What's Happening

Senior HealthWISE events
The Senior HealthWISE film series will host a free screening of “Shall We Dance?” Aug. 22, from 1 to 3 pm in the Haber Conference Room. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is required. Senior HealthWISE also will offer hypertension screenings and blood pressure checks Aug. 27, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm at the West End Library. For more information or to register for the film screening, call (617) 724-6756.

Clinical Innovation Awards
The MGH Clinical Research Program is accepting applications for its Clinical Innovation Awards program. The awards program is designed for clinicians who have limited research experience and helps bridge the gap between new clinical evidence and current clinical practice by supporting physicians, nurses or allied health professionals with an interest in applying their knowledge and creativity to overcoming current barriers to effective clinical care. The awards provide 20 percent protected time for recipients to devote to their project; infrastructure support such as informatics development, biostatistics and project administration; and mentorship from the Clinical Research Program’s Disease Management Unit. Letters of intent are due by Sept. 4 and applications are due by Sept. 21. For more information, visit www.massgeneral.org/crp/ or contact Kay Ryan at kryan10@partners.org. To discuss a potential project, contact Richard Grant, MD, MPH, at rgrant@partners.org.

Seeking stories about the Clinics and VBK buildings
All MGH patients, employees and visitors – past and present – can submit their memories associated with the Clinics and Vincent Burnham Kennedy (VBK) buildings to hotline@partners.org. These vignettes may be included in an upcoming issue of MGH Hotline or a poster display.

Laser and aesthetic skin therapy symposium
The MGH Wellman Center for Photomedicine and the Department of Dermatology will co-host a symposium, “Laser and Aesthetic Skin Therapy: What’s the Truth?” Sept. 7 through 9 at the Starr Center, Schepens Eye Institute, 185 Cambridge St. The course will emphasize new techniques and technologies while also critically evaluating current treatment practices. Rox Anderson, MD, and Mathew Avram, MD, JD, will be the course directors. CME Category 1 credit is available. Enrollment is limited to physicians. For more information or to register, visit www.cme.hms.harvard.edu/courses/LASER.

Scientific Writing course
The MGH Clinical Research Program and the Department of Psychiatry are offering a Scientific Writing course Sept. 19, 26 and Oct. 3 from 4 to 5 pm in the O’Keeffe Auditorium. Theodore Stern, MD, will discuss issues such as clarifying the writer’s interests, creating an outline, writing multiple drafts, avoiding obsessive perfectionism and understanding the peer-review process. To register, visit hub.partners.org/catalog/crp-2005-cw. For more information, contact Lauren Michaels at lmichaels@partners.org or (617) 726-5010.

Medical Terminology I
MGH Training and Workforce Development will offer two sections of Medical Terminology I. Classes will meet Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 11, and Mondays, beginning Sept. 17. Students will learn how to analyze, decipher, spell and pronounce common medical terms. Emphasis is placed on understanding terms in their proper context as they relate to the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the human body. No previous background in science or biology is required. The course fee is $70 and includes the textbook. Classes are held at 165 Cambridge St., Suite 200. For more information, call (617) 724-3368. To register, visit ibridge.partners.org/getaccess or e-mail mghtraining@partners.org for an application form.

Smoking cessation
The MGH Tobacco Treatment Service is offering two smoking cessation programs starting Sept. 5 at 5:30 pm and Sept. 11 at noon. The seven-session, weekly group programs include information about preparing to quit, coping with stress and preventing weight gain. Low-cost nicotine patches and/or nicotine gum will be available with written approval from a primary care physician. Registration is required, and fees are on a sliding scale. For more information, call (617) 726-7443.

Shift of Earned Time (ET) to Extended Sick Leave (ESL)
The annual shift of Earned Time (ET) to Extended Sick Leave (ESL) for weekly MGH employees will take place the week ending Sept. 22, with the new balances appearing in the last paycheck of September. Any ET in excess of the allowed annual maximum will automatically be transferred into the employee's ESL account, providing the employee has less than the ESL account maximum balance. For more information about the ET and ESL benefit and the year-end maximum balances for 20- and 40-hour employees based upon years of service, visit is.partners.org/hr/New_Web/mgh/2007_ET_ESL_accrual_chart.pdf. ET must be used by the week ending Sept. 22. On Sept. 23, the excess will be moved to the ESL account. Per MGH policy, employees may request one cash-out per year of 1x standard hours as long as 5x standard hours remain in the bank. Cash-out requests should be requested through the department manager/timekeeper.