October 20, 2006

What's Happening

Smoking cessation program
The MGH Tobacco Treatment Service is offering a seven-week smoking cessation program that will meet Wednesdays, beginning Nov. 1 at 5:30 pm. The program will include information about preparing to quit, coping with stress without cigarettes and preventing weight gain. Low-cost nicotine patches and gum will be available with written approval from a primary care physician. For more information, including meeting location, contact Karen Silva at (617) 726-7443.

Free flu clinics for seniors
MGH Senior HealthWISE will offer free flu clinics for seniors Oct. 23, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm at the West End Branch Library and Oct. 25, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm at the West End Civic Association Community Room at One Emerson Place. The clinics are restricted to seniors age 60 years or older. Registration is required. Participants should call (617) 724-6756 to ensure vaccines are available and to register.

Senior HealthWISE events
MGH Senior HealthWISE will offer a "Fall into Fitness" exercise class Oct. 26, from 11 am to 1 pm at The Clubs at Charles River Park. Lunch will be served. The Senior HealthWISE film series also will host a screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" Oct. 30, from 1 to 3:30 pm in the Haber Conference Room. Registration is required for both events. For more information or to register, call (617) 724-6756.

Pastoral Care Week
In honor of Pastoral Care Week, MGH Chaplaincy will host an information table Oct. 24, from 11 am to 1 pm in the Main Corridor. All MGH employees, patients, families and visitors also are invited to attend a Blessing of the Hands service Oct. 26 in the MGH Chapel on Ellison 1. Services will be held from 6:30 to 8 am, 11:30 am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm.

Respiratory care information table
In honor of Respiratory Care Week, MGH Respiratory Care Services will host an information table Oct. 25, from 9 am to 4 pm in the Main Corridor. Staff will be available to share information about Respiratory Care Services and answer questions.

Memory in older adults education program
The MGH Department of Psychiatry is offering "Mood and Memory in Older Adults: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment," Nov. 4, from 9 am to 4 pm for adults in their 60s, 70s and older and their families, friends and caregivers. It is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For more information, including location, or to register, call (617) 724-8318 or visit www.moodandanxiety.org.

Working Mother magazine award celebration
To celebrate the MGH's designation by Working Mother magazine as one of the top 100 organizations in the country that support working mothers, all MGH employees are invited to join their colleagues who are working mothers at a reception Nov. 1, from 2 to 4 pm in the WACC Lobby. The event will feature guest speakers Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH; Sally Mason Boemer, vice president for Finance and a working mother; and Mary Ellen Heike, RN, staff specialist for women's health. For more information or to see group photos of MGH working mothers, visit www.massgeneral.org/workingmothers.

Human and Hound Blood Drive
The MGH Blood Donor Center and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)-Angell are teaming up to host a "Human and Hound Blood Drive" Nov. 4, from 8 am to 2 pm at the Angell Animal Medical Center at 350 South Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain. The drive will help meet the blood supply needs at the MGH and the MSPCA. For information about requirements for human blood donors, call the MGH Blood Donor Center at (617) 726-8177 or visit www.massgeneral.org/blooddonor. For more information about requirements for dog donors, visit www.mspca.org/blooddonor. All dogs must have an appointment to donate. To schedule an appointment, call (617) 989-1504 or e-mail angellblooddonor@mspca.org.

Second annual Fredric and Alba Frigoletto Lecture
As part of the Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service Fall Symposium, the second annual Fredric and Alba Frigoletto Lecture will be held Oct. 28, from 8 am to noon in the Ether Dome. Check-in will begin at 7:30 am. The program will include topics such as regenerative medicine in female reproduction, theeffects of obesity and the medical economics of health. Michael Mennuti, MD, immediate past president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, will present. CMEs are available. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Suzy McGrail at (617) 724-7884 or smcgrail@partners.org.

Pediatric Memorial Service
The MGH Comfort and Support After Loss Team will host the 15th annual Pediatric Memorial Service Nov. 5, from 2 to 4 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. Following the service, a reception will be held in the East Garden Room. For more information, contact Fredda Zuckerman at (617) 724-3177 or Kathryn Beauchamp at (617) 724-3888.