The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education celebrated the accomplishments of 68 resident and fellow physicians who graduated during the 46th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 21, at Hilton Scranton and Conference Center.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education celebrated 68 resident and fellow physician graduates during its 46th annual commencement on Saturday, June 21, at Hilton Scranton and Conference Center.

The commencement ceremony honored 36 graduates in The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, 15 in the National Family Medicine Residency Program, seven in the Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, five in the Geriatrics Fellowship, three in the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, and two in the Gastroenterology Fellowship. The graduates join more than 1,000 resident and fellow physicians who have completed their residency and fellowship programs since The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education began educating physicians nearly 50 years ago.

Dr. Sharon Obadia, a member of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors and the dean of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), was among the speakers who addressed graduates and guests during the ceremony. She works closely with officials at The Wright Center, which has been a training and educational site for ATSU-SOMA students since 2020.

As she spoke about ATSU-SOMA’s and The Wright Center’s shared mission to train the next generation of health care professionals, Dr. Obadia highlighted the Hometown Scholars Program, which targets and recruits future physicians, dentists, and other medical professionals from Northeast Pennsylvania who want to serve the region where they grew up. The training Hometown Scholars receive is unique compared to other medical schools, with students spending their first year on campus at ATSU-SOMA in Mesa, Arizona, followed by three years in Northeast Pennsylvania. Since 2019, four Northeast Pennsylvania students have been selected to participate in the program. Two have graduated with degrees from ATSU-SOMA; the other two are still completing the program.

“I have been incredibly proud to work alongside The Wright Center in partnering to educate this next generation of osteopathic physicians who will go into the world providing patient and community-centered primary care to those most in need,” Dr. Obadia said during commencement. “I look forward to growing our Hometown Scholar Program in Northeast Pennsylvania to continue to enable students from this region to return and serve their community.”

Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, addressed the graduates. She praised their dedication to providing high-quality, whole-person primary health services and urged them to remember what they learned during their time in Northeast Pennsylvania.

“You have practiced medicine in our communities that needed you most. You brought compassion to places where bureaucracy too often gets in the way. You brought light to the shadows. You brought love to our noble work and profession,” she said. “And as you did, you helped reshape those communities you proudly served. You did not wait for systems to change; you became the change.”

Dr. Hal Baillie, chair of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors, also addressed graduates on Saturday.

“Celebrating you as learners, The Wright Center thanks you for embracing our experiential primary care model, joining with us in your continuing education, and your developing efforts to provide care for our local patients,” Dr. Baillie said. “In so doing, you have fulfilled the definition of a profession, combining the development of expertise with service to the community. Every day, you compassionately provided that service to patients, many of whom have struggled to obtain adequate medical care, and you have done so with ever-increasing insight and ability.”

Dr. Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official and senior vice president of education at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, reminded the Class of 2025 about the long tradition they joined.

“You are now part of a powerful legacy, one that began in 1977 when six internal medicine residents started training to address a critical primary care physician shortage in Northeast Pennsylvania. Nearly half a century later, you join over 1,000 alumni who have carried that mission forward with grace, grit, and heart,” she said. “Our reach has grown far beyond Scranton, shaping training programs across the country – from Arizona to Washington, D.C. – all driven by one singular vision: 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 privileged to serve.”

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.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Class of 2025

