President and CEO Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, right, presents a mural to Sharon Obadia, D.O., FNAOME, dean of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, during the 46th annual graduation ceremony on June 21, 2025.
DEVELOPING THE WRIGHT FUTURE WORKFORCE
Localizing the future of family medicine training
National Family Medicine Residency Program transitions into a new, community-driven residency model
Apivotal moment in the mission-driven journey of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GMESNC) unfolded during the 2024-25 academic year with the thoughtful transition of the National Family Medicine Residency (NFMR) Program into a more, localized structure – one that empowers Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as academic leaders in their own right.
This transition was initiated after the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) withdrew its accreditation in 2023 of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s NFMR Program, which was established in 2013 in partnership with A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA).
The ACGME cited concerns with the program’s innovative design, which trained more than 50 residents across four geographically dispersed FQHCs – El Rio Health in Tucson, Arizona; HealthPoint in Auburn, Washington; HealthSource of Ohio in Hillsboro; and Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C. – under a single program umbrella. While the model demonstrated exceptional outcomes, including unprecedented retention of graduates in community health centers and medically underserved areas, it fell outside ACGME’s traditional accreditation framework.
In response and in close collaboration with longstanding partners, The Wright Center ensured seamless placements for
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
all affected residents. Program leadership also embraced the opportunity to distribute ownership and oversight of medical education across individual FQHCs, ushering in a more decentralized, community-anchored approach to physician training.
The Wright Center proudly supported the establishment of two new ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Institutions at El Rio Health and HealthPoint, each now home to its own Family Medicine Residency Program. At the same time, The Wright Center deepened its affiliation with HealthSource of Ohio, providing the institutional support and technical expertise that led to successful ACGME accreditation for its inaugural Family Medicine Residency Program.
Each newly ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency Program was also conditionally awarded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education funding, a critical milestone that secures financial sustainability and reinforces the national importance of training physicians in high-need, underserved areas.
The Wright Center’s GME-SNC model has now proven it can transform FQHCs from peripheral training outposts into fully accredited, self-governing academic institutions. The success of El Rio Health, HealthPoint, and HealthSource of Ohio has ignited new conversations with other FQHCs interested in replicating The Wright Center’s model, expanding the possibility of sustainable, community-governed graduate medical education nationwide.
The Wright Family The Wright Path The Wright Rx The Wright Future
Family affair
A father is rooted in community care while his son charts a nationwide path in medicine.
A unique perspective From pharmacist to physician, this alumnus has served as CMO at two health systems.
Defining moment
Encouraging words steer doctor into a career in critical care medicine.
A shared mission
Graduation ceremony celebrates 68 graduates and an innovative relationship and program. ...Page 14
18
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP President and CEO
Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., MPH, FACP SVP and Enterprise Chief Operations and Strategy Officer
Jumee Barooah, M.D., FACP SVP of Education and Designated Institutional Official
Jennifer Walsh, Esquire
SVP of Enterprise Integrity, Chief Legal and Governance Officer
Douglas Klamp, M.D.
SVP and Chief Medical Education Officer, Internal Medicine Residency Program Director, and Physician Chair of Resident and Fellow Talent Acquisition
William Dempsey, M.D. Chief Population Health Value-Based Care Officer and Medical Director
Meaghan Ruddy, Ph.D.
SVP of Enterprise Wellness and Resiliency, Assessment and Advancement, and Chief Strategic Research and Development Officer
Sandra Yastremski, CPA SVP and Chief Financial Officer
Ronald P. Daniels, MBA, CPA SVP and Chief Resource Stewardship Officer
Lisa Baumann, MHA
VP of Strategic Initiatives
Colleen Dougherty, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC VP, Chief Clinical Operating Officer, and Director of Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Services
Brian Ebersole
VP of Academic Affairs and Associate Designated Institutional Official
Sheila Ford, RN, BSN
VP and Chief Compliance Officer
Thomas Glaser, MPA
VP of Grant Operations
John Janosky
VP of Information Technology and Innovation and Chief Information Technology Officer
Tiffany Jaskulski, BSBA
VP of Value-Based Population Health, Informatics Innovations, and Strategic Initiatives
Kellie Knesis, M.S., SHRM-SCP
VP of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
Jacqueline Krah, CPA VP and Controller of Revenue Cycle
Terrell H. McCasland, J.D., M.S. VP and Chief Revenue Officer
Laura Spadaro, MHA
VP of Primary Care and Public Health Policy and Chief Primary Care and Public Health Policy Officer
Erin McFadden, M.D.
22
26
Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director
Manju Mary Thomas, M.D.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of Pediatrics
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP President and CEO
Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D.
Chair
James Gavin, MSW, MMS
Vice Chair
Carol Rubel
Secretary
Scott E. Schermerhorn, Esquire Treasurer
Jumee Barooah ’13 , M.D., FACP
SVP of Education, Designated Institutional Official, and Ex-Officio, Non-Voting
Crystal Berry, MHA HealthPoint, Washington
Holly Binnig, M.D. HealthSource of Ohio
Robert Cole, Ph.D. Allied Services
Ariane Conaboy, D.O., MHA, CMPC Commonwealth Health System
Michael P. Curran, MHA Guthrie
Christopher Howe, MHA Friendship House
Frances G. Langan, Ed.D., MPH Keystone College
Kevin G. Mitchell Jr., MBA Fidelity Bank
Sharon Obadia, D.O., FNAOME
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Teri Ooms, MBA The Institute
Michael J. Paglia, M.D., Ph.D. Geisinger Health System
Douglas Spegman, M.D., MSPH, FACP
El Rio Health, Arizona
Debra Youngfelt, MCHES, CTS
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center
Renee Zehel, Ph.D.
Marywood University
ODear alumni community,
ur mighty mission coming to a silver screen near you
It is a privilege to serve as senior vice president of education and designated institutional official at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. As a proud alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Class of 2013, one of my favorite traditions each year is opening our alumni magazine. To me, it feels like reconnecting with old friends – classmates, graduates, and colleagues – who are out in the world living our 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.
Your stories and work remind us of the lasting impact we make together. And it’s always inspiring to see how the lessons learned in our Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educationaccredited residency and fellowship programs continue to ripple outward in such meaningful ways.
From primary care to medical education to groundbreaking scholarly research, your contributions continue to shape medicine in profound ways. With more than 1,100 alumni, our community is expanding access to care and advancing the profession with every patient served, learner mentored, and discovery made.
This issue celebrates those achievements. These pages are dedicated to each of you and serve as an inspiration to everyone who has been touched by The Wright Center’s mission.
Our cover story highlights an exciting project: a documentary chronicling the first 50 years of our nonprofit enterprise – from its humble beginnings as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program under Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP, to today’s Wright Center under the visionary leadership of Linda ThomasHemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP.
Aliceanna Collective, an Emmy Award-winning video production company from Baltimore, Maryland, has been conducting on-camera interviews throughout Northeast Pennsylvania with Drs. Wright and Thomas-Hemak, as well as with local elected officials, historians, patients, board members, and more. We look forward to sharing it with you at a public screening in mid-2026.
We are also proud to share the story of the Brady family – two generations of Wright Center-trained physicians who both graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
John P. Brady III ’86, M.D., and his son, John P. Brady IV ’17,
M.D., are Northeast Pennsylvania natives who have given back to our profession in many ways. According to Dr. Brady III, he encouraged his son to follow his lead and apply to our residency program because, as he said, “if you want personal attention, real training, and one-on-one mentorship, go to The Wright Center.”
Stories like theirs reaffirm our mission and legacy.
This issue also spotlights Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP, whose path from pharmacist to respected physician leader exemplifies the breadth of our alumni community’s accomplishments. From the Mayo Clinic to Veterans Affairs centers, from subspecialties like cardiology and endocrinology to service in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes, your careers illustrate the many ways Wright Center graduates strengthen health care and serve patients and communities alike.
These are just a few examples of the awesome stories our alumni community has shared with us. Do not forget to browse the photos from our most recent graduation ceremony. A QR code on Page 28 will link you to the photo album and program booklet. Our Class of 2025 features 68 graduates from around the world who are following in your proud footsteps.
Look over our expanded Class Notes section beginning on Page 29. I hope these updates fill you with the same pride I feel in seeing the accomplishments of our alumni family. Keep those Class Notes coming.
As you turn these pages, know that this magazine is dedicated to you. It celebrates our shared commitment to co-creating transformational health care teams that serve all people –regardless of insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.
Together, we continue to do The Wright Things, The Wright Way, for The Wright Reasons.
With gratitude,
Jumee Barooah ’13, M.D., FACP Senior Vice President of Education and Designated Institutional Official
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
News & Notes
Wright Center receives HIT badge from HRSA
The Wright Center for Community Health was awarded the “Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality” badge by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in October 2024.
The badge recognizes community health centers that effectively leverage technology to improve patient care. To qualify, recipients must demonstrate excellence in electronic health record adoption, telehealth services, clinical data exchange, patient engagement through health IT, and social risk data collection.
AllOne Charities boosts children’s dental care
AllOne Charities awarded The Wright Center for Community Health a $25,000 grant in November 2024 to expand dental services and oral health education to Head Start programs across five counties.
The initiative delivers dental screenings and hygiene education to children ages 3-5 in Lackawanna, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Services are provided aboard The Wright Center’s Driving Better Health mobile medical and dental unit. As a Federally Qualified Health Center LookAlike, The Wright Center is committed to making preventive care accessible to children where they live, learn, and play.
Ryan White Clinic secures three-year grant
The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White Clinic was awarded
over $1 million in federal funding in April 2025 from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The three-year grant, part of The Wright Center’s Ryan White HIV/ AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services Program, will support the clinic’s continued delivery of comprehensive HIV primary medical care and treatment, education and adherence counseling, and referrals to other specialty services if needed for medical care and supportive services to low-income, uninsured, and underserved individuals living with HIV in Northeast Pennsylvania.
The Wright Center scored a 99 out of 100 in the application process. HRSA’s grant review committee commended the clinic for its deep understanding of the region’s most vulnerable populations, its role as the sole provider of comprehensive HIV care in the area, and its thoughtful strategies to close service gaps.
Dental residency program earns approval for expansion
“Our dental residents are receiving valuable hands-on training as primary oral health care providers,” said Caitlin McCarthy, D.M.D., site director of The Wright Center’s program. “The need is here, and if we have more providers, we can serve even more patients.”
Dr. Dempsey
finds new ways to serve communities
The Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Trustees appointed a local doctor, executive, and educator at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education to the board in January 2025.
William Dempsey, M.D., a boardcertified family medicine physician, medical director of The Wright Center’s health center in Clarks Summit, and chief population health value-based care officer, will represent doctors in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties for a four-year term. He was also appointed to the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Charitable Trust Board.
In February 2025, he was appointed to the board of the Community Intervention Center, a nonprofit that provides various services to people experiencing homelessness in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.
Caitlin McCarthy, D.M.D.
To address the need for dental health services in Northeast Pennsylvania, The Wright Center for Community Health applied for and received approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in October 2024 to expand its Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency Program in partnership with NYU Langone Health.
“As doctors and as an enterprise, any opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in our communities and the health care realm is one worth taking,” Dr. Dempsey said. “Especially, as we continue our focus on population health, it’s important to learn everything we can and share what we know.”
Dr. Manju Thomas receives board appointment
The Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance named Manju Mary Thomas, M.D., a pediatrician and deputy chief medical officer and medical director of pediatrics and school- and communitybased medical home services at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, to its board of directors in October 2024.
Orientation program welcomes new physicians-in-training
Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO; along with other board members and executives.
In addition to the systemwide orientation, new physicians also participated in onboarding sessions at their respective clinical sites, including the VA Wilkes-Barre Healthcare System, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, and Allied Services. Drs. Thomas and Barooah joined the incoming class for a group
The Philadelphia-based organization advocates for school-based health centers by promoting the development of innovative, scalable care systems that address the key medical and academic challenges caused by limited access to high-quality health care and wellness education.
Dr. Thomas, board-certified in pediatrics and obesity medicine, provides care for infants, children, and adolescents at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Center in Jermyn. She also leads the schoolbased location at West Scranton Intermediate School and is a physician faculty member for the Regional Family Medicine Residency Pediatrics Program.
“As a pediatrician and advocate for children’s health, I am honored to join the Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance Board of Directors,” said Dr. Thomas. “School-based health centers are essential in addressing both medical and academic challenges faced by students
who lack access to quality care. By offering comprehensive, accessible services, we not only support students’ physical and mental well-being but also enhance their ability to thrive academically. The growing need for these centers is clear, and I am excited to work with them to champion innovative solutions that bring highquality care directly to our schools where it is most needed.”
Pennsylvania Medical Society honors Dr. Erin McFadden
The Pennsylvania Medical Society presented an Everyday Hero Award to Erin McFadden ’12, M.D., a boardcertified internal medicine physician and deputy chief medical officer and medical director at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Center in Scranton and Scranton Counseling Center, in March 2024.
Dr. McFadden also serves as the dean of undergraduate medical and interprofessional education. She was nominated for the award by colleagues who highlighted her tireless efforts to deliver high-quality whole-person primary health services that are accessible to all, while educating the next generation of physicians.
“Erin’s unwavering dedication to patient care and medical education exemplifies the very best of our profession,” said
Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “As an exemplary graduate of our legacy Internal Medicine Residency Program and our noble mission delivered, Erin’s leadership and countless contributions embody 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.”
The Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Everyday Hero Award acknowledges physicians who are often “the unsung heroes of our communities, tirelessly working to improve lives and inspire hope,” according to the organization.
Dentist joins faculty for postdoctoral residency
Michael Regan, D.M.D., a dentist at The Wright Center for Community, joined the faculty of NYU Langone Health’s Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Programs in November 2024, and will begin teaching Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residents at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton.
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education holds an annual two-week orientation program for incoming resident and fellow physicians each June to prepare them for the rigors of their programs that begin in July with the start of the new academic year.
The 2024-25 cohort was formally welcomed by Harold Baillie, chair of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Board of Directors; Jumee Barooah, M.D., FACP, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official; Linda Thomas-
photo at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Manju Mary Thomas, M.D.
News & Notes
FROM PAGE 7
Dr. Regan began seeing patients at the new dental clinic at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., when it opened in August 2024, just weeks after he completed his postdoctoral AEGD residency at The Wright Center for Community Health through the NYU Langone Health Program.
He completed the necessary training through NYU Langone Health, along with about 275 hours of additional continuing education, to qualify for the faculty position. He will join Caitlin McCarthy, D.M.D., a dentist at the community health center in Scranton, who supervised the residency training of both Dr. Regan and Ryan Rebar, D.M.D., a dentist at the Teaching Health Center in Jermyn.
Grant provides breastfeeding support for Healthy MOMS clients
The Wright Center for Community Health received a $7,500 grant in November 2024 from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to enhance breastfeeding support for participants in the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) Program.
The Wright Center co-founded the Healthy MOMS Program in 2018 to help combat the opioid crisis. It was launched in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties but has grown to serve women and their families throughout much of Northeast Pennsylvania. The program helps pregnant women and new mothers achieve and maintain sobriety.
The grant will help provide essential breastfeeding resources and supplies to Healthy MOMS participants who may otherwise be unable to afford them, such as manual breast pumps, breast milk storage sets, educational materials, consultations with lactation specialists, and access to breastfeeding counselors. It will also fund doula training, which prepares individuals to offer emotional, physical, and informational support
to mothers before, during, and after childbirth.
Funding targets food insecurity in Northeast Pennsylvania
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, a nonprofit subsidiary of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, was awarded a $15,000 grant in November 2024 from the Central Atlantic Chapter of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to support initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity among children and families in Northeast Pennsylvania.
The grant will enable The Wright Center to provide free lunches, take-home snacks, and backpacks filled with educational materials about nutrition during the summer. It will also fund grocery gift cards for families to purchase healthy foods and connect them with nutrition assistance programs.
“This impactful and deeply appreciated grant from the Central Atlantic Chapter of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families in our region who are experiencing food insecurity,” said Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “The continued investment by Dunkin’ helps us meet critical needs and fosters a sense of unity, hope, generosity, and resilience within our communities.”
Healthy MOMS expands in City of Wilkes-Barre
The Wright Center for Community Health received a $62,000 grant from the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department in July 2024 to expand a program that helps moms and their babies build a solid foundation to begin their lives in recovery from opioid use disorder.
The Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) Program received funding through a two-year grant
provided by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Services block grant, which the state allocated to the city’s health department for distribution.
To expand the program in Luzerne County, Healthy MOMS will leverage The Wright Center’s existing behavioral health services and state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence to deliver extensive community outreach, education, prevention, and comprehensive opioid pregnancy recovery and medication-assisted treatment services.
The Healthy MOMS Program provides access to prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care and access to certified recovery specialists, psychiatrists, boardcertified addiction medicine physicians, licensed social workers, and licensed clinical social workers.
Team members receive national recognition
Two employees at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education earned national recognition in February 2025 for their work supporting health care in underserved communities.
Sandra Rabat, D.O., a resident physician in the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Nicole Sekelsky, CCHW, CCMA, CCBS, the director of needs-responsive outreach, engagement, and enrollment at regional community health centers, received honorable mentions for the 2024 National Area Health Education Centers Organization 2024 Alumni/Advocate of the Year Award for their work in regional communities.
Dr. Rabat, a second-year resident physician, is a graduate of the AHEC Scholars Program, a two-year program that aims to empower participants to make a meaningful difference in the lives
Sandra Rabat, D.O.
of vulnerable populations and become a force for change, according to the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC). As a resident physician, she has led innovative projects to improve health care access. Her “Defeating Barriers to Executing Screening Mammography for Women with Mobile Mammogram Awareness” project won first place in The Wright Center’s internal competition, showcasing her ability to address gaps in care.
Sekelsky joined the enterprise as a community health worker in 2022 after pursuing a career in health care through the Readiness In Skilled Employment Program (RISE) that helps residents in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties who are living 250% below the federal poverty level train for in-demand careers. Through the program, she learned about and enrolled in NE PA AHEC’s community health worker training program.
Sekelsky has been promoted several times since she began working at The Wright Center as a community health worker. In her current role, she ensures our patients receive access to health insurance and trains employees on how to assist patients seeking health insurance. She also serves on NE PA AHEC’s board of directors.
Four health centers receive national recognition
Four of The Wright Center for Community Health’s clinics received commendations from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
The Wright Center’s community health centers in Clarks Summit and Jermyn achieved the NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home certificate of recognition in January 2025. The award recognizes both locations’ commitment to delivering
affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services using the patientcentered medical home model. In addition to strengthening patientclinician relationships and enhancing the management of chronic conditions, the patient-centered medical home model also increases staff satisfaction and reduces health care costs.
Health centers in Scranton and WilkesBarre earned NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home certificates of recognition in November 2024. The Mid Valley location first achieved this distinction in 2011, followed by Clarks Summit in 2014, and both Scranton and WilkesBarre in 2021. All four health centers undergo an annual review to maintain compliance with NCQA’s rigorous standards.
Resident physician earns special appointment
Urvashi “Urvi” Pandit ’25, D.O., a resident physician in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s National Family Medicine Residency Program, was appointed in October 2024 to represent the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) as a delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) Medical Resident Section.
representative of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, where she now also serves as co-chair of the Early Career Physicians Section.
Her appointment was recommended by the AAFP Commission on Education and confirmed by the Board of Directors. AAFP’s mission is to improve the health of patients, families, and communities by serving members’ needs with professionalism and creativity.
Alumnus receives awards for transformative leadership
Jignesh Y. Sheth ’09, M.D., FACP, MPH, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, received national and state recognition during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro selected him in October 2024 to serve as a member of the state’s newly formed Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Related Disorders Advisory Committee.
Dr. Pandit, who completed the third and final year of her residency at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., in June 2025, will serve in this role through Sept. 30, 2025. During that time, she will work with members of the AAFP staff and attend the AMA Interim Meeting and the annual meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
Dr. Pandit was inspired to apply for the position after attending the AMA Annual Meeting in June 2024 as a resident
That same month, he also received the 2024 Outstanding Primary Care Clinician Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.
