Linda J Thomas-Hemak MD FACP, FAAP

Medicine/Pediatrics•Scranton, PA

Addiction Medicine, Health and Culture, Obesity Medicine and Nutrition

President and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education

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501 S. Washington Ave.Suite 1000Scranton, PA 18505
Phone+1 570-343-2383

Summary

Linda J. Thomas-Hemak, MD, FACP, FAAP, serves as President and CEO of The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education.

A healer at heart and Jermyn, Pennsylvania native, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is a visionary leader and compassionate physician who blends executive expertise with hands-on patient care.

Quintuple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition, she provides care to multi-generational families at The Wright Center’s Mid Valley community teaching health center in her hometown in Jermyn. The Wright Center for Community Health earned the coveted Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike designation in 2019 from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Dr. Thomas-Hemak champions Patient-Centered Medical Home delivery, advocating for patient-centric, team-based care enhanced by health information technology, integrated behavioral health services, and strong community resource networks. Her leadership focuses on fostering joy in practice, addressing provider burnout, and honoring the noble privilege of serving as a physician.

After graduating as a Michael DeBakey Scholar from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, she completed Harvard’s rigorous Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program in Boston. Her academic and professional career is marked by her commitment to medical education and interprofessional workforce development.

Under her stewardship, The Wright Center trains over 200 residents and fellows in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and Geriatrics, equipping them with 21st-century competencies to thrive in America’s evolving health care landscape.

As an active physician-faculty leader and mentor, Dr. Thomas-Hemak finds immense joy in integrating medical education with patient care and leveraging local resources to improve health outcomes within her community.

Clinical Expertise

Addiction medicine, Nutrition, Obesity and obesity-related disorders, Pediatrics, Teaching, Patient education, Patient-centered medical homes, Internal medicine, Substance use disorder, Interprofessional health care workforce development, Socioeconomic determinants of health, Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) advocate, National EHR/EMR interoperability advocate, Health care delivery innovation, Hands-on medical practitioner, Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortium, School-based health centers

Education & Training

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA)Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, 2022
Mass General Brigham/Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical SchoolResidency, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, 1994 - 1998
Baylor College of MedicineClass of 1994
University of ScrantonBS, Biology, 1986 - 1990

Certifications & Licensure

PA State Medical License 1998 - 2026
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics
American Board of Obesity Medicine Obesity Medicine
American Board of Preventive Medicine Addiction Medicine
National Board of Physician Nutrition SpecialistsNutrition Certified

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Athena Award The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 2025
Women 100 (Pennsylvania’s most influential female leaders) City and State Pennsylvania, 2024
Hometown Scholars Advocate of the Year National Association of Community Health Centers and A.T. Still University, 2024
Trailblazers in Healthcare City and State Pennsylvania, 2024
Wilford Payne Health Center Mentor Award Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, 2024
Impact Award City and State Pennsylvania, 2023
Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award National Association of Community Health Centers, 2022
Dr. Ann Preston Women in Medicine Award American College of Physicians, Pennsylvania Chapter, 2020
Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal "Top 25 Women in Business" 2019
Robert W. Munley, Esquire, Distinguished Service Award Lackawanna Pro Bono, 2019
Laureate Award Recipient, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) 2014
John Baldi Award from Lackawanna and Susquehanna Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention Program 2014
Maternal and Family Health Services’ Outstanding Community Partner Award 2012
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Northeast Pennsylvania Top 25 Women in Business 2010
The Scranton Times: Readers’ Choice “Best Doctor” 2009
Times Leader “Health Care Heroes” 2009
WCGME’s Charles Bost Award for Organizational Inspiration, Guidance and Support 2009
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s “Make it Happen” Award for Maximum 6 Year ACGME Internal Medicine Accreditation Cycle 2008
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Internal Medicine Teaching Award 2004
The Scranton Times; Highlighted in Northeast Woman 1998
Physician Practice Connections Recognition Program National Committee for Quality Assurance, 2011-2014
Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Program National Committee for Quality Assurance, 2011-2014
Fellow (FAAP) American Academy of Pediatrics
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

4 citations
Closing the Referral Loop: Improving Ambulatory Referral Management, Electronic Health Record Connectivity, and Care Coordination Processes.
Stephen L Davidow, Jignesh Sheth, Constance S Sixta, Linda Thomas-Hemak
The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management. 2018-10-01
8 citations
Practice Transformation: Professional Development Is Personal
Meaghan P. Ruddy, Linda Thomas-Hemak, Lauren Meade
Academic Medicine. 2016-05-01
4 citations
Nurturing 21st century physician knowledge, skills and attitudes with medical home innovations: the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education teaching health center...
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Ghanshyam Palamaner Subash Shantha, Lakshmi Rani Gollamudi, Jignesh Sheth, Brian Ebersole
Peerj. 2015-02-10