Internal Medicine
Ahmed Abdellatif Ibrahim Mohamed Algohiny, M.D.; Sanya Badar, M.D.; Salman Abdul Basit, M.D.; Taibah Chaudhary, M.D.; Lokendra Chhantyal, M.D.; Yash Deshpande, M.D.; Sonam Gautam, M.D.; Faryal Haider, M.D.; Sajid Hussain, M.D.; Mohammad Ibrar, M.D.; Mohammad Faisal Iftikhar, M.D.; Aimen Iqbal, M.D.; Nadia Jamil, M.D.; Kanishq Rajan Jethani, M.D.; Jesvin Jeyapaulraj, M.D.; Lavleen Kaur, M.D.; Ravleen Kaur, M.D.; Mohamed Hesham Esmat Ahmed Khorshid, M.D.; Arathi Prabha Kumar, M.D.; Anand Reddy Maligireddy, M.D.; Elmkdad Mohammed, M.D.; Atif Nasrullah, M.D.; Maria Nawaz, M.D.; Ronakkumar Rameshbhai Patel, M.D.; Usman Iqbal Rana, M.D.; Samurna Sabir, M.D.; Sonali Sachdeva, M.D.; Muhammad Hassan Shakir, M.D.; Amninder Singh, M.D.; Gurminder Singh, M.D.; Harmandeep Singh, M.D.; Sapinder Pal Singh, M.D.; Archana Sridhar, M.D.; Ei Ei Tun, M.D.; Muhammad Waqas, M.D.; and Yuexiu Wu, M.D.

National Family Medicine
Stacey Elizabeth Benben, D.O.; Jacob Matthew Brumfield, D.O.; Sachit J. Desai, D.O.; Vaishnavi Gadicharla, D.O.; Jingyi Gao, D.O.; Daniel Gatazka, D.O.; Hope E. Hardy, D.O.; Justin Kim, D.O.; Sarah Jane Lawson, D.O.; Leah Joy Moorefield, D.O.; Urvashi Pandit, D.O.; Evan James Smith, D.O.; Kent Stanton, D.O.; Andrew Roy Tsai, D.O.; and Kayla Simone Williams, D.O.

Regional Family Medicine
Cassandra Rose D’Andrea, M.D.; Navaneeth Nambiar Othayoth Ganapathiyadan, M.D.; Renee Frieda Gladilen, M.D.; Justine Carlo G. Guevarra, M.D.; Imran Hamid, D.O.; Deepinder S. Samra, M.D.; and Andrew Sukhu, M.D.

Geriatrics Fellowship
Richard Michael Bronnenkant, M.D.; Ogochukwu Augustina Ekete, M.D.; Stephanie Farah, M.D.; Ahmad R. Khan, M.D.; and Arun Kumar, M.D.

Cardiovascular Fellowship
Pranav V. Karambelkar, M.D.; Purveshkumar Patel, M.D.; and Nischay Nikhil Shah, D.O.

Gastroenterology
William Buniak, D.O., and Vabhave Pal, M.D.

The dean of an osteopathic medicine school in Arizona that has been a longtime partner of The Wright Center will address graduates at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s 46th annual graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 21, at Hilton Scranton and Convention Center.

“For nearly 50 years, The Wright Center has been deeply committed to training the primary care physician workforce of tomorrow – a commitment shared by Dr. Obadia and ATSU-SOMA,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, designated institutional official and senior vice president of education at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “Their national recognition reflects the strength of our partnership and the impact of our collective efforts. We are honored to welcome Dr. Obadia as our keynote speaker – a meaningful symbol of our aligned purpose and the preferred future we are building together through primary care.”

Dr. Obadia, who lives in Mesa, Arizona, previously served as ATSU-SOMA’s associate dean for clinical education and services and is an associate professor of internal medicine. She has also served as chair of the Clinical Science Education Department and director of faculty development at ATSU-SOMA. She is a 1997 graduate of ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and trained at Banner University Medical Center/Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Obadia has been board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2001 and is a fellow of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators.

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.

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, in partnership with Lackawanna Valley Dermatology Associates and the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute (NRCI), hosted its inaugural skin cancer screening clinic on May 17, providing screenings to more than 60 individuals at its community health center in Scranton.

Clinicians from Lackawanna Valley Dermatology Associates teamed up with 10 Internal Medicine resident physicians from The Wright Center to screen 64 people for skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over 5 million cases diagnosed annually.

“While we anticipated strong interest, the turnout exceeded expectations,” Dr. Younan said. “We saw patients across various age groups with identifiable skin cancers, reinforcing the urgent need for accessible dermatologic services in our community.”

Medical residents also appreciated the chance to work with staff at Lackawanna Valley Dermatology Associates.