In August 2024, Dr. Sheth was presented with the Innovative Research in Primary Care Award by the National Association of Community Health Centers. The award honors a health center clinician who demonstrates leadership in primary care research and innovation that enhances patient care, public health, and care coordination.
Further cementing his reputation as a forward-thinking leader, Dr. Sheth was also named a 2024 Trailblazer in Building and Infrastructure by City & State Pennsylvania in August 2024. He earned the honor for his visionary leadership in transforming 10 buildings across Northeast Pennsylvania into welcoming community health centers. City & State praised his oversight and ability to ensure uninterrupted patient services during major renovations.
Nicole Sekelsky, CCHW, CCMA, CCBS
Urvashi Pandit ’25, D.O.
From vision to legacy: The Wright Center story ur Cover Story O
As a documentary takes shape ahead of the 50th anniversary, leaders, patients, and partners reflect on how The Wright Center transformed health care and workforce development in Northeast Pennsylvania – and beyond
Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP, began with a visionary goal: attracting doctors to Northeast Pennsylvania to address the region’s growing physician shortage.
Nearly 50 years later, the health care powerhouse named in his honor treats more than 38,000 patients annually at its 13 community health centers and has trained more than 1,100 medical residents and fellows who have gone on to live our mission throughout the region and across the country.
A documentary about our half-century of success is on track to be completed by July 2026. Featuring interviews with our key leaders – including Dr. Wright and President and CEO Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP – along with elected officials, patients, community partners, and historians, the film will chronicle the story of how The Wright Center’s unique patient-centered model has increased access to health care, improved the health of Northeast Pennsylvania, and trained the next generation of interprofessional health care workers.
“This won’t be the history of The Wright Center the way people might expect to hear it,” said Brian Ebersole, our vice president
of academic affairs and associate designated institutional official.
“For 50 years, The Wright Center has responded to the evolving needs of the community, and we’re helping other communities do the same thing. That’s the story we want to share.”
The Wright Center hired Aliceanna Collective, based in Baltimore, Maryland, to produce the 50th anniversary documentary. Mike Marx-Gibbons, founder and head of media productions, was initially drawn to the project because of his own background as an Army medic. As he and his staff at Aliceanna learned more about U.S. health care and our unique approach, Marx-Gibbons said they realized the project’s importance.
“The Wright Center has a different way of approaching health care, and it’s replicable and scalable,” Marx-Gibbons said. “Other communities don’t have The Wright Center, and we’re asking, why not?”
That’s a central purpose for the documentary, Ebersole said. The Wright Center’s ability to stay nimble – whether it meant addressing a shortage of primary care physicians 50 years ago
or navigating the uncertain fate of two hospitals in Scranton, Pennsylvania, today – has been key to the nonprofit’s longevity and will remain vital to its future.
“It’s important to be reflective, to learn from our past so we can shape our future,” Ebersole said. “Having our story told in this way is part of how we will continue to be creative, innovative, and responsive.”
In on-camera interviews for the documentary, Dr. Wright, Dr. Thomas-Hemak, and others have shared how The Wright Center has grown from six internal medicine physicians who began training in Scranton on July 1, 1977, with the ScrantonTemple Residency Program to the responsive, compassionate community health dynamo it is today.
The documentary will feature interviews with Pennsylvania State Representative Bridget Kosierowski, former Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Austin Burke, and other community voices who add context to the story. In addition to filming inside The Wright Center’s network of community health centers in Scranton, Mid Valley, Clarks Summit, and Wilkes-Barre, Marx-Gibbons and his team have also captured footage at the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour, Alfredo’s restaurant in South Scranton, and the former
Tyler Memorial Hospital, which reopened in October 2024 as the Wyoming County Healthcare Center, where The Wright Center now operates a health center.
“It’s important to tell The Wright Center’s story against the backdrop of the region,” Marx-Gibbons said. “This is a unique part of the world, and The Wright Center is unique in health care.”
After the documentary is completed, Ebersole says the plan is to have at least one public showing. He is also interested in distributing it to alumni, since they are central to the story and now represent The Wright Center’s mission at health care organizations across the country. He also envisions opportunities to show parts of the documentary at community events, graduations, and on local television stations.
In addition, Marx-Gibbons is planning to enter the documentary into film festivals, which will amplify the message about how The Wright Center uniquely integrates teaching and patient care, focusing on the alignment between educational goals and community health needs across the country.
“It’s going to be like something you’d see on Netflix,” MarxGibbons said. “We’re excited to tell this story.”
‘The Wright Center has a different way of approaching health care, and it’s replicable and scalable. Other communities don’t have The Wright Center, and we’re asking, why not?’
- Mike Marx-Gibbons
Founder and Head of Media Productions, Aliceanna Collective
Innovating medical education to meet tomorrow’s needs
For nearly 50 years, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has remained steadfast in its mission to train physicians who not only excel in their field but also stay to serve the communities across Northeast Pennsylvania.
Founded under the leadership of Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP, a visionary physician, the organization has responded to the national physician shortage – particularly in primary care – by graduating more than 1,100 doctors, many of whom continue to practice where they trained.
Today, amid a rapidly evolving health care landscape, The Wright Center is once again stepping forward with bold new initiatives to meet the region’s growing needs and reimagine medical education and training.
“We always want to think about ways we can continue to meet the needs of our communities,” said Brian Ebersole, vice president of academic affairs and associate designated institutional official at The Wright Center. “We’re innovating and finding ways to accomplish those innovations in unique ways.”
Family Medicine – Scranton Residency Program
Recent health care shifts, including the closure of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital’s obstetric services in July 2023 and the failed sale of several Commonwealth Health System hospitals in late 2024, prompted leadership to rethink the residency program at The Wright Center.
The result: a reimagined Family Medicine – Scranton Residency Program, which launched in July 2025 with six resident spots per year and a deep focus on the training experience in Scranton.
Stephanie Gill, M.D., MPH, is the program director of our Family Medicine – Scranton Residency Program. A board-certified family medicine physician, she is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Gill completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s St. Margaret Hospital.
Douglas Klamp, M.D., is the program director of our Internal Medicine Residency Program. A boardcertified internal medicine physician, he is a graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Klamp completed her residency in primary care internal medicine at Alameda County General Hospital.
“We’re focused on training these residents at our health center in Scranton, as well as hospital services at Regional and obstetric services at Moses Taylor, while still utilizing our partnerships with Lehigh Valley Health Network,” Ebersole said. “We decided to build something that will be community-focused.”
Ebersole and other leaders see the potential to expand the model, first to Wilkes-Barre and then to other communities where the need for trained primary care physicians is critical and opportunities exist to partner with health care entities that can train learners.
“This program is rooted in the Scranton community,” Ebersole said. “It is designed to be replicable in other communities – like Wilkes-Barre – where the need for primary care physicians is urgent and local training infrastructure can be built through partnerships to immerse the learners in a specific community.”
Internal Medicine – Geriatrics Integrated Residency and Fellowship Pathway Program
With more than 20% of Lackawanna County’s population over age 65 – surpassing the statewide average – the need for geriatric specialists is critical. Responding to this demand, The Wright Center launched a Geriatrics Fellowship Program in 2019 alongside a comprehensive geriatrics service line.
However, recruiting geriatric fellows remains a nationwide challenge. To help fill slots for fellow physicians, The Wright Center recruits individuals to begin their training with a year in the Geriatrics Fellowship Program and then transition into the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
In summer 2024, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) selected The Wright Center to launch an Internal Medicine–Geriatrics Integrated Residency and Fellowship Program, also known as the Combined MedGeri Pathway. This program, created by a national workgroup of geriatric graduate medical education leaders convened by the American Geriatrics Society and the Association of Directors of
Edward Dzielak, D.O., FACP, is the program director of our Geriatrics Fellowship Program. Dually board-certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, he is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Dzielak completed his residency in internal medicine at the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, now The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.
Michael Dietz, D.O., is the program director of our Family Medicine – HealthSource of Ohio Residency Program. A board-certified family medicine physician, he is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Dietz completed his residency at Grandview Hospital.
Geriatric Academic Programs, is designed to help address the nation’s critical shortage of geriatricians.
With input from Edward Dzielak, D.O., FACP, director of The Wright Center’s Geriatrics Fellowship Program, and Douglas Klamp, M.D., director of The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, the new program will integrate geriatric medicine with internal medicine, ensuring participants have patient and service line continuity throughout their four years of training.
“Participants will work with the geriatric population throughout their entire training,” Ebersole said. “This continuity helps embed the skills and compassion needed to care for our aging population.”
HealthSource of Ohio
As The Wright Center’s National Family Medicine Residency Program winds down in June 2026, its legacy lives on through the creation of new programs at the program’s partner sites. One such example is HealthSource of Ohio, which will launch its own Family Medicine Residency Program, supported by The Wright Center’s Sponsoring Institution.
Hosting up to four resident physicians per year, the program builds on a 13year collaboration for a three-year family medicine residency program at HealthSource’s Hillsboro Pediatrics & Family Practice and shares The Wright Center’s commitment to rural health. The program started July 1, 2025.
“HealthSource needed a reliable pipeline for physicians for the communities they serve,” Ebersole said. “We’ve invested more than a decade into building our infrastructure, and now we’re sharing that knowledge and experience aligned with our model, extending our reach while honoring local independence.”
The Wright Center will provide administrative oversight, ACGME alignment support, and academic resources, while HealthSource will manage the day-to-day training through its own faculty and program leadership.
“Over the last 50 years, we’ve invested
significant resources into graduate medical education, into infrastructure, into recruitment,” Ebersole said. “Think of it like a franchise model. We provide the framework and resources to HealthSource, and they implement it locally with their partners and learning environments.”
Mercer partnership
The Wright Center is also exploring an opportunity in western Pennsylvania near the Ohio border.
During discussions about opportunities for The Wright Center in that region, the leadership team learned that Primary Health Network, one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state, was interested in launching a residency training program.
“We reached out to them and offered our help in developing the infrastructure,” Ebersole said. “Much like our partnership with HealthSource of Ohio, we would be their Sponsoring Institution and help them with the administrative side of things, but they would have their own program director.”
The Wright Center initiated the application with the ACGME in June 2025, targeting a July 2026 start date should the program earn approval. Primary Health Network’s Mercer Primary Care in Mercer, Pennsylvania, would serve as the program’s home, with resident physicians also training at Allegheny Health Network Grove City Hospital, which serves Mercer, Butler, and Venango counties.
“Primary Health Network shares our passion for physician training and community-based care,” Ebersole added. “Collaborations like this are how we extend our impact to meet needs across Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Ebersole is excited about the possibilities for the future as The Wright Center strengthens existing partnerships and develops new ones near and far.
“It’s incredibly energizing to work with partners who are just as committed to the mission as we are,” he said. “Together, we are building something truly meaningful for the next generation of physicians and the communities they will serve.”
Sustaining excellence: Continued accreditation secured
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Sponsoring Institution received official notification on May 15, 2025, that it has achieved continued accreditation status from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The designation follows the ACGME Institutional Review Committee’s review conducted during its meeting held May 12-15, 2025.
Continued accreditation is awarded to institutions that demonstrate compliance with ACGME requirements and a sustained commitment to the quality and integrity of graduate medical education programs. The status reflects The Wright Center’s adherence to national standards and its ongoing efforts to provide a rigorous and supportive learning environment for resident and fellow physicians.
The decision follows a scheduled site visit conducted on Feb. 25, 2025, during which The Wright Center underwent a comprehensive evaluation. The leadership team credited the outcome to a collaborative effort involving the board of directors, executive team, Graduate Medical Education Committee, program leadership, faculty, and trainees.
“We approach each site visit as an opportunity for improvement,” said Jumee Barooah, M.D., FACP, senior vice president of education and designated institutional official. “This result reflects the dedication of all involved and reinforces our commitment to excellence in graduate medical education.”
The continued accreditation status ensures that The Wright Center’s graduate medical education programs remain in good standing with ACGME as they continue to train compassionate, competent physicians to serve communities through a mission-driven approach to medical education and the delivery of wholeperson primary health services for all.
ike father, L
Dr. John P. Brady III built a life of service in his hometown. His son, Dr. John P. Brady IV, took that same passion on the road.
John P. Brady III ’86, M.D., was driven by a promise when he transferred to the Scranton-Temple Residency Program in 1984 as a second-year resident from the University of Texas, Galveston.
Years earlier, as a student in the Wilkes UniversityHahnemann Medical College program, he had pledged to return to Northeast Pennsylvania to serve his community through primary care.
Three decades later, his son, John P. Brady IV ’17, M.D., entered the same residency program – now known as The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education – learning from many of the same mentors who had once shaped his father. But unlike his father’s rooted path in primary care, the younger Dr. Brady forged a dynamic, nomadic career as a locum tenens hospitalist, bringing his skills to more than 15 hospitals across the country.
Rooted in purpose
For Dr. Brady III, medicine was a calling sparked by his early
John P. Brady III ’86, M.D., right, and his son John P. Brady IV ’17, M.D.
like son
love of science and nurtured in Catholic school classrooms at Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston, Pennsylvania. He was accepted into the fast-track Wilkes-Hahnemann medical education program, designed to bring doctors back to Northeast Pennsylvania to practice primary care.
After a brief detour for his training in Texas, a devastating hurricane in Galveston reminded him where he truly belonged. He returned to Scranton to finish his residency – and to fatefully reconnect with a local nurse practitioner and nurse educator named JoAnn Simons, who would later become his wife and partner in both life and medicine.
In 1986, Dr. Brady III opened a solo internal medicine practice in his hometown of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, where he cared for generations of families with a rare mix of independence, resourcefulness, and deeply personal attention.
A year later, he began working at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital’s OPTIFAST medical weight-loss clinic. His deep understanding of the body and its internal systems guided his approach, and his work has helped hundreds of patients avoid or reverse chronic conditions.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to build and brand his weightloss model, Doctor Diet Plan Inc., in 1989 as a separate business, a savvy move for future succession planning. However, he never franchised it, a decision he said he sometimes regrets.
Adaptation and endurance
By 1992, drawing on the robust training he received during his residency rotations at Scranton-Temple and his continued pursuit of education and skills development, including at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, he was managing in-office labs, electrocardiograms, abdominal and carotid ultrasounds, Holter monitoring, and stress testing at his private practice in Swoyersville, delivering a level of comprehensive, hands-on primary care that has become increasingly rare. Working alongside him, his wife provided female health services, including Pap tests and breast exams – a collaborative model of care that anticipated the principles of integrated, team-based medicine decades before they became a national standard.
Two years later, Dr. Brady III expanded his scope of care by
establishing a dedicated nursing home practice, which ultimately provided medical services across eight facilities and included his serving as assistant director at Valley Crest Nursing Home in Wilkes-Barre. By 1998, he had earned board certification as medical director in skilled nursing and went on to serve as medical director of Little Flower Manor in Wilkes-Barre through 2006. During this time, he also contributed his expertise as a medical expert in criminal cases for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
After a serious car accident in 2002 in which his vehicle was rear-ended, Dr. Brady III was forced to reduce his weekly clinical workload from about 80 hours to 20 hours. He narrowed his focus to outpatient internal medicine, weight management, and care for skilled nursing patients. Private disability insurance helped cover practice overhead during this transitional period. His wife also returned to teaching nursing to help until she, too, faced a devastating car accident in 2005, which was soon followed by a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
A settlement in 2008 from Dr. Brady III’s auto accident helped sustain his practice. A year later, he sold his Swoyersville office building and relocated his practice to a smaller rented space nearby.
Constantly adapting to meet patient needs and emerging opportunities, he took courses at the Esthetic Skin Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to offer patients Botox and Juvederm treatments. He also became certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in medical marijuana care in 2017.
In 2019, he sold his internal medicine practice to focus on medical marijuana and weight management. In 2026, after 40 years of practicing medicine, he plans to retire and relocate to Vero Beach, Florida, with his wife and their youngest of four sons, Jared, who assisted in their Swoyersville office and will attend flight school. Another son, Jason, is a medical illustrator in Washington, and son Joseph is a computer scientist in Texas.
“Throughout my career, insurance reimbursement for primary care never kept pace with the rising cost of doing business,” Dr. Brady III said. “When the Affordable Care Act integrated the HITECH Act in 2009, offering incentives and penalties to push providers toward ‘meaningful use’ of electronic health records,
Generations of healing: The Bradys shared journey through The Wright Center
many physicians joined hospital-run medical groups to cut overhead and secure a more predictable income. I stayed afloat in private practice by offering services outside the bounds of traditional insurance, like my medically supervised weight-loss program, medical marijuana certifications, and a Botox practice. It grew steadily. Then, COVID hit.”
During the height of COVID-19, only Dr. Brady III’s medical marijuana and weight management practice survived because of telehealth visits, which continue today.
Legacy in training
Amid the early demands of his growing career, Dr. Brady III also began to see something familiar in his son, Dr. Brady IV – an emerging blend of intellect, empathy, and curiosity that he knew could flourish in the field of medicine.
“When he was in high school, I told him I thought he should go into medicine,” Dr. Brady III recalled.
“I said, ‘You’re an excellent student.
You have the greatest personality, and you care. That’s exactly what you want in a doctor.’”
“I told him, if you want personal attention, real training, and one-on-one mentorship, go to The Wright Center,” said Dr. Brady III. “At big academic programs, you stand in the back. At The Wright Center, you’re in the front.”
For his son, The Wright Center checked every box: a uniquely structured program, proximity to family, the opportunity for a pre-match position, and the added connection of following in his father’s footsteps through the same training experience, including some of the same mentors, such as Edward J. Dzielak, D.O., FACP, now the founding program director of the Geriatrics Fellowship Program at The Wright Center, and Charles Deck, M.D., associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at The Wright Center.
‘I told him, if you want personal attention, real training, and one-on-one mentorship, go to The Wright Center. At big academic programs, you stand in the back. At The Wright Center, you’re in the front.’
– John P. Brady III ’86, M.D. Scranton-Temple Residency Program
Heeding that advice, Dr. Brady IV graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry from Wilkes University in 2010, followed by his Doctor of Medicine degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in 2014.
“I picked the Caribbean School of Medicine because I like to travel, and we got to do our third year in London, which was different,” he said.
The decision also aligned with the career of his future wife, Candice Brem, M.D., now a board-certified dermatopathologist, who also graduated from the medical school in 2014. The couple married in spring of 2025.
When it came time for Dr. Brady IV to apply for residency, his father’s recommendation carried weight.
“Most residency programs are based at a single hospital and clinic,” Dr. Brady IV said. “The Wright Center stood out because it offered diverse training across multiple hospitals and care settings, including the VA, Geisinger, and Commonwealth Health. That variety prepared me for the travel work I would eventually pursue after graduation, even though my
father was trying to get me to do the primary care with him in the beginning.”
Ultimately, he chose the locums hospitalist path, prioritizing the flexibility and focused inpatient care it offered.
“I told him, what you’re doing is stressful, but valuable, and if you love it, do it now while you’re young and mobile,” Dr. Brady III said. “He didn’t want to work like I did, always on call, always tied to the office, and I respect that. That’s his path.”
A different direction
After completing his residency at The Wright Center in 2017, Dr. Brady IV worked as a hospitalist at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where his then-fiancée was finishing her combined Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology residency.
His work took him to various hospitals in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, and Colorado, allowing him to pay off his student loans more quickly and explore the United States. The Boston area eventually became the couple’s home base after Dr. Brem began a fellowship in Dermatopathology at Boston University in 2018.
In 2023, Dr. Brady IV initially accepted a hospitalist position focused on oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston – an experience he admitted was more intense than he anticipated. He also handled overnight admissions for DanaFarber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel oncology patients, working strictly night shifts.
“Boston’s oncology community is tightly knit, so we were the first point of care when anything went wrong overnight,” he said.
After six months in that role, staffing changes led him to transition to Beth Israel’s general hospitalist team, where he continued working nights. When both his and his wife’s contracts concluded in June 2025, it created the perfect opportunity to relocate to Colorado.
There, Dr. Brady IV will settle into a non-temporary, full-time, daytime hospitalist role at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, part of the nonprofit CommonSpirit Health system. His wife will be going into private practice, marking a new chapter for both of them in the Rockies.
