Browse our news and publications or find information on upcoming events in the Center for Community Health Improvement.
06/12/2013: CHARLESTOWN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION’S “TAKE BACK” EVENT IS SATURDAY, JUNE 15
The fourth annual “Take Back” prescription drug disposal day is Saturday, June 15. The Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC), a program of the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement, the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce and Boston Police are organizing the community’s fourth annual Prescription Drug “Take Back” event. The awareness campaign and safe disposal day are designed to address the dangers of prescription drug abuse and lack of proper disposal methods. More than 150 individuals turned 580 vials of prescription medication and 53 vials of narcotic medications last year, and the unused prescription drugs were disposed in a safe and timely manner.
06/10/2013: CHARLESTOWN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION LAUNCHES A COMMUNITY-WIDE SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN--
This week the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC) will begin mounting posters throughout the streets of Charlestown and distributing T-shirts, stickers and buttons to local teens, marking the debut of a social marketing campaign targeting youth with messages about prescription drug abuse. Plans are underway for the campaign to appear on local subway and bus shelter signage.
05/15/2013: CHARLESTOWN ADDICTION RECOVERY AND TREATMENT COURT:
The Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court (BMC) and its Probation Department, which established the Charlestown Addiction Recovery Treatment (CHART) Program in partnership with the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition, announces that this new drug court is in full operation.
02/13/2013: HUNGER PREVENTION IN SPANISH
Hunger and obesity are prevalent in immigrant and refugee families, as well as native-born families, in the US today. Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters™ conducts hands-on, cooking-based nutrition education programs that aim to reduce food insecurity and obesity by empowering families at risk of hunger with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals.
02/08/2013: Students explore health and science career options
Making the students feel at ease in a large teaching hospital was the job of more than 75 MGH volunteers who hosted 100 students throughout the campus on Feb. 1 as part of the annual MGH Job Shadow Day, sponsored by the Center for Community Health Improvement.
02/07/2013: SEVEN REVERE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN BECOME MGH YOUTH SCHOLARS
BOSTON, MA—February 7, 2013 – The MGH Center for Community Health Improvement announced today that seven freshmen from Revere High School have been selected as MGH Youth Scholars. They are: Zakaria Attioui, Alaina Cataldo, Kelsey Dupont, Samatha Eligene, Camilo Gonzalez, Talal Hamza and Luke Hartnett.
02/07/2013: THREE CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN BECOME MGH YOUTH SCHOLARS
BOSTON, MA—February 7, 2013 – The MGH Center for Community Health Improvement announced today that three freshmen from Chelsea High School have been selected as MGH Youth Scholars. They are: Haidar Karim, Ibrahim Somo and Hadijat Umarova.
02/01/2013: MGHers team up to support annual science fair
MGHers team up with James P. Timilty Middle School students for annual science fair program.
12/05/2012: ARCH CELEBRATES 12 YEARS OF HELPING RESIDENTS FIND THE ANSWERS TO THEIR HEALTH QUESTIONS
Health information is easy to obtain if you have a computer with an internet connection AND you have someone to help you sift through numerous links and the annoying ads.
11/21/2012: Business Owners Ready For All-Out Ban On Trans Fat In Chelsea
Wafting through the streets below the towering Tobin Bridge is the sweet smell of Mario’s Bakery, where the turnovers and classic Colombian pandebono are not quite as delicious as the irony of a man armed with a pastry bag fighting a war on heart disease.
11/15/2012: Multi-cultural communication at heart of community care
Working in a diverse community comes with a unique set of challenges. One of which is certainly communication. Fortunately, we have easy access to MGH medical interpreters, who do more than just translate words — they act as cultural liaisons — helping to de-mystify cultural differences.
11/05/2012: MGH CCHI NAMES MADELINE EAGAN OF FENWAY AS RESEARCH ASSISTANT TO THE EVALUTION TEAM
Madeline Eagan of Boston’s Fenway neighborhood recently joined the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement’s (CCHI) Evaluation team as research assistant. In her new position, Eagan will coordinate the evaluation process for the Youth Program team and share the evaluation responsibilities for the Access to Care programs funded by CCHI.
11/02/2012: MGH CCHI NAMES MARGO J. McGOVERN OF WINTHROP STAFF ASSISTANT TO THE YOUTH PROGRAMS TEAM
Margo J. McGovern of Winthrop begins work this month as the staff assistant to the Youth Programs team at the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI). In this role, she will coordinate all operational, administrative and clerical aspects for the Youth Programs team.
11/01/2012: MGH CCHI NAMES TRACEY BENNER PROGRAM COORDINATOR TO THE YOUTH PROGRAMS TEAM
Tracey Benner of Boston’s Allston neighborhood begins work this month as the program coordinator for the Youth Programs team at the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI). In her new position, Benner will manage the day-to-day partnerships and activities for the STEM and Senior STEM programs. She also will manage all aspects of the MGH Summer Jobs program.
10/09/2012: CHARLESTOWN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION AWARDED FIVE-YEAR, $625,000 GRANT
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced recently that the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC) will receive one of the 60 community grants from the new Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC). CSAC, a coalition supported by the Mass General Center for Community Health Improvement, will receive $125,000 each year for five years to prevent substance use among youth.
09/20/2012: CHAD to Hold Candlelight Vigil on Saturday Night
Families touched by substance abuse will gather together in strength in Hayes Square on Saturday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the fourth annual Charlestown Candlelight Vigil. The purpose of the Vigil is to remember those who lost their battle with drugs and alcohol and to give hope to those still struggling with addiction. Shannon Lundin and Peter Looney of CHAD launched the vigil in 2009, and since Peter’s passing two years ago, the vigil serves as enduring reminder of his commitment to help people with addictions.
