The Wright Center achieves Gold status as Advocacy Center of Excellence

The PA-ACP congratulated The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, for becoming the first Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence in the state and its recognition from the National Association of Community Health Centers for creating “a culture of advocacy to ensure that policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in affordable, equitable and innovative care that health centers provide.

The Wright Center is a physician-led nonprofit organization with more than 650 employees and 250 physician learners, focused on improving access to healthcare while addressing the negative social and economic determinants of health.  TWC delivers comprehensive primary health care services to meet the needs of medically underserved population to citizens in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Larry Jones, MD, FACP, President of PA-ACP Services, Inc., said that the state’s internists and patients have greatly benefited from The Wright Center’s consistent engagement, success and ongoing commitment to not only teaching advocacy but also making it an organizational priority.   “PA-ACP prides itself on its efforts to advocate for the state’s internists and patients.  The Wright Center is a sterling example of how best to educate physicians, executives and elected officials about the benefits of critical health care policies,” Dr. Jones said.

Efforts by The Wright Center have included an in-house Advocacy Committee and member advocacy training, development and placement of op-eds, hosting elected officials at sites, meetings in the district, Harrisburg and Washington, DC and providing testimony on health care issues.  Its president and CEO, Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, FAAP, FACP is governor-elect for the PA-ACP’s Eastern Region.