News
Walter Wanas Named Wright Center’s Director of Lifestyle Modification and Preventive Medicine
Scranton, Pa. (Dec. 21, 2020) – Walter Wanas, a registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist, has been named Director of Lifestyle Modification and Preventive Medicine for The Wright Center for Community Health.
In this newly developed role, Wanas will create wellness and prevention programs for Wright Center patients, employees and community partners. He’ll work closely with The Wright Center’s primary care teams and fellow clinicians to incorporate innovative Lifestyle Medicine guidelines — focused on preventing, and even reversing, chronic diseases such as diabetes, certain cancers, hypertension and obesity — into patient care, community outreach and employee wellness programs.
One of the fastest growing fields of medicine, Lifestyle Medicine focuses on six pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, relationships and the avoidance of risky substances. It differs from mainstream medical approaches by emphasizing non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive treatments to prevent, treat and reverse chronic disease. As part of its commitment to responsive and responsible health services, The Wright Center introduced Lifestyle Medicine to its clinical and educational operations in the fall.
Wanas will serve as an integral member of the Lifestyle Medicine care team by leading public health and education initiatives and lending expertise about the benefits of adopting whole food, plant-based diets to improve overall wellbeing.
Prior to joining The Wright Center, Wanas served as nutrition manager at Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing, where he was part of its leadership team and oversaw patient and employee experiences.
“I was drawn to The Wright Center’s integrated, comprehensive primary care model, and I’m excited to be part of the team,” Wanas said. “I understand the role nutrition plays in one’s health and the positive outcomes that can be achieved, and I’m looking forward to contributing my own knowledge and skills to our Lifestyle Medicine program.”
A Carbondale native and Morgantown resident, Wanas earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition with a minor in business administration from The Pennsylvania State University and dietetic certification from Marywood University.
To learn more about Lifestyle Medicine or to make an appointment with Wanas, call 570-230-0019.