09/12/2012: 4TH ANNUAL CHARLESTOWN CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
Families touched by substance abuse will gather together in strength in Hayes Square on Saturday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the fourth annual Charlestown Candlelight Vigil.
08/24/2012: Staff and students celebrate success of Summer Jobs program
Working at the MGH this summer provided 147 Boston students with their first professional employment experience as part of the annual MGH Summer Jobs program.
08/15/2012: FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO HEALTH AND SCIENCE CAREERS: TAKE-AWAYS FROM MGH SUMMER JOBS
For students, working at Mass General Hospital this summer gave many Boston young people their first real employment experience. For supervisors, the young people working in their departments gave them flexibility during the employee vacation time. It also provided them with the opportunity to develop their full-time staff as many team leaders are often working closely to train students. For both students and their supervisors, the MGH Summer Jobs program ending Friday, August 17 offered learning and mentoring experiences that everyone valued.
08/15/2012: FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO HEALTH AND SCIENCE CAREERS: TAKE-AWAYS FROM MGH SUMMER JOBS
For students, working at Mass General Hospital this summer gave many Boston young people their first real employment experience. For supervisors, the young people working in their departments gave them flexibility during the employee vacation time. It also provided them with the opportunity to develop their full-time staff as many team leaders are often working closely to train students. For both students and their supervisors, the MGH Summer Jobs program ending Friday, August 17 offered learning and mentoring experiences that everyone valued.
08/15/2012: FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO HEALTH AND SCIENCE CAREERS: TAKE-AWAYS FROM MGH SUMMER JOBS
For students, working at Mass General Hospital this summer gave many Boston young people their first real employment experience. For supervisors, the young people working in their departments gave them flexibility during the employee vacation time. It also provided them with the opportunity to develop their full-time staff as many team leaders are often working closely to train students. For both students and their supervisors, the MGH Summer Jobs program ending Friday, August 17 offered learning and mentoring experiences that everyone valued.
08/10/2012: Charlestown students receive leg up from scholarships
For the third year, the MGH Institute for Health Professions, MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital have collaborated to present scholarships to two Charlestown residents pursuing non-physician health care careers.
08/10/2012: Boosting metabolism at work
Research has shown that sitting for extended periods may not only negatively affect health but also may prematurely shorten lifespan. Marie Pasinski, MD, offers five ways to incorporate more activity into the workday.
08/03/2012: MGH Summer Jobs program in 22nd year
The MGH is the city’s largest health care employer, and as part of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s Summer Jobs Campaign, it also is the city’s largest employer of youth in the summer.
07/25/2012: MGH SUMMER JOBS—NOW IN ITS 22ND YEAR
Benni Arias of Roxbury confidently entered the MGH Summer Jobs orientation earlier this month ready to begin his fifth year in the program. He returns to MGH Security, his fourth year in that department with supervisors Jennifer Goba and Rebecca Colburn.
07/16/2012: Taking Charge
At the Mass General Wellness Center and the Benson-Henry Institute, patients from across Massachusetts receive yoga, acupuncture and other forms of mind-body care designed to reduce stress and promote healthier lifestyles.
06/18/2012: MORE THAN 600 UNUSED PRESCRIPTIONS TURNED IN DURING CSAC’S “TAKE BACK” EVENT
The weekend before this week’s drug arrests and heroin seizure, Charlestown residents safely dispose more than 600 containers of unused prescription drugs during “Take Back” prescription drug disposal day, Saturday, June 9.
06/15/2012: Community event focuses on women’s heart health
More than 90 staff and community members gathered at the MGH Revere HealthCare Center to celebrate Community Health Day.
06/14/2012: BHI Takes Part in the MGH Bicentennial Scholars Program
The Education Initiative (E.I.) at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine (BHI) is honored to be a part of the important Center for Community Health Improvement programs (CCHI) at MGH. This short article describes the Bicentennial Scholars Program, and BHI's contributions to the program's curriculum. On May 31, 2012, the first class of MGH Bicentennial Scholars graduated from high school!
06/14/2012: MGH MENTORS AND TIMILTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AT SCIENCE FAIR DISPLAY
Mary Ellen Lau of Quincy, from MGH Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, was one of the Mass General Hospital mentors on hand recently at the hospital’s main campus under the Bulfinch tent to engage with students from Timilty Middle School about their Science Fair Projects. Entering its 23rd year, the mentorship program has served as the foundation for MGH’s commitment to community outreach and youth development.
06/14/2012: MGH MENTORS AND TIMILTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR SCIENCE FAIR DISPLAY
Dr. Ahmed Mady of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, working at MGH’s Cardiovascular Research Center, was one of the Mass General Hospital mentors on hand recently at the hospital’s main campus under the Bulfinch tent to engage with students from Timilty Middle School about their Science Fair Projects. Entering its 23rd year, the mentorship program has served as the foundation for MGH’s commitment to community outreach and youth development.
06/14/2012: MGH MENTORS AND TIMILTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR SCIENCE FAIR DISPLAY
Bill Banchiere of Plymouth, working at MGH Environmental Services, was one of the Mass General Hospital mentors on hand recently at the hospital’s main campus under the Bulfinch tent to engage with students from Timilty Middle School about their Science Fair Projects. Entering its 23rd year, the mentorship program has served as the foundation for MGH’s commitment to community outreach and youth development.
06/14/2012: MGH MENTORS AND TIMILTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR SCIENCE FAIR DISPLAY
Julie Berkley of Brookline, a research from the hospital’s Neurology department was one of the Mass General Hospital mentors on hand recently at the hospital’s main campus under the Bulfinch tent to engage with students from Timilty Middle School about their Science Fair Projects. Entering its 23rd year, the mentorship program has served as the foundation for MGH’s commitment to community outreach and youth development.