“The dermatology team, led by Dr. O’Donnell, provided exceptional education in distinguishing between benign and cancerous lesions. We also learned how to use a dermatoscope, which will undoubtedly be a valuable tool in our daily clinical practice,” Dr. Younan said. “Beyond clinical skills, we had the opportunity to navigate discussions regarding risk factor modification to prevent skin cancer.”

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education held its annual Scholars Day Program on May 24 at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education hosted our annual Scholars Day Program on May 24, 2025, at our auditorium in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Our event included 31 scholarly research posters presented by physician learners from our residency and fellowship programs, as well as from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, the Geisinger Internal Medicine Residency Program, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center, and the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital Department of Graduate Medical Education.

Judges for the three sessions included:

Dr. Erin McFadden – Our deputy chief medical officer, medical director of our primary care centers in Scranton and the Scranton Counseling Center, co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), and dean and director for undergraduate medical education and interprofessional education – Case Report Session.

Dr. Qi Shi – Geisinger – Research and Quality Improvement Session.

Dr. Nevena Barjaktarovic – Our rheumatologist and regional director of medical education for ATSU-SOMA – Community-Oriented Primary Care Session. 

The program opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. McFadden, followed by the keynote address, “From Clinic to Community: Partnering with AHEC to Shape Health Beyond the Exam Room,” delivered by Debra Youngfelt, executive director of the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC). Dr. Amninder Singh, a resident physician in our Internal Medicine Residency Program and scholarly activity chief resident, delivered the closing remarks to conclude the day. 

Prizes were awarded for first, second, and third place in each poster session category. The winners included:

SESSION A WINNERS
(Case Reports)

1^st Place
Presenter: Dr. Himani Mongia, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Poster: “A Novel Case of Utilizing Overlapping Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents for Treatment of Complicated Marginal Ulcers at the Gastrojejunal Anastomosis”

2^nd Place
Presenter: Dr. Chukwuemeka Christian Aghasili, Internal Medicine resident physician, Geisinger Internal Medicine Residency Program
Poster: “When Arteries Fracture without a Cause: A Case of Multivessel Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Associated Extracoronary Arterial Vascular Dissections in the Absence of Connective Tissue Disease”

3^rd Place
Presenter: Dr. Harshaman Kaur, Internal Medicine resident physician, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center
Poster: “Unmasking the Silent Transformation: Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia Emerging Decades Post-Liver Transplantation”

SESSION B WINNERS
(Research and QI)

1^st Place
Presenter: Dr. Aroma Naeem, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Poster: “Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expanding Valves in Patients with Small Aortic Annuli Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Propensity Score Matched Studies”

2^nd Place
Presenter: Dr. Harshaman Kaur, Internal Medicine resident physician, HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center
Poster: “Readmission Risk Associated with Falls in Decompensated Cirrhosis: Insights from a National Database”

3^rd Place
Presenter: Dr. Yuexiu Wu, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Poster: “Surveillance Study of Lyme Disease in The Wright Center for Community Health from 2015-2024”

SESSION C WINNERS
(Community-Oriented Primary Care)

1^st Place
Presenter: Dr. Sonam Gautam, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Poster: “One-Time Routine HIV Screening in Primary Care”

2^nd Place
Presenters: Drs. Justine Carlo Guevarra and Imran Hamid, Family Medicine – Scranton Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education 
Poster: “Investigation into Possible Improvement in HSM Rotation for Effectiveness of Intern Orientation and Preparedness for Unsupervised Patient Care”

3^rd Place
Presenter: Dr. Archana Sridhar, Internal Medicine Residency Program, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Poster: “Predictive Value of PREVENT Calculator for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients at Outpatient Clinics in Northeast Pennsylvania”

Photos from Scholars Day Program on May 24, 2025:

The Wright Center for Community Health is hosting a Caregivers Resource Fair for family members and caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The free, public event will be held at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. Agencies from across the region, including Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging, Scranton Counseling Center, Telespond Senior Services, LIFE Geisinger, Lackawanna Pro Bono Inc., Interim Health Care, United Neighborhood Centers, Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, and more will provide information about the resources they offer.