“I’ve worked in all kinds of hospitals – from 20-bed critical access sites to large tertiary centers like Allegheny General and
John P. Brady III ’86, M.D., a graduate of the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, opened his own internal medicine clinic in his hometown of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, in 1986. He plans on retiring in 2026 and moving to Vero Beach, Florida.
Beth Israel,” Dr. Brady IV said. “I enjoy community hospitals, so I’m settling at Penrose, a 250-bed hospital that still sees a lot of transfers as the main facility in the area.”
While the clinical fit was important, the move to Colorado was just as much about quality of life – a decision his father wholeheartedly supports.
“He’s more outdoorsy,” Dr. Brady III said with a smile. “He loves the mountains, and he loves to ski. Colorado just fits him.”
Still, he holds onto hopes that his son will join them in Florida, even trying to convince him to relocate there.
“He wasn’t having it,” he said. “There’s no snow.”
From pharmacy to physician
During his career, Dr. Maloney has served as chief medical officer at two major nonprofit health systems
Long before Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP, became chief medical officer at two major nonprofit health systems, and even before he wore his first white coat as a resident in the ScrantonTemple Residency Program, he was behind the counter at his family’s pharmacy in Ashley, Pennsylvania, filling prescriptions and serving his community.
It was an unconventional, yet valuable, beginning for someone whose heart had always quietly beat for a career in medicine.
“Medicine was always what I wanted to do,” said Dr. Maloney, a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, native who serves as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Franciscan Alliance in Mishawaka, Indiana. “Pharmacy was a detour I took for reasons that are hard to explain, but I loved it. I didn’t leave pharmacy because I was unhappy. I left because the urge to be a physician never left me.”
A first-generation college graduate, his unwavering calling eventually led him to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine, years after earning a pharmacy degree from Duquesne University and a master’s in human services administration from College Misericordia.
He brought with him a unique foundation, including experience as a pharmacist, a small business owner, president of the Luzerne County Pharmaceutical Association, and executive director of Complete Home Care Inc., a home health agency accredited by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, now known as The Joint Commission.
When he arrived at the Scranton-Temple Residency Program in 1995, he found the intellectual rigor and sense of mission he had been craving.
“It was one of the best-kept secrets in medicine,” said Dr. Maloney, who is board-certified in internal medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. “The faculty – Dr. Robert Wright, Dr. Jerry (Gerald) Tracy, Dr. (John) Jack Prior – they were world-class. We were constantly asked to explain our
Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP, recently assumed the title of senior vice president and chief medical officer at Franciscan Alliance, a nonprofit Catholic health care ministry in Mishawaka, Indiana, which operates a 12-hospital system.
clinical decisions. If you wanted to call a consult, you had to justify why. It made you think critically, and that never leaves you. It was great preparation.”
At the time, there were no surgical or subspecialty residents in the region, which meant that hands-on opportunities were abundant for internal medicine residents in the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, renamed The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in 2010 after its namesake founder, Dr. Wright.
“We weren’t watching from the sidelines,” he said. “If a central line needed placing, a surgeon might say, ‘Get me one of the medicine residents.’ We were the primary decision-makers. It was demanding, but we graduated incredibly well prepared.”
Dr. Maloney’s first job after residency placed him in private practice, initially through Mercy Health Partners and then independently, where he quickly discovered the less glamorous side of medicine.
“Running the business yourself meant the paycheck wasn’t guaranteed,” he said. “You had to operate efficiently to be financially stable. But it was also deeply rewarding. You had
direct relationships with patients and their families. You saw the difference you made.”
That desire to build long-term relationships with patients drew him to internal medicine.
“I didn’t want to treat someone for a single condition and never see them again,” he said. “I wanted to be their doctor.”
Today, Dr. Maloney makes that difference at a broader level.
In July 2025, he assumed his current role with the nonprofit Catholic health care ministry in Indiana, which operates a 12-hospital system. Before that, he spent nearly two decades at Geisinger Health System, where he had served as chief medical officer for system hospitals in Danville, Pennsylvania, since 2016. In that role, he oversaw clinical services and quality measures across the nonprofit’s 13 hospitals and supervised the chief medical officers at each location.
Dr. Maloney joined Geisinger Health in 2007 as chief medical officer at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in
Then & Now
Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP, graduated from the Scranton Temple Residency Program in 1998. These images show him in 1995, at left, during his intern year, and today as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Franciscan Alliance in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In that role, he founded a palliative medicine program to meet the needs of patients living with complex or terminal illnesses. His interest in hospice and palliative medicine dates back to his early clinical encounters in inpatient hospice care, moments he still calls “deeply rewarding.”
He has embraced the administrative side of medicine with the same heart that guided his early career.
“I had to come to terms with the fact that I wouldn’t have those one-on-one relationships with patients anymore,” Dr. Maloney said. “But now, the decisions I make can impact thousands of patients through patient safety initiatives, systems change, and education. It’s humbling.”
His passion for education has guided him throughout his career. For the past five years, Dr. Maloney served as associate dean for clinical affairs at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, a role that recognized his enduring commitment to bridging medical education and clinical practice. He also served as a clinical associate professor of medicine at both Geisinger Commonwealth and his alma mater, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was a member of the teaching faculty at the Scranton-Temple Residency Program until 2000.
He has served on numerous boards and is a frequent lecturer in the higher education community. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
‘The most important attribute in medicine today is the same as it was 200 years ago: compassion.’
– Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP Internal Medicine Residency Program
He and his wife, Patty, raised four children – one now an emergency department nurse, another a higher education consultant, one a computer science software engineer, and one a graphic artist who is the associate art director of Fighting Irish Media, the communications, production, design, and branding arm of Notre Dame Athletics. Each carries forward the family’s commitment to making a difference.
That same sense of purpose grounds Dr. Maloney’s perspective on the rapidly evolving world of health care. He is candid about some of the challenges in today’s health care system, including information overload in electronic health records, alert fatigue, and growing administrative burdens. However, he remains cleareyed about the physician’s timeless duty.
“The most important attribute in medicine today is the same as it was 200 years ago: compassion,” he stressed.
Dr. Maloney often shares a story with learners from the classic TV show “Gunsmoke” to illustrate the quiet power of compassionate care. In the show, “Doc” Galen Adams is often summoned late at night to treat a feverish child. He arrives, rolls up his sleeves, fills a basin with water, and gently mops the child’s brow. Throughout the episode, scenes return to him doing just that – calmly tending to her as worried parents look on, saying nothing, only shaking his head as the night wears on. Then, at the crack of dawn, the fever would break.
“I used to look at that and wonder why they bothered to go for him because he didn’t do anything,” Dr. Maloney said. “All he did was stay there all night with this child, mopping her brow. But you know what? He did everything. He didn’t have anything at his disposal. He didn’t have X-rays, breathing treatments, or antibiotics. What he had was compassion, and that’s what he gave. They felt better because he was there.
“That’s the part of medicine that we need to ensure doesn’t get lost in the new technology, new drugs advertised on TV, and new ultrasounds that can be carried around in your pocket and used anywhere. You have to keep in mind that there’s somebody who needs you, somebody who doesn’t understand what’s going on, somebody who you are better equipped to take care of than they are. And you have to be always willing to give that.”
Gerald Maloney ’98, D.O., FACP, left, shares a moment with his daughter Kara Maloney, who is an emergency department nurse at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
The Wright Match
How a married couple found their calling in the Internal Medicine Residency Program L M ove edicine &
As Sharmil Suma Kumaran ’21, M.D., and Metlapalli Venkata Sravanthi ’21, M.D., studied at Government Medical College, University of Calicut in Kozhikode, India, they fell in love with medicine – and each other.
“We were friends first, and that friendship grew until we realized – this is the one,” said Dr. Sravanthi. Her husband agreed, adding, “We grew up in medicine together.”
Their relationship sparked a journey that has spanned more than 8,000 miles and nearly two decades. Today, the two graduates of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program call Elkins, West Virginia, their home. They’ve found their niche at Davis Memorial Hospital: Dr. Kumaran as an attending nephrologist and director of inpatient dialysis and Dr. Sravanthi as an attending hematologist/oncologist.
After earning their medical degrees in 2013, Drs. Kumaran and Sravanthi served as resident medical officers and lecturers at DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences in India. They married in 2015 and moved to the United States two years later. In 2018, both physicians matched into the same residency program.
At The Wright Center, their paths in medicine became clearer. Dr. Kumaran was inspired by his work with three local nephrologists who served as faculty: Drs. Ferdinand Manahan, John Prior, and Henry Yeager.
“I haven’t met more skilled or dedicated nephrologists,” he said. “Their teaching and dedication made a lasting impact.”
For Dr. Sravanthi, the human connection in hematology/oncology resonated deeply.
“The field is intellectually stimulating, but what truly drew me in was seeing how clinicians supported patients through some of their most difficult moments,” she said.
“That compassion, paired with the career opportunities, made it a natural fit.”
After graduating from the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Drs. Kumaran and Sravanthi moved on to their next challenge as a young married couple: finding fellowships in their fields that would allow them to continue living in the same geographical area.
“One program might have a very strong nephrology fellowship and another a very strong hematology/oncology fellowship, or one program might have strong fellowships in both fields, but it’s harder to get into,” Dr. Kumaran explained. “That extra hurdle was there, but we were fortunate to match into our desired fellowship programs at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.”
Dr. Kumaran completed his two-year fellowship in nephrology and hypertension in 2023 and accepted a position as an attending nephrologist at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Tennessee, while Dr. Sravanthi completed her three-year hematology/oncology fellowship. The original plan was for Dr. Sravanthi to join Dr. Kumaran in Tennessee, but the couple ultimately chose to pursue opportunities more closely aligned with their long-term goals.
They focused on finding a community that reflected both their professional ambitions and lifestyle preferences. The avid travelers have been to 33 states and 15 countries together and said they have come to appreciate the East Coast’s distinct seasons and friendly residents. West Virginia stood out.
As they embark on their careers at Davis Memorial –Dr. Kumaran began his job there in August 2024 and Dr. Sravanthi in October 2024 – they carry the lessons they learned as resident physicians at The Wright Center.
“Even though we pursued subspecialties, the core principles we learned – continuity of care, teamwork, and a patientcentered approach – remain central to how we practice today,” Dr. Kumaran said.
‘A human side to things’
Tele-critical care physician relies on lessons learned at Scranton-Temple Residency Program
A chaotic night in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, set David M. Fedor ’06, D.O., FACP, on a career path that would take him across the country.
At the time, Dr. Fedor was just six months into his Internal Medicine Residency with the Scranton-Temple Residency Program when he began his ICU rotation. One night, the unit was overwhelmed with multiple admissions, complex procedures, and a whirlwind of medical challenges. Dr. Henry Yeager, the attending physician, stayed to assist.
“At the end of the night, Dr. Yeager looked at me and said, ‘You’re pretty good at this. Of course, you don’t know anything yet, but you can keep your head when all of this is happening around you. And that’s something you can’t teach,’” Dr. Fedor recalled.
That night – and Dr. Yeager’s words – led Dr. Fedor to pursue a career in critical care medicine, taking him first to New England and later to Utah, where he now lives with his wife, Laurel Fedor, M.D., an internist launching her own concierge medical practice.
A Taylor, Pennsylvania, native, Dr. Fedor earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Scranton before obtaining his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He and his wife chose Utah for its conservative politics and world-class skiing. Today, the Scranton-Temple Residency Program graduate lives in Ogden and works nights as a tele-critical care physician for Intermountain Health, headquartered in Salt Lake City.
“Intermountain built multiple virtual services, from the emergency room to the pharmacy, cardiology, pulmonology, and critical care,” Dr. Fedor said. “I provide coverage in ICUs, coordinating with hospitalists on the ground.”
Using high-tech medical equipment and cameras, Dr. Fedor monitors patients across ICUs in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado, detecting even the slightest changes in their conditions. Tele-critical care has gained momentum in recent years, but Dr. Fedor was ahead of the curve, entering the field more than a decade ago when a startup recruited him to help launch remote specialty services.
David M. Fedor ’06, D.O., FACP, second row, poses for a photo with other resident physicians and faculty members in front of Mercy Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Fedor’s extensive experience in critical care medicine, including a two-year critical care medicine fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, helped shape the company’s telehealth model.
“I started tele-critical care from home when almost no one was doing it,” he said. “I was doing that and also offering bedside care at Intermountain until they started their own tele-critical care service, then I switched over to that.”
Beyond his ICU work, Dr. Fedor plays a critical role in coordinating patient transfers within the Intermountain Healthcare system and serves as the medical director on call for LifeFlight.
Dr. Fedor said the biggest challenge of the shift from bedside care to telehealth was the lack of hands-on procedures. Instead, he relies on collaboration with hospitalbased clinicians, applying the skills he honed throughout his career. Many of the lessons
he learned as a resident – especially from Vincent Vanston, M.D., Edward Dzielak ’81, D.O., and Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP – remain invaluable.
“I didn’t pursue a career in primary care because that’s not my temperament,” he said. “The Wright Center’s focus on primary care helped me become a better critical care physician. My job isn’t just numbers and machines. There’s a human side to things.”
Dr. Vanston’s expertise in palliative care and Dr. Dzielak’s work in geriatrics especially left lasting impressions. In addition to his critical care work, Dr. Fedor spent years in hospice and palliative medicine, eventually becoming the director of palliative medicine at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. He later served as Intermountain Healthcare’s system medical director of palliative care until 2016.
“In both fields of medicine, you aren’t just taking care of a patient – you’re caring for a family,” he said. “It’s a skill you have to learn quickly because you’re the voice that validates their concerns and, hopefully, answers their questions.”
During his residency, Dr. Fedor also left his own subtle mark. At the time, the program was based at what was then Mercy Hospital in Scranton, with residents rotating through the Scranton-Temple Health Center just down the street.
“When no one was looking, I used to write ‘STRP Rocks’ on whiteboards at the hospital and clinic every day,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone ever noticed, but if they did – it was me.”
David M. Fedor ’06, D.O., FACP, puts in a central line.
David M. Fedor ’06, D.O., FACP, and his wife, Laurel, visit Arches National Park in Moab, Utah.
‘Agents of change:’ Internal Medicine alumnus passes on lessons of The Wright Center
Every time Nayanjyoti Kaushik ’15, M.D., walked into The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s headquarters at The University of Scranton’s Tobin Hall, he passed a sign with the program’s logo above the words “Shaping the future of health care.”
A decade and two fellowships later, that phrase and the lessons he learned at The Wright Center deeply influence his work as the medical director of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at CHI Health Nebraska Heart Institute. He focuses on pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia ablation, WATCHMAN implantation, laser lead extraction, and various cardiac device implantation, helping to advance the field and increasing access to this specialized care throughout the Midwest.
“Tobin Hall was where all great ideas and
stiffness, and eventually, the fusion of vertebrae – sparked Dr. Kaushik’s interest in medicine as a career. After graduating from Gauhati Medical College in India and working as a junior resident doctor and then chief medical officer at several facilities throughout India, Dr. Kaushik moved to the United States in 2012.
He was drawn to The Wright Center through a connection with Jumee Barooah ’13, M.D., FACP, now senior vice president of education and designated institutional official for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. The two physicians had trained at the same medical school in India. Dr. Barooah introduced him to Brian Ebersole, then senior vice president for mission delivery and business development, who arranged several weeks of job shadowing.
Nayanjyoti Kaushik ’15, M.D., celebrates his 200th WATCHMAN implant.
“Brian immediately took me under his wing and began teaching me about the importance of health care access for everyone, the role primary care plays in improving health, all the things The Wright Center valued,” Dr. Kaushik said. “It impressed me, and I thought this would be the best institution for me to complete my residency.”
Dr. Kaushik started his Internal Medicine Residency in summer of 2012. That’s where he became interested in pursuing electrophysiology – and where his father’s influence was brought to bear for a second time.
Realizing his dream of pursuing cardiac electrophysiology meant completing two fellowships after graduating from The Wright Center’s three-year Internal Medicine Residency Program – first,
a three-year Cardiology Fellowship at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education and then a two-year Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
“One thing my dad always emphasized was, whatever you start, get to the finish line,” he said. “I was able to fulfill my dream because of what he taught me.”
While completing his residency and fellowship in Scranton, Dr. Kaushik and his wife, Mondira Borgohain, welcomed a daughter and a son, both born at Moses Taylor Hospital. The young family moved to the Midwest when he matched with University of Iowa for his second fellowship. After finishing his second fellowship, Dr. Kaushik accepted a job as an clinical cardiac electrophysiologist and cardiology staff physician at CHI Health Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2024, he became the facility’s medical director of clinical electrophysiology.
he incorporates into his practice the values he learned at The Wright Center – particularly patient empowerment and engagement. He strives to raise awareness about cardiovascular and heart rhythm disorders to prevent heart attacks and sudden cardiac death, reduce hospitalizations and health care utilization, and ultimately improve the quality of life for his patients.
Although he’s 2,100 miles away from Scranton, the doctor said there are many similarities between his role now and what he learned as a resident at The Wright Center, specifically how geography and income can affect access to health care.
In addition to performing a wide range of heart procedures – including cutting-edge WATCHMAN device implants to prevent strokes for people with atrial fibrillation who cannot take blood thinners –
Dr. Kaushik travels to clinics throughout rural Nebraska to care for patients who have heart rhythm problems, including racing heart, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, fainting spells, and slow heart rates.
“Many people attribute their symptoms to aging,” he said. Dr. Kaushik works to educate patients about heart rhythm disorders and connects them with modern treatment options through improved access to care. A strong patient advocate,
“Dr. Thomas didn’t want to produce graduates who were merely board-certified in internal medicine. She wanted to create agents of change, people who can make meaningful impacts in their communities,” Dr. Kaushik said. “Since the first day I started working here in Nebraska, I feel I’m advancing that vision and sharing what The Wright Center taught me.”
‘Tobin Hall was where all great ideas and innovations came. I saw dozens of employees working tirelessly under (The Wright Center’s President and CEO) Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak to transform health care.’
– Nayanjyoti Kaushik ’15, M.D. Internal Medicine Residency Program
Nayanjyoti Kaushik ’15, M.D., and his family at Yellowstone National Park.
INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS
Salman Abdul Basit, M.D.
Ahmed Abdellatif Ibrahim
Mohamed Algohiny, M.D.
Sanya Badar, 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.
Anand Reddy Maligireddy, M.D.
Elmkdad Mohammed, M.D.
Atif Nasrullah, M.D.
Maria Nawaz, M.D.
Ronakkumar Rameshbhai Patel, M.D.
Arathi Prabha Kumar, 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.
Yuexiu Wu, M.D.
NATIONAL FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS
Vaishnavi Gadicharla, D.O.
Justin Kim, D.O.
Sarah Jane Lawson, D.O.
Jacob Matthew Brumfield, D.O.
Leah Joy Moorefield, D.O.
Kent Stanton, D.O.
Jingyi Gao, D.O.
Andrew Roy Tsai, D.O.
Kayla Simone Williams, D.O.
Stacey Elizabeth Benben, D.O.
Sachit J. Desai, D.O.
Daniel Gatazka, D.O.
Hope E. Hardy, D.O.
Urvashi Pandit, D.O.
Evan James Smith, D.O.
REGIONAL FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS
Cassandra Rose D’Andrea, M.D.
Renee Frieda Gladilen, M.D.
Justine Carlo G. Guevarra, M.D.
Imran Hamid, D.O.
Navaneeth Nambiar Othayoth Ganapathiyadan, M.D.
Deepinder S. Samra, M.D.
Andrew Sukhu, M.D.
