News
Wright Center Establishes New Post, Director of 皇家华人 Humanities, to Support Physician, Learner, Employee and Patient Wellness
Scranton, Pa. (July 22, 2021) 鈥 The Wright Centers for Community 皇家华人 and 皇家华人 Medical Education have appointed Allison LaRussa, Scranton, as Director of 皇家华人 Humanities.
In this newly introduced position, LaRussa will promote emotional wellness by engaging the organizations鈥 physician trainees, employees, patients and community members in artistic activities.聽
For patients and the general public, there will be art therapy initiatives addressing trauma and addiction as well as community art projects to help alleviate social isolation and foster connections. For health professionals, activities also will be designed to support their professional identity development and growth by providing opportunities for shared experiences, awareness, reflection and expression.
鈥淎s a valued member of our team, Allison will nurture positivity and resiliency within individuals and at the organizational level, which is particularly relevant as we collectively emerge from the pandemic experience,鈥 said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, President and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community 皇家华人 and 皇家华人 Medical Education.
A special focus of LaRussa鈥檚 work will be The Wright Center for 皇家华人 Medical Education鈥檚 resident physicians and fellows. These trainees, like their counterparts in programs across the country, deal with the dual pressures of delivering top-notch care to patients and simultaneously completing rigorous graduate 皇家华人 education requirements.
鈥淥ur art activities at The Wright Center will be designed to decrease a lot of stress and burnout,鈥 said LaRussa. 鈥淭he projects will allow people to be more mindful, to process more, so that they are better able to handle their work.鈥
A 2010 Marywood University graduate, LaRussa, 34, has long been active in the region鈥檚 arts scene, including First Friday Scranton.