Journal Articles

THE MIND-HEART CONNECTION: ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND NEW ONSET DEPRESSION, INSIGHTS FROM NATIONAL READMISSION DATABASE
Anand Reddy Maligireddy, JANGA CHAITRA, NISCHAY SHAH, PRANAV V KARAMBELKAR, Purveshku Patel, PRANJAL BORUAH, LINDA THOMAS-HEMAK, Chest, 10/9/2023
Association between insurance status and in‐hospital outcomes in patients with out‐of‐hospital ventricular fibrillation arrest
Samir B. Pancholy MD, Gaurav A. Patel MD, Dhara D. Patel MD, Neil Patel MD, Shivam A. Pancholy, Purveshkumar Patel MD, Linda Thomas-Hemak MD, Tejas M. Patel MD, David ..., Clinical Cardiology, 10/9/2023
Closing the Referral Loop: Improving Ambulatory Referral Management, Electronic Health Record Connectivity and Care Coordination Processes
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Stephen L Davidow , Jignesh Sheth, Constance S Sixta, Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 10/2018
TCT-435 Comparative Mortality Outcomes in Uninsured Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction versus Those With Medicaid: Results from a Nationwide Real...
Gaurav Patel, Qasim Malik, Linda Thomas-Hemak, Samir Pancholy, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 10/31/2017
Practice Transformation: Professional Development Is Personal, Volume 91, Issue 5
Meaghan P. Ruddy; Linda Thomas-Hemak; Lauren Meade, Academic Medicine, 5/2016
Nurturing 21st Century Physician Knowledge, Skills And Attitudes With Medical Home Innovations: The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Teaching Health Center...
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Ghanshyam Palamaner Subash Shantha, Lakshmi Rani Gollamudi, Jignesh Sheth, Brian Ebersole, Katlyn J. Gardner, Julie Nardella, Meaghan P. Ruddy, Lau..., PeerJ, 2/10/2015
Serum vitamin D levels may not reflect tissue-level vitamin D in sarcoidosis
Jill Lauren Berlin, Ghanshyam Palamaner Subash Shantha, Henry Yeager, Linda Thomas-Hemak, British Medical Journal, 3/24/2014
Association of Vitamin D and Incident Statin Induced Myalgia - A Retrospective Cohort Study
Ghanshyam Palamaner Subash Shantha, Julio Ramos, Linda Thomas-Hemak, Samir Bipin Pancholy, PLOS ONE, 2/19/2014
Improving the Quality of Our Clinical Work for Coumadin Anticoagulation Therapy with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Based System Redesign
Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, Lisa Thomas, MD, Qi Shi, MD, Jignesh Sheth, MD, Etikala Praveen, MD, Gunjan Choudhary, MBBA, Cherif Abdelmalek, MD, Vijayadershan Muppidi, MD, ..., Ash Publications / Blood, 11/16/2012
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with a Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review: 978
Shi, Qi MD; Thomas-Hemak, Linda MD; Samuel, George MD; Patel, Nimesh MD; Abdelmalek, Cherif MD; Wu, Humin MD; Jia, Jihua MD, AJG, 10/2012
Is Multiple Sclerosis a Risk for Hypercoagulation States or Breast Cancer? A Case Report and a Literature Review to Assess Options
Lisa Thomas, MD, Qi Shi, MD, Sathyanarayanan Ramakrishnan, MD, Jihua Jia, MD, Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, Ash Publications / Blood, 11/18/2011
Ischemic Stroke in Young Patients with Cardiac Abnormalities and Hypercoagulable State: 2 Case Reports and Literature Review to Assess Diagnostic and Prevention Options
Lisa Thomas, MD, Qi Shi, MD, Arjinder Sethi, MD, Sathyanarayanan Ramakrishnan, MD, Jihua Jia, MD, Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, Ash Publications / Blood, 11/18/2011
How to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) by using Coumadin anticoagulation therapy for Parkinson's disease patients: a case report
Linda-Thomas-Hemak, Lisa Thomas, Jignesh Sheth, Qi Shi, Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 4/2011
How to prevent recurrent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a hepatitis C patient who has homozygous MTHFR C677T mutation with normal homocysteine levels
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Lisa Thomas, Jignesh Sheth, Qi Shi, Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 4/2011
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Abstracts/Posters