RESIDENTS
Training location: Tucson, Arizona (El Rio Health)
Training location: Hillsboro, Ohio (HealthSource of Ohio)
Training location: Auburn, Washington (HealthPoint)
Training location: Washington, D.C. (Unity Health Care)
Thomas Kusiak, John Prater, Mark Swartz, Joseph Anistranski, Richard Brewer, Toni Parmelee, Joseph Seprosky, Stanley Bohinski, Kurt Chang, Neal Davis, Jody Hutson, Duane Sipes, Bradley Block, Brian Breetzke, Laura
Keeler, Linda Loffredo, Michael Moclock , Scott Prince, Joseph Cesanek, James Galasso, Peter Lauzonis, Rafael Climaco, Henry Novroski, Lisa Robertson, Arin Desai, James Franks, Nance Lovelace, Baltazar Orallo,
Wisdo, James Woodiel, Ben Farley, Kim Kovalick, Mike Kovalick, Carolann Litzi, Armando Sallavanti, Sal Sparich, Ren Toledo, Maria Yager , John Bart, Matt Haley , Steve Hartline Kathy Horne , Charles
Penetar, David
Raj Patel , Beth Sullivan, Christine Brooks , Renu Chaturvedi, Patricia Ihnat-Schroff, Luis Santos , Ewa Solski, James Tricarico, Lisa Tricarico, Mahmood Khan , Theodor Pesch, Mary Ann Sarker, Maria Bruce , Patricia Chisholm, Carmen Dator , Michael Fath, Gaye Gustitus, Daren Jacobs, Andrea Wessel , Margaret Bak , Alexander Baldonado, Uday Bhatt, Reena Bommasani, Tammy Chen, Larisa Golub, Freeha Bokhari , Anshu Dhingra, Sanjeev Kumar, Tatyana Kushnir , Byung-Gook Park, Rajnikant Patel , A.H. Quadri, Debora Shopolyansky, John Yannucci, Roman Braginsky Glendon Cook , Lina Gourova, Geetha Hrishikesan, Jeffrey Lee, Rajendra Mahajan, Asra Nazneed, Madhuri Penugonda, Avtar Sekhon, Roy Gernhardt, Amarbir Gill, Kelly Kellmel, Uzma Mariam, Melanie Orencia, Chhavi Pande, Mini Rajagopal, Lalaine Tiu, Sanjeev Bansal, Glenda Buyo, Xiaoni Hong, Sukhwinder Kodial, Dana Montgmery, Jeffrey Montgomery, Regino Palermo, Rinku Randhawa Sehgal, Foad Taleghani, Devesh Taskar, Jainlin Wu, Majeswari Chinimilli, Sabir Khan , Sumaira Khan , Binal Ladani, Olga Vinshtok, Ira Vohra, Mohammadreza Azadfard, Fatima Fazilli, Govind Kachhadiya, Jingeshbhai Patel, Lisa Tabbit, James Wornyo, Prativa Basnet, Chetna Dua, Rabia Hasan, Fatima Fazilli, Keino Johnson, Dipinpreet Kaur, Kira Kirakidi, Dhirendra Kumar, Arpita Mukherjee, Amarjot Singh, Robbie Bahl, Gurinder Chatha, Shanti Eranti, Mythri Gollapalle, Vijay Jarsania, Pardeep Kumar, Obianuju Mba, Parul Walia, Danita Fox, Abha Kadam, Nabeel Kouka, Matt Kozicki, Mona Massoud, Zakiahmad Mavli, Angela Mount, Jimi Oluwole, Shilpa Patel, Christina Raguckas, Ruchika Saini, Mary Stettmeir, Isteaq Ahmed, Souzan Abdel-Sami, Robyn Black, Simon Grinshteyn, Sherin Philip, Mark Samii, Millicent Tiwaah, Kwaku Boakye, Nagina Farida, Neha Janakiraman, Kalyanchakravarthi Mallela, Daanish Shaikh, Razveen Shamsedeen, John Awad, Frederick Chang, Khushbu Desai, Georgia Fliakos, Mark Illagan, Anil Jahoor, Loren Mangino, Brian Michaluk, Le Yu Naing, Atma Nayak, Jonathan Nguyen, Julie Platt, Rachna Saxena, Namrata Singhania, Masato Sugiura, Sonia Virparia, Richard Wong, Sheenu Chhabra, Megan DeLiberato, Samuel Deliberato, Ryan Donnelly, Jason Jawanda, Alex Le, Hishita Parikh, Binta Patel, Erica Perez, Raafat Shehata, Lyndsey Vu, Ravinder Valadri, Robyn Black, Devin Carey, Soroosh Hashemi, Inderjit Kaur, Angad Madan, Angelina Meier, Melissa Philip, Daniel Shust, Mina Soliman, Maxwell Tolan, Michael Brenner, Meharchand Oad, Nehal Aleemuddin, Jennifer Chen Chen, Gurvinder Dhaliwal Dhaliwal, Brittany Koza, Soohan Mansuri Mansuri, Jai Nebhrajani, Catherine Patrick, Nisarg Patel, Tejaswi Voladri, Kan Yang, Don Davis, Rajbir Grewal, Rajan Joshi, Allyson Matthys, Sonam Patel, Vikaash Persad, Payal Rabadiya 1/2021, Edgar Torres, Mandeep Singh, Farah Vayani, Steven Archambault, Muzammal Chaudhry, Alan Davis, Dara Gammon, Herman Hans, Deepak Khanna, Hsin Li, Marzan Alifaruquey, Yagnesh Parekh, Arun Puthusseril, Ebi Rowshanshad, Aarun Saini, Alycia Saini, Lee Wagner, Brenda Chuksorji, Parmpreet Gill, Mahtalash Hoque, Laique Imtiaz, Cindy Inga, Faryal Khan, Falak Pasha, Ehsan Rashid, Solomon Saul, Kristy Simonetti, Jasleen Waraich, Pramesh Baral, Kevin Beltre, Supriana Bhandol, Abhinandan Bhagat, El Auashy Mohamed, Granberg Robert, Higgins Martin, Meghanna Malipeddi, Gary Oh, Ajit Pannu, James Simons, David Eisner, Michael Rainey, Andrew Baron, Louis Bell, Gerald Carver, Michael Mintzer, John Peters, Bruce Rappaport, Kenneth Rudolph, Charles Deck, Edward Dzielak, Richard Gratz, Michelle Hazzouri, Ann McDonald, Joseph Vilogi, Anthony Brutico, George Coar, Donald Kachline, Joseph Philbin, Carmen Brutico, John Guzek, Laurence Levine, Mary Ellen Monahan, Nenita Parrilla (Mcintosh), Rajeswari Suseelan, Marie Tiedemann, David Batluck, Peter Decker, James Farley, Joseph Speicher, Guy Fasciana, Jo-Ann Hardisky, Harvey Kreitzer, Carl Possanza, Mary Sewatsky, Richard Weinberger, Gabriel Costa, Paul Dende, Kenneth Gentilezza, John Hychko, Dennis Kapp, Richard Torres, David Waibel, Ralph Demario, Shulamit Grossman, Thomas Minora, Donald Wright, James Arscott, Karen Arscott, Audrey Balas, Debra D’Aquilante, Marvin Davidowitz, David Kasper, Robert Kaville, Michael Montella, John Paulish, Sheela Prahalad, Kevin Williams, Mary Ann (Lynch) McDonald, Randall Brundage, Carol Glaubiger, Julie Speicher, Susan Biancarelli, Mark Cruciani, Maureen Kozloski, Joseph Szustak, Carmella (Mitchell) Sebastian, Joseph Greco, William Hottenstein, Robert Hunter, Robert Jones, Michael Kline, Paul Tayoun, Anthony Valente, Edward Zaloga, Louis Adamo, Nicholas Dardes, James Dean, Theodore Kaczmarczyk, Esther Kwok, Dennis Mattei, Mark Murnin, Faye Popeney, Charles Popeney, Marianne Santioni, Lucian Bednarz, James Martino, Michael Peterson, Samuel Valenti, Ana Echeverri, John Haber, James Kosik, Nabeel Qureshi, Charles Aronica, Tracey Boros, John Devine, Nicholas Dodge, Donna Eget, Michael Gilhooley, Michael Jalowiec, Koteswari Kancha, Barry Minora, Adnan Sammour, Mark Wysokinski, Anthony Yanni, Michael Barrett, Michael Gordon, Suzanne Johnston, Michaela Lessler, Richard Lizak, Rajan Mulloth, Karen Paczkowski, Dariusz Koscielniak, David Roberts, Stella Yu, Hafez Al-Halawani, Bionapally Aravind, Robert Dompkosky, Anthony Freda, Carol Lu, Gerald Maloney, Carolyn Meyers, Ghada Mitri, Gerard Nealon, James Sheerer, Jeanette Valentin, Joyce Vrabec, Luis Cisneros, Karen Hoffman, Timothy Hoffman, William Jordan, Ghaith Mitri, Dwin Perugino, Michelle Scannapieco, Vijayalakshmi Vadrevu, Matthew Cusano, Amy Gruszecki, Rashmi Jain, Mark Lyons, Diwakar Nagula, Veronica Oikawa, Joseph Pagnotti, Michael Pham, Julio Ramos, Abdalla Sholi, Georges Chamoun, Sandhya Desai, Ingrid Follweiler, Eric Gnall, Raed Hamed, Jill Kissolovege, John Lisiak, David Wanalista, Vaidehi Boinapally, Rajeev Dewan, Mahmood Dweik, Karla Puente-Murray, Manish Relan, Lakshmi Shankar, Savita Singh, Satish Sivasankaran, Manish Suneja, Nicole Chiappetta, Laila Elkeeb, Abdelnaser Elkhalili, Jason Gerboc, Roger Getts, Shawn Hazlett, Theresa Hensler, Nayeem Karim, Christian Lafalce, Chinh Pham, Manish Relan, Belal Sharaf, Samuel Baroody, Bhavna Chhabria, Vaijay Deevakonda, Henry Ess, Michael Klingerman, Eric Smith, Aravind Anand, Wei Bin, Parag Chandra, Aliasgar Chittalia, Kristin Liptock, Reena Manikkara, Sadat Ozair, Arjinder Sethi, Harneet Sethi, Martina Stehlikova, Ahmad Subhi, Srinivas Tirumalareddy, Neeraja Akula, Ambalavanan Balasubramanian, Alison Brodginski, Ayesha Chaudhry, David Fedor, Julie Marvania, David Mayne, Dana Montgomery, Jeffrey Montgomery, Miriam Savatteri, Bria Tinsley, Manish Chadha, Algamil Hossam, Yasser Khalil, Saravana Kumar, Waseem Makhoul, Sunil Musinipally, Akach Samir, Abbas Ali, Pavan Irukulla, Amandeep Kalra, Kasim Kasim, Alberto Ma Guana, Jehad Sibai, Jessica Zingaretti, Srinivas Akkaladevi, Indiran Balavinayagam, Pardeep Bansal, Uchit Bhalodia, Glen Digwood, Thomas Hopkins, Dipinpreet Kaur, Ludy Lukose, Joseph Oconer, Prabodh Rathi, Jignesh Sheth, Tarundeep Singh, Chad Walker, Huda Abbas, Susan Baroody, Ramashesai Besetty, Sreedhar Devathi, Michael Haboubi, Nalini Kakimallaiah, Joseph Leo, Rajendra Palepu, Raju Pradhan, Kunduru Seshidhar, Anurag Bajaj, Rajiv Bansal, Pranjal Boruah, Deepa Gopavaram, Kavitha Mamindla, Ramadevi Medavarapu, Himanshu Mittal, Nina Pabello, Ariane Palmasani, Ranjitha Rishikesh, Gurpreet Sabar, Rebecca Brown, Mahalakshmi Devarakonda, Ravi Gurusamy, Shravan Katta, Srikant Kumar, Erin McFadden, Khristine Papa, Singh Prabhabir, Sathyanarayanan Ramakrishnan, George Samuel, Bhawna Sethi, Himanshu Sharma, Shikha Shrestha, Maneesh Singhal, Walid Tanyous, Vikram Verma, Rashita Aggarwal, Ghasem Ashelfah, Jumee Barooah, Monodeep Biswas, Timothy Burke, Ahmed Eljourni, Robin Girdhar, Vijayadershan Muppidi, Divya Parihar, Ashish Patel, Anil Singh, Nishith Vayada, Cherif Abdelmalek, Imdad Ahmed, Isteaq Ahmed, Sitasravya Devathi, Subanithya Dhamotharan, Khaled Elghonemy, Simon Grinshteyn, Nicholas Ierovante, Jihua (Mark) Jia , Amit Kakde, Melad Farg Kamel, Prathiba Katta, Rajni Khaira, Snigdha Kurimilla, Lekshminarayan Kurup, Mina Maged Makary, Krupa Mathew, Tsiala Mozaidze, Arshjyot Narula, Bassel Noumi, Indupriya Pallekonda, Sherin Philip, Etikala Reddy, Roop Reddy Parlapalli, Mark Samii, Daanish Shaikh, Parikshit Sharma, Qi Shi, Arvind Vasudevan, Huimin Wu, Hrushik Amin, Sindu Chandran , Romel Crevecoeur, Manoj Das, Justin Devotta, Shaista Hussain, Neha Janakiraman, Bo Jiang, Nayanjyoti Kaushik, Dinesh Keerty, David Knorek, Qasim Malik, Deobarat Mallick, Christopher Minello, Jayalakshmi Nair , Sukrut Nanavaty, Milan Patel , Mehul Patel , Chandra Reddy Michael Saleeb-ibrahim, Ghanshyam Shantha, Sherine Tadros , Suraj Thangada , Satish Vangala , Zin Win , Shashkumar Yellapa, Ossama Al Masalmeh, Mohammed Alawadhi, Vijaya Dendi, Dennis Dobitsch, Satyajit Doddapaneni, Sahana Dongerkery, Ghanshyam Ghelani, Mariano Giordano, Upinder Khaira, Al Jonathan Lee, Maria Nagori, Shanmuga Priya Niragulathan, Vimal Ravi, Sanjay Saxena, Archana Singh, Arpit Sothwal, Nissi Suppogu, Sowmya Thanneeru, Sunitha Vangala, Yelin Yang, Hasan Zerti, Maryyam Ali, Saritha Battula, John Brady, Pravin Chacko, Sriram Chowdary, Michael Cortes, Justin DeNise, Sirish Dharmapuri, Gagan Dhillon, Pulkit Gandhi, Samuel Ganz, Rani Gollamudi, Adriana Gomez, Erin Gordon, Deme Gurmu, Ketevan Gvalia, Stephan Hambaz, Svetlana Hanson, Raza Mian, Zainab Mian, Olivia Molnar, Ripudaman Munjal, Kevin Musto, Saurabh Patel, Shivapriya Peddireddy, Nicholas Punch, Jonathan Roselman, Debdoot Saha, Ameet Sandhu, Soham Shah, Noha Soliman, Israel Stewart, Ajay Venkataram, Dan Zheng, Afia Babar, Justin Chacko, Durga Dandu, Jing Deng, Vijaya Gandla, Aman Gebremedhin, Jumana Jaloudi, Sumanth Kacharam, Waheed Khan, Huijun Li, Sushma Madala, Lekshmi Nair, Innocent Ndzana, Jim Nguyen, Ramesh Pandit, Gaurav Patel, Manuel Ramos-Ramirez,
Meenakshi Sambharia, John Sharp, Gursukhmandeep Sidhu, Anmol Singh, Gagan Deep Singh, Muhammad Tarar, Elvin Varughesekutty, Joyce
Mohammad Amjad, Hunain Aslam, Talal Barlas, Ayla Benge, Bikramjit Bindra, Richard Bronnenkant, Ajinkya Buradkar, Kathryn DePrimo, Sharon Grewal, William Haas,
Arjinder Sethi,
Ahmed,
Nishith Vayada, Nicholas Ierovante, Gangadhara Kabbli, Sindu Chandran, Sukrut Nanavaty, Nayanjyoti Kaushik, Qasim Malik, Sothwal Arpit, Patel Saurabhkumar, Guarav Patel, Neil Patel, Dhara Patel, Raza Mian, Hrushik Amin, Rushikkumar Bhuva, Tapan Buch, Muhammad Pir, Najam Saqib, Matthew
Clair Felpel, Johnny Guzman, Annie Halsey, Ernesto Jimenez, Kristina Nivus, Chioma Ohalete, Sowmya Anagbogu, Martin Peters, Regina Ragasa, Joseph Reynolds, Patricia Saravia, Perel Schneid,
John Amentler, Edward Brantz, Edward Carey, Elizabeth Edmunds, Lee Goldman, Jeffrey Weil, John Battista, Thomas Campbell, Richard English, Paul Sobelman, Lanning Anselmi, Alan Boonin, Dennis Kepka, Glenn Panzer, Michael Raub, Francis Schell, Greg Allen, Anthony Colangelo, Robert Czwalina, Maureen Litchman, Clyde Mitchell, Deborah Spring, William Clearfield, Daniel McNabb, Gary Smith, John Bobeck, Mark Bohn, Thomas Cohen, Edward Cooney, Joseph Litchman, John Menio, Julie Dostal, Lee Francis, Eugene Gorski, Keith Keefer, Melita Konecke, Janusz Wolanin, Andrew Bloschichak, Charles Lentini, Stanley Lobitz, Michael Lombard, David Moore, Philip Kurello, Kenneth McGill, Arthur Mitchell, Andrew Willet, Adrian Dormans, Cheryl Hlavac, Paul Hughes, Irene Lucas, Frank Olshemski, Marlene Wood, Jay Charabati, Alex Huang, James Kovacs, Mara Leyzin, George Meikle, Louis Tedesco, Robert Fruehan, Russell James,
Martin, Martin
Shober, Jeanne Torony, Elaine Turcan, Manual Fonseca , Virginia
Maria Rivera, David Brett, Ramon Cruz, Gunnar Kosek, Mary Beth Sokash, LaLaine Tiu , James
Parente, Michalene Torbik, David Wood , Elizabeth Gernhardt, Travis Jordan, Denise Klynowsky-Farrell,
Denton Shanks, Aaron Stapley, Bradley Stoker, Bradley Stokes, Huy Tran, Tuan Vo, Manuel Vogt, Ali Abdallah, Teresa Bair, Sushant Bandarpalle, Juliet Bliss, Amy Clark, Cecilia Dinh, Keith Egan, Joshua Goodman, Nafiseh Haghgoo, Munif Hussain, Brian Jones, Caitlin Karplus, Robert Kuo, Kelvin Ma, Alexandria McKay, Daniel Omire-Mayor, Evan Reinhardt, Amber Robinette-Ezonnaebi, Ian Solomon, Tanya Balov, Erin Board, Kathleen Fate, Kelly Gee, Matthew Hardy, Jeannie Le, Brian Moreaux, Eric Root, Lisa Soehren, Laura Striebel-Williams, Taisei Suzuki, Aren Thompson, Anam Whyne, Ashley Wilhelm, Szuhuei Wilson, Amandip Birdi, Leigh Costanzo, Sonja Cruz, Veronica Fonseca, Sana Waseem, Wesley Jones, Christina Lierman, Tim Ng, Pratyusha Tantravahi, Dennis Espejo, Tiffany Garrett, Rachel Gougian, Hannah Herman, Nickia King, Estevan Rivas, Jean Shiraki, Sierra Cobb, Devin Hon, Jacob Sup, Bradley Watts, Katherine Chen, Likesh Goyal, Rachael Banda, Patrick Fox, Thomas Ing, Aline Sengchannavong, Jennifer Anyanwu, Vincent Carbone, Natasha Khawaja, Chukwuka Ojiako, Mark Sears, Dallin Erickson, Diana Lu, Dennis Polzin,
Quintero, Tiffany Crider, Brandon Miller, Loc Nguyen, David Eki, CJ Hua, Emily Marshall, Afia Ukor, Vivianne Dagher, Aakash Goyal, Sun-jae Kim, Neal McKimpson, Catherine Njiru-Sewer, Rijo Philip, Jimmy Franco, Amritpal Mundi, Annie Peng, Larry Wong, Denyse Seah, Jacob Trapp, Avashkar Woompath, Salman Ali, Anteneh Fisseha, Michael Mccown, Van Nguyen, Mousson Berrouet, Yamini
Moorefield, Kent Stanton, Jingyi Gao,
Your Class Notes
Stay in touch with your friends and classmates by sharing updates about your career, family, and noteworthy accomplishments in the annual Class Notes section of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Alumni Magazine. Send your submission to TWC-MarCom-Magazine@ TheWrightCenter.org.