05/28/2012: Prevention attention
Earlier this year, Partners HealthCare awarded nearly $1 million to support health prevention programs in four eastern Massachusetts cities served by the system's hospitals.
05/25/2012: Chelsea Zip Trip: Healthy Communities
When Fox 25 visited Chelsea recently for one of its Zip Trips to Healthy Communities, anchor Gene Lavanchy interviewed Dr. Dean Xerras of MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center and Melissa Dimond of Community Health Improvement at MGH Chelsea. Dr. Xerras and Melissa described the goal of the Healthy Chelsea coalition and its recent accomplishments.
05/23/2012: East Boston students Learn About Health Care Careers at MGH Institute
More than a dozen freshmen students from East Boston had a chance to see what it takes to become a nurse, physical therapist, and speech-language pathologist during a May 22 tour of MGH Institute of Health Professions in the Charlestown Navy Yard.
05/20/2012: Study aims to extend, link bike networks
Last fall, Revere launched Revere on the Move, a citywide campaign focusing on food and fitness. The city also opened the Revere Urban Trail, a 1.8-mile sidewalk loop, and officials hope to connect it with other sidewalk trails in the city to create a network of safe walking routes.
05/11/2012: $10 million gift benefits youth programs
With a new $10 million gift from Partners HealthCare and its founding hospitals, the MGH and BWH, hundreds of additional students involved in both institutions’ youth achievement programs will benefit in the years ahead.
05/11/2012: Widening inequality in Boston and beyond
Charlotte Kahn, co-founder and director of the Boston Indicators Project, revealed some unsettling local statistics – including that Suffolk County is among the top 50 most unequal counties in the nation – in her presentation, “Widening Income Inequality and its Effects on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Boston and Beyond,” April 27 in the Ether Dome.
05/11/2012: Annual fair celebrates women’s health
Women of all ages gathered May 2 for “Celebrating Women, Living a Vibrant, Healthy Life,” an educational event to highlight women’s health issues and honor female role models in the community.
05/10/2012: Boston students provided health care education
Leaders in Massachusetts health care and public schools gathered last week at Boston City Hall to announce a $10 million scholarship initiative that will impact more than 400 Boston area students who are interested in careers in health and science and are participants of the hospital youth achievement programs at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospitals. They will all receive support services during high school and college, including tutoring, mentoring and annual college scholarships.
05/07/2012: West Roxbury Resident Speaks at Scholarships Announcement
Zazil Merdones, a senior at Urban Science Academy and West Roxbury resident, spoke at the Partners HealthCare college scholarships announcement with Mayor Thomas Menino at Boston City Hall recently.
05/05/2012: Major Meeting Next Week Will Finalize MGH’s In-depth Community Health Assessment
A new health assessment being led by the neighborhood and conducted by Mass General Hospital (MGH) has attracted a lot of interest in Revere over the last several months and will be the subject of a major meeting next week.
05/04/2012: Partners announces scholarship initiative
The leaders of Partners HealthCare System Inc. announced a $10 million initiative Thursday that will provide scholarships and mentoring programs at its hospitals for local college-bound students.
05/04/2012: Partners announces scholarship initiative
The leaders of Partners HealthCare System Inc. announced a $10 million initiative Thursday that will provide scholarships and mentoring programs at its hospitals for local college-bound students.
05/04/2012: Students, hospitals are great Partners
When incoming Boston College freshman Shananssa Percy hits the Heights this fall, the aspiring anesthesiologist will have quite a leg up on her classmates. For the past four years, she’s been cleaning operating rooms and assisting anesthesiologists at Massachusetts General Hospital as part of the hospital’s Bicentennial Scholar Program. When she lands at the Chestnut Hill campus this fall, Mass. General’s parent company — Partners HealthCare — will start contributing $5,000 each year toward her tuition bill. “It’s changed my life,” Percy, 17, said of the mentoring program.
04/25/2012: REVERE RESIDENTS URGED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY HEALTH FORUM
Revere residents are urged to attend the upcoming Community Health Forum on Wednesday, May 9 at Rumney Marsh Academy located at 140 American Legion Highway in Revere. The Forum begins at 5:30 p.m. with a light dinner, and babysitting will be provided. The Community Health Forum is part of the ongoing Community Health Assessment sponsored by the City of Revere, MGH and an expanded Revere CARES Steering Group.
04/13/2012: MGH Bicentennial Scholars include 10 students from Chelsea & Revere
As a gift to the community in honor of its bicentennial last year, the hospital announced students in the program in the high school graduating class of 2012 would be designated as MGH Bicentennial Scholars.
04/09/2012: Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Children and Adults ‐ Chelsea ACHIEVE
ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change) funds Healthy Chelsea, a citywide coalition, to take action on changing policies and environments in their community to promote healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco prevention, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
04/06/2012: Knight Simulation Program offers real-life education
Every day, the Knight Simulation Program in The Institute for Patient Care provides experiential learning opportunities for MGH clinicians. For the past four weeks, however, Wednesday afternoons also were dedicated to teaching 11th grade students from the MGH Youth Scholars program how the respiratory system functions under different scenarios.
04/01/2012: Chelsea, Lynn, Revere, Salem get grants to combat obesity
Four area cities will get fresh resources to combat obesity through nearly $1 million in funding from Partners HealthCare. Chelsea, Lynn, Revere, and Salem will each receive $240,000 over four years to support communitywide initiatives designed to promote healthy eating and exercise as a way to trim waistlines.
