVIA-TV on a special informational Caregivers Resource Fair for family members and caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other conditions requiring personal care on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 5-7 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton’s auditorium, 501 S. Washington Ave.

The free, public program features agencies from across the region, including Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging, Scranton Counseling Center, Telespond Senior Services, LIFE Geisinger, Lackawanna Pro Bono Inc., Interim Health Care, United Neighborhood Centers, Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, and more.

WVIA-TV will also offer a preview screening of “Caregiving,” from executive producer Bradley Cooper. The documentary is the story of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the challenges and joys of this deeply meaningful work. The film interweaves personal stories with historical context. Cooper took time off from his film career to care for his father, diagnosed with cancer. “Raising this conversation on a national level will help,” he said, “and together, I believe, we can make a difference.”

The Wright Center for Community Health and WVIA-TV are collaborating on the special screening of ‘Caregiving,” a preview of the documentary from executive producer Bradley Cooper, on Aug. 28, from 5-7 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health’s auditorium, Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. Admission is free. Reservations welcome at wvia.org/events.

Following the screening, caregivers will be invited to share their story or tribute to a family member or friend who provided care. For more information on this film, visit wvia.org/caregiving.

Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs memory, thinking abilities, and daily functioning. In Pennsylvania, it affects about 282,000 individuals. About 465,000 family members and friends across the state serve as caregivers, often providing unpaid, around-the-clock care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, frequently with limited opportunities for respite.

The Wright Center’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program provides coordinated, comprehensive support for patients, families, and caregivers. It is part of a collaborative, county-wide effort called Age-Friendly Lackawanna that includes nearly 30 community organizations. Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center, said many caregivers have a hard time finding the resources they need for their loved ones.