Cartwright announces $3M in HHS funds for The Wright Center

MOOSIC — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright on Monday announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded two grants worth a combined total of $3,188,368 to The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. The Wright Center provides medical residency training for primary care physicians in Northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country in part through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program. The THCGME program addresses physician workforce shortages, maldistribution and related escalating health care disparities in the U.S., particularly in rural and under-served areas, by providing funds for residency training in community-based primary care settings. “I’m committed to making quality, affordable health care services more accessible here in the Eighth District,” said Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Programs like this are key to ensuring our region has a strong pipeline of well-trained medical professionals so families can get the care they need. I applaud The Wright Center for being recognized for the critical primary care and workforce development resources it provides to Northeastern Pennsylvania residents.” Cartwright said since its inception, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has been committed to creating a sustainable workforce of primary care physicians trained in community-based settings, as they are twice as likely to remain upon graduation in these places where they are most needed. “Our daily efforts as the nation’s largest THC-GME Safety-Net Consortium are focused on improving both education and patient care delivery by enhancing care access and health outcomes,” said Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, President, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “We are grateful and proud to accept these grants and remain a steadfast steward of HRSA-funded resources that help us better care for the vulnerable populations we serve.“