03/13/2012: TAKE THE REVERE QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY TODAY!
The City of Revere, Mass General Hospital and an expanded Revere CARES Steering Group have been working with Revere residents to conduct a community-wide assessment for the city. Part of the process is to review data and talk with people to determine the most important health issues effecting community members before a plan to improve the quality of life for residents is developed. The assessment takes into consideration the economic and social conditions under which people live which determine health.
03/06/2012: MGH YOUTH PROGRAMS (FORMALLY PROTECH) ALUMNI PROGRAM SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES!
We are pleased to announce that the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement – Youth Programs is again offering summer employment opportunities exclusively to ProTech graduates! Students must have graduated from the ProTech Program by or before June 2010 and are currently pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees.
03/04/2012: Cholesterol cop
The Boston Public Health Commission also recommended Emmons to Chelsea to help with its ban on trans fats. Using part of a $75,000 CDC grant awarded to the city in 2010, Massachusetts General Hospital’s Chelsea HealthCare Center worked with Emmons to create a trans-fat enforcement checklist to be used by the city’s health inspectors, said Melissa Dimond, manager of community initiatives at the health center.
03/04/2012: City gets a health checkup
The public is invited to provide information for a new study about the overall health and quality of life of those who live and work in Revere. The city, Massachusetts General Hospital, and an expanded steering group of the Revere CARES Coalition are teaming up on the community health assessment.
02/28/2012: Hunger Prevention in Arabic
Hunger and obesity are prevalent in immigrant and refugee families, as well as native-born families, in the US today. Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters™ conducts hands-on, cooking-based nutrition education programs that aim to reduce food insecurity and obesity by empowering families at risk of hunger with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals. To meet the needs of the growing Arabic-speaking population in Greater Boston served by the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, the next Cooking Matters classes will be held in Arabic.
02/27/2012: LAS ENCUESTAS SOBRE LA EVALUACIÓN DE LA SAUD DE LA COMUNIDAD
Los residentes de Charlestown, Chelsea y Revere tendrán la oportunidad de expresar su opinión acerca del estado de salud general de sus respectivas comunidades llenando una encuesta sobre La Calidad de Vida, la cual puede ser completada a través de la Internet o de forma impresa. Ambas se encuentran disponibles en español.
02/27/2012: LAS ENCUESTAS SOBRE LA EVALUACIÓN DE LA SAUD DE LA COMUNIDAD, YA ESTÁN DISPONIBLES A TRAVÉS DE LA I
Los residentes de Charlestown, Chelsea y Revere tendrán la oportunidad de expresar su opinión acerca del estado de salud general de sus respectivas comunidades llenando una encuesta sobre La Calidad de Vida, la cual puede ser completada a través de la Internet o de forma impresa. Ambas se encuentran disponibles en español.
02/15/2012: MGH MENTORS HELPED 54 TIMILTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS YEAR’S SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
This year, 15 Timilty students with MGH mentors are among the 21 Timilty 7th and 8th graders selected to compete at the Boston city-wide Science Fair on March 10 at Northeastern University.
02/13/2012: REVERE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR SAY AS PART OF THE REVERE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Revere residents will have their chance to address their concerns about the city’s overall health by participating in the Community Health Assessment just launched by the City of Revere, MGH and an expanded Revere CARES Steering Group.
02/10/2012: Students explore careers at the MGH
EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL senior Ishmael Branch, 18, center, watches as Daly Celletti, RT, radiology technologist, left, and Tracy Costley, RTR, radiology technical supervisor – both from Emergency Radiology – demonstrate X-ray imaging on National Job Shadow Day on Feb. 3.
02/10/2012: MGH career panel offers students insight into the future
“PICTURE YOU ARE A DOCTOR and speak English, and I am a patient and speak Portuguese. How will you communicate?”
02/08/2012: Bus, Train Ads Roll To The Rescue Of Ailing Local Transit Budgets
In Boston, public health advocates argued for at least three years that the alcohol ads -- wrapped around Boston buses, hanging on train walls and adorning commuter boat interiors -- contributed to under-age drinking, said Catherine Sugarman, assistant director of the Revere CARES Coalition. A Boston University School of Public Health Study supported the community health group's claim.
02/07/2012: CHARLESTOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Charlestown residents will have their say about the community’s overall health by completing a Quality of Life survey beginning today. The survey can be taken online or in paper form.
02/01/2012: MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL HOSTS 80 BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR NATIONAL JOB SHADOW DAY
80 Boston high school students will learn about the latest in patient treatments and therapies, explore state-of-the art clinical laboratories, observe ground-breaking research in tissue regeneration and the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine. They will experience what it’s like to work in a hospital famous for world-class medical care, research, education, and community health improvement during MGH’s 17th annual National Job Shadow Day on Friday, February 3.
01/24/2012: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
In honor of its broad-based efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of its community, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston was named a finalist of the prestigious 2011 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service, one of the most esteemed community service honors in healthcare.
01/19/2012: MGH Plans Precinct-Based Meetings for Health Assessment
Later this month, the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and the Friends of the Charlestown Navy Yard will host the first in a series of Precinct meetings for the Mass General/Spaulding Community Health Assessment.
01/19/2012: Health Assessment of Chelsea Now Going On
City Manager Jay Ash officially announced this week that he intends to conduct the first-ever Chelsea Community Health Study over the next six months, and it comes at the same time that MGH is faced with a federal mandate to conduct a major, resident-driven community health assessment.
01/19/2012: New Law Haunts Schools Local City Officials Charge
Two years ago this month, Massachusetts decriminalized the use and possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. Many probably haven’t given a second thought to that change over the past 24 months, but in the schools, it’s a topic of conversation just about every day.
