November 4, 2005

Spotlight on domestic violence

In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the MGH
Domestic Violence Working Group (DVWG), MGH Men Against Abuse and the
Partners Employee Assistance Program (EAP) joined together to offer a series of
educational events throughout the month.

On Oct. 9, Ben Atherton-Zeman, a spokesperson for the National Organization
for Men Against Sexism and a prevention educator, performed a one-man play,
“Voices of Men,” which used humor and facts to illustrate the need for men to raise their voices to stop violence against women.

Later in the month, the group hosted a panel that focused on the effects of domestic violence on employees and their workplace. Emily Rothman, assistant professor at Boston University School of Public Health, shared results from a study of female Partners employees who had been victims of domestic violence. David Adams, executive director of Emerge, an abuser education program, presented myths and realities about batterers. Donna Kausek, an MGH domestic violence specialist for the EAP, and Matt Thomas, a senior investigator in the Special Investigations Unit for MGH Police and Security, completed the panel.

At the beginning of both events, the DVWG presented an Unsung Hero award. Two founding members of MGH Men Against Abuse received this year's awards: James Heffernan, chief financial officer for the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, top right, with Bonnie Zimmer, MSW, of the DVWG, and Matt Thomas, bottom right, with Bonnie Michelman, director of Police and Security.