The LuLac Edition #3748, April 2nd, 2018

KNIGHTS COUNCIL #372, PITTSTON PRESENTING OPIOID FACT FORUM

Leadership team of the President John F. Kennedy Council #372, Assembly #948. (Photo: LuLac archives)

The heritage Knights of Columbus Council President John F. Kennedy Council #372 will be holding an Opioid Fact Forum on Thursday April 19th at the Pittston Memorial Library. The Family committee of the Knights has coordinated the event.
Carmen Ambrosino, well known for his forty five years as an addiction professional will moderate the event. Panelists will include Carol Coolbaugh, Community Education Advocate and mother who will discuss the loss of her son. Judge Michael Vough will take you through a day in his Court room. Coroner William Lisman will present his all too frequent role as the final destination for those afflicted with Opioids.
The goal of this forum is to present information on what happens to families of faith when Opioids are abused. The Knights Council and Assembly in Pittston recognize that this is an issue that touches all lives and every social level. In the Luzerne County alone there were over 150 deaths attributed to Opioid abuse. The deaths ranged in ages from 18 to 73.
This impactful, hard hitting event is FREE and light refreshments will be served. Mark your calendar, April 19th, 6:30 to 8pm.

CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES OVER $9 MILLION IN HHS FUNDS FOR THE WRIGHT CENTER FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION

Congressmen Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded three grants worth $9,088,536 combined to the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education for it’s continuing mission and operations.
The Wright Center provides medical residency training for primary care physicians in northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Teaching Health Center (THC) initiative. The THC initiative addresses physician workforce shortages, particularly in rural and inner-city areas; distribution of resources; and escalating health care disparities in the U.S.
“I applaud the Wright Center in being recognized for the critical services it provides Northeastern Pennsylvania residents,” said Rep. Cartwright. “Many people in the region still need better access to quality health care, and these funds will help the Wright Center get well-trained doctors into our health systems to meet community needs.”
The Wright Center operates two community health centers, the Wright Center for Primary Care in Scranton and the Wright Center for Primary Care in the Mid-Valley. The Wright Center’s mission is to provide excellence in graduate medical education in an innovative and collaborative spirit in order to enhance the quality of health care for the people of northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Wright Center is a non-profit organization recognized by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as the largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education consortium in the country. Physicians trained in THCs are twice as likely to practice in underserved areas as compared to those not trained in THCs.
“As the largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Consortium in the nation, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is privileged to train physician leaders who are interested in making a genuine difference in the lives of their patients and communities. The THCGME program has successfully ignited and leveraged clinical educational environments in numerous community-based venues across the country, and especially in northeast PA, while delivering competent, public health-minded physician leaders. This initiative has received notable bi-partisan support and will be a catalyst for a larger conversation surrounding the transformation of our American healthcare delivery and medical educational systems. We are honored to be recipients of this significant federal award and remain energized around our mission to continuously improve education and patient care in a collaborative spirit to enhance outcomes, access and affordability,” said Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, President/CEO, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. (LuLac, Cartwright office)