COVID-19 Response

Learning in the trenches

The Wright Center never wavered in service to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the tireless efforts of our Emergency Preparedness teams, our steadfast employees and physician learners who continued to hold the front lines of care and the dedicated administrative staff who supported daily mission delivery. Our doors stayed open and we all demonstrated what it looks like to be privileged to serve. 

Our cutting-edge approach to caring for the community started with meeting the high demand for outpatient COVID testing and then our historic deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine just in time for the winter holiday season. We also launched outpatient COVID-19 Therapy using monoclonal antibodies which saved COVID-positive patients from having damaging or life-threatening reactions to the virus. 

While the pandemic presented no shortage of challenges, it also empowered our staff and physician learners to embrace opportunities to serve our mission in new ways. Whether it was the launch of our telehealth services, a re-designed website or our deployment of innovative technological solutions to ensure continued care and learning, the common theme of our COVID response was resilience.

“In regard to serving on the front lines during a pandemic, this is something very new and different. Usually people in residency training don’t have to do something like this, but it’s our duty to serve the community. Seeing how The Wright Center as a group has come together in such a period of time to create areas for mass testing and the amount of patients we’ve vaccinated, I think it’s incredible. This teamwork — pulling together, working quickly to help our community — is the heart of The Wright Center.”

Kristy Simonetti, M.D.Family Medicine Resident

“To date, I’ve given the vaccine to many patients. It is like holding a piece of cutting-edge technology in your hand. Regardless of the pandemic, it’s an honor and a privilege to serve the community, even more so during a time of such need. Seeing people at their worst and seeing something so impressive, I think it’s quite a responsibility, but I think it’s only made me better as a physician.”

Aaron Simonetti, M.D.Internal Medicine Resident

“I know it’s a difficult time for patients and the population at large, but it’s been such a great pleasure working for our patients. I participated in giving the COVID-19 vaccines in the clinics, which really excited me a lot. It’s part of preventive care and it was groundbreaking. I’m glad we were part of a huge moment in history. The Wright Center made it all possible for us. I think it’s definitely enlightening doing residency training during the time when COVID hit us. It’s something I’ll always remember and tell generations to come: how we tried to tackle the pandemic and serve the patients and families during such difficult times.”

Maham Malik, M.D.Internal Medicine Resident

“The most important thing during this whole pandemic was reaching the entire elderly population, who were more vulnerable and afraid of COVID-19. I could see a happiness and hope in their eyes whenever we approached them and were vaccinating them. When they needed it, I’m glad I was part of serving them with The Wright Center.”

Naeem Ijaz, M.D. Internal Medicine Resident