The Wright Center’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program provides coordinated, comprehensive support for patients, families, and caregivers. It is part of a collaborative, county-wide effort called Age-Friendly Lackawanna that includes nearly 30 community organizations. Nicole Flynn, director of the geriatrics service line at The Wright Center, said many caregivers have a hard time finding the resources they need for their loved ones.

“We’ve heard from so many people who don’t know what is available,” she said. “Since we’re part of this network, we thought we could help by hosting an event where caregivers can come to one place to get information, hear from experts, and better help their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education recently hosted U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr., R-8, Dallas Twp., and members of his staff for a tour of the Teaching Health Center in Scranton. Participating in the program, from left, are Colleen Dougherty, vice president and chief clinical operating officer and director of certified registered nurse practitioner and physician assistant services at The Wright Center; Frances Langan, member, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board; Gerard Geoffroy, member, The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement boards; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; U.S. Representative Bresnahan; Dr. Erin McFadden, The Wright Center’s deputy chief medical officer, medical director for the community health centers in Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center, and co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona; Dr. Sandra Rabat, Internal Medicine resident physician and advocacy resident leader at The Wright Center; and Mary Marrara, member, The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement boards; Second row, Richard Krebs, member, The Wright Center for Community Health Board; Marwan Wafa, member, The Wright Center for Community Health Board; Dr. Usman Rana, Internal Medicine resident physician and advocacy chief resident at The Wright Center; Aimee Wechsler, director of government affairs at The Wright Center; Kenneth Okrepkie, member, The Wright Center for Community Health Board; Hal Baillie, member, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board; and Jennifer Walsh, Esquire, senior vice president and chief legal and governance officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education.

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education hosted U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan Jr., R-8, Dallas Twp., and several members of his staff on Friday, April 25, at the Teaching Health Center in Scranton.

Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center, met with Representative Bresnahan to share information about The Wright Center and its 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.

The Wright Center is one of 1,400 community health centers in the United States. Community health centers serve as a medical home for more than 32.5 million patients, are proven to reduce health care costs – saving an average of 24% per Medicaid patient compared to other providers – and generate an estimated $118.4 billion in total economic impact in local communities, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Since 2019, The Wright Center has been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQLA) by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). FQLAs “ensure health care for our nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations through service provision to all, regardless of ability to pay,” according to HRSA.

In addition to stressing the importance of protecting funding that supports community health centers, including FQLAs, Dr. Thomas spoke about how essential Medicare and Medicaid funding are to residents of Northeast Pennsylvania. They also discussed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s nearly 50-year legacy of training physicians and strengthening the interprofessional health care workforce pipeline to meet the region’s complex health care and workforce needs.

“We wanted to thank Representative Bresnahan for stepping up to represent our region in Washington, D.C. and for the partnership we have built with him and his staff, both here in his district and in our capital, over the past few months. We are grateful for the commitment he has shown in supporting community health centers,” Dr. Thomas-Hemak said. “Today was an opportunity to thank him and welcome him to our Teaching Health Center in Scranton so we can share the critical work we are doing throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

During his visit, Representative Bresnahan toured The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton with Dr. Erin McFadden, The Wright Center’s deputy chief medical officer, medical director for the community health centers in Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center, and co-regional director of medical education for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. The visit concluded with a group discussion with Representative Bresnahan, his staff, and The Wright Center’s board members, executive team, faculty, resident physicians, and other key staff members.

“The Wright Center is doing extraordinary work to ensure high-quality, affordable care reaches every corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Representative Bresnahan. “I want to thank The Wright Center for the opportunity to visit their Scranton health center and to discuss ways in which we can work together to strengthen both the health and future of our communities.”

“The Wright Center serves as a national model for how community-based health care and workforce development can go hand-in-hand to improve lives,” Representative Bresnahan added.

Born in Kingston and raised in Wyoming and Hughestown boroughs, Representative Robert Bresnahan represents the 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike, and parts of Monroe and Luzerne counties.