Wright Center President/CEO Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak Named Recipient of Prestigious Women in Medicine Award

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Scranton, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2020) – Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., has been named recipient of the Dr. Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award by the Pennsylvania Eastern Region Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP). Recognized globally as the world’s largest medical-specialty society, the ACP bestowed the honor upon Dr. Thomas-Hemak as part of its efforts to “recognize excellence and distinguished contributions to internal medicine.”

Dr. Thomas-Hemak is the Chief Executive Officer of The Wright Center for Community Health and President of its affiliated entity, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. Born and raised in Northeast Pennsylvania and the daughter of Archbald’s William and Johanna Thomas, both retired public school teachers, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and The University of Scranton. After graduating as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and completing Harvard’s Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency in Boston, Massachusetts, she returned to NEPA to practice primary care.

She joined The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education and The Wright Center for Community Health, formerly The Wright Center Medical Group, in 2000, became President of the Medical Group in 2007, and the chief executive for both organizations in 2012. She is a board-certified, practicing, academic internal medicine/pediatrics/addiction medicine primary care provider at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn, the same borough where she currently resides with her husband and three children.

Started in 2019, the Women in Medicine Award recognizes an ACP chapter member whose outstanding efforts and achievements have promoted career success, leadership and overall quality of life for women in medicine, fostering tomorrow’s women leaders in medicine. The award is named after medical pioneer Dr. Ann Preston, a lifelong Philadelphia resident who was in the first class of women who enrolled in the Female (later Women’s) Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1850. After the Board of Censors of the Philadelphia Medical Society effectively banned women physicians from the public teaching clinics of the city, she raised funds to start a new hospital where teaching could occur, and opened The Women’s Hospital in 1858. She later created a school of nursing and was named the first woman dean of the Women’s Medical College in 1866.

“Your work as President and CEO of the Wright Center as well as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency program more than qualify you for this award. I am also personally aware of your tireless efforts to promote advocacy and let the voices of the underserved be heard, and appreciate your dedication to this cause,” noted Lawrence H. Jones, M.D., FACP, Governor of the ACP’s Pennsylvania Eastern Region Chapter, in his acknowledgment of Dr. Thomas-Hemak.

Wright Center’s Sister Ruth Neely, CRNP, honored by National Health Organization for Decades of Work with HIV/AIDS Patients in NEPA

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Scranton, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2020) – Sister Ruth Neely, a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, recently received recognition from a national health care advocacy organization as part of its “Year of the Nurse” campaign.

“Your expert medical care mixed with profound compassion have been critical to the lives of people living with HIV,” wrote Dr. Ron Yee, Chief Medical Officer of The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in his announcement letter to Sister Ruth, adding “We… were really impressed by your hard word, dedication and perseverance throughout your career.”

Sister Ruth, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, has devoted her life to serving the vulnerable and underserved in the region. A graduate of Misericordia University, she started offering HIV outreach services back in 1997, years before The Wright Center’s Ryan White Clinic was formally established. The Wright Center received its federal Ryan White designation in 2000, and since then, has provided comprehensive HIV primary medical care, essential support services and medications for those living with HIV, including the uninsured and underserved, throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Susquehanna counties.

Sister Ruth Neely, CRNP

Scranton, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2020) – Sister Ruth Neely, a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White HIV Clinic, recently received recognition from a national health care advocacy organization as part of its “Year of the Nurse” campaign.

“Your expert medical care mixed with profound compassion have been critical to the lives of people living with HIV,” wrote Dr. Ron Yee, Chief Medical Officer of The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in his announcement letter to Sister Ruth, adding “We… were really impressed by your hard word, dedication and perseverance throughout your career.”

Sister Ruth, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, has devoted her life to serving the vulnerable and underserved in the region. A graduate of Misericordia University, she started offering HIV outreach services back in 1997, years before The Wright Center’s Ryan White Clinic was formally established. The Wright Center received its federal Ryan White designation in 2000, and since then, has provided comprehensive HIV primary medical care, essential support services and medications for those living with HIV, including the uninsured and underserved, throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Susquehanna counties.

Director of County Area Agency on Aging Joins Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors

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Scranton, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2021) – The Wright Center for Community Health recently welcomed Jason Kavulich, Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, to its Board of Directors. Kavulich brings 21 years of experience within the human service field to The Wright Center’s governance table.

Kavulich previously was employed by the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services, where he progressed from a caseworker to a supervisor followed by an administrator position. In his current leadership role with the county Area Agency on Aging, he promotes the innovation and expansion of services for older adults and strongly advocates to guarantee their rights and independence. 

