The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (GME) welcomed seven new doctors into its fellowship programs during the annual Specialties Matching Service Fellowship Match Program on Dec. 3. Participating in the program, first row from left, are Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president and designated institutional official; Brian Ebersole, vice president; Nathan Cardona, director of scholarly activity, institutional research, and IRB administration; standing, Natasha Hazzouri, GME specialist; Tyler Wilson, GME evaluations and outcomes specialist; Russell Day, GME workforce operations, training, & development specialist; Sara Dombroski, executive administrative assistant; Lisa Mann, GME specialist; Lisa Krucar, GME specialist; Michael Mahon, VP, academic affairs and associate DIO; and Jenna Ferraraccio-Diehl, GME administrative assistant.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education welcomed seven new doctors into fellowship programs as part of its mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.  

The Wright Center offers three fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education: cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and geriatrics. Fellows train in community-based settings, learning essential, specialized skills to deliver critically needed care in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

On Match Day, The Wright Center filled one position in its gastroenterology fellowship program and one in its geriatric fellowship through the Specialties Matching Service Fellowship Match Program. The program encompasses multiple fellowship matches representing more than 70 subspecialties, with applicants worldwide learning simultaneously at noon, where they are matched each year. 

Before the match announcement, The Wright Center filled three fellowship positions in its cardiovascular disease program and two in its geriatrics program. One of the new cardiovascular disease fellows and two of the geriatric fellows will graduate from The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in June and chose to continue learning and serving in the region. 

Fellows will begin training at The Wright Center on July 1, 2026.

“We are excited to welcome our new fellows to Northeast Pennsylvania, where they will live our mission and core values as they train to be the next generation of physicians,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “Match Day is an exciting time in the medical profession, especially for those of us who are focused on improving the health of our communities.” 

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 to receive a Laureate Award from the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (PA-ACP). The PA-ACP presented the award to Dr. Sheth during its annual meeting held on Nov. 15, 2025, at Hershey Country Club.

This prestigious recognition honors Fellows or Masters of the ACP who have demonstrated long-term excellence in internal medicine, patient care, education, or research. Dr. Sheth is a longstanding Fellow of the ACP, which is a distinguished professional milestone that signifies a physician’s superior competence, exemplary contributions to medical practice, teaching, or research, and steadfast adherence to the highest standards of ethics and clinical excellence.

As senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer, Dr. Sheth has united data-driven strategies with human-centered care, pioneering initiatives that have improved clinical outcomes, expanded access to underserved populations, and reshaped graduate medical education. He led the development of The Wright Center’s integrated telehealth and remote patient monitoring models, guided the organization to achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition, and played a central role in The Wright Center for Community Health earning prestigious Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike designation in 2019 from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

His stewardship ensured the seamless integration of new primary and preventive care services at The Wright Center, including lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, and substance use disorder programs. He also spearheaded the design, transformation, and expansion of The Wright Center’s community health centers to embody team-based, whole-person primary health services and reflect the dignity and excellence that define The Wright Center’s mission to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.

A physician-leader with a passion for mentorship, Dr. Sheth has guided hundreds of physician residents and fellows in quality improvement and system redesign, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. His influence extends beyond The Wright Center to the broader ACP community, where he serves as chair of the Local Nominations Committee for the PA-ACP’s Eastern Region and has been nationally recognized for his mentorship and contributions to clinical excellence.

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. 

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’s PA-ACP recognition follows a series of recent honors at the state and national levels. This year, he was named a 2025 Trailblazer in Healthcare by City and State Pennsylvania, and 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.

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.

Jennifer Walsh, Esq., senior vice president of enterprise integrity and chief legal and governance officer of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been named one of City & State Pennsylvania’s 2025 Pennsylvania Impact Award honorees, recognizing her outstanding contributions to public service and community health. Walsh received her Impact Award during a ceremony in Philadelphia.

Walsh, of North Abington Twp., earned the award for her leadership role in redesigning The Wright Center’s shared governance model for its nationally scaled Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GME-SNC), which directly expands access to high-quality, integrated primary, preventive, and behavioral health services. 

Walsh’s legal governance structure connects community health centers, hospitals, universities, patients, local community leaders, and others in a unified effort to train the next generation of doctors and expand access to high-quality, affordable, and compassionate primary and preventive health services, especially in underserved and rural communities. Her integration of cross-organizational collaboration, transparent accountability, and trauma-informed governance has improved patient satisfaction, workforce stability, and operational efficiency across The Wright Center’s network.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive this recognition from City & State Pennsylvania, and to share this award with the people that serve our community, including our board members, residents, and my colleagues. It truly reflects the collective spirit and purpose of The Wright Center,” Walsh said. “Every day, I am inspired by our physicians, learners, and staff who work tirelessly to make health care more accessible, humane, and sustainable for the communities we serve. This award affirms our belief that when people and organizations unite around a shared mission, we can collaboratively build systems that deliver care and restore trust and hope.”

A former federal law clerk for the late Senior U.S. District Judge William J. Nealon and an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Walsh began serving as private counsel at The Wright Center in 2012 before joining the organization full time in 2016.