Class of ’80
Michael J. Mintzer ’80, M.D., AGSF, a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, retired in 2021 after a successful 41-year career, 37 of which were in academic medicine. In his academic career, he earned the rank of professor and achieved professor emeritus. Living in South Florida since graduating, Dr. Mintzer’s hobbies include photography and golf. He has been married for 52 years to his wife, Patty. The couple has two children: a daughter, Julie, and a son, Justin. Justin and his wife, Margarita, have two children, Abby and Lexie. Dr. Mintzer, a graduate of the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, formed a close friendship with another graduate, Bruce Rappaport ’80, M.D., and his family.
Class of ’86
Paul Dende ’86, D.O., FACP, a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, is the chief medical officer of WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Previously, he was the hospitalist medical director at Hanover Hospital in Hanover, Pennsylvania, for 12 years. Dr. Dende attended the State of the Union address in March 2024.
Class of ’91
Anthony Valente ’91, M.D., FACP, is the chief medical officer (CMO) at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton, where he has practiced for 34 years. In addition to his CMO role, he practices clinically within the Department of Critical Care Medicine. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Dr. Valente is a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’98
Anthony Freda ’98, D.O., is an internal medicine physician with PrimeMed Medical Group in Peckville, Pennsylvania. Dr. Freda graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Jerry Maloney ’98, D.O., is a senior vice president and chief medical officer for Franciscan Alliance Inc., in Mishawaka, Indiana. He recently completed a threeyear term on the American Hospital Association Region 2 Policy Board. Dr. Maloney is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Ghada Mitri ’98, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is an internist and assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Her specialty is preoperative evaluations. Dr. Mitri’s interests include women’s health, graduate medical education, preventive health, and quality improvement clinical research.
Class of ’99
Ghaith Mitri ’99, M.D., MMM, CPE, FACR, is the senior medical director of Rheumatology, Neurology & Ophthalmology at AlexionAstraZeneca Rare-Disease Unit in Boston, Massachusetts. In his spare time, he loves salsa dancing, motorcycle riding, playing and listening to music, and culinary fusion cooking. A graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Mitri completed his rheumatology and clinical immunology fellowship training at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and holds a master of medical management degree from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles, California. With more than 25 years of global medical experience, Dr. Mitri focuses on immunemediated and rare diseases, including more than 18 years of combined global medical affairs and clinical development within pharmacology, contract research organizations, academia, and drug development.
Class of ’02
Husam Issa ’02, M.D., is the chief in the division of infectious disease at
CLS Health in Webster, Texas. He has been married to his wife, Kholoud, for 25 years. The couple has two daughters, Danya, 23, and Tema, 22, and twin boys, Ali and Ismail, 14. Dr. Issa and his wife recently welcomed a new son-in-law into the family, Samii, who married Tema in July 2025. Dr. Issa graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’03
Naser Elkhalili ’03, M.D., a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, completed a rheumatology fellowship in 2005 and a geriatrics fellowship in 2006 at University of Texas Medical Branch. Today, he is a rheumatologist with CLS Health in Houston, Texas. He and his wife, Muna, are parents to four children, Ahmed, 21, Abdulla, 19, Jeanine, 15, and Yousef, 9, and pet parents to their German shepherd, Harley.
Class of ’05
Ali Chittalia ’05, M.D., MHA, a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, works with Geisinger Health System in a dual role as the program director for health equity and inclusion for its graduate medical education program and as an internist in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. He is also a clinical informaticist. Dr. Chittalia has served on the primary care steering board for Epic Corp. and is currently on the board of the Northeast Counties Medical Society. He has a vested interest in global health and has experience in setting up a multispecialty clinic in Eastern Africa to allow access to patients. Dr. Chittalia has been married to his wife, Val Chittalia, for 26 years. The couple has one daughter, Zahra, 21, who plans to attend law school in fall 2025. They are pet parents to a 15-month-old dog, Smokey, and an 18-year-old cat, Ellie.
Your Class Notes
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Arjinder Sethi ’05, ’13, M.D., is a noninvasive cardiologist at St. Luke’s University Hospital, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sethi was an associate program director of the Scranton-Temple Residency Program from 2005-10, until he helped establish and became one of the founding fellows in our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program. He was also the director of recruitment from 200720. His wife, Harneet Sethi ’05, M.D., was a co-resident with him in the Internal Medicine Residency Program. Their daughter, Mansha, is a dermatologist, and their son, Anshuman, is an orthodontist. He graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs.
Harneet Sethi ’05, M.D., is an internal medicine physician at St. Luke’s University Hospital, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, Dr. Sethi started the hospitalist program at Mercy Hospital, later known as the Regional Hospital of Scranton. She is an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’07
Hossam Algamil ’07, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is the medical director of Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network’s Hospitalist Medicine Program in New Hampshire. Dr. Algamil and his wife, Engy, have three children: Ahmed, 21, and twins Kareem and Lana, 14.
Sunil Musinipally ’07, M.D., FACP, is a pulmonary critical care physician in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area. Dr. Musinipally and his wife, Soujanya Varre, have two sons, Aarav, 14, and Ronit, 6. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he loves to travel and play tennis. “I am a proud alumnus of the Scranton-Temple Residency Program,” he said.
Class of ’08
Jehad Sibai ’08, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate,
is an infectious disease consultant with Beaumont Hospital System in Michigan.
Class of ’09
Jignesh Y. Sheth ’09, M.D., FACP, MPH, is the senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer for The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sheth and his wife, Hetal, have two children, Zian, 10, and Jiaa, 6. He is a graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’12
Erin McFadden ’12, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is chief medical officer, medical director, and dean of undergraduate medical and interprofessional education at The Wright Center for Community Health. She lives in Waverly Township, Pennsylvania, with her daughters, Paige, 15, and Adelyn, 11.
Nimesh Patel ’12, ’15, M.D., is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs. Dr. Patel is a cardiologist at Bon Secour Health System in Richmond, Virginia. His area of expertise is advanced heart failure and transplant. Dr. Patel and his wife, Lovelina Patel ’19, M.D., an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, live in Glen Allen, Virginia.
The couple has twin daughters, Mahi and Mishti, 14. Dr. Nimesh Patel said, “I owe my success to the excellent training I received at The Wright Center. I am forever grateful to Dr. (Linda) ThomasHemak, Dr. (Robert) Wright, and Dr. (Samir) Pancholy.”
Himanshu Sharma ’12, M.D., is a hospitalist with AdventHealth East Orlando, Florida. He loves to garden and travel. Dr. Sharma and his wife, Sonia, have a son, Rohan, 9, and a daughter, Riya, 8. He is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’13
Jumee Barooah ’13, M.D., is a quadruple board-certified physician, senior vice president of education, and designated institutional official at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Barooah and her husband, Pranjal Boruah ’11, ’14, M.D., FACC, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs, live in Moosic, Pennsylvania, with their two children, Dhruv, 19, and Krittika, 16. Their two dogs, Snowy and Storm, are integral to their family. Dr. Barooah is an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Timothy Burke ’13, D.O., FACOI, is an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate. Dual board-certified in internal and addiction medicine, he is a primary care physician and associate program director for our Internal Medicine Residency Program. An avid lover of gardening and playing darts, Dr. Burke has four children and five grandchildren.
Monodeep Biswas ’13, ’16, M.D., CCDS, FACP, FACC, FASE, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs, is a cardiac electrophysiologist
at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“Six years at The Wright Center has placed me on a solid foundation to serve as a specialist as well as to pursue further training in cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore,” Dr. Biswas wrote. “The inquisitiveness and innovation have stayed with me. The entire staff and team at The Wright Center were special. Special note of thanks and fond memories to Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak and Dr. Samir Pancholy who helped and supported me to realize and achieve my goals and dreams. Proud to be from The Wright Center coming out of Scranton, PA.”
Class of ’14
Khaled Elghonemy ’14, M.D., M.Sc, FACP, is a primary care physician with Optum in Seattle, Washington. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Elghonemy is also an associate professor at Washington State University Medical School. In his spare time, he loves to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his children, Mallak, 11, Zeina, 8, and Seleem, 7.
Mina Makary ’14, M.D., MBA, FACP, an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a hematology and oncology attending with Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
Bassel Noumi ’14, M.D., is the owner of TruDoc Medical LLC, a multispecialty group covering multiple hospitals in northern New Jersey. Dr. Noumi, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a pulmonary and critical care physician. He is the father of two boys, Eli and Charles.
Arvind Vasudevan ’14, M.D., is a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Washington. A graduate of our Internal Medicine
Residency Program, he enjoys his work and personal time with family, exploring the outdoors and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Class of ’15
Neha Janakiraman ’15, M.D., is a hospitalist with Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, California. She owns her own family practice, Family Medicine Associates of Sacramento Inc., in Carmichael, California. Dr. Janakiraman is an alumna of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Nayanjyoti Kaushik ’15, ’18 M.D., FACC, FHRS, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs, is a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist at CHI Health Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln, Nebraska. He focuses on pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia ablation, WATCHMAN implantation, laser lead extraction, and various cardiac device implantation.
David Knorek ’15, M.D., MBA, is an internal medicine physician with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Knorek and his wife, Andrea, have two children. As a family, they enjoy traveling, and outside of medicine, he loves to keep up with physical fitness and exercise. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees.
Milan Patel ’15, M.D., MBA, is a chief medical officer and pulmonary critical care physician at St. Mary’s General Hospital in northern New Jersey. A graduate of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Patel is the proud father of two girls, Tulsi, 6, and Niya, 4.
Class of ’16
Mark Ilagan ’16, D.O., a Regional Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in San Bernardino, California. Outside of medicine, he enjoys portrait photography as a hobby. Check out his Instagram page
to see his portfolio visit: @mkiphotos.
Regina Ragasa ’16, D.O., DABLM, DABOM, is the chief of obesity medicine and regional co-chair for lifestyle medicine for Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Panorama City, California. Dr. Ragasa enjoys giving keynote lectures at local, national, and international conferences on the health of lifestyle medicine, with a focus on nutrition. She also dabbles in social media and newsletters, and has been a guest on the PLANTSTRONG podcast. Dr. Ragasa is proudly married to Jakob Hanenberg. The couple has two daughters, Eva, 3, and Olana, 6. She is a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program.
Vimal Ravi ’16, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a pulmonary critical care attending with CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, and an assistant professor of medicine at University of Missouri School of Medicine, Springfield Clinical Campus. Dr. Ravi is married to Sandhya Samavedam, M.D., a critical care physician at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. They are parents to two daughters, Vaanya, 10, and Akshaya, 4.
Yelin Yang ’16, M.D., is a primary care physician at Crozer Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a mother of two children, Bella, 19, and Brandon, 17. Dr. Yang graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’17
Juliet Bliss ’17, D.O., a National Family Medicine Program graduate, is a family medicine physician at Northwest Washington Family Medicine Residency in Washington. She has been co-associate program director for the last four years and loves working in graduate medical education, helping to grow the next physician workforce in the Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula. Dr. Bliss and her wife, Catrina, spend their free
Your Class Notes
time at home on five acres of land with their growing family of two children, Cordelia, 14, and Jasper, 10; two dogs, Jax and Chance; three cats, Charlie, Rocky, and Blaze; and 16 chickens.
Ajay Venkataram ’17, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a hospitalist in the greater Seattle, Washington, region. He and his wife, Anusha, have two wonderful children, Ankith, 6, and Anagha, 1, as well as their dog, Raven. They also enjoy traveling and exploring the local food scene.
Megan DeLiberato ’17, D.O., and Samuel DeLiberato ’17, D.O., graduates of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, work at Baylor Scott & White Health in Austin, Texas, as family medicine physicians. Dr. Samuel DeLiberato is the division director of primary care in the South Austin region. The couple has two children, Isla, 6, and Sebastian, 5. They both love Austin, but enjoy returning to the East Coast to visit family and friends.
Erin Gordon ’17, M.D., owns Erin Gordon, MD, a medical aesthetics office in Calabasas, California. She also works per diem as a hospitalist at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California. An alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Gordon and her husband, David Johnson, have a daughter, Sofia, 2.
Nafiseh Haghgoo ’17, D.O., is an urgent care physician at Overlake Medical Center, lab director for Overlake Medical Clinics, and lead physician at Microsoft
in Bellevue, Washington. She married Bagher Afshari in August 2022. The couple has a son, Nour.
Zainab Mian ’17, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is an endocrinologist at Roper St. Francis Healthcare in South Carolina.
Saurabh Patel ’17, M.D., is an interventional cardiologist at Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute in Florida. Dr. Patel is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Soham Shah ’17, M.D., MBA, CPE, FACP, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a principal consultant in digital health for Roche in Santa Clara, California.
Class of ’18
Afia Babar ’18, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician in New York City. She serves as an attending physician and the clinical director of the emergency care oncology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Additionally, she is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, where she mentors medical residents and students. Dr. Babar is an active member of the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations worldwide, most recently serving as a board member at The Family Center, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting families facing crisis and illness while helping build a brighter future for their children. Dr. Babar is also a medical consultant for various biotech health startup companies. She is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Balov and her husband, Mark Serey, have a son who recently started first grade. The family enjoys traveling abroad and went to Portugal last summer. Dr. Balov is an alumna of our National Family Medicine Residency Program.
Erin Dailey Board ’18, D.O., a National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, moved to Alaska after graduation and worked with Alaskan native tribes in offroad villages for five years. She now lives in Canada and splits her time between providing full-scope family medicine in rural British Columbia, Canada, and Valdez, Alaska. In her free time, she explores the outdoors with her rescue sled dog, K’nik, and enjoys life as the cool, single aunt with her nine nieces and nephews. She is also the proud owner of a camper van.
Katherine Fate ’18, D.O., is an outpatient family medicine physician with Neighborcare Health at
High Point, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Fate is a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program.
Tanya Balov ’18, D.O., has been with HealthyU Clinics in Gilbert, Arizona, since May 2024. She also started Adriatique Medical Consulting to help other physicians with efficiency and their practices. Dr.
Svetlana Hanson ’18, M.D., boardcertified in internal and obesity medicine, is the founder and owner of VIVANMD in Destin, Florida. The medical spa and wellness center offers concierge care and personalized weightloss medicine. She lives in Destin with her husband of 15 years, their daughters, Mila and Eva, and their dog. Outside of medicine, she enjoys raising monarch butterflies and spending time outdoors. Dr. Hanson adds that our Internal Medicine Residency Program “taught me
medicine is as much an art of listening as it is of healing.”
Matthew Hardy ’18, D.O., is a family medicine physician at Moses Lake Community Health Center in his hometown of Moses Lake, Washington. He also holds leadership roles as medical director for Columbia Crest Skilled Nursing Facility, Lakeridge Memory Care Facility, and Assured Hospice. Dr. Hardy is proud to serve his community in multiple capacities, continuing his work in the Federally Qualified Health Center setting to care for underserved individuals and migrant workers. Dr. Hardy and his wife of 23 years, Shaila, have five children: Malcolm, 21; Quinn, 19; Winston, 17; Sterling, 12; and Lulu Anne, 8.
Sumanth Kacharam ’18, M.D., completed a nephrology fellowship at Brown University in Rhode Island. Dr. Kacharam is now in private practice with Nephrology Associates in Dover, Delaware. He and his wife, Pranaya Daru, have a daughter, Myra, 2. He is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Angad Madan ’18, D.O., a Regional Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is the medical director at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center at St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany, New York. Dr. Madan completed an addiction medicine fellowship with MetroHealthCase Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. He lives in Lathan, New York, with his wife, Navroop Kaur, and their daughter, Sirat Kaur Madan, 3.
Gaurav Patel ’18, ’21, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs, is an interventional cardiologist at Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants and University of Texas Health East Texas in Tyler, Texas.
Shraddha Rayamajhi ’18, M.D., is an infectious disease physician with Virtua Health in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Dr. Rayamajhi is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Meenakshi Sambharia ’18, M.D.,
matched in a nephrology-critical care fellowship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after graduation. She decided to finish her studies at University of Iowa so she could join her husband, Arpit Sothwal ’16, ’19, a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship programs, who accepted a position at a cardiology practice. After Dr. Sambharia completed her fellowship, she accepted a position as an assistant professor at University of Iowa in the division of nephrology. Her trainees love her and call her “one of the best attendings they have worked with.” She has been a mentor to several students and residents, some of whom have chosen nephrology as their career path. Dr. Sambharia and Dr. Sothwal have a son, Vihaan, 3. To challenge herself, Dr. Sambharia took up kickboxing and has since developed a passion for the sport. In her spare time, she volunteers at His Hands Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In summer of 2025, Meenakshi and Arpit moved to Arizona.
Gursukhman Sidhu ’18, M.D., completed a fellowship in electrophysiology and is practicing near the Quad Cities in Iowa. He loves treating atrial fibrillation in his community and has a passion for reduction of AF-related dementia and deconditioning in the geriatric population. Dr. Sidhu enjoys exploring nature and the outdoors with his wife, Shweta, daughter, Habeer, 10, and son, Anhad, 5. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Sidhu said, he’s “always grateful and proud of my alma mater.”
Anmol Singh ’18, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a hospitalist at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial Hospital in Lodi, California.
Taisei Suzuki ’18, D.O., a National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is the medical director of four county jails in Maryland. He works part time at Unity Health Care as a primary care physician, providing high-quality osteopathic manipulative treatment and acupuncture.
Aren Thompson ’18, D.O., practices family medicine and osteopathic
manipulative treatment at Hawaii Island Community Health Center. Dr. Thompson and his wife, Genelle, have a little girl, Lily, 2. He is a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program.
Anam Whyne ’18, D.O., a graduate of the National Family Medicine Residency Program (NFMR), is a core faculty member for the NFMR Program at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C. She finds her joy in medicine with her patients and teaching resident physicians, especially in women’s health care, addiction medicine, and community medicine. In her free time, she enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband, Atif, her son, Ibrahim, 5, and her newborn son, Yahya, 3 months. She is a misplaced Texan and still cheers on her Dallas Stars and Mavericks from afar.
Chien Yang ’18, M.D., is a clinical assistant professor in the division of nephrology at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Outside of medicine, Dr. Yang is a passionate writer. After receiving the Taichung Literature Prize in Taiwan (prose section), she has been dedicating time to writing a novel. She is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’19
Nadeem Mukhtar ’19, D.O., is a hospitalist with Mercy Medical Group in Carmichael, California. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he is also a clinical assistant professor at California Northstate University College of Medicine in Elk Grove. Dr. Mukhtar serves as the vice chair for the department of medicine at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael and is a national member of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the American College of Osteopathic Internists. A resident of Folsom, California, he has been named “Top Doc” by SacTown Magazine for the last three years. Dr. Mukhtar and his wife, Fariha, have two sons.
Jean Shiraki ’19, D.O., an alumna of
Your Class Notes
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
our National Family Medicine Residency Program, is one of the associate program directors of the Family Health Centers of San Diego Family Medicine Residency Program. The program is one of the nation’s 10 largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, with over 20 primary care clinics in San Diego, California. Dr. Shiraki and her husband, Jesse, have a daughter, Mika.
Tejaswi Voladri ’19, M.D., is in traditional practice doing both outpatient and inpatient care. The Regional Family Medicine Residency Program graduate works at Weirton Medical Center with West Virginia University in Weirton, West Virginia. His wife, Divya Gavini, M.D., recently joined the same hospital. The couple has a 1-year-old son, Yashvir. Dr. Voladri said, “I really appreciate the thorough training I received during my residency, which better equipped me to tackle medical practice.”
Class of ’20
Katherine Chen ’20, D.O., a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program, completed a second residency in emergency medicine in 2023. She is currently a nocturnist at Providence Swedish in Seattle, Washington.
Sierra Cobb ’20, D.O., is an assistant professor of primary care and osteopathic manipulative medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Great Falls, Montana. Dr. Cobb is a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program.