Developing a Learner-Driven Culture of Improvement through an Interactive Web-Based Practice-Based Learning and Quality Improvement Management System (PBLI/QIMS)
Linda Thomas-Hemak, IHI National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care, Orlando, FL
A National Consortium Pathway to Single GME
Linda Thomas-Hemak, ACGME Annual Educational Conference, Orlando, FL, 2019
Innovative Training Relationships with Community Health Centers-Big Data, High Value, and Common Sense
Linda Thomas-Hemak, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Annual Conference, Educating Leaders 2019, Washington, D.C., 2019
Integration of the Socioeconomic Determinants of Health Education Across The Wright Center
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Beyond Flexner, Atlanta, GA, 2018
Closing the Referral Loop: Improving the Ambulatory Referral Management Process
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Illinois Association for Healthcare Quality (IAHQ), Naperville, IL, 2018
Value-Driven Pharmacy Student-Led Rapid Cycle Process Engagement in Experiential and Didactic Settings
Linda Thomas-Hemak, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Innovations in Teaching Conference, Nashville, TN, 2017
Serving, Teaching and Learning Where Need is Greatest
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Association of Osteopathic Directors and Medical Educators (AODME) and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, 2017
Educational Innovation; Program Evaluations
Linda Thomas-Hemak, Association of Osteopathic Directors and Medical Educators (AODME) and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, 2017
Routine Blood Pressure Screening in an Asymptomatic Pediatric Population
David A Knorek, Qi Shi, Linda Thomas-Hemak, Richard May, AHAIASA Journals / Hypertention, 9/2013
Routine Blood Pressure Screening in an Asymptomatic Pediatric Population
David A. Knorek, Qi Shi, Linda Thomas-Hemak, Carlos Acuna, American-Heart-Association High Blood Pressure Research Scientific, 9/2013
Using Self-management Support (sms) Goal Setting for Weight Control in Diabetic Patients at an Ambulatory Internal Medicine Center
Bo Jiang, Qi Shi, Jihua Jia, Sherine Tadros, Gregg Novak, Jigneth Sheth, Linda Thomas-Hemak, AHAIASA Journals / Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 5/2013
Acute Ischemic Stroke in a 23-Year-Old Patient with Verrucous Endocarditis, Prothrombin Heterozygote Mutation, and a Patent Foramen Ovale: A Case Report and Literature...
George Samuel, Qi Shi, Lisa Thomas, Timothy Burke, Huimin Wu, and Linda Thomas-Hemak, AHAIASA Journals / Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 5/2012
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Lectures

HRSA’s PHETAS “Leveraging Collective Impact: Strategies for Addressing Opioid Use Disorder and Other Public Health Crises”
7/16/2024
ACGME National Learning Community for Sponsoring Institutions Meeting Presenter: “Teaching Health Centers: An Emerging Model of Community-Based Residency Education to ...
Chicago, Illinois - 9/19/2023
Our Forever Evolving Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Story - An Opportunity for Revenue and Resource (Broadening) by Expanding Primary Care Towards Whole Pe...
Forvis Best Practices Workgroup - 2023
Keynote Speaker
KeyHIE User Group Conference - 2023
Teaching Health Centers: An Emerging Model of Community-Based Residency Education to Train the Primary Care Physicians America Needs
ACGME National Learning Community of Sponsoring Institutions Meeting - 2023
Empowering Eagle Eyes on BMIs…Obesity as a CHC Public Health Gateway
PACHC Annual Conference and Clinical Summit, Lancaster, PA - 10/11/2022
“The Long-Awaited & Exciting Transformative Convergence of Primary Care, Public Health & Related Workforce Development
Pennsylvania AHEC Scholars Virtual Program - 2022
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Other

Testimony, “Actualized, Actionable, and Sustainable Solutions for Primary Care Workforce Development: Evidence-Based Outcomes of a Fifteen Year Journey of Teaching Hea...
Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Standing Committee
https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/42471_05-2024_standing-committee-on-primary-care-may-meeting
Washington D.C. - 5/20/2024
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Internal Medicine Interest Group Physician Panel
Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD
Scranton, Pennsylvania - 2023