01/19/2012: Health Assessment of Chelsea Now Going On
City Manager Jay Ash officially announced this week that he intends to conduct the first-ever Chelsea Community Health Study over the next six months, and it comes at the same time that MGH is faced with a federal mandate to conduct a major, resident-driven community health assessment.
01/17/2012: Precinct Meetings Announced for Community Health Assessment in Charlestown
Later this month, the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and the Friends of the Charlestown Navy Yard will host the first in a series of Precinct meetings for the Mass General/Spaulding Community Health Assessment.
12/16/2011: Health assessments to address community needs
Nearly 150 Charlestown residents turned out for a recent forum to discuss their neighborhood’s public health needs as part of the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement’s (CCHI) latest community health assessment effort.
11/30/2011: Charlestown Patch: Why Should You Participate in the Community Health Assessment?
Leigh Hurd, co-president of the Charlestown Mothers Association, encourages everyone to attend Thursday's meeting, launching the health assessment.
11/22/2011: Informed Patient: Hospital Systems Move Into the Walk-In Market
Read what Dr. Jeff Collins thinks about urgent care clinics in the WSJ's Health Blog
11/18/2011: How can Charlestown become a healthier place?
There will be a community meeting on Dec. 1, where organizers hope to hear answers to that question. The meeting is part of a community health assessment, sponsored by the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and coordinated, in part, by the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition.
11/17/2011: MGH Chelsea receives Home Visiting grant from DPH
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has awarded MGH Chelsea Community Health Improvement and Adolescent and Pediatrics a $305,000 grant, renewable for up to five-years, to expand home visiting services to vulnerable and isolated new mothers and families.
11/15/2011: Mass DPH awards $305,000 grant to MGH Chelsea
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has awarded MGH Chelsea Community Health Improvement and Adolescent and Pediatrics a $305,000 grant, renewable for up to five-years, to expand home visiting services to vulnerable and isolated new mothers and families.
11/15/2011: How to talk to young people about healthy living forum features Melissa Dimond of MGH chelsea
Community and legislative leaders heard directly from young people about the importance of healthy living as part of an effort to address the epidemic of childhood obesity at an educational forum at the Massachusetts State House this morning.
11/09/2011: Read about Marta Guerrero's summer working in the GI Endoscopy Unit at Mass General Hospital
Meet Marta Guerrero, an alumna of East Boston High School and student at Bryn Mawr College. Marta participated in MGH Youth Scholar Alumni Summer Program. This new program provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program and Posse Scholars with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Marta is pursuing an undergraduate degree, and is undecided about her major.
11/08/2011: Before Llanira Ruiz was hired by Harbor COV, she was a summer intern at Mass General Hospital
Meet Llanira Ruiz of East Boston, an alumna of East Boston High School and Wheelock College. Llanira participated in MGH Youth Scholars’ Alumni Summer Program. This new program provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Llanira recently graduated from Wheelock with an undergraduate degree in social work. She now is working as a Case Manager at Harbor COV in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
11/07/2011: Kacthary Sanclemente was a Medical Assistant this summer at Mass General. Read her story.
Meet Kacthary Sanclemente of East Boston and Boston College, who participated in MGH Youth Scholars Alumni Summer Program. This new program provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program and Posse Scholars with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Kacthary is studying nursing.
11/06/2011: Read about Ivana Maya's summer internship at Mass General Hospital
Meet Ivana Maya of Jamaica Plain, an alumna of Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers and a student at Simmons College. Ivana participated in MGH Youth Scholars’ Alumni Summer Program. This new program provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Ivana is pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing.
11/05/2011: Read about Corey Williams' summer internship in the Radiology Department of Mass General
Meet Corey Williams of Dorchester, an alumnus of East Boston High School and a student at Bunker Hill Community College. Corey participated in MGH Youth Programs’ Alumni Summer Program. Students applied to new program that provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Corey is pursuing an associate’s degree in radiation technology.
11/04/2011: Chandani Buchan worked as a Research Assistant at Mass General this summer. Read her story
Meet Chandani Buchan of Boston, an alumna of Edward M. Lennedy Academy for Health Careers and a student at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She participated in the MGH Youth Scholars Alumni Summer Program. This new program provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Chandani is pursuing an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and accounting.
11/03/2011: Abdi Ali worked this summer as an intern in the Mass General Hospital OR. Read his story.
Meet Abdi Ali, an alumnus of East Boston High School and a student at Denison University. Ali participated in the MGH Youth Scholar Alumni Summer Program. Students applied to this new program that provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Ali is pursuing an undergraduate degree in History and Psychology double major with Pre-medicine concentration.
11/03/2011: Abdi Ali was an intern this summer in the OR of Mass General Hospital. Read his story.
Meet Abdi Ali, an alumnus of East Boston High School and a student at Denison University. Ali participated in the MGH Youth Scholar Alumni Summer Program. Students applied to this new program that provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Ali is pursuing an undergraduate degree in History and Psychology double major with Pre-medicine concentration
11/02/2011: Read about Liz Centeio's summer job working in the Obstetrics Department at Mass General Hospital
Meet Elizabeth Centeio of Dorchester, an alumna of the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers and a student at UMass Boston. Liz participated in MGH Youth Scholars Alumni Summer Program. Students applied to this new program that provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Liz is pursuing an undergraduate degree in pre-med.
11/01/2011: Read about Breeze Victor's summer job as a research assistant at Mass General Hospital
Meet Breeze Victor of Boston, a graduate of the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science who now attends Bucknell University. Breeze participated in MGH Youth Scholar Alumni Summer Program. Students applied for this new program that provided alumni/graduates of the MGH High School Program and Posse Scholars, like Breeze, with employment and networking opportunities as part of their continued learning and professional development. Breeze is pursuing an undergraduate degree in biology.