Kelly O’Leary Kazmierski ’20, M.D., and Daniel Kazmierski ’21, M.D., live in Bluffton, South Carolina. Kelly is the chief of adult medicine and an internist at Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center. She also serves as the regional director of medical education
for A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSUSOMA). Daniel is the facility medical director at Hilton Head Medical Center and a clinical teacher for ATSU-SOMA. The couple has two daughters, Morgan and Dylan. They are graduates of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Farrukh S. Khokar ’20, D.O., is a hospitalist at White Plains Hospital, New York. Dr. Khokar was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Internists in 2023. He actively participates in departmental development activities and enjoys the highest patient satisfaction. Dr. Khokar is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Prasanthi Limagala ’20, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is an infectious disease attending with Geisinger Health System in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Dr. Limagala lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, Roop Parlapalli ’14, M.D., FHM, FACP, and their 9-year-old son. Dr. Parlapalli graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Monica Mallik ’20, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, completed her Nephrology Fellowship at UPMC Presbyterian Renal and Electrolyte Division, part of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine. Dr. Mallik practices nephrology in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband, Nikesh Karna, and their two children, Shreya, and Shaun, outside of the Steel City.
Rajaram Pattar ’20, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cambridge
Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Vikaash Persad ’20, D.O., is a family medicine physician with the 39th Medical Group, Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. He is a graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’21
Nasha Elavia ’21, M.D., is a nephrologist with the Nephrology Center of Maryland in Fallston and University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Hospital in Bel Air. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Elavia said, “My Internal Medicine Residency training at The Wright Center was an educational experience that I will always treasure, along with great memories of working with my attending physicians and coresidents!”
Gowtham Gannamani ’21, M.D., completed his endocrinology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is now working at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, with an academic affiliation at University of South Carolina. Dr. Gannamani is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Anjalika Gupta ’21, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is an internal medicine clinician, board-certified in addiction medicine, at Scranton Primary Health Care Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She married Udit Asija ’24, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, who is a gastroenterology fellow with The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. The couple has a son, Aarush, 2, and two cats, Pepper and Cece. The family likes to spend their weekends hiking and traveling.
Mladen Jecmenica ’21, M.D., a Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
graduate, continues to make waves in gastroenterology in Southern California. He balances a thriving practice with leading-edge advancements in patient care. When he’s not in the clinic or endoscopy suite, you can find him exploring Los Angeles’ vibrant food scene, catching waves along the Pacific Ocean, or exploring remote parts of the world. Dr. Jecmenica adds, “Life after fellowship has been nothing short of incredible, and success in medicine can go hand-in-hand with adventure, innovation, and a little bit of California sunshine.”
Rohan Kataria ’21, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a communitybased nephrologist in Cookeville, Tennessee. He married Snigdha Bhatia in November 2025 in New Delhi, India. They are pet parents to Queso, an English cream golden retriever.
Masuma Khawaja ’21, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, pursued an endocrinology fellowship after graduation at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Ohio. “The road to becoming a physician wasn’t easy, but I’m now enjoying this stage of the journey practicing as an endocrinologist in private practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a fulfilling work-life balance,” said Dr. Khawaja, who added that she enjoys the little things, including spending quality time with her spoiled furry friend, Milo.
David Sun-Jae Kim ’21, D.O., an alumnus of the National Family Medicine Residency Program, is a geriatric consultant at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.
Sharmil Suma Kumaran ’21, M.D., and his wife, Metlapalli Venkata Sravanthi ’21, M.D., graduates of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, pursued their respective fellowships in nephrology and hematology & oncology at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Kumaran is a nephrologist, and Dr. Sravanthi is a hematologist & oncologist at Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins, West Virginia.
Nisha Kuruvadi ’21, D.O., DipABOM, DipABLM, is triple-board certified in internal, obesity, and lifestyle medicine. An alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Kuruvadi lives in her hometown of San Diego, California. She enjoys being a primary care and obesity weight management physician, and is passionate about preventive care, weight management, and promoting lasting lifestyle changes. Dr. Kuruvadi is happily married and loves to travel and spend time with her family in her free time.
Catherine Njiru-Sewer ’21, D.O., a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program, serves as the clinical director and is a family medicine physician at Bay Community Health, the smallest Federally Qualified Health Center in Maryland. Her dedication to serving underserved populations in a semirural setting remains unwavering. In addition to her role, she is wound care certified, ensuring greater access to care for the patients in the clinic. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, watching comedy shows, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Dhaval Patel ’21, M.D., is an associate physician practicing hematology and medical oncology with Astera Cancer Center in Edison, New Jersey. Dr. Patel is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Faryal Saeed ’21, M.D., is a hospitalist with Sound Physicians in Lufkin, Texas. She got married in April 2024 and enjoys traveling with her husband. The couple aims to travel to at least two countries per year, making it to four in 2024: Nepal, Maldives, Laos, and Thailand. Dr. Saeed is an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Nishant Sharma ’21, M.D., is practicing pulmonary and critical care medicine at University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Dr. Sharma is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Hala Soomro ’21, M.D., is a hospitalist at Brown University Health in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Soomro is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’22
Komal Ejaz ’22, M.D., is a staff rheumatologist with Piedmont Healthcare in Athens, Georgia. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, she and her husband, fellow physician Ali Raza, are the proud parents of a son, Azlan, 3.
Neil Patel ’21, M.D., MPH, is a general cardiologist at UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A graduate of our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, he also serves as core faculty for the general cardiology fellowship at UPMC Harrisburg. Dr. Patel loves traveling and enjoys spending time with his wife, Chaitali, and their children, Ruhee, 5, and Riaan, 1.
Your Class Notes
Jimmy Franco ’22, D.O., a National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, practices rural medicine at Copper Queen Community Hospital in Douglas, Arizona. When he is not practicing medicine, he loves to read.
Mahtalash Hoque ’22, M.D., serves as a dedicated primary care physician at RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey. A graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, she teaches medical residents as a faculty member, finding great fulfillment in mentoring the next generation of physicians. Dr. Hoque is happily married to her medical school sweetheart, Dr. Choudhry. The couple lives in New Jersey. Their life is filled with frequent travels, lots of cherished family events, and the job of building a beautiful future – both personally and professionally.
Rahool ’22, M.D., a graduate of our Geriatric Fellowship Program, is a hospitalist and geriatrician at UPMC Williamsport Hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He credits the mentorship from The Wright Center’s physicians, colleagues, nurses, and medical assistants for shaping him into the confident and effective physician he is today. Dr. Rahool and his wife, Prinkiya ’23, M.D., an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, have a daughter, Yuvakshi Sairani, 1.
Solomon Saul ’22, D.O., is practicing primary care with Lehigh Valley Health Network in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. He teaches point-of-care ultrasound to the family medicine residents. Dr. Saul and his wife, Margo, have five children: Dina, 12; Yaffa, 9; Moses, 6; Batya, 3; and Yosef, 1. He graduated from our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Kristy Simonetti ’22, M.D., is a primary care physician with Lee Health in Fort Myers, Florida. An alumna of our
Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, she married Aaron Simonetti ’22, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Aaron Simonetti is a hospitalist in Naples, Florida. The couple has three children: Aadan, 5; Lilliana, 2; and Lena, 6 months.
Jasleen Waraich ’22, M.D., is a primary care physician and section chief at Renown Health in Nevada. She loves being a mom to her sons, Jaylen, 4, and Aiven, 1. Dr. Waraich is married to an amazing stay-at-home dad, Manek Jethi, and they love spending time with their boys. She is a graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Class of ’23
Khalid Ahmed ’23, M.D., is a gastroenterology fellow at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He married his wife, Marwa, shortly after graduation. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Ahmed said, “What kept me going through residency was the belief that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I stayed focused on learning, drawing inspiration from those who led by example, and taking note of what I’d want to do differently in the future. Residency taught me more than just medicine; it shaped the person I am today. Without those formative years, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love most today: gastroenterology.”
Mohammad Asim Amjad ’23, M.D., is pursuing his passion for lung transplantation as a pulmonary and critical care fellow at University of Texas. Originally from Pakistan, he and his wife, Zamara Hamid, appreciate the kindness they encountered in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The couple is raising their daughters, Nureh, 2, and Miray, 5 months. He graduated from our
Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Jessica Beebe ‘23, D.O., a National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a primary care physician at HealthSource of Ohio in Cincinnati. She is a loving dog mom to a golden retriever, Griffin, loves spending time on the trails with her horse, Firecracker, and enjoys teaching resident physicians at The Wright Center.
Richard Bronnenkant ’23, ’24, M.D., a graduate of both our Internal Medicine Residency and Geriatrics Fellowship programs, is pursuing an Infectious Disease Fellowship with MedStar Health Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Robert Granberg ’23, M.D., is a practitioner for the Tsilhqot’in National Government and the All Nations Healing House in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada. He and his wife, Austin, are looking to purchase their first home and start a hobby farm. Dr. Granberg is a graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
William Michael Haas ’23, D.O., is a nephrology fellow at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He enjoys spending time with friends and family and riding his two jet skis. Dr. Haas is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Khyati Khattar ’23, M.D., is a fellow in our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, she said, “My time at The Wright Center has been an incredible journey! Starting with my
internal medicine residency, where I gained invaluable experience and made wonderful friends, I’m excited to continue my training here as a Cardiovascular Disease fellow.”
Gary Oh ’23, B.Sc.Hon., M.D., DipABLM, earned board certification in lifestyle medicine from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Oh is at Parrish Medical Center Cape Canaveral in Florida. A graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, he said, “Much love to TWC, will always be alumni. Enjoying the sunshine state of Florida riding through the sands of Cape Canaveral. Reach out if anyone is interested in coming down here.”
James Simons ’23, M.D., a Regional Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is board-certified in addiction and family medicine. He is providing both primary and recovery-based care in Northeast Pennsylvania. He married Maura Meril in September 2024. They are pet parents to Parker.
Tony AbdelMaseeh ’24, M.D., is a hospitalist with UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Udit Asija ’24, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a gastroenterology fellow with The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. He and his wife, Anjalika Gupta ’21, M.D., also an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, are proud parents of their two-year-old son, Aarush, and pet parents to their beloved cats, Pepper and Cece. The couple shares a passion for traveling and hiking, making the most of their free time exploring new destinations and the great outdoors.
with her patients and families. Moving to Dallas to be closer to family and friends, she enjoys traveling, reading, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her loved ones.
Peter Iskander ’24, M.D., HBSc, is a fellow in our Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. Originally from Canada, he went to medical school in Antigua. Dr. Iskander married Rachael Cooper and is a nerd for all things “Star Wars,” Lego, and Marvel. Dr. Iskander loves to swim and play volleyball in his spare time. He graduated from our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Jacob Darnell ’24, D.O., is an addiction medicine fellow at University of Washington in Boise, Idaho. Our National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Megan, and dog, Freya.
Joshua George ’24, D.O., a National Family Medicine Residency Program graduate, is back in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, working as an attending family medicine physician for Temple University Health System. He lives with his dog, Daisy, and is happy to be back in the City of Brotherly Love, especially after the Eagles Super Bowl victory.
Sandya George ’24, D.O., a graduate of our National Family Medicine Residency Program, practices full spectrum family medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. George incorporates a mind-body connection into caring for her patients and believes in fostering meaningful relationships
Ayushi Jain ’24, M.D., a Legacy Award recipient at graduation, is a hospitalist with NYC Health & Hospitals system in North Central Bronx, New York, where she is dedicated to caring for underserved communities. She also serves as a faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Jain contributed to our regional communities as a member of our Patient & Community Engagement Board. She is passionate about connecting with people and thrives on building meaningful relationships with her patients. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to India to visit family and spending time with her beloved dog, Bella.
Anitesh Jaswal ’24, M.D., an alumnus of the Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, works at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, Florida, as an occupational health and primary care attending physician.
Amatus Legbedion ’24, M.D., is a primary care physician at The Wright Center for Community Health, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. A graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, she
Class of ’24
Your Class Notes
is practicing to become a speed puzzler and enjoys spending her free time solving 500- to 1,000-piece puzzles. Dr. Legbedion also enjoys traveling and collecting postcards from different cities she visits.
Aamir Makda ’24, M.D., is a hospitalist at Bayhealth Hospital in Delaware. He is the father of two baby girls, Khirad and Amyra, and loves exploring the northeastern United States with his family in his free time. Dr. Makda is a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Sandeep Mandal ’24, M.D., a graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, is a hospitalist at Druid City Hospital Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and an adjunct faculty member at University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Dr. Mandal enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and discovering unique experiences in his free time. He is passionate about medical education and serving the Tuscaloosa community.
Edwin Mogaka ’24, M.D., Ph.D., is a primary care physician with Lehigh Valley Health in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Diana, have two boys, Issac, 14, and Izeyah, 10. He is a proud graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Mohana Preesha Partheeban ’24, M.D., is currently a primary care physician with HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minnesota. A graduate of our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Partheeban is passionate about focusing on care for older patients. Originally from Malaysia, she loves exploring different restaurants and cuisines.
Are You Following Our GME Socials?
Chilsia Shafi ’24, M.D., an alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program and former chief resident physician, is an infectious disease fellow at the University of FloridaGainesville. Dr. Shafi married her incredible husband, Varun, in the magical backwaters of Kerala, India, after completing our residency program. She is also a proud cat mom to their fluffy Ragdoll, Kai. Outside of work, you can find her dancing, exploring new places, or simply soaking in the little joys of life with her boys.
Sabeeka Shah ’24, M.D., is an infectious disease fellow at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. An alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Shah loves to travel with her children, Fatema, Zoha, and Ismael, in her free time.
Lekha Yadukumar ’24, M.D., is pursuing a hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant fellowship at University of Iowa. An alumna of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, she enjoys exploring her research interests in precision oncology and quality improvement with the integration of AI in medicine. Dr. Yadukumar and her husband, Sharan, love to travel, bike, and play pickleball.
Syed Muhammad Hussain Zaidi ’24, M.D., an Internal Medicine Program graduate, is a hospitalist at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa. In Dr. Zaidi’s spare time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Fatima Tanweer, and reading medical articles, as it allows him to remain current with the latest advancements and gain a deeper understanding of his field.
Class of ’25
Ahmed Algohiny ’25, M.D., is a hospitalist with Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Louisiana. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he said, “The Wright Center and Scranton will always hold a special place in my story – after all, it’s where I welcomed my daughter, Hana, 2, into the world. Residency isn’t just about work. It’s about the people you meet, the friendships you forge, and the fun you have along the way. Here’s to the memories that shape us and the laughter that keeps us going!”
Cassandra D’Andrea, ’25, M.D., is a family medicine physician with Mercy Health in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She graduated from our Regional Family Medicine Residency Program.
Yash Deshpande ’25, M.D., an Internal Medicine Residency Program graduate, is a rheumatology fellow at Houston Methodist in Houston, Texas. After completing his fellowship training, he hopes to settle down in Texas with is wife, Michelle. Dr. Deshpande said, “The training I’ve received is invaluable. I’ve made lifelong friends during training, both with attendings and colleagues.”
Ogochukwu Ekete ’25, M.D., a graduate of our Geriatrics Fellowship Program, is a resident physician in our Internal Medicine Residency Program. She enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones in her free time.
Stephanie Farah ’25, M.D., is an obesity medicine fellow at West Virginia University Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. An alumna of our Geriatrics Fellowship Program,
Dr. Farah said, “I am extremely thrilled and excited to make a positive impact on the lives of older adults as much as I can. I dedicate this success to my late grandfather, who passed two years ago. He used to be my greatest support since medical school. I would also like to thank all the faculty members who gave us their best. I will be forever grateful to The Wright Center for this great opportunity. A special thanks to my parents, siblings, husband, Bernard, and our two little girls, Noor Lody and Judy. I would not be here without their support and, more importantly, their love.”
Sajid Hussain ’25, M.D., is a hospitalist with Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, North Carolina. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he said, “It has been a truly rewarding experience working and training at The Wright Center. I am grateful for the opportunities to grow professionally and personally in such a supportive and enriching environment. The Wright Center offered an exceptional work-life balance, allowing me to thrive. I am confident that I will make extraordinary contributions to medicine, our communities, and to the lives of countless patients.”
Aimen Iqbal ’25, M.D., is an endocrinology fellow at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Iqbal is passionate about advancing patient-centered care in metabolic and hormonal disorders. In her free time, she enjoys strength training at the
SOMEWHERE IN TIME
The formative years
Resident physicians from the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, from left, Michael Mintzer ’80, M.D., AGSF; Gerald Carver ’80, M.D.; Edward Dzielak ’81, D.O., FACP; Kenneth Rudolph ’80, M.D.; Richard Gratz ’81, M.D.; Bruce Rappaport ’80, M.D.; John Peters ’80, M.D.; Joseph Philbin ’82, M.D.; and Donald Kachline ’82, M.D., pose for a photo during the program’s early years.
gym, Pilates, and spending quality time with her husband, Muneeb, trying out new cuisines. As self-described foodies, they’re always on the hunt for their next favorite bite. Dr. Iqbal is grateful for the friendships and mentorships formed during residency and is excited for this next chapter. She said, “Residency taught me not only how to care for patients, but also how to stay grounded in moments of intensity. I’m walking into fellowship with gratitude and resilience.”
Jesvin Jeyapaulraj ’25, M.D., is an academic hospitalist with Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Louisiana. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, he plans to pursue a gastroenterology fellowship after serving as a hospitalist for a few years. Dr. Jeyapaulraj enjoys traveling in his free time.
Ahmad Khan ’25, M.D., is driven by self-improvement and prioritizes physical well-being and mental resilience to excel in high-pressure medicine. Dr. Khan also champions social connection and communication, believing empathy and collaboration strengthen patient relationships and teamwork. A graduate of our Geriatrics Fellowship Program, he is continuing his training as a resident physician in our Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Khan and his wife, Salma, have a daughter, Liyana, 1.
Nishay Shah ’25, D.O., is pursuing an electrophysiology fellowship at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey. A passionate traveler, Dr. Shah enjoys exploring different parts of the world and delights in trying new desserts and snacks from various cultures. He also finds joy in analyzing ECG tracings for fun and diving into immersive experiences on Meta Quest. A graduate of our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, he lives by the quote, “Anything happened, happened for the good. Whatever is happening, is happening for the good. Whatever will happen, will also happen for the good.”
Sapinder Singh ’25, M.D., is a primary care physician with AtlantiCare in New Jersey. A graduate of our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Singh said, “It has been a wonderful journey at The Wright Center. I have always been passionate about working within the community to make a meaningful impact on people’s health at the primary care level, where early intervention can help prevent diseases before they progress. The Wright Center has been instrumental in supporting this mission, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. By God’s grace, everything is one track, and I remain committed to serving individuals from all backgrounds and ethnicities.”
emembering Dr. Korinn Vandervall ’21 R
Korinn Vandervall, D.O.
Two new benches in Scranton, Pennsylvania’s Nay Aug Park honor the memory of the late Internal Medicine Residency Program alumna Korinn Vandervall ’21, D.O. Dr. Vandervall completed her The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in June 2021, serving as chief resident and chair of the Residency and Fellow Wellness Committee in her graduation year. She later pursued a fellowship in palliative medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and was in the process of obtaining her Pennsylvania medical license when she passed away unexpectedly in June 2022.
In a brief speech at the dedication, Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, reflected on Dr. Vandervall’s legacy of selfless service, saying her memory continues to bring light to the communities we serve.
THE WRIGHT PARTNERSHIP
Several of Dr. Vandervall’s family, friends, and colleagues attended a ceremony in June 2025 to dedicate the benches, including from left, her father, Kevin Vandervall; her longtime boyfriend, James Cortese ’22, M.D.; her mother, Kim Vandervall; her sister, Kelsee Vandervall; her best friend, Felisa Saldutti, D.O.; and Dr. Saldutti’s husband, Devin Chapman.
The Wright Center welcomes medical students from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education welcomed four medical students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), who will complete rotations at The Wright Center’s community health centers and other locations throughout the region over two years. The 2024-25 academic year marked the launch of the partnership between The Wright Center and LECOM, which is open to third- and fourthyear medical students. LECOM students participating in the program, from left, are Sulav Shrestha, Tazeen Malik, Katherine Weir, and Elena Myalo.
Global talent, local impact
Fifty-six new resident physicians begin their journey at The Wright Center
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education welcomed 56 new resident physicians into its Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residency programs on National Match Day for aspiring doctors, March 21, 2025.
