April 1, 2005

Grand rounds features special film screening

The MGH Department of Psychiatry, the Stoeckle Center and the Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (EAP) co-hosted a screening of the independent film "Racing Against the Clock" as part of a special grand rounds March 25 in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. The film was shown to a packed audience of physicians, nurses, mental health professionals and the public. Directed by local filmmaker Bill Haney, the film features five women between the ages of 50 and 82, who have overturned the concept that age imposes limits on vitality and athleticism. Each woman in the film overcame a significant physical or emotional obstacle — cancer, depression, poverty and war exile — and went on to compete in track and field events, breaking records and inspiring others.

For clinicians, the film challenges the preconceptions about what patients are capable of and illustrates how caregivers can encourage older people by giving them hope and connection.During the grand rounds, Helen Riess, MD, director of education for psychotherapy supervision, introduced Haney, and Anne Alonso, PhD, founder of the EAP, above, presented him with the MGH-Harvard Medical School Humanitarian Award. Haney has dedicated his career to making movies about the environment, human rights and the human spirit.