November 19, 1999

MGH Cancer Center HOPES seminars
The MGH Cancer Center HOPES (Helping Out Patients/ Families through Education and Support) program will present educational seminars for patients, families and MGHers. "What Should I Eat When I Don't Feel Like Eating?" Nov. 22, noon to 1 pm, will be facilitated by Jill Oravitz, RD, of MGH Nutrition. There will be three seminars Nov. 23, "Parenting in Challenging Times: Drop-In Support Group for Parents," 11 am to noon, facilitated by Paula Rauch, MD, of MGH Psychiatry; "Spirituality: Faith, Why Me?: Reasons to Hope," noon to 1 pm, facilitated by Michael McElhinny, of the MGH Chaplaincy; and "Look Good, Feel Better: Skin Care Program for Women in Treatment," 5 to 7 pm, Cox 8 Conference Room. Pre-registration is required for this seminar. "Caring for Yourself while Caring for a Loved One with Cancer," Nov. 29, 1 to 2 pm, will be facilitated by Eileen Joyce, MSW, LICSW, of MGH Psychiatry. All seminars are held in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1, unless otherwise designated. For more information, call 4-1822.

Baby, look at you now!
Baby pictures of MGH staff will be on display in a collage at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children kick-off event Jan. 13. MGH staff from all departments are encouraged to submit their baby pictures – to be used for display only. Drop-off boxes will be placed in the White and ACC Information Desks, ACC 715, Ellison 17 and 18 and the NICU and PICU, Nov. 30 through Dec. 10. Pictures should include name of employee, department, phone number and internal mailing address.

Gift shop payroll deductions
The MGH General Store and Flower Shop is now offering payroll deduction for all MGH and Partners employees. Employees may sign up in the store to have their purchases deducted directly from paychecks. Weekly paid employees may have up to $100 deducted from their check, monthly employees up to $400. Employees must present an ID badge at sign up and whenever payroll deduction is selected as their method of payment.

Gift shop preferred customers
The General Store is enrolling employees for the Preferred Customer program. For a one-time fee of $10, customers receive a preferred customer card, which entitles them to a 10 percent discount on all gift shop purchases, excluding stamps and services.

Inflammatory bowel disease symposium
The Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the MGH will present the ninth annual symposium, Dec. 9, 7:30 am to 12:30 pm. In addition, the center's annual workshop, "Paradigms of Microbial-Mucosal Interaction: Physiology and Pathophysiology," will be offered Dec. 10 and 11. All events will take place at CNY, Building 149, in the Research Affairs Conference Room, first floor west. To register or for more information, call 6-3766.