The National Resident Matching Program’s Match Day is held annually on the third Friday of March. Medical students nationand worldwide simultaneously learn at which U.S. residency program they will train for the next three to seven years. It is one of the most important and competitive processes in the medical school experience.
The Wright Center is one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Consortiums in the country, with more than 190 physicians in training.
The Wright Center successfully matched resident physicians into the following regional programs: Internal Medicine Residency (35) and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency (9). Additionally, new resident physicians joined the new Internal Medicine-Geriatrics Integrated Residency and Fellowship Pathway, commonly known as the Combined Med-Geri Pathway (2), Family Medicine – Scranton (6), and Family Medicine –HealthSource of Ohio (4) residency programs.
As one of only 14 training sites nationwide approved by ACGME, the Med-Geri Pathway Program offers an alternative route for training geriatricians by integrating the clinical experiences and competencies of a geriatrics fellowship into an internal medicine residency.
The innovative Family Medicine - HealthSource of Ohio Residency Program focuses on training family medicine physicians in rural settings with an emphasis on caring for underserved populations. Residents will gain hands-on experience in patient care at Ohio’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, which serves more than 85,000 patients annually. Through this immersive training, the program aims to strengthen the rural health care workforce and improve access to highquality whole-person primary health services.
The Wright Center will also retain three physicians in training who will complete the Geriatrics Fellowship Program in June 2025. They will join the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
The new resident physicians will begin their program on July 1, 2025. All together, incoming residents hail from 13 countries: 20 from the United States, 16 from Pakistan, five from India, four from Egypt, three from Canada, and one each from Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Turkey.
The Wright Center received 5,835 applications and interviewed 433 candidates, or about 7.42% of the applicants. The National Resident Matching Program makes residency matches, using a mathematical algorithm to pair graduating medical students with open training positions at teaching health centers, educational consortia, hospitals, and other institutions across the U.S. The model considers the top choices of both students and residency programs.
“Match Day is one of the most exciting days of the academic year and a celebration to welcome our new residents,” said Jumee Barooah, M.D., senior vice president and designated institutional official at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “For the residents, the day represents the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance that began at an early age.
“For The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, it marks another milestone in meeting our 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.”
Fellows join programs
Seven new fellows will also join our fellowship programs in Cardiovascular Disease, Gastroenterology, and Geriatrics at the start of the new academic year in July 2025.
Our in-demand fellowship programs received 1,178 applications for the available slots. We announced in December 2024 that we would fill three positions through pre-match in our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, under Program Director Samir Pancholy, M.D., MSCAI, FAHA, FACC, and one fellow would join Program Director Vikas Khurana, M.D., in our Gastroenterology Fellowship Program.
The three slots in our Geriatrics Fellowship Program were filled post-match.
Angad Madan ’18, D.O., from left, with his team, Richard Warren, advanced practice provider; Steve Boulet, operations manager; Patricia Gallagher, RN; Erica Kelley and Francis Scarlata, credentialed alcoholism and substance use disorder counselors; and Alexis Bell, administrative assistant, at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center’s inpatient detox unit on the sixth floor of St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York.
Guided by mentorship, driven by purpose: Regional Family Medicine alumnus finds his calling in addiction medicine
Before Angad Madan ’18, D.O., began his Regional Family Medicine Residency at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, he wasn’t sure where his path as a physician would lead.
Luckily, he had two guides – Alexander Le ’17, D.O., a friend since their days at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education – to help him find his niche as the medical director at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC) at St. Peter’s Health Partners/St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York.
“I knew I wanted to be directly involved in patient care, working with patients one-on-one,” Dr. Madan said. “When I was asked to take over as medical director, I initially had cold feet but ultimately decided this was an ideal role in line with my passion.”
After graduating from medical school in 2015, Dr. Madan applied for a spot in The Wright Center’s Regional Family Medicine Residency Program on the advice of Dr. Le, who had entered the residency program a year earlier. Already familiar with the impact of addiction in his own family, Dr. Madan said The Wright Center laid the foundation for what would become his life’s calling.
Pennsylvania designated The Wright Center for Community Health as an Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence in 2017,
just a year before he finished his residency. Dr. Madan said The Wright Center’s approach to integrating primary care and substance use disorder treatment, championed by Dr. ThomasHemak, inspired him.
“I was really blessed to have the opportunity to work very closely under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas,” Dr. Madan said. “During my residency, there was a focus on integrating addiction medicine with The Wright Center’s primary care services, which allowed for a multidisciplinary team approach.”
After graduating from his residency program, Dr. Madan joined Dr. Le at Woodland Heights Medical Center in Lufkin, Texas.
As a hospitalist there from September 2018 to May 2020, he saw how addiction impacted patients’ health.
“There was a lot of substance use disorder pathology, including cardiomyopathy, sepsis, and acute respiratory failure,” Dr. Madan said. “I felt addiction contributed to a lot of hospital admissions and readmissions. The facility didn’t have addiction medicine services, and I felt that was the missing piece.”
The experience inspired him to pursue a fellowship in addiction medicine at Case Western Reserve University. While there, he had opportunities to work with inmates at Cuyahoga County Corrections Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where he saw the importance of substance use disorder treatment. He realized inmates with substance use disorder who relapsed after their
‘During my residency, there was a focus on integrating addiction medicine with The Wright Center’s primary care services, which allowed for a multidisciplinary team approach.’
- Angad Madan
’18, D.O.
Regional Family Medicine Residency Program
release had a higher risk for fatal overdoses. He collaborated on a research project examining the correctional facility’s innovative medication-assisted treatment program, which was presented at the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine’s annual meeting in 2021.
Dr. Madan began working for SPARC as a medicine consult liaison physician in September 2021, just a few months after completing his fellowship. He was named SPARC’s interim addiction medicine medical director in January 2022 before becoming the permanent medical director in September 2023. He’s proud of the resources offered at SPARC, including a long-term residential program that provides vocational training, allowing participants to better integrate into their communities upon release. Dr. Madan also noted SPARC’s rapid-access walkin clinics, which focus on stabilizing patients and introducing
medication-assisted treatment before transitioning them to more in-depth care.
What he enjoys most about his current role is that he can expand substance use disorder treatment programs to meet community needs while continuing to work directly with patients.
He recently ran into a patient at SPARC whom he first encountered in crisis several months ago. When they met again by chance, Dr. Madan learned the patient was finishing an intensive outpatient program at SPARC and leading his own substance use recovery meetings to pass on what he’s learned.
“It was a rewarding, full-circle moment,” Dr. Madan said.
He has also become an influential voice about the importance of addiction medicine and the evolving methods to effectively treat substance use disorder, including an appearance on NPR member WAMC’s “Medical Monday” podcast in January 2025.
“There’s been an increasing interest, both in my region and across the country, to encourage people to pursue treatment for substance use disorders,” Dr. Madan said. “It’s important to remove the fear and shame people have around substance use disorder, because both have been major barriers to accessing treatment.”
When he’s not working, Dr. Madan spends most of his time with his wife, Navroop Kaur, and their 3-year-old daughter, Sirat. The trio enjoys spending time in nature, and Sirat is currently learning to swim through weekly lessons.
“At this stage in life, everything is centered on our daughter,” he said with a laugh. “We enjoy living in this beautiful region of New York, but I miss Scranton, especially Nay Aug Park. We’re hoping to come back and visit one day.”
Angad Madan ’18, D.O., his wife, Navroop Kaur, and their daughter, Sirat, atop the World Trade Center observatory floor in Manhattan, New York.
Scan the code to listen to Angad Madan ’18, D.O., on the podcast, “Medical Monday,” from January 2025.
promise kept A
Medicine has never been just a profession for Pardeep Bansal ’09, M.D. It is a promise fulfilled.
The son of a businessman who dreamed of building a hospital to serve the poor free of charge, Dr. Bansal grew up in India with a deep understanding that healing is both a science and a service. After his father’s passing, that dream became his guiding purpose.
Years later, Dr. Bansal brought his father’s vision to life within our teaching community health centers, first as an Internal Medicine resident physician following his medical education at Lugansk State Medical University in Ukraine and internship at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, India, and later as the founding director of our Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. Through his leadership and mentorship, he has helped expand access to high-quality care while shaping the next generation of compassionate, community-focused physicians.
His journey, like our organization’s, is rooted in service, shaped by purpose, and committed to a healthier future for all.
“Gastroenterology appealed to me because, in most cases, we can arrive at an answer immediately, either helping the patient on the spot or, if that’s not possible, creating a clear plan for the best next steps,” said Dr. Bansal, who is an interventional gastroenterologist at Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Florida. “The Wright Center built a strong foundation for me. I had the privilege of working with mentors like Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak and Alexander Lalos, who guided me through my first research project. That work led to my first publication during residency. The combination of research experience, mentorship, and rigorous training
Guided by his father’s dream, Dr. Bansal builds a career defined by compassion, innovation, and community impact.
helped me secure a gastroenterology fellowship, an extremely competitive achievement, and I was proud to be the first resident from our program to match into that specialty.”
Pardeep Bansal ’09, M.D., visits Petra in Jordan.
After completing that fellowship in 2013 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, he joined Northwest Ohio Gastroenterology Associates in Toledo as an associate staff member. He later returned to Northeast Pennsylvania as a gastroenterologist at Commonwealth Health Physician Network and Physicians Health Alliance, serving at Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton.
“I chose to practice in the Scranton area because I had developed strong ties with the community and wanted to contribute meaningfully to its health care,” he said. “It wasn’t just about the patients, though they were incredibly trusting and appreciative, but also about the deep connection I had formed with local physicians, many of whom had trained or worked alongside me during my residency. That sense of community and shared purpose made returning to Scranton feel like coming home.”
At Moses Taylor, Dr. Bansal played a key role in advancing gastroenterology services by introducing innovative diagnostic procedures. Among them was video capsule endoscopy, which is a pill-sized camera that captures images of the gastrointestinal tract, especially areas like the small intestine that are otherwise inaccessible. He also introduced endoscopic ultrasound, a procedure that combines endoscopy with ultrasound imaging to
more precisely diagnose and stage gastrointestinal tumors, offering critical insights for patients with suspected cancers.
He also served as a faculty member at The Commonwealth Medical College, now known as Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
In 2018, nearly a decade after completing residency, Dr. Bansal returned to The Wright Center organization as the found director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. The program was a milestone for The Wright Center and the region, creating a pipeline for highly skilled specialists to train and serve throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
“Establishing the fellowship was one of the most meaningful achievements of my career,” said Dr. Bansal. “It created a pathway for training gastroenterologists in a communitybased environment, addressing a critical local need. Beyond clinical skills, we fostered a culture of research, innovation, and mentorship, ensuring the region would have a sustainable pipeline of specialists for years to come. It was truly a full circle moment for me, starting as a resident at The Wright Center and later returning as program director to train the physicians of the future.”
Dr. Bansal’s dedication to teaching and innovation was evident in his leadership. He actively encouraged research and academic presentations, instilling the same values that had propelled his success.
To current internal medicine residents and fellows, Dr. Bansal offers advice forged through experience: “Follow your passion, because that’s what will sustain you during long and demanding training. Beyond clinical excellence, invest in research; it’s often the key to securing competitive fellowships. Participate in poster presentations at national and international meetings, aim for publications, and seek mentors who will advocate for you. And remember, your growth as a physician is as much about empathy and communication as it is about technical expertise.”
His clinical approach has also been shaped by his international medical education and global experiences. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Punjabi.
“Training and working in different countries have broadened my perspective, deepened my empathy, and taught me to adapt to different health systems and cultural expectations,” Dr. Bansal said. “I am very conscious of resource utilization and always remind my residents and
fellows that diagnostic tests can sometimes be misleading; the story the patient tells is often the most important clue. Practicing in resource-limited countries helped sharpen my clinical sense, which continues to guide me in providing thoughtful, effective care.”
Following years of leadership and clinical practice in Pennsylvania, Dr. Bansal relocated to Florida for family reasons. At Cape Canaveral Hospital, he focuses on procedural and inpatient care, specializing in advanced endoscopic techniques, including complex endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which combines endoscopy and X-ray imaging to examine and treat problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts.
Despite the demands of his clinical schedule, Dr. Bansal remains devoted to his family and personal passions, such as spending time with his children, traveling, and enjoying sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and other watersports. A seasoned traveler, he has visited more than 40 countries and recently completed a personal goal of seeing both the New Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu (Peru), Chichen Itza (Mexico), the Colosseum (Italy), Petra (Jordan), Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), and the Taj Mahal (India).
“Travel keeps me energized and gives me new perspectives to bring back to my work,” he said. “At the end of the day, you feel good knowing you’ve truly made a difference in someone’s life.” That sense of fulfillment continues to shape Dr. Bansal’s approach to medicine. Through clinical care, procedural innovation, and mentorship, he honors the quiet but enduring legacy of his father’s vision, turning a lifelong commitment to healing into a promise kept.
Internal Medicine resident completes the next step in her medical career
Yuexiu Wu ’25, M.D.’s journey in medicine spans three countries, four decades, and tons of determination.
The 50-year-old completed her three-year Internal Medicine residency at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in June 2025, the culmination of a dream that began as a high schooler in northern China.
“I’m the first doctor in my family,” she said. “I became interested in being a doctor as a teenager and my family helped me decide to pursue this career.”
After earning her medical degree from Tianjin Medical University in China, Dr. Wu completed her internal medicine residency at Tianjin Dongli Hospital and an endocrinology fellowship at Tianjin Medical University’s General Hospital before returning to Tianjin Dongli Hospital as an internal medicine hospitalist. While there, she became deeply interested in the research side of medicine. In 2004, she decided to continue her education at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.
“So, at age 30, I decided to move to Canada to start a new career in research,” she said, noting her early interest in endocrinology, especially thyroid- and diabetes-related research.
Dr. Wu learned that to achieve her dream of becoming a research doctor, she had to first earn a master’s degree in physiology and pharmacology before she could start her Ph.D. studies in pathology and lab medicine. It took her eight years to reach her goal. Along the way, she met and married a fellow doctoral student, Dr. Yufeng Zuo, D.D.S., Ph.D., and they started a family, welcoming a daughter, Grace, in 2010 and a son, Andrew, in 2015.
“Canadians have a different educational system, and it’s hard for foreign graduates to go on to practice, especially for medicine,” she said. “I always seem to take the long way to get to my goals.”
Her husband, also from China, had completed his degree a few years before her. Dr. Zuo ultimately chose to pursue a career as a dentist in Canada, seeking a more hands-on role in medicine. As Dr. Wu approached her graduation date, she also felt drawn back to practicing medicine.
“I had an invitation for several research jobs, but I decided to shift my career back to medicine,” she said.
With the help of her parents, who moved from China to Ontario soon after Andrew was born, Dr. Wu began preparing for her next chapter. She began lining up opportunities to shadow doctors and observe at hospitals and medical clinics, first in Canada and then in the United States.
She applied for medical residency training without success for two years, which she attributed to the amount of time that had passed since she completed her medical education in China.
In 2019, she matched to an infectious disease residency in New York. She soon learned, however, that to obtain her medical license in the United States, she needed to complete an internal medicine residency, too. As she worked to complete her two-year residency in New York, she began hunting for new opportunities to realize her goal.
Dr. Wu matched with The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program and began the three-year program in July 2022. She especially enjoyed The Wright Center’s focus on delivering affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services, because of how it intersects with her interest in research and infectious disease. She also appreciated The Wright Center’s support of scholarly research, noting that she worked with a group to study the incidence of Lyme Disease locally.
“I took the hard way to accomplish my dream,” Dr. Wu said.
Yuexiu Wu ’25, M.D.
Alumna balances busy nephrology career with creative writing projects
As she immersed herself in medical school, Chien-Wen Yang ’18, M.D., yearned for a creative outlet.
When she found an opportunity to audit a creative writing class at a university about 20 minutes away from where she studied medicine at Tzu Chi University in Hualien City, Taiwan, Dr. Yang didn’t hesitate. Once a week, the busy medical student attended the two-hour class, where she learned how to tap into her emotions and express herself through the written word.
“I decided to become a doctor because I wanted to help people,” she said. “I didn’t realize how difficult medical school would be, or how much I would miss my hobbies, including literature and art.”
She carried her dual interests through medical school and an internal medicine residency in Taiwan, where she grew up. Then, curious about learning more about health care in America, Dr. Yang applied for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. She arrived in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to start her residency in August 2015.
Dr. Yang said The Wright Center’s focus on the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, which emphasizes continuity of care, made her a better doctor. Now, whether she encounters a patient in a clinical or hospital setting, she makes sure to get familiar with the patient’s medical records and ask questions to obtain as much information as she can about the patient’s overall health and needs.
“What I learned at The Wright Center shaped the way I approach care,” she said. “It’s important to me to get a full picture of the patient, not just the little part you play in their care.”
Her experiences at The Wright Center and a subsequent fellowship at University of Pennsylvania, coupled with her career as a nephrologist, inspired her to write a story comparing Asian and American attitudes regarding organ donation. She used real-life cases but changed the details to preserve patients’ privacy. The work, which she wrote in Mandarin, earned her a prestigious Taichung Literature Prize for prose.
Beliefs about death and the afterlife make it challenging to convince people in Asia to sign up to become organ donors, Dr. Yang said. “It’s shocking how few people in Taiwan want to become an organ donor,” she said. “The consequences are that when you have terminal organ failure in Taiwan, there is little access to organs. Even kidney donations, which can be done with a living donor, are extremely rare.”
As a nephrologist, she understands firsthand the critical impact of kidney donation. She pursued this specialty partly in response to the nationwide shortage of nephrologists, particularly in rural areas. After completing a nephrology fellowship at University of Pennsylvania, she worked at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana, before joining George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in September 2025.
At Ochsner, she nurtured her love of teaching and writing through a unique program with The University of Queensland Medical School. Students spend their first two years learning in Brisbane, Australia, before spending two years gaining handson experience at Ochsner Health. She hopes that by writing and then delivering lessons that are interesting and interactive, she can inspire more medical students to pursue a career in nephrology, too.
“They say if you teach someone, you’re more likely to retain the information as well,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons I love teaching.”
She hopes her writing skills will give her an edge in her new role at George Washington University. In addition to her clinical and educational roles, she will take on research responsibilities –something she’s looking forward to pursuing.
Before moving across the country and settling into her new job, she finished a 100,000-word novel inspired by a phenomenon she and many of her peers have encountered: the idea of not being good enough.
“Growing up, and as I pursued my career in medicine, I saw a lot of cases where parents and teachers would tell us we’re not good enough, that there’s always room to improve,” Dr. Yang explained. “Being told that every single day makes it difficult to have a confident, happy life.”
Much like her award-winning piece about organ donation, Dr. Yang is basing her novel on real-life stories but changing details to protect privacy. She has submitted the novel to a writing contest in Taiwan with the hope of getting it published.
Chien-Wen Yang ’18, M.D., works as a nephrologist at Ochsner Health.
Chien-Wen Yang ’18, M.D., has a collection of badges from her residency training at The Wright Center.
Jean Shiraki ’19, D.O.
Turning learners into leaders: National Family Medicine Residency Program alumni transform community health
Nearly 5,000 miles from the lush shores of Kauai, Hawaii, Jean Shiraki ’19, D.O., felt an unexpected sense of belonging at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., a training site for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s National Family Medicine Residency (NFMR) Program. What began as a professional placement quickly became a place she could call home.
Dr. Shiraki described her hometown, affectionately known as the “Garden Isle,” as a paradise – except when it came to accessing specialized medical care. Inspired by her childhood doctor, she set her sights on a career in medicine. Her time at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City, followed by her NFMR residency, strengthened her commitment to serving underserved communities.
“My early experiences drove home how the health care system can break down, especially for patients who are uninsured or underinsured,” Dr. Shiraki said. “I wanted to learn how to help my patients despite the limitations of the health care system.”
Like Dr. Shiraki, Bradley Stokes ’16, D.O., set his sights on a medical career because of a childhood doctor. After he broke his arm falling out of a tree when he was about 10 years old, the doctor at the hospital who set his cast made a frightening experience “playful, almost fun,” Dr. Stokes recalled.
