ICYMI: Bresnahan, Administrator Oz Tour Scranton Hospitals, Luzerne County Nursing School

SCRANTON, PA: Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) was joined by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for visits to Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton, Moses Taylor Hospital, and The Francis S. and Mary Gill Carrozza, R.N. Health Sciences Center at Luzerne County Community College (LCCC).

Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, first visited Regional Hospital of Scranton for a tour of the facility's Heart & Vascular Institute, including the Cath Lab as well as touring the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), led by Tenor Health CEO Radha Savitala and hospital leadership. Along the tour, they met doctors, nurses, support staff, and patients, including Lisa Phillips Chervanka, the clinical lead for interventional radiology and Rep. Bresnahan's guest at the State of the Union.

"Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital are a cornerstone of healthcare in our region, and our visit showed firsthand the lifesaving work being done right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Rep. Bresnahan. "Our focus must remain on ensuring long-term stability, expanding access to care, addressing workforce shortages, and delivering the reliable healthcare our communities deserve. I'm grateful to Administrator Oz, CEO Radha Savitala, and all the local leaders who joined our conversation about the future of healthcare in our region."

"This hospital would not be open today if it wasn't for Rep. Bresnahan," said Administrator Oz. "He recognized how vital it is for Northeastern Pennsylvanians to have access to high quality healthcare, and from the beginning, he did his job and made sure the facility remained open to provide care. I was honored to tour the facility and see how it continues serving its community. I know Rep. Bresnahan will continue to fight for healthcare in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and I look forward to seeing this hospital succeed."

Following their tour of Regional Hospital of Scranton, Rep. Bresnahan, Administrator Oz, and Mrs. Savitala hosted a roundtable with hospital leadership, local physicians, elected officials, school leadership, and healthcare personnel. The group discussed the Rural Health Transformation Fund, strengthening partnerships between schools and hospitals, addressing local healthcare gaps such as pediatric care, ensuring continuity of care across the region, and continuing collaboration among federal, state, and local stakeholders to better support community health needs.

"We were honored to welcome Congressman Rob Bresnahan and Dr. Mehmet Oz to our Scranton hospital facilities this week. It was a great opportunity to showcase the dedicated work of our physicians and staff, and to discuss the important role our hospitals play in serving this community," said Tenor Health CEO Radha Savitala. "We are grateful for Congressman Bresnahan's continued support and partnership as we focus on strengthening and growing our hospitals under Tenor Health Foundation. This is an exciting new chapter for our hospitals, and I personally look forward to working with Congressman Rob Bresnahan to help ensure we have the resources necessary to meet both our capital investment and working capital needs. Together, we are focused on long-term stability, growth, and expanded access to high-quality care for the region."

Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz capped off the day with an interactive tour of LCCC's Health Science Center, where they visited and practiced healthcare techniques with students and teachers. They observed and later joined students practicing CPR and tested out virtual reality (VR) goggles capable of simulating medical practices and procedures.

"Luzerne County Community College is creating real hands-on opportunities that are preparing students for meaningful careers in healthcare, and it was a privilege to not only see these opportunities in action, but to try it out ourselves," said Rep. Bresnahan. "The innovative technology and training programs on display here are helping to build the next generation of healthcare professionals. I was proud to join Administrator Oz in highlighting how critical strong, community-based training programs are to strengthening our healthcare workforce and ensuring families across our region have access to quality care."

"The students and faculty at Luzerne County Community College are truly exceptional, and it's inspiring to see so many young people stepping up to serve in the healthcare field," said Administrator Oz. "We know that when nurses train in a community, they will likely stay in the community. Our goal is to make that training more accessible and achievable so we can strengthen and grow the nursing workforce in communities across the region."

"We were honored to welcome Dr. Oz and Congressman Bresnahan to our Health Science Center," said LCCC President John Yudichak. "Their visit highlights the incredible work our faculty and students are doing to advance healthcare education in Luzerne County. Experiences like this inspire our students and strengthen our commitment to community-focused learning."

"Having Dr. Oz and Congressman Bresnahan tour our Health Science Center offers a unique opportunity to showcase the hands-on, innovative programs we provide," said LCCC Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences Dr. Kim Olszewski. "Our students are dedicated, passionate, and this kind of recognition emphasizes the real-world impact of their education."

"Visits like today's remind us of the vital connection between higher education and public health initiatives," said LCCC VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Russ Bigus. "It's exciting to share our programs and student achievements with leaders who understand the importance of preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals."

Additional photos and videos from Rep. Bresnahan and Administrator Oz's visits can be found here.

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