The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale, located inside Friendship House’s new Whole-Person Care Center at 30 N. Main St., Suite 100, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening on Aug. 13. The new health center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the opening of its newest community health center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Carbondale.
The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale, located inside Friendship House’s new Whole-Person Care Center at 30 N. Main St., Suite 100, began seeing patients Thursday, Aug. 13. Led by Medical Director Bryan Boyle, a longtime board-certified physician assistant, the community health center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The new location provides whole-person primary and preventive health services, including checkups, health screenings, and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. Care is available for everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients do not need to be a Friendship House client to receive care at the community health center.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-591-5298.
“For generations, Friendship House has helped children, adults, and families build resilience through an extraordinary continuum of care that includes mental and behavioral health services, autism and developmental disability programs, social services, school-based behavioral health support, and integrated primary care,” Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The Wright Center complements that work by providing comprehensive whole-person primary and preventive health services while educating and training the next generation of physicians and interprofessional healthcare teams.
“Together, we are making it easier for individuals and families to access compassionate, coordinated care in one trusted setting – care that recognizes each person’s inherent dignity, supports recovery and resilience, promotes lifelong wellness, and helps people achieve their fullest potential.”
The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the opening a new community health center in Carbondale with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Participating in the program, from left, are Alex J. Hazzouri, president and CEO of Friendship House; state Senator Rosemary M. Brown; Medical Director Bryan Boyle, The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon; and Bill Davis, chief of staff, state Rep. Kyle J. Mullins Office.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon welcomed the new community health center and expressed her appreciation to the Friendship House and The Wright Center for investing in the city and expanding access to healthcare for local residents.
“You are bringing care closer to the people who live and work here,” Bannon said. “Here in Carbondale, it’s about relationships, partnerships, and waking up every morning and asking, ‘How can we make things better?’”
The community health center in Carbondale marks The Wright Center’s second partnership with Friendship House. Since November 2024, The Wright Center’s clinical team has provided primary care at more than 3,500 patient visits at Friendship House’s Whole Person Care Center in Scranton, located at 200 Wyoming Ave.
Federal approval expands access to affordable healthcare across Northeastern Pennsylvania, supports new community health center in Monroe County.
The Wright Center’s leaders, board members, and staff join U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. and community partners to celebrate Monday’s announcement that The Wright Center for Community Health has been designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
After years of strategic planning, sustained advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring everyone has access to care, The Wright Center for Community Health has been designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a transformational milestone that will significantly broaden access to affordable, high-quality whole-person primary and preventive health services throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Awarded through HRSA’s highly competitive New Access Point (NAP) Program, the designation transitions The Wright Center from a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike to a funded FQHC. The achievement culminates a years-long effort to demonstrate both the extraordinary need for additional primary care resources in the region and The Wright Center’s ability to meet that need. It also reflects the steadfast advocacy of U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan Jr., whose leadership and ongoing engagement with HRSA helped secure approval to establish a community health center in Blakeslee, Monroe County. The successful application was further strengthened by broad bipartisan support from elected officials and government leaders, who submitted eight letters of support recognizing the critical need to expand access to affordable, high-quality primary care.
HRSA’s approval of the new Blakeslee clinic recognizes the significant healthcare needs of this rural community of about 4,400 people and creates an opportunity to expand comprehensive, whole-person primary and preventive health services in an area with limited access to care. The new community health center will welcome all patients while prioritizing access for individuals and families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, as well as those who are uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved.
Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, left, holds a congressional proclamation from U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. for her 25 years of service to The Wright Center.
The Wright Center currently operates 15 community health center locations across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties, including its Driving Better Health mobile medical and dental unit, serving patients throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. About 70% of the enterprise’s patients live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, including 46% who live below 100% of the guidelines, underscoring the continued need for affordable, accessible healthcare throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
The new community health center at 5251 Route 115 will serve more than 2,000 patients annually in the Blakeslee region. The new location will open in late fall.
Congressman Bresnahan and his staff worked closely with HRSA officials for months to emphasize the importance of expanding NAP opportunities, particularly for FQHC Look-Alikes. Earlier this year, he led a bipartisan congressional letter urging appropriators to create a pathway for high-performing FQHC Look-Alikes to become funded FQHCs, helping elevate the issue at the national level.
“Today’s announcement is a big win for families across Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Bresnahan.“After 15 years of hard work, The Wright Center’s new FQHC designation means more resources to bring affordable, quality care to the people who need it most. I’m proud we were able to work with HRSA and The Wright Center to help get this across the finish line, and I look forward to continuing to expand access to quality care close to home.”