10/26/2011: MGH: 2011 Winner of American Assn. of Medical Colleges’ Spencer Foreman Award
The Association of American Medical Colleges, representing medical schools and teaching hospitals and health systems, has awarded Massachusetts General Hospital its 2011 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service.
08/05/2011: CSAC helps Charlestown “take back”unused prescription drugs
DRUG ABUSE AMONGST TEENAGERS does not always start in the streets – it can start at home with unused prescription medications.
07/08/2011: MGH Pharmacy staffers assist in Charlestown "Take Back" event
Did you know that prescription medication is the new drug of initiation for teenagers these days? That is why the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC), a program of the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement, organized and conducted the community’s second Prescription Drug “Take Back” event last month.
06/27/2011: MGH Bicentennial Scholars from EMK Academy for Health Careers
MGH Bicentennial Scholars
06/24/2011: Revere HealthCare Center celebrates community health
At this year’s annual Community Health Day, more than 70 guests gathered at the MGH Revere HealthCare Center to celebrate local community health efforts and learn about one of today’s most pressing health topics: diabetes.
06/21/2011: West Roxbury student aims for health career
Zazil Mardones of West Roxbury is one of the 26 MGH Bicentennial Scholars.
06/17/2011: MGH celebrates Bicentennial Scholars
At a June 10 event celebrating the hospital's 200 years of commitment to the community, the MGH introduced 26 local high school students who have been selected as MGH Bicentennial Scholars.
06/16/2011: Domestic violence incidents on the rise
Domestic violence advocates Liz Speakman from HAVEN at Massachusetts General Hospital, Erin Miller from Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Joanne Timmons from Boston Medical Center formed a panel at the meeting, talking about the gains possible through early interventions and referrals in domestic violence situations by a well-educated medical profession. Read more here.
06/10/2011: NEWS RELEASE: MGH BICENTENNIAL SCHOLARS ARE INTRODUCED
Mass General Hospital today presented the MGH Bicentennial Scholars from Boston, Chelsea and Revere today. The scholarship program is its gift to the community in honor of the hospital’s 200th anniversary in 2011.
04/06/2011: NEWS ARTICLE: Urban Trail given a test run by Revere CARES Task Force
Next Tuesday morning if you are looking for Revere’s Mayor, Police Chief or School Superintendent, you will have to meet them on the city’s new Urban Trail. That’s because, as members of the Revere CARES Food and Fitness Task Force, Mayor Ambrosino; Police Chief Terence Reardon; and School Superintendent Dr. Paul Dakin will give the 1.8-mile walking trail a test run, or rather, a test walk.
04/06/2011: NEWS RELEASE: Urban Trail given a test run by Revere CARES Task Force
Next Tuesday morning if you are looking for Revere’s Mayor, Police Chief or School Superintendent, you will have to meet them on the city’s new Urban Trail.
03/11/2011: A day in the life
FIFTY-TWO STUDENT SHADOWS caught a glimpse of their bright futures in health care during the 16th annual Job Shadow Day sponsored by the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) Youth Programs.
03/11/2011: MGH mentors and their students celebrate science fair success
MARCH 5 WAS AN EXCITING DAY for budding young scientists who competed in a Boston Public Schools citywide science fair.
02/23/2011: 64 BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MATCHED WITH 45 MGH EMPLOYEES FOR JOB SHADOW DAY
From radiology and patient care to materials management and human resources, 64 high school students from Boston experienced what it’s like to work in a hospital famous for world-class medical care, research and education during MGH’s 16th annual Job Shadow Day. Job Shadow Day is coordinated by the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI).
02/22/2011: HEALTHY CHELSEA COALTION RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT FROM OLIVIA’S ORGANICS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Healthy Chelsea announced that the coalition recently received a $10,000 grant from Olivia’s Organics Charitable Foundation of Chelsea. The money from the grant will allow Chelsea Public Schools, in partnership with Healthy Chelsea, to implement the Physical Activity in the Classroom pilot in all grades at the Mary Burke Elementary Complex. This campus serves 1st graders through 4th graders in four elementary schools.
02/22/2011: NEWS RELEASE:HEALTHY CHELSEA COALTION RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT
Healthy Chelsea announced that the coalition recently received a $10,000 grant from Olivia’s Organics Charitable Foundation of Chelsea. The money from the grant will allow Chelsea Public Schools, in partnership with Healthy Chelsea, to implement the Physical Activity in the Classroom pilot in all grades at the Mary Burke Elementary Complex. This campus serves 1st graders through 4th graders in four elementary schools.
02/18/2011: MGH goes red for women’s heart health
MGH Hotline 2.18.11 Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the MGH Heart Center and Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program brought attention to hearts everywhere by celebrating “Go Red for Women” month with a series of events and activities to raise awareness of heart disease in women.
02/11/2011: A sea of knowledge
MGH Hotline 02.11.11 As part of the Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) Youth Programs' efforts to promote learning about science, technology, engineering and math subjects to local students, the center is partnering with Coastal Studies for Girls, the country's only residential science and leadership semester school for 10th grade girls.
02/11/2011: Sharing Science
MGH Hotline 02.11.11 In addition to their daily work at the hospital, approximately 50 MGH employees took on a new responsibility as judges of the annual science fair held at the James P. Timilty Middle School in Roxbury.
11/19/2010: Local students shadow MGHers
MGH Hotline 11.19.10 me and my shadow: Allen, left, with Acevado Job shadowing is one of the many ways the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) is helping to brighten the futures of local students.