He chose primary care because it requires a comprehensive knowledge of medicine. As one of the first residents in the NFMR Program at HealthSource of Ohio, he quickly realized the importance of working in communities in need.
Today, both NFMR alumni are making their marks at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC): Dr. Shiraki as the associate program director and clinic director of the Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Family Medicine Residency Program in California, and Dr. Stokes as the vice president of family medicine and interim director of pediatrics at Peak Vista Community Health Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to fulfilling the primary goal of the NFMR Program –training family physicians to work in underserved communities – both are sharing their passion with the next generation of health care professionals.
“The only reason I am working in an underserved community now is because that is where I trained,” Dr. Stokes said. “A big part of my role now is recruiting and mentoring new clinicians, and it’s important to me that they understand the important role we play in our community.”
Initially, Dr. Shiraki had a strong interest in pediatrics, but her experiences as an undergraduate and a medical student fostered a love for internal medicine and women’s health. Choosing family medicine was a way to incorporate her passion for all three, she said.
Before she enrolled in medical school, her work with the Japanese American Citizens League, Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote, America’s Opportunity Fund, and the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies honed her advocacy skills.
Working at Unity in Washington, D.C., gave her the opportunity to use all of the skills she’d developed and made her realize that a career at a community health center serving underserved populations was her true calling.
“Because of my training and background, I could only picture myself working in community-based health,” Dr. Shiraki said. “Family Health Centers is very similar to Unity. They’re both urban, multi-clinic FQHCs that serve large immigrant and refugee populations.”
Working at one of the nation’s largest FQHCs allows her to offer her patients hard-to-find resources. As a resident, she saw countless patients who couldn’t obtain the specialized care they needed.
“I’d have a patient who desperately needed a cardiologist, but they’re uninsured, so he or she couldn’t afford it,” she said.
“One of the things I appreciate about working at Family Health Centers is we have a lot of specialties within the system, including cardiology, physical therapy, mental health, and more,
that ordinarily would be difficult for our patients to access because of cost.”
After arriving at Family Health Centers, she began helping a fellow NFMR graduate, Ali Abdallah ’17, D.O., establish something they had at their training site in Washington, D.C.: an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) clinic to treat patients with a wide range of health problems, including pain, headaches, asthma, and digestive issues. The Family Health Center’s OMT clinic has become so popular with patients that there is a waiting list.
As she reminisced about her experiences helping with Unity’s OMT clinic, Dr. Shiraki is thrilled to offer her residents at Family Health Centers an opportunity to explore osteopathic medicine, which emphasizes hands-on, whole-person care.
“Our Family Medicine Residency Program includes both osteopathic and allopathic doctors,” Dr. Shiraki said. “We want to mentor our residents here much like we were mentored in D.C., so maybe they can offer this type of care when they graduate and begin their careers.”
Her dream of becoming a doctor began in childhood, but her NFMR residency sparked her interest in teaching. During her final year as a chief resident, NFMR Program director Lawrence LeBeau, D.O., praised her leadership skills.
“As a chief resident, you naturally mentor your younger colleagues,” Dr. Shiraki said. “One day, Dr. LeBeau asked me if I was considering teaching in the future. I said I hadn’t thought about it, and he responded that I should consider it because teaching seemed to come naturally for me.”
She enjoys passing on her passion for primary care in underserved communities, but said she gains just as much from the experience as the resident physicians she teaches.
“I think the best part is seeing the newer generation and how they are changing the concept of what family medicine can be,” Dr. Shiraki said. “When we interview candidates every year, I’m always inspired by how they are working to change medicine for the better.”
Personal experiences guided Dr. Stokes toward a career in family medicine. During an ophthalmology rotation as a medical student at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, he realized that the attending physician, who focused on a highly specialized field, was not current with broader medical knowledge. Around the same time, a close friend working as a cancer radiologist confessed that his expertise was so narrowly focused that he didn’t feel confident serving as a medical adviser on a mission trip.
“I didn’t want to be in a place where I did all the training and learned everything I could, only to work in a tiny subset of medicine,” Dr. Stokes said. “That is why I chose primary care.”
After a roller-coaster match experience, Dr. Stokes joined the inaugural NFMR class at HealthSource of Ohio in 2013.
With a background in mission and volunteer work dating back to his teenage years, his residency training further developed his passion for helping those who needed it most. He appreciated the program’s deep focus on what they hoped graduates would go on to do: work in outpatient clinics, helping patients who otherwise might not have access to affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary health services.
“The Wright Center and HealthSource of Ohio trained me to do what I ended up doing, and not all residency programs do that,” he said. “It was an easy decision to stay on at HealthSource. I graduated, took a few weeks off, and then came back to work at the same clinic with the same patients.”
Like Dr. Shiraki, Dr. Stokes finds joy in serving underserved communities, where delivering family medicine often requires creativity to meet the needs of patients. Working at an FQHC gives his patients more resources, he added, including access to specialists in an integrated setting.
“Necessity is the mother of invention, and we have to find ways to provide care with limited access to rheumatologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, and so on,” he said. “Being the safety net for our patients pushes you to start thinking about how else we can help them.”
In 2018, Dr. Stokes and his family moved to Colorado to be closer to his father-in-law, who was in poor health. He was seeking a position at an FQHC that prioritized community health. Peak Vista Community Health Center checked every box.
In his current role, he oversees 54 medical providers at 13 medical clinics and spends about 15-20 hours a week seeing patients – leaving him uniquely positioned to shape the future of community health at Park Vista and beyond.
Bradley Stokes ’16, D.O., vice president of family medicine and interim director of pediatrics at Peak Vista Community Health Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, speaks with Linda Estrada, the coordinator of the health center’s Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program.
Omaima Chaudhary ’27, M.D., left, and Maimona Chaudhary ’26, M.D., right, pose with their sister, Taibah Chaudhary ’25, M.D., at her graduation ceremony in June 2025.
‘Sharing the Experience’
Three sisters establish home away from home in The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program
s a child, Taibah Chaudhary ’25, M.D., never considered a career in medicine. However, she ultimately paved the way for her sisters, both of whom had aspired to be doctors since a young age.
Dr. Chaudhary and her sisters – Maimona Chaudhary ’26, M.D., and Omaima Chaudhary ’27, M.D. – all matched with
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, the trio has leaned on one another while developing the skills necessary to advance their careers as compassionate physicians.
“I honestly never thought about becoming a doctor until the summer I applied for medical school,” Dr. Taibah Chaudhary said. “Both my sisters were
always sure they wanted to become physicians. I was influenced by them, and I found a purpose in my life.”
Dr. Maimona Chaudhary discovered her passion for medicine early on – well before Dr. Taibah Chaudhary entered the field. Her career path took shape in high school when she began volunteering at a hospital, an experience that solidified her commitment to a career in medicine. She went on to earn her medical degree from
Windsor University School of Medicine in St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, graduating in 2021.
Dr. Taibah Chaudhary also began her medical journey at Windsor University before joining The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. She was drawn to the program by 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 – values that resonated deeply with her as an emerging physician.
One year later, Dr. Maimona Chaudhary followed in her footsteps, also entering The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, attracted by the program’s supportive environment and healthy work-life balance. Soon after, the youngest of the sisters, Dr. Omaima Chaudhary, who earned her medical degree from the University of Limerick School of Medicine in Ireland, also joined the residency program.
“I definitely felt more prepared joining the program with my sisters ahead of me,” she said. “I felt like I already knew the ins and outs of the program, having heard so much from them.”
The sisters say their parents are delighted that their daughters are all in one place, making family visits and vacations easier to coordinate. While they live separately, the Chaudhary sisters spend much of their free time together shopping, exploring local parks and cafes, and – what Dr. Taibah Chaudhary calls “most important” – sharing meals.
“The Wright Center allows for the perfect work and life balance, so having family around is helpful in terms of emotional support,” Dr. Taibah Chaudhary added. “Without having my sisters around, I would have to make all the hard decisions alone. I’d miss not sharing the experience with them.”
Having studied abroad in Ireland, Dr. Omaima Chaudhary understands the challenges of settling into a new community. She said their bond is evident to their fellow residents and staff, especially when they complete rotations in the same health center or hospital. She especially enjoys spending time with her sisters on the weekends, when one will make a meal and invite the other two over to eat and watch movies.
“It’s hard to make friends and establish a support system,” she said. “I had to do that as a medical student, and it’s an experience I’m happy to avoid repeating.”
‘The Wright Center allows for the perfect work and life balance, so having family around is helpful in terms of emotional support. Without having my sisters around, I would have to make all the hard decisions alone. I’d miss not sharing the experience with them.’
- Taibah Chaudhary ’25, M.D. Internal Medicine Residency Program
Initially, Dr. Taibah Chaudhary worried that her presence at The Wright Center might unduly influence her sisters’ decisions about their future careers as physicians. But her concerns quickly faded.
“We grew up in a strong, opinionated household, and we have very different personalities,” Dr. Taibah Chaudhary said. “Also, having different goals and interests for our futures helped us carve a unique place here.”
True to form, Dr. Taibah Chaudhary once again led the way, graduating from The Wright Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program in June 2025. She began an endocrinology fellowship at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in summer of 2025. Her interest in the specialty field was sparked by her experience working with Mihail Voica, M.D., an endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism specialist at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
As Dr. Taibah Chaudhary moves forward in her career, her sisters are already contemplating their next step – ones that will likely take them in different directions and locations.
“At this point, we are interested in different specialties,” Dr. Maimona Chaudhary acknowledged. “Throughout our time in residency here, we influence each other by sharing knowledge, discussing patients, promoting positive work culture, and taking each other’s feedback.”
2025
Former chief resident remains at Wright Center to serve communities
Amatus Legbedion ’24, M.D., a graduate of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, is providing comprehensive primary and preventive care services at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre.
A board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Legbedion began seeing patients of all ages in Wilkes-Barre, 169 North Pennsylvania Avenue, in January 2025. She earned her medical degree from Windsor University School of Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies, and served as a chief resident during her time in residency.
Expanding dental care access in Wilkes-Barre
The Wright Center for Community Health welcomed its second postdoctoral-trained dentist to its clinical team in Wilkes-Barre,
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Legbedion holds two key leadership roles within the graduate medical education program. As director and physician liaison for academic affairs, she fosters collaboration among staff, learners, clinical teams, and educational partners. She also serves as outpatient faculty in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Family Medicine Residency – Scranton Program, where she mentors resident physicians while continuing to deliver high-quality, whole-person primary health services for people of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses.
Dr. Legbedion’s commitment to Northeast Pennsylvania underscores The Wright Center’s 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.
Pennsylvania, further strengthening access to high-quality oral health services in the region.
In March 2025, McKenzie Taylor, D.M.D., began delivering comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages in Wilkes-Barre, 169 North Pennsylvania Avenue – the largest dental clinic in The Wright Center’s network of 13 community health centers. Her services include preventive, endodontic, periodontal, restorative, prosthetic, and follow-up care. During fiscal year 2025, the health center served more than 2,560 unique patients.
Dr. Taylor earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry. She completed her postdoctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 South Washington Avenue, through an affiliation with NYU Langone Dental Medicine’s Postdoctoral Residency Program.
She joins Michael Regan, D.M.D., who began seeing patients in August 2024 after completing his own AEGD residency at the health center in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
McKenzie Taylor, D.M.D.
Amatus Legbedion ’24, M.D.
Golf tournament fuels care for underserved communities
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement raised $49,959 during the third annual Dr. William Waters Charity Golf Tournament, held Monday, May 19, 2025, at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, Pennsylvania. The event drew more than 160 golfers, sponsors, and supporters together in a shared mission: to uplift underserved and underresourced individuals across Northeast Pennsylvania.
The tournament celebrated the life and legacy of Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP, the namesake founder of The Wright Center and honorary chair of the event. Dr. Wright was recognized throughout the day for his transformative role in shaping medical education and health care delivery in the region.
“It is no exaggeration to say that if you are a physician serving Northeast Pennsylvania or a patient who has benefited from our groundbreaking model of care, you have been touched by Bob’s legacy,” said Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, our president and CEO, during her welcoming remarks. “Bob exemplifies how one person’s vision, fused with determination, can mobilize an entire community toward progress. His drive to ensure a strong pipeline of primary care physicians for our region was – and remains – an inspiration to all of us.”
“Multiply that by tens of thousands. That’s The Wright Center’s true ledger,” he added.
The Wright Center’s annual tournament is held in honor of the late William M. Waters, Ph.D., former vice chair of The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors and co-chair of the Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors. He passed away in 2022. His passion for community service and advocacy lives on through the tournament that bears his name.
Proceeds directly benefit The Wright Center’s ongoing outreach and support programs organized through efforts by Patient & Community Engagement. These initiatives include food and fresh produce distributions, winterwear and school supply giveaways, health screenings, and other efforts aimed at addressing homelessness, food insecurity, transportation assistance, limited access to education, and more.
The Prescription Center served as the event’s presenting sponsor. Other generous sponsors included The Moses Law Group, Joyce Moses and Attorney Peter John Moses, the Hazzouri Group at Morgan Stanley, the Kearney Family Foundation, Community Bank, Fidelity Bank, Northeast Rehab, Sordoni Construction Services Inc., PNC Bank, SignalLamp Health, Allied Services, Matt Burne Honda, and James Gavin, MSW, MMS.
With more than $49,000 raised – exceeding last year’s total by over $9,000 – the 2025 tournament was the most successful yet, underscoring the power of community support in driving The Wright Center’s mission forward.
During his remarks, Dr. Wright reflected on Northeast Pennsylvania and his hometown of Archbald, Pennsylvania, and his desire to return home after his service in the U.S. Army and completion of his Internal Medicine Residency at Temple University to care for the regional communities. These many years later, one story sums up the impact of today’s Wright Center.
“I am reminded of the 68-year-old patient who came to The Wright Center with three bus schedules, two young grandchildren, and one dire lab slip. She left with treatment, transportation, and dignity,” Dr. Wright recalled. “Many years later, she sent a photo of her grown-up grandkids giving her a huge hug. Her handwritten note read: ‘Because you taught your doctors to listen first, I’m still here to listen to them.’
For more information about Patient & Community Engagement and how to support the 2026 golf tournament on May 1 at Glen Oak Country Club in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, visit TheWrightCenter.org/golf-2026 or contact Holly Przasnyski at przasnyskih@TheWrightCenter.org or at 570-209-3275.
Scan the code to watch the speech Robert E. Wright, M.D., FACP, delivered during dinner at the annual Dr. William Waters Charity Golf Tournament.
William M. Waters, Ph.D.
The Wright Learning Environment
A day
in the life
of our resident and fellow physicians
Safety-Net Consortium (GME-SNC)
Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GME-SNC)
Academic Health Centers’ (1) (AHCs) hospital-based, specialty-intense spirit of research, discovery, education, and patient care delivered humbling medical advances during the Flexner era. Yet progress from discovery to care continuum has been notably slow, with escalating health challenges and increasing workforce shortages and misdistribution. Large-scale industrial changes are disorienting and chaotic; physician burnout is at an all-time high. Despite being an intensely change-averse industry, capitalistic forces are decentralizing health care, generating community-driven, innovative solutions for high performance and solvency.
Academic Health Centers’ (1) (AHCs) hospital-based, specialty-intense spirit of research, discovery, education, and patient care delivered humbling medical advances during the Flexner era. Yet progress from discovery to care continuum has been notably slow, with escalating health challenges and increasing workforce shortages and misdistribution. Large-scale industrial changes are disorienting and chaotic; physician burnout is at an all-time high. Despite being an intensely change-averse industry, capitalistic forces are decentralizing health care, generating community-driven, innovative solutions for high performance and solvency.
Responds to Community Health Needs
BehavioralHealthHomesandSpecialtyNeighborhoods
The community-based Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium (GME-SNC) is inspired by Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Teaching Health Center program (THCGME). Built on a framework similar to Nasca et al’s proposed Community Health-Academic Medical Partnerships (CHAMPS)2, the GME-SNC immerses trainees in community settings where they’re most needed and increases likelihood of graduates working in such settings.3
Upholds
Public Trust
The GME-SNC promotes value-based payment reform strategies that o en redirect hospital utilization to more appropriate, a ordable community-based venues. Transparency is ensured by standardized reporting methodologies that harness evolving health information and educational technologies to develop and demonstrate workforce competencies, ensure stewardship of public GME funds to meet highest federal reporting standards, and to monitor and improve population health outcomes.
Patient-Centered Outcomes
Leverages Learning
Physician-led teams’ value-driven workflow redesign in a scholarly culture leverages learners as clinical system improvers. Empowered patients and families make meaningful contributions to enhance care delivery and development of comprehensive workforce skills. The GME-SNC demonstrates administrative and operational e iciency with consortium scheduling and time tracking across cost centers and a robust quality improvement management system stimulating learner-driven improvements.
Optimizes
Educational
Capacity
GME payment methodologies vary substantially between Veterans A airs (VA), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and HRSA. The GME-SNC deliberately converges VA, CMS, and HRSA GME resources within one centralized sponsoring institution to fund cohesive educational operations, clarifying clinical and non-clinical faculty time, and trainees’ integration into patient care delivery.
Represents Faculty, Residents, Fellows, and Students
The GME-SNC nurtures an enriched community network of learning venues to improve care coordination and public health while well-preparing an interprofessional workforce. AHCs’ self-directed transformation, through engagement in GME-SNCs as backbone organizations, can lead a fix for America’s health care. The GME-SNC can inspire high-integrity academic frameworks to build comprehensive networks of stakeholders aligned around shared purpose and mutually reinforcing action plans. Utilizing Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s seven leverage points and high-impact leadership models, the GME-SNC catalyzes large-scale health care transformation to address national health care workforce needs, to actuate the Triple Aim and to refuel meaningful professional practice.4
The GME-SNC nurtures an enriched community network of learning venues to improve care coordination and public health while well-preparing an interprofessional workforce. AHCs’ self-directed transformation, through engagement in GME-SNCs as backbone organizations, can lead a fix for America’s health care. The GME-SNC can inspire high integrity academic frameworks to build comprehensive networks of stakeholders aligned around shared purpose and mutually reinforcing action plans. Utilizing Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s seven leverage points and highimpact leadership models, the GME-SNC catalyzes large-scale health care transformation to address national health care work force needs, to actuate the Triple Aim and to refuel meaningful professional practice.4
for primary care general
Med. 2010;152:804-11. [PMID:20547907];
with the a ordable
4. Ruddy MP, Thomas-Hemak L, Meade L. Practice transformation: professional development is personal. Acad Med. 2015 Dec 29.
1. Christianson CM, Bohmer R, Kenagy J. Will disruptive innovations cure health care? Harvard Business Review, Sept-Oct 2000: 103-111.; 2. Mullan F, Chen C, Petterson S, Kolsky G, Spagnola M. The social mission of medical education: ranking the schools. Ann Intern
3. Rieselbach RE, Feldstein DA, Lee PT, Nasca TJ, Rockey PH, Steinmann AF, et al. Ambulatory training
internists: innovation
care act in mind. J Grad Med Educ. 2014;6(2):395–398
Operational Transparency
1. Christianson CM, Bohmer R, Kenagy J. Will disruptive innovations cure health care? Harvard Business Review, Sept-Oct 2000: 103-111.; 2. Mullan F, Chen C, Petterson S, Kolsky G, Spagnola M. The social mission of medical education: ranking the schools. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:804-11. [PMID:20547907]; 3. Rieselbach RE, Feldstein DA, Lee PT, Nasca TJ, Rockey PH, Steinmann AF, et al. Ambulatory training for primary care general internists: innovation with the affordable care act in mind. J Grad Med Educ. 2014;6(2):395–398 4. Ruddy MP, Thomas-Hemak L, Meade L. Practice transformation: professional development is personal. Acad Med. 2015 Dec 29.
501 S. Washington Ave., Suite 1000 Scranton, PA 18505-3814
10-Year Vision
Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums are recognized by the President of the United States as THE Health and Human Services gold standard community-based model for comprehensive primary health care with integrated workforce development by June 30, 2027.
Vision Values 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
For our Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium framework that integrates patient care delivery, workforce development, innovation, and empowered voice of communities to be the leading model of primary health care in America
