Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, left, examines a patient at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton. The dentist was appointed to a state advisory group.

Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, local site director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and a practicing dentist dedicated to expanding access to oral health care in Northeast Pennsylvania, has been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Oral Health Program Oral Health Plan Advisory Group.

Dr. McCarthy was appointed to a two-year term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and will represent Pennsylvania’s provider sector. She was selected to help guide the implementation of the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030, a statewide framework focused on improving oral health outcomes, reducing disparities, strengthening the oral health workforce, and expanding access to preventive and restorative dental care.

The Oral Health Plan Advisory Group provides recommendations to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Oral Health Program regarding priorities for implementing the state’s oral health plan and champions initiatives designed to improve oral health across the commonwealth. The advisory group includes representatives from multiple sectors involved in oral health promotion, education, policy, clinical care, and public health.

Building her career around serving the communities that shaped her, Dr. McCarthy joined The Wright Center in 2019 and played a key role in launching dental services at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, located in South Side at 501 S. Washington Ave., Suite 1000. Since then, she has provided comprehensive dental care to a diverse patient population, including many individuals and families who face barriers to accessing routine oral health services.

Her daily work gives her firsthand insight into issues that remain significant challenges throughout Pennsylvania, including workforce shortages, affordability concerns, access barriers for Medicaid recipients, and disparities in oral health outcomes among underserved populations.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. McCarthy also serves as local site director of The Wright Center’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program, offered through a partnership with New York University Langone Health Dental Medicine. In this role, she helps train and mentor future dentists while supporting community-based dental education and workforce development initiatives throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Her leadership reflects The Wright Center’s integrated approach to improving community health by simultaneously expanding access to high-quality oral health services and strengthening the future dental workforce through community-based training.

“Dr. McCarthy’s selection to the Oral Health Plan Advisory Group is both a well-deserved recognition of her expertise and a reflection of the meaningful contributions she continues to make to oral health care in our region,” said Kimberly McGoff, director of dental operations at The Wright Center. “As an exceptional clinician, respected educator, and dedicated advocate for accessible, patient-centered care, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing both patients and dental professionals. Through her leadership in clinical practice and dental residency education, she has helped improve access to care while shaping the next generation of oral health providers. Her experience, insight, and unwavering commitment to service will make her a tremendous asset to this important statewide effort to strengthen oral health outcomes for all Pennsylvanians.”

A Marywood University and Misericordia University alumna who has spent the last two decades advocating for and securing investments to support higher education has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as its first chief philanthropy officer and vice president of grants and strategic initiatives.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts from then-Marywood College and a Master of Science degree in education from then-College Misericordia, she completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in human development at Marywood University. Across the region, Zehel has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the African Sisters Education Collaborative and the Patient Safety Council at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Dickson City. She and her husband, Shawn Zehel, reside in Scranton and have two adult children.

The Wright Center for Community Health will join an effort to identify and prioritize service needs for families living in rural communities.

Leading this effort is the Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley Inc. (CSC), which received a grant of $36,000 to facilitate a community health needs assessment in Wyoming County. AllOne Charities and Moses Taylor Foundation are funding the project through the AllOne Charities Collaborative Philanthropy Fund. In addition to The Wright Center and CSC, the project includes Wyoming County Health Center Inc. and The Guthrie Clinic/Guthrie Tunkhannock. Plans call to engage other interested providers as planning and resource development efforts unfold.

The participants have partnered with The Institute, the Northeast Pennsylvania research partnership among regional colleges and universities and the business community, to complete the assessment in spring and summer 2026 in preparation for potential funding available through the Rural Health Transformation Program in Pennsylvania and other sources.

According to CSC President and CEO Christopher Boyle, these Tunkhannock-based providers entered discussions earlier this year to explore partnerships that will further address geographic, financial, and other barriers to care for patients in Wyoming County.

“Our discussion verified multiple areas of concern – limited availability and growing demand for outpatient services, medical specialty care, and the travel required to receive care for medical emergencies in Towanda, Wilkes-Barre or Scranton,” Boyle said.

Lindsay Shalata, executive director of Wyoming County Healthcare Center Inc., agreed.

“The consensus among the group was that more information would be necessary to effectively document community health needs, not only from readily available health data, but also from the actual experiences of patients and providers in Wyoming County’s rural communities. We are committed to finding more effective solutions that draw on the strengths of multiple providers for greater community benefit,” she said.

The Guthrie Clinic’s commitment to improving rural health is grounded in ensuring patient safety and leveraging technology to improve access to its hospital-based and ambulatory services in Pennsylvania and upstate New York, according to Paul VerValin, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“Every community has unique needs and we want to learn more. This needs assessment will complement our goals in Wyoming County, where we are serving a growing number of people and want to better engage patients and care partners to improve health and well-being in rural communities,” VerValin said.

The project collaborators are eager to deliver actionable solutions at a critical time for Northeastern Pennsylvania to develop and initiate a plan for improving healthcare issues affecting Wyoming County. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has secured $193 million in annual federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program – part of a $50 billion national initiative to modernize rural care, address hospital closures, and strengthen the health care workforce over five fiscal years.

Boyle added, “As providers in Wyoming County, we need to be ready with a clearer picture on community needs and priorities that will align with this potential funding – which focuses on technology, EMS, maternal and behavioral health, and regional care collaboration. We want to strengthen the healthcare landscape by developing better strategies to improve communication and facilitating shared objectives to advance rural healthcare delivery.”

Dr. Mary Louise Decker, the infectious diseases medical director at The Wright Center for Community Health, was honored with an award from a national advocacy group for her meaningful, evidence-based hepatitis C and HIV prevention and treatment efforts across Northeast Pennsylvania.

The Community Liver Alliance awarded Dr. Decker the You Make a Difference Award, which honors individuals who have made a meaningful impact in advancing liver health by supporting patients and families, and strengthening communities. She accepted the award at the Community Liver Alliance’s 12th annual You Make a Difference Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 1, at the Kamin Science Center in Pittsburgh.

Under Dr. Decker’s leadership, The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV and Infectious Diseases Clinic has been a leader in HIV testing, treatment, and support in the region. The clinic serves nearly 500 patients across seven counties, providing coordinated, whole-person care at community health centers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

Through her efforts, viral suppression rates among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy improved from 86% to 96%. Gaps in care were reduced to under 10%. Vaccine compliance increased significantly, including a greater than 70% HPV vaccine rate among those eligible and a 50% rise in varicella-zoster vaccination.

Dr. Decker is accepting new adult patients at our community health centers in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. To schedule an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-941-0630.

A longtime Dunmore dentist is now accepting patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn.

The Wright Center accepts all dental insurance. To ensure high-quality oral care is available to everyone, The Wright Center for Community Health offers a sliding-fee discount program for individuals who qualify under the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which consider family size and income. To learn more or make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. 

Dr. Renee Frank, secretary of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, presents certificates of recognition to, from left, Drs. Timothy Burke, William Dempsey, and Erin McFadden for their outstanding dedication to patient care.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society honored three Wright Center doctors as part of National Doctors Day on Monday, March 30. With a history dating back to 1933, the annual day of observance honors the skill, dedication, and commitment of physicians who care for their communities. 

Dr. Renee Frank, secretary of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, presented certificates of recognition to, from left, Drs. Timothy Burke, William Dempsey, and Erin McFadden for their outstanding dedication to patient care. 

The Wright Center is celebrating its 50^th 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. 

Learn more at TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.