“I’m honored to join The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors and expand on the ties that will best serve the older adults of our community,” Kavulich said. “Partnering with Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes like The Wright Center is the future of local healthcare. It demonstrates the power of alliances between organizations and individuals who share the same mission: to provide better, more comprehensive services that tie mental health, medical needs and social support all into one care package for our most vulnerable.”

Kavulich is a graduate of the University of Scranton and a lifelong resident of Scranton. As a human services professional, he has dedicated his efforts to ending food insecurity and homelessness and improving access to services and opportunities to the residents of Lackawanna County through his active board participation with the United Way, Penn State Scranton, Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Food Policy Council, Lackawanna County Pro Bono and the Anthracite Heritage Museum.

Former White House Communications Director Joins Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors

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The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education recently welcomed Kevin Sullivan, a career communications expert who has had experience in the White House, corporate and sports media relations at the most senior levels, to its Board of Directors.

Sullivan served as White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush, overseeing message development and communications planning, including oversight of the White House website, rapid response operation, media outreach, and production of Presidential events. He also served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.

Sullivan’s other outstanding career accomplishments include acting as Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NBC Universal and serving as Vice President of Communications at NBC Sports.

Since 2009, he has led Kevin Sullivan Communications, Inc., a national consulting firm specializing in communications strategy and messaging, media training, and presentation skills coaching.

“I look forward to contributing my expertise to the great work of The Wright Center and its mission to educate the future primary care workforce that serves the most vulnerable,” Sullivan said. “I plan to use my skills in strategic communications and leadership development to further the goals of the organization and its learners, faculty, and staff.”

Sullivan earned a master’s degree in mass communications from Iona College in New York and his bachelor’s degree in management from Purdue University.

The Wright Center names Associate Vice President of Grants Operations

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Scranton, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2021) – Tom Glaser, a Northeast Pennsylvania native with extensive experience in public health administration, has been named Associate Vice President of Grants Operations at The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.

Prior to joining The Wright Center in August as the Post-Awards Grants Manager, Glaser served as the Department Administrator at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center-Mailman School of Public Health, New York, for 18 years. He also worked with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as Deputy Director of Operations. In this new position, Glaser will provide internal leadership and administrative supervision for Wright Center programs funded by federal, state and private funds, ensuring grants accomplish program initiatives and meet compliance and reporting requirements.

“We are very fortunate to have this talented and experienced professional in our grants department, and will surely benefit from his expertise in this leadership role,” said Lisa Baumann, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for The Wright Center.

“I look forward to contributing to the community-centric operations of The Wright Center by shepherding the financial resources we are entrusted with, and working closely with our dedicated teams to ensure we act as responsible stewards of the funds we gratefully receive,” Glaser said.

Glaser earned his master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, City University of New York, Graduate School of Public Affairs, and his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. A Moscow ntive, he now resides in Jessup.

Key Staffers Appointed Board Directors of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement

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Three integral employees of The Wright Center for Community Health recently were appointed board directors for The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. Each brings unique backgrounds in patient care or health information technology to the governance table.

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement enhances The Wright Center for Community Health’s ability to determine outreach priorities as it continues to meet the health care needs of the most vulnerable in the community. Board members provide oversight, direction, and support for Wright Center team members and their efforts, offering their unique perspectives on community needs, resources, and connections, to develop and maintain active, collaborative relationships with patients and the community at large.

Kari Machelli, R.N., serves as Director of Care and Case Management Services for The Wright Center for Community Health. In this leadership role, she oversees the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence Case Managers, Certified Recovery Specialists and Community Health Workers. Machelli has been with The Wright Center for more than 20 years, starting as an RN Care Manager. She earned her nursing degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Danielle Hennessey is Electronic Medical Records and Health Informatics Manager for The Wright Center. She joined the organization in 2019 as an EMR Application Support and Trainer for the Mid Valley Practice and Ryan White HIV Clinic, and was integral in building the interface that allowed for the exchange of data between two separate electronic health records systems. Hennessey graduated from Valley View High School and attended Lackawanna College and Marywood University. She has a background in information technology, having worked for TMG Health for four years prior to joining The Wright Center.

Cheri Lewis-Aulisio is a licensed medical social worker for The Wright Center for Community Health. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Marywood University. Cheri has a background working with various patient populations and has practiced in various clinical settings, including nursing homes, in-patient physician rehabilitation facilities and acute hospital-based settings. She has experience in behavioral health services and has worked with homeless women and children, and Children & Youth Services. She also is part of the National Association of Community Health Center’s PRAPARE Tiger Team.