The award paves the way for The Wright Center to establish its first community health center in Monroe County, expanding its model of integrated medical, dental, mental and behavioral health, and addiction and recovery services to residents of one of the region’s most underserved rural areas.
“We are deeply grateful and honored to receive The Wright Center for Community Health’s full Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. This most welcomed achievement is truly a blessing and the humbling culmination of my 25 years of service as a primary care physician and medical educator at The Wright Center,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “It reflects decades of mission-driven contributions by countless individuals and treasured partners who share an unwavering commitment to serve and improve the health and welfare of our regional communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired and competent workforce that is privileged to serve. Most importantly, this accomplishment strengthens our collective ability to ensure that every person in Northeastern Pennsylvania has access to affordable, comprehensive, compassionate, whole-person primary and preventive health services close to home.
“We are especially grateful to Congressman Rob Bresnahan for his tireless advocacy for and service to Northeastern Pennsylvania. We appreciate his championing expanded access to essential health services and uniting fellow Congressional leaders to support strengthening and expanding our nation’s community health center program. His notably effective leadership in organizing a bipartisan congressional letter to House Appropriations Committee leaders urging HRSA to prioritize funding for new primary care access points in underserved communities and to recognize the readiness of FQHC Look-Alikes like The Wright Center to strengthen our nation’s healthcare safety net and rapidly expand access to care made our long-term FQHC designation possible. The resulting immediate and long-term public health benefit impact for our region cannot be overstated.”
The designation also strengthens The Wright Center’s nationally recognized Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium model, which integrates patient care, workforce development, and community health through The Wright Center forCommunity Health, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement.
Rather than relying on traditional hospital-based physician training, the consortium prepares resident and fellow physicians and interprofessional healthcare learners in community settings where healthcare professionals are needed most. By aligning graduate medical education with the health needs of medically underserved communities, the model increases the likelihood that physicians will establish their practices in areas experiencing persistent primary care shortages while expanding access to high-quality, community-based healthcare.
U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr., left, greets Eric Kiehl, director of policy and partnership of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, and Shelley Riser, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, at the press conference announcing The Wright Center achieved Federally Qualified Health Center status.
Recognized by national accrediting organizations and state licensing agencies as an innovative, replicable approach to physician workforce development, the Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium helps bridge the gap between where most healthcare is delivered and where physicians are trained. The new Federally Qualified Health Center designation further strengthens that mission by expanding clinical training opportunities while increasing access to comprehensive, whole-person primary and preventive health services for the communities the consortium serves.
Since 2019, when HRSA designated The Wright Center as an FQHC Look-Alike, the enterprise has steadily expanded its reach to serve more than 39,000 unique patients in 2025-26 while operating under the same rigorous federal requirements as FQHCs. Just like FQHCs, Look-Alikes are required to provide comprehensive primary care services, maintain a governing board composed primarily of patients, serve federally designated medically underserved communities, and offer care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay by using a sliding-fee discount program.
Unlike funded FQHCs, however, FQHC Look-Alikes do not receive the federal operational grants available under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
The Wright Center’s new FQHC designation changes that. The annual federal investment provides sustainable funding that can be reinvested directly into expanding access to patient care, strengthening community-based physician training and interprofessional workforce development, supporting innovative models of care, and strengthening community outreach and engagement efforts. It also makes The Wright Center eligible to apply for numerous supplemental HRSA funding opportunities that were previously unavailable. In addition, the designation allows The Wright Center to participate in the Federal Tort Claims Act malpractice program, significantly reducing medical liability costs.
U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. greets Mary Marrara, secretary and chair of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Patient & Community Engagement Boards of Directors, before the start of the press conference.
It also brings enhanced reimbursement opportunities that strengthen the long-term sustainability of essential community provider safety-net healthcare services throughout the region.
Federally Qualified Health Centers are a cornerstone of America’s healthcare safety net. According to HRSA, approximately 1,400 FQHC organizations operate more than 16,000 service delivery sites nationwide, providing comprehensive primary care services to millions of people each year regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. Health centers serve medically underserved communities while improving health outcomes, reducing unnecessary emergency department use, and lowering overall healthcare costs through preventive, coordinated care.
The Wright Center’s new community health center is its first location in Monroe County and 16th overall. Services will include:
Primary and preventive health services
Pediatric services
Women’s health, including prenatal and postpartum care
Mental and behavioral health
Substance use disorder treatment and recovery services
Oral healthcare
टेलीहेल्थ
Care management and care coordination
Deborah Kolsovsky, chair of The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors, said the FQHC designation will strengthen the enterprise’s ability to fulfill its mission for decades to come.