11/05/2010: MGH leadership meeting highlights Be Fit, the bicentennial and United Way
MGH Hotline 11.05.10 Following a welcome and brief remarks by MGH President Peter L. Slavin, MD, Ann Thorndike, MD, MPH, of the MGH General Medicine Unit and Cardiac Prevention Center, highlighted research on the Be Fit and Choose Well/Eat Well program
09/03/2010: Honoring graduates of MGH Youth Programs
MGH Hotline 09.03.10 From the time that it was founded nearly 200 years ago, the MGH has been committed to serving its community
07/30/2010: CCHI Youth Programs show appreciation to volunteers
MGH Hotline 07.30.10 The MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) Youth Programs hosted an event at the Holiday Inn June 29 to thank the MGH employees who have volunteered their time to encourage and inspire the 350 students in its programs.
07/23/2010: MGH Student Health Center at Chelsea receives high marks
MGH Hotline 7.23.10 FOR 20 YEARS, the MGH Student Health Center at Chelsea High -- a satellite of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center -- has helped meet the primary care and mental health care needs of Chelsea teens, offering services such as physical exams, immunizations, nutrition counseling and behavioral health services.
04/16/2010: In General awards and honors
MGH Hotline 4.16.10 The Center for Community Health Improvement’s Boston Youth Programs have received a $150,000 grant over the next three years from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.
03/19/2010: MGHers support young scientists
MGH Hotline 3.19.10 THE NEXT GENERATION of scientists – maybe even a future Nobel Prize recipient – have been hard at work for the last few months.
02/19/2010: Making a measurable difference
MGH Hotline 02.19.10 Thirteen years ago, approximately 51 percent of Revere high school youth reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, and 53 percent reported trying marijuana. To help address problems such as these and other issues related to youth health and development, Revere CARES, a community coalition supported by the MGH, was established in 1997.
02/19/2010: Students explore health care field during MGH Shadow Day
MGH Hotline 02.19.10 Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the 15th annual MGH Job Shadow Day was a great success.
12/11/2009: MGH President Is Principal for a Day
MGH Hotline 12.11.09 On Nov. 18, MGH President Peter L. Slavin, MD, had a day booked with important meetings and events -- all with children ages 14 and under.
12/11/2009: CCHI Youth Programs revamped and enhanced
MGH Hotline 12.11.09 The Center for Community Health Improvement's (CCHI) Youth Programs offer educational and career opportunities for local students.
08/28/2009: The next generation of health care workers
MGH Hotline 082809 "It was an awesome experience," says 19-year-old Aris Medina of his internship at the MGH through the ProTech Program. Medina was one of nearly 150 students who worked at the MGH this summer through the Summer Jobs, SummerWorks and ProTech programs.
08/07/2009: Bridging the Gap
MGH Hotline 08.07.09 The sign in the lobby of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center says “welcome” in many different languages. Such a gesture is not unusual there, because the MGH Chelsea staff are particularly sensitive to the remarkable diversity that characterizes the Chelsea community, home to thousands of immigrant and refugee families from across the globe.
06/22/2009: Overcoming Barriers to Care
Massachusetts General Hospital develops model diabetes program to help close the gap in care.
06/22/2009: The road to recovery
Through a collaborative effort between the MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center and the city of Boston, the Monument Street Counseling Center is helping to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health issues and substance abuse.
02/27/2009: Me and my shadow
MGH Hotline 2.27.09 Massachusetts General Hospital recently hosted 52 students from Boston Public Schools as a part of its 14th annual Job Shadow Day, sponsored by the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council.
12/12/2008: CCHI honored with All-Chelsea Award
MGH Hotline 12/12/08 Since its founding 13 years ago, the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) – formerly known as the MGH Community Benefit Program – has collaborated with underserved local communities to make measurable improvements on health issues identified by the communities as priorities.
12/12/2008: A decade of progress- Revere CARES at 10
MGH Hotline 12/12/08 Ten years ago, drug and alcohol abuse among youth in the Revere community was growing at an alarming rate. In the middle schools, 59 percent of students reported smoking cigarettes at least once. At the high school level, 51 percent of students were current alcohol drinkers, and 14 percent were binge drinkers. Today, the picture is very different – and much more promising.
11/01/2013: Journal of Women's Health
The Impact of a Culturally Tailored Patient Navigator
Cervical cancer disproportionately affects Latina women in the United States. This study evaluated the impact of patient navigation on cervical cancer prevention in Latinas.
05/13/2013: CHARLESTOWN ADDICTION RECOVERY AND TREATMENT COURT:
CHARLESTOWN ADDICTION RECOVERY AND TREATMENT COURT:
The Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court (BMC) and its Probation Department, which established the Charlestown Addiction Recovery Treatment (CHART) Program in partnership with the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition, announces that this new drug court is in full operation.
02/14/2013: Joan's post from Uganda
Joan's post from Uganda
We are winding down our trip and begin the long sojourn back tomorrow. We will retrace our steps and make the six-hour drive on the dusty, bumpy road and fly out late tomorrow night via Amsterdam.
02/12/2013: Joan's post from Uganda
Joan writes a trip to a settlement in Uganda
We went to the Nakivale refugee settlement today. We traveled for more than two hours over the bumpiest dirt road I have ever traveled on. Finally we pulled into the settlement. Note I say "settlement" instead of "camp."
02/10/2013: Joan's posts from Uganda
Joan describes a safari in Uganda
The last two days have been extraordinary. The contrast between Friday night in the rural village and Saturday night in a luxury lodge was stark and a bit troublesome, but we have appreciated every minute nonetheless.