Authored Content

All across America, local community health centers are improving the health and welfare of communitiesAugust 2024
Local community health centers are improving the health and welfare of communitiesAugust 2024
Local community health centers are improving the health and welfare of communitiesAugust 2024
Be thankful for community health centersAugust 2024
Local health centers improving health, welfare of communitiesAugust 2024
Community Health Centers hold incredible valueAugust 2024
Help mandate technology to coordinate careApril 2023
The Wright Medicine: Celebrating primary health care providersAugust 2022
The Wright Medicine: What you need to know about omicronFebruary 2022
The Wright Medicine: Vaccines remain best weapon against COVID-19December 2021
The Wright Medicine: Childhood obesity a growing problemNovember 2021
The Wright Medicine: Vaccines play vital role in healthAugust 2021
The Wright Medicine: Decades of Progress and Ongoing Advocacy in the Fight Against HIV/AIDSJune 2021
The Wright Medicine: Finding a silent killerMay 2021
The Wright Medicine: Celebrating womenMarch 2021
The Wright Medicine: Busting COVID-19 vaccine mythsFebruary 2021
The Wright Medicine: COVID-19 vaccine more than a shot in the armJanuary 2021
The Wright Medicine: The gift of healthDecember 2020
The Wright Medicine: Strides made in AIDS treatmentNovember 2020
The Wright Medicine: Celebrating Health Literacy MonthOctober 2020
The Wright Medicine: Getting to the ‘heart’ of the matterSeptember 2020
The Wright Medicine: Working together for community healthAugust 2020
Region’s new golden age of medical educationMarch 2020
New program to stem shortage of psychiatristsJune 2017
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Press Mentions

Northeast Pennsylvania Health Care Leaders Discuss Impact of Potential Cuts to Medicare, MedicaidMarch 11th, 2025
Wright Center awarded grant to boost breastfeeding resources for Healthy MOMS programNovember 5th, 2024
Wright Center President/CEO receives state award for leadershipOctober 18th, 2024
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Professional Memberships

American Academy of Pediatrics - AAP
Member
American College of Physicians - ACP
Fellow
American Medical Association - AMA
Member
Society of General Internal Medicine
Member
Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine
Member
Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine - AAIM
Member
American Academy of Family Physicians - AAFP
Member
Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians
Member
Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative
Member
Primary Care Progress
Member
Northeast Counties Medical Society
Member
Pennsylvania Medical Society
Member
Agency for Health Education Center
Member
Advisory Council on Graduate Medical Education of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
Member
American Society of Addiction Medicine - ASAM
Member
National Association of Community Health Centers
Member
Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers
Member
Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Governor
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Member
National Area Health Education Centers
Alumni / Advocate
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Governing Board
Chair
Keystone Accountable Care Organization
Governing Board Member
The Institute Board of Directors
Member
Center for Health and Human Services Research and Action Board of Directors
Member
Pennsylvania Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council
Member
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Governing Board
Member
American College of Physicians - ACP
Member
Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Health Center Controlled Network
Member

Industry Relationships

Governor, Eastern Region of the American College of Physicians’ Pennsylvania Chapter (PA-ACP)The ACP, the nation’s largest medical-specialty organization, enhances the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in medicine and promoting quality patient care, advocacy, education, and career fulfillment in internal medicine and its subspecialties.2023 - Present
Appointed Board Member of Federal Advisory Committee, The Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME)COGME provides ongoing assessment of physician workforce trends, training issues and financing policies, advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and House of Representatives.2021 - Present
Advocate, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' HIV Care ContinuumActive engagement in the US Department of Health and Human Services' HIV Care Continuum in Northeast Pennsylvania2019 - Present
CEO Workgroup Member, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers2019 - Present
Member, Circle 2000An invitation-only senior executive women consortium in Northeastern Pennsylvania2009 - Present
Quality Assurance Director, Traditional Home Health Care2007 - Present
Board of Trustees, Misericordia University2019 - 2021
Medical Executive Committee, Geisinger Community Medical Center2014 - 2021
Member, University of Scranton Graduate Nursing Program Advisory Committee2015 - 2020
Board of Trustees, Athletes Caring TogetherA non-profit organization whose mission is providing life-changing opportunities to children and empowering athletes to make a difference through the sports they love.2015 - 2017
Physician Leadership Operating Committee, Geisinger Community Medical Center2013 - 2015
Chair, committee and board positions, Commonwealth Health Systems2009 - 2012: Physician Leadership Committee 2001 - 2013: Chair of Pediatrics 2001 - 2012: Medical Executive Committee: 2011, Secretary, Interim Transitional Regional Hospital Governing Board Member; 2009-11, Medical Staff President; 2007-09, Vice President; and 2005-07, SecretaryDisclosure: Previously Mercy Hospital; Became Regional Hospital of Scranton after Community Health Systems, operating as Commonwealth Health Systems, purchased it in 2011.2001 - 2013
Founding Member, Northeastern Pennsylvania Medical Education Development ConsortiumEstablished to explore, create, and then launch Commonwealth Medical College of Northeastern Pennsylvania (now called Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine)2005 - 2007