“This designation is a testament to The Wright Center’s unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of our region,” Kolsovsky said. “It provides the stability and resources needed to build upon our mission, respond to the ever-changing needs of our communities, and create lasting improvements in the way patients receive services throughout our region.”
A dentist who completed an internship at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley eight years ago is returning to the community health center to care for patients.
A graduate of the Dunmore School District, Emily Pavlowski was awarded a National Health Service Corps Scholarship while pursuing her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. While there, she served as a dental ambassador and mentored students through the school’s Women in Dentistry and Healthcare Leadership programs. At graduation, she received the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award.
In August 2018, she completed a summer internship at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley’s dental clinic. She is returning to serve the region where she grew up and says she looks forward to giving back to the community that shaped her and fulfilling her National Health Service Corps service commitment by serving in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Dr. Pavlowski will begin seeing patients on Monday, Aug. 24, and will offer a wide variety of dental services for children and adults, including routine exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions, restorations, dentures, and other procedures. The community health center accepts most dental insurances, including Delta Dental, Guardian, United Concordia, and Medical Assistance (Medicaid).
Dr. Emily Pavlowski
To ensure high-quality oral care is affordable for everyone, The Wright Center for Community Health offers a sliding-fee discount program for individuals who qualify based on Federal Poverty Guidelines, which take into account family size and income. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.
The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton hosted the new regional representative of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) during The Wright Way to Wellness: Kids Edition event on Aug. 6.
The event, which attracted hundreds of children and their families, was part of The Wright Center’s celebration of National Health Center Week, an annual observance recognizing the essential role community health centers play in improving access to high-quality, comprehensive, whole-person primary health services.
Participating in the program, from left, are Melissa Germano, director of lifestyle modification and preventive medicine at The Wright Center, who coordinated the wellness fair; Nicole Peterson, regional representative at Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers; and Kara Seitzinger, executive director of public affairs and advisor to the president and CEO at The Wright Center
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 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). During National Health Center Week, HRSA awarded Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges for excellence in clinical quality to more than 1,200 health centers across the country. HRSA first awarded CHQR badges in 2021. Since then, The Wright Center has earned more than a dozen badges. For 2026, HRSA awarded The Wright Center with the following badges:
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.
National Quality Leader – 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.
Advancing Health Information Technology, which recognizes health centers that use technology to improve healthcare 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.
In January, HRSA awarded The Wright Center for Community Health a 2024 Operational Site Visit Badge, after a virtual Operational Site Visit that determined The Wright Center demonstrated full compliance with all Health Center Program requirements. The Wright Center has also maintained HRSA’s annual Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) badge since 2022, which recognizes health centers that prioritize a commitment to continuous quality improvement and a patient-centered approach to care.
HRSA-funded health centers, which include The Wright Center, provide comprehensive, whole-person primary and preventive 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.
For the second year in a row, The Wright Center for Community Health has earned national recognition for its continued commitment to improving diabetes care and prevention.
Quality Insights, a West Virginia-based leader in healthcare quality improvement, recognized The Wright Center for its annual review of diabetes and prediabetes care. The National Diabetes Prevention Program is a nationally recognized, evidence-based lifestyle change program designed to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients.
Melissa Germano
The Wright Center partnered with Quality Insights to assess workflows, documentation, and referrals, driving ongoing improvements in care and cost efficiency. Quality Insights also lauded The Wright Center for achieving stronger glycemic control among its diabetic patients, which helps reduce the risk of serious complications.
In 2025, The Wright Center reported a 19.66% rate for NQF 0059 and CMS 122, which is an inverse quality measure that tracks the percentage of diabetic patients ages 18–75 with poorly controlled blood sugar. Since lower rates are associated with better outcomes, The Wright Center’s rate indicates strong performance in managing diabetes and reducing the risk of serious complications.
The Wright Center’s consistent focus on this metric underscores its dedication to evidence-based, data-informed care. Quality Insights’ recognition reinforces The Wright Center’s commitment to advancing health access, enhancing chronic disease management, and improving the lives of patients across Northeast Pennsylvania.
In addition, The Wright Center is also working to educate patients about type 2 diabetes, including hosting the National Diabetes Prevention Program at its community health centers in Jermyn and Scranton. The 26-session, evidence-based program helps individuals with prediabetes lower their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
“We are grateful to Quality Insights for this recognition and for its ongoing collaboration in our shared mission to improve chronic disease outcomes,” said Melissa Germano-Ryczak, M.S., RD, LDN, a registered dietitian and director of Lifestyle Modification and Preventive Medicine at The Wright Center. “The recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality care, strengthen chronic disease management, and empower patients to take charge of their health.”
