Doylestown Health at Wrightstown

11/02/2026

Uzma Shahzad, MD, Associate Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health, recently spearheaded a new educational initiative, “From GME to CME: Bridging Residency Training and Real-World Practice.” Driven by her vision to expand learning beyond traditional residency instruction, Dr. Shahzad launched this monthly CME lecture series to bring together residents, faculty, community physicians, hospitalists, and subspecialists in a collaborative learning environment. The initiative reflects her commitment to advancing medical education, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and connecting evidence-based medicine with real-world clinical practice to enhance physician development and patient care.

Over the coming months, Doylestown Health experts across a wide range of specialties, from addiction medicine to stroke care, will share their knowledge and insights with residents, helping prepare the next generation of physicians to deliver exceptional care.

10/30/2026

As a volunteer and passionate leader of Penn Medicine Doylestown Health's Therapy Dog Program, Joyce Rivas (pictured with Red and Pip) has helped bring comfort and countless smiles to our patients, visitors, and staff for the past 15 years.

"Our mission is joy," Joyce said. "Dogs touch people in a way medicine can't. We love giving people some of the best minutes of their day."

We're so grateful to Joyce and all of our therapy dogs and handlers for the compassion they share every day. This week they're delivering a little extra spooky joy! 🎃🐾

10/28/2026

For nearly two decades, Mona Dunlap has been a dedicated advocate for patients with breast cancer at Doylestown Health. Since 2006, she has supported patients first as a lymphedema therapist and now as director of rehab and orthopedic services, always leading with compassion, kindness, and a commitment to helping others thrive.

That's why it comes as no surprise that Mona was recognized with a Main St. Sandy Roberts Earth Angel Award for her extraordinary impact on the local breast cancer community.

Congratulations, Mona, and thank you for everything you and your team do each day to help patients live their fullest lives.

10/26/2026

Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) means navigating questions, decisions and care at every stage of life. Penn Medicine Doylestown Health was proud to host Penn Medicine’s first-ever IBD Education Day, where over 50 people attended expert insights on treatment, nutrition, reproductive health and surgical care.

Attendees connected directly with specialists, asked candid questions about topics like vaccines, surgery and pregnancy, and discovered resources to help them manage life with IBD. One newly engaged couple was especially grateful for the opportunity to discuss pregnancy with experts.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees asking for more events and more time with physicians!

Thank you to the Penn Medicine specialists, researchers, and Doylestown Health team who made this meaningful day possible.

10/23/2026

For more than 15 years, one patient has navigated the challenges of chronic illness. During their care, Penn Medicine Doylestown Health nurse Maggie Smith brought a unique level of empathy and understanding, drawing on her own experience with chronic illness. When she found them crying, overwhelmed by how much they missed their children, Maggie did something simple yet powerful: She sat with them, offered comfort, and reminded them that their feelings were valid. In that moment, she helped ease their anxiety and made them feel less alone.

Throughout their care, Maggie remained kind, patient, calm, and knowledgeable, showing that exceptional nursing is about treating the whole person, not just their illness. For this patient, Maggie was a source of comfort and reassurance.

Congratulations to Maggie on this well-deserved DAISY Award for the compassion she brings to every patient.

10/20/2026

Penn Medicine Doylestown Health has been a proud sponsor of the Travis Manion Foundation for many years and recently participated in their 9/11 Doylestown Heroes run. We collaborated with the Penn Veterans Excellence Program to share information about hospital services, community resources, and Warrior Canine Connection support animals with participants and families.

This annual event brings together runners, ruckers, and walkers of all ages to honor the lives lost on September 11 and recognize the service and sacrifice of the military members, veterans, and first responders who answered the call in the years that followed. The day began with a moving ceremony remembering those lost on 9/11 and those who gave their lives while serving our country.

We are grateful for opportunities like this to connect with veterans and their families and reaffirm our commitment to those who have served.

10/19/2026

10/17/2026

Five Penn Medicine Doylestown Health nurses recently returned from a week-long service trip to the Navajo Nation where they joined educators, community members, and fellow healthcare professionals to provide health screenings to more than 1,000 children and distribute 250 pairs of free glasses.

“Beyond the numbers, what stays with us the most is the resilience, warmth, and welcoming spirit of the communities that we served,” said Kenny Barrett (1st photo, far right), pictured with Doylestown nurses, from left, Joann Heim, Dale Presti, Carey Lear, and Kathleen Deschaine.

“Volunteering was an unforgettable and deeply humbling experience," he added. "It was a privilege to help catch and address health needs early so students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Kenny said one of the most rewarding parts was being able to help bridge the gap to clear vision; a tangible moment that completely changes a child's day-to-day ability to learn, play, and engage with the world. Truly a team effort among volunteers, ophthalmologists, and Lions clubs of New Mexico and Arizona.

The trip was part of Doylestown Health’s long-standing partnership with Americans for Native Americans (ANA). For many years, our nursing team has mentored University of New Mexico-Gallup nursing students at Doylestown Hospital and last year, two of our nurses were the first to participate in the screening trip.

"When nurses answer the call to serve, they change lives,” said Marla Pellegrini, chief nursing officer at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health. “I am deeply proud of these nurses who traveled to the Navajo and Zuni reservations to help ensure children receive important health screenings. Their compassion, dedication, and willingness to give of themselves embody the true spirit of nursing and remind us why this profession is so extraordinary."

Note: Earlier this year, we were honored to receive the 2026 Bill and Connie Eastburn Founders Award for our collaboration with the ANA.

10/16/2026

For Dr. Nicole E. Geracimos, practicing medicine is only part of the mission. She’s also passionate about inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Through volunteering with Bucks County high school students, she helps young people explore careers in life sciences, biotech and public health. This year, she received the inaugural Education Impact Award from the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in recognition of her impact.

But the greatest reward? Seeing students discover what’s possible. One of her former students is now in medical school and loving it!

10/14/2026

Not even a nor’easter could dampen the enthusiasm of the Penn Medicine Doylestown Family Medicine Residency Program’s Anthony Scaramia, MD, Ahsan Arshad, MD, Ganga Soundararajan, MD, and Uzma Shahzad, MD. The team recently shared learnings and built connections with others across the region in Atlantic City at the Family Medicine Consortium and Annual Meeting. They were proud to showcase the scholarly work happening right here in Doylestown.

Third-year resident Dr. Scaramia presented a case report on Lactobacillus rhamnosus infective endocarditis. Dr. Shahzad, associate program director, had mentored him in this research that explores this rare, severe heart valve infection that sparked lively conversations with the family medicine professionals in attendance.