Walsh has also built a dynamic government affairs and public policy team at The Wright Center that mobilizes leaders, staff, and physicians at every level to advocate for smarter health policies and legislative reforms that strengthen primary care, improve the lives of patients and families, and advance the well-being of communities. She also guided the creation of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement in 2020, a nonprofit dedicated to tackling the social and economic barriers that affect health, such as poverty, housing, food access, and transportation.

Walsh earned her juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law after receiving her master of music degree in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota and her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Bucknell University. 

She serves as chair of the American Association of Teaching Health Centers’ Governance Committee and is an appointed member of the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Legislative Committee, its Look-Alike Task Force, and its Membership Committee. She is also a director of the Keystone Accountable Care Organization and founding board member of the nonprofit Community Health Hub.

Key officials from The Wright Center pose with the Liberty Bell at the dedication ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 12 at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley. From left, Lauretta Graham, data manager; Kellie Knesis, vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer; Sheila Ford, vice president and chief compliance officer; Dr. Jumee Barooah, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO; Terrell H. McCasland, vice president and chief revenue officer; and Dr. Jignesh Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer.

A piece of American history will forever be located at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley.

Wright Center leaders and staff joined community members and local dignitaries at its community health center, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, for a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to dedicate a hand-painted fiberglass Liberty Bell in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, commonly known as America250PA, is working to place at least one fiberglass bell in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

It’s the fifth Liberty Bell sponsored by The Wright Center in Northeast Pennsylvania. Others are located at Carbondale City Hall, 1 N. Main St.; The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave.; Wayne Memorial Hospital, 601 Park St., Honesdale; and Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Tunkhannock. The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock is located in the Wyoming County Healthcare Center.

The Wright Center for Community Health sponsored five Liberty Bells in honor of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. From left, the bell placed at Carbondale City Hall; the bell at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley; the bell at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale; the bell at Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Tunkhannock; and The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre

Artwork adorning each bell was meticulously researched by Gina Lettieri, The Wright Center’s archivist, and hand-painted by Allison LaRussa, The Wright Center’s associate vice president of health and wellness, to reflect the unique spirit and landmarks of the communities where they are placed.

“Each of our five Liberty Bells embodies the strength of our rich, collective history and our ongoing responsibility and commitment to safeguard the well-being of our communities,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, The Wright Center’s president and CEO. “May this Liberty Bell in Jermyn serve as a bedrock reminder of the innovation, compassion, solidarity, service, and leadership that define both this remarkable, hard-working community and our mission at The Wright Center to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.”

For more information about America250PA and to see a full list of Liberty Bells across Pennsylvania, visit www.america250pa.org/PPE:_Bells_Across_PA. 

In fiscal year 2024-25, The Wright Center served about 38,300 unique patients at its growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, it serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that considers family size and income. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.

An internal medicine physician and teaching hospitalist has joined The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education.

Dr. Maheswara Reddy Koppula will serve as an internal medicine teaching hospitalist, focusing on the quality of patient care, teaching, and supervising physicians participating in The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Koppula will develop, implement, and assess the curriculum and mentor residents to ensure they achieve competency in their specialty. He will also serve as an associate program director for The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine residency program.

Additionally, Dr. Koppula will provide whole-person primary health services for individuals 18 and older, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and injuries at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The community health center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. To schedule an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570.230.0019.

Dr. Koppula, who is board-certified in internal medicine, joined The Wright Center after serving as a faculty hospitalist and associate program director of the internal medicine residency at Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania, since 2023. Prior to that, he worked as a hospitalist in Buffalo, New York; Springfield, Ohio; and Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Wright Center’s growing network of community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties provides affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services to everyone, regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health care. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.

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.

An employee of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education has been named among Pennsylvania’s most influential leaders over the age of 50.

Kara Seitzinger, the executive director of public affairs and advisor to the president and CEO, has been named in City & State Pennsylvania’s prestigious “Fifty Over 50” list. It recognizes prominent and accomplished leaders in the Keystone State’s government, business, media, advocacy, and nonprofit sectors who are over the age of 50. These individuals are honored for their achievements and their continued impact on the commonwealth, according to the publication.

Honorees include former U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr.; Jill Murray, president and chief innovation officer of Lackawanna College; and John Fry, president of Temple University. Seitzinger and the other honorees were recognized during a dinner in Philadelphia on Oct. 28.

In addition to her tireless efforts on behalf of The Wright Center, Seitzinger is also deeply involved in her community. The Scranton native serves on the American Heart Association’s executive leadership board of directors and received its Eastern State Region’s 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award. In 2023, the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers honored her with the APEX Community Ambassador Award. Seitzinger also serves as a board member of Scranton Tomorrow and the Wyoming Valley Run.

City & State is the premier multimedia news organization dedicated to covering Pennsylvania’s local and state politics and policy. To read the “Fifty Over 50” article, go to www.cityandstatepa.com.

Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center has a growing network of community health centers across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Its locations offer affordable, comprehensive, high-quality, whole-person primary and preventive health services to people of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses. Patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, addiction and recovery, and Ryan White HIV services.

For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.