02/09/2013: Joan's posts from Uganda
Joan describes her visit to a community hospital in Uganda
Today was in some ways the most challenging, while still incredibly rewarding. We visited the regional "referral" hospital - our equivalent of a community hospital. The Bugoye Health Center sends patients there, about 10 miles away in Kilembe. There are 200 beds and six doctors, plus many medical officers (like a physician's assistants) and nurses. They are bursting at the seams with many more patients than capacity.
02/08/2013: Joan's posts from Uganda
Two more amazing days in Uganda-Part 2
Today, we spent most of the day at a community outreach event in a church on a hillside. Hundreds of people showed up. The Village Health Team started by doing a skit that poked fun at Americans with their sunglasses, pickbags, and constantly taking photos! They nailed us - very funny.
02/07/2013: Joan's Uganda posts
Two more amazing days in Uganda, Part 1.
Yesterday we visited the rural health
clinic for the first time far away in the
mountains. We met the village health
team (VHT), and the director, Shem. I
learned that Ugandan culture is quite
formal.
02/05/2013: Joan's posts from Uganda
Joan's second post from Uganda
We gave the talk at the Mbarrara University of
Science and Technology (MUST) community health
program today.
02/04/2013: Joan's posts from Uganda
Joan's first post from Uganda
CCHI leaders Joan Quinlan and Sarah Oo and Dr. Dean Xerras of MGH Chelsea HealthCare
Center are in Uganda on a trip sponsored by the MGH Center for Global Health. The CCHI
staff will visit the Mbarara University of Science and Technology and the Bugoye Community Health Center to observe community health work on the ground in Uganda and to teach on aspects of community health work from Chelsea and CCHI.
04/02/2012: Journal of Family and Community Health
A Unique of the Community Health worker
With the current trends in legislation around the delivery of patient care, the role of the community health worker (CHW) is gaining growing and much-deserved attention.
10/19/2011: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Patient navigation
Patient navigation at MGH Chelsea is improving the breast cancer screening rates for Bosnian refugees and immigrants.
09/08/2011: Journal of Immigrant Minority Health
Perspectives on Preventive Health Care and Barriers to Breast
Since the Iraq war began in 2003, over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced. Little is known about preventive cancer care in this population, but stark disparities have been documented. The purpose of this study
was to assess the perspectives of Iraqi women refugees on preventive care and perceived barriers to breast cancer
screening.
03/01/2011: Cancer Center News
http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/about/newsarticle.aspx?id=2605
How an innovative Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigator Program is reducing disparities in screening rates.
11/01/2009: Mass General Magazine
House Calls for the Homeless
How one Mass General physician is helping Boston’s homeless community stay healthy against all odds.
03/19/2008: Journal of General Internal Medicine
Barriers to Screening Colonoscopy for Low-income Latinos
Colonoscopy is a screening modality
for the early detection of colonic polyps and cancers but is underutilized, particularly among minorities.
03/14/2013: Second North Shore Overdose Prevention Summit
A second regional summit for youth and community members will be held on Thursday, March 14 from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Kowloon Restaurant on Route 1 North in Saugus. Additional details will be posted on the Revere CARES website (www.reverecares.org) in the coming weeks. For questions about this summit series, please contact Katie Sugarman at cmsugarman@partners.org.
10/03/2012: International Walk to School Day
Revere parents of elementary school-age children are invited to WALK to school with all of the elementary school students of Revere this Wednesday morning, October 3rd, 2012, in celebration of International Walk To School Day.
09/23/2012: Revere Beach Memorial/Community Recovery Walk
This Sunday, the Revere CARES coalition and students from Revere High School invite the community to join them for the 2nd Annual Community Walk for Recovery.
09/22/2012: Charlestown Candlelight Vigil
Families touched by substance abuse will gather together in strength in Hayes Square on Saturday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the fourth annual Charlestown Candlelight Vigil. The purpose of the Vigil is to remember those who lost their battle with drugs and alcohol and to give hope to those still struggling with addiction.
06/10/2011: MGH Community Health Celebration
John the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement celebrate Mass General Hospital’s 200 years of Commitment to the Community
200 Years of Commitment to the Community
Check out this multimedia retrospective of Mass General's 200 Years of Commitment to the Community.
MGH Bicentennial Scholars
The 26 MGH Bicentennial Scholars are members of the high school graduating class of 2012 from Boston, Chelsea and Revere. The program provides these students college prep support, jobs during the school year and summers and scholarships of up to $5,000 per year for four years and a college coach once they get to campus to be successful in college.
The Role of Academic Medical Centers in Improving Community Health
Dr. James S. Marks, Senior Vice President and Director, Health Group for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, addressed the MGH community on The Role of Academic Medical Centers in Improving the Health of Communities.
Cancer Navigators
Cancer Navigators in Chelsea help patients access the care and treatment they need.
Better Living with Liz Walker features the MGH Bicentennial Scholars
Stephanie Urvaez, a graduate of the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, is featured in a recent episode of "Better Living with Liz Walker." This MGH Bicentennial Scholar heads to Fitchburg State University in the fall.
Better Living with Liz Walker features the Revere CARES coalition.
See the powerful impact that the work of the Revere CARES coalition has had on the City of Revere and its residents.
Ali Abdullahi's interview on WBUR
Listen as Ali Abdullahi talks about how his life experiences influence his work with immigrant and refugee families in the Chelsea Public Schools. Based at the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, Ali is part of the Community Health Improvement team supported by the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement.
Safe Routes to School
To promote physical activity among Revere youth, the Revere CARES coalition and Revere on the Move helped to create a Walking School Bus. This Walk Boston Safe Routes to School video shows this initiative in action.
