Healthy Initiatives
Improving Health, Kick-Starting Careers:
5 Programs to Inspire Change
Whether you want to improve your own health – or launch a career in which you help others to improve theirs – we at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education want to support your goals.
Read below for information about community-based programs with the potential to change lives. Some, like the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Scholars Program, are intended to boost the skills – and job resumes – of future health care professionals. Others, like our Walk with a Doc events and an American Lung Association smoking cessation program, aim to inspire individuals on their personal wellness journeys and improve the health and welfare of our communities. Now, let’s go!
Scholars Program
Are you a college student interested in the field of health care? Or are you currently attending medical school? The Scholars Program seeks students in health profession degree programs who are interested in working in rural and underserved communities to apply for an interprofessional two-year, supplementary course of study focused on providing care in communities with limited resources.
Scholars will learn how other health professionals think about patient care, what various team members bring to the table in caring for patients, and how to be part of an interprofessional team. Faculty and health professionals working in rural and underserved communities will train and mentor them. Topics covered include behavioral health integration, the social determinants of health, practice transformation, and more.
Applicants from disadvantaged and/or rural backgrounds and underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be enrolled in a health profession training program, be in good academic standing, and be willing to commit to two years of program participation before graduation. Eligible health profession programs include, but are not limited to, medical, dental, physician assistant, pharmacy, and nursing, as well as master’s/doctorate-level social work, occupational therapy, public health programs, and Allied Health two-year programs.
Learn more about the Scholars Program – and submit an application – by visiting the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center’s Scholars Program webpage.
Train to be a community health worker
Do you want a job as a community health worker? It’s one of the most in-demand roles in health care today. The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center routinely offers an accredited training program to prepare individuals to take the community health worker (CHW) certification exam and apply for job openings in hospitals, health centers, and social service settings.
Community health workers help people by advocating for their needs and breaking down common barriers to care, such as cultural and language differences and a lack of transportation to medical appointments. They connect patients to resources and programs available in their neighborhoods, allowing them to gain access to healthy foods, adequate housing, health insurance coverage, utility bill assistance, and other necessities.
You can read more about the training classes – and even register for a Zoom informational session – by visiting the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center’s Community Health Worker Training and Education webpage.
Attend a poverty simulation
The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center offers a poverty simulation program to increase the public’s understanding of the daily challenges faced by many low-income individuals and families. The program, conducted in partnership with Marywood University in Scranton, is held several times a year. Registration is required.
Each simulation is intended to help participants learn more about the hardships that some families in our community typically experience as they struggle from month to month to pay for nutritious meals, health care, proper housing, and other basic necessities.
During the role-playing event, participants assume the identities of individuals living in poverty. They experience the pressure of trying to stretch their household budgets over a simulated four-week period. The simulation relies on volunteers who portray social service and resource providers, including bankers, employers, teachers, law enforcement officials, landlords, and others. After the simulation, participants are guided in a discussion about their experience, the issues surrounding poverty, and the potential for change.
Learn more about this valuable training by visiting the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center’s Poverty Simulation Training webpage.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is the world’s leading preventable cause of death. If you want to quit smoking – or someone you know wants to kick the habit – the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program can help. The program will teach you about FDA-approved medications that can help you quit, lifestyle changes to make quitting easier, coping strategies to manage stress and avoid weight gain, and how to stay tobacco-free for good. Individual sessions and/or group sessions will be determined based on the number of participants at any given time. To learn more about smoking cessation help at The Wright Center, please contact Kari Machelli, RN, at machellik@TheWrightCenter.org or 570.877.4190.
‘Walk with a Doc’
Area residents are encouraged to take a step toward better health during one of The Wright Center for Community Health’s monthly “Walk with a Doc” events, which informally bring doctors and patients together to walk and talk.
- Lackawanna County: (Starting June 2024) Our walk is held the first Saturday of each month beginning at 9 a.m. at the David P. Maslar Memorial Park in Archbald. Gather at the Laurel Street Trailhead.
- Luzerne County: Our walk is held on the third Saturday of each month beginning at 9 a.m. at Kirby Park, 280 Market St., Kingston. Meet at the main entrance.
- Wayne County: In partnership with Lacawac Sanctuary, this walk is held the second Saturday of each month beginning at 9 a.m. at the sanctuary, 94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel.
Each walk is open to people of all ages and fitness levels. Participation is free and pre-registration is not required. Walk with a Doc is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire communities through movement and conversation. For information about The Wright Center’s local walks, contact Nicole Lipinski, RN, at lipinskin@TheWrightCenter.org or 570.904.1123.
