Blum Center News & Events

Did you know that regular physical activity can lower your risk of stroke by up to 60%? Join us for an engaging and interactive session. You will learn what a stroke is, how staying active protects your health, and simple ways to add more movement into your daily life. Together, we will complete a short self-assessment, set personal activity goals, and enjoy a gentle exercise class. The session materials, including worksheets and exercises to help you remain active at home, will be given in a packet. These materials will be distributed to in-person attendees and can be sent to virtual attendees upon request via email. No matter your current fitness level, you will leave with practical tools, motivation, and confidence to take charge of your health.

You can attend in person or join online. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis. No registration is needed.

Time: 12 PM – 1 PM EST

Speaker:
Gwendolyn Larsen, PT, DPT
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

Time: 12 PM – 1 PM EST

This session shares tips for managing someone else’s finances and preparing for future care costs.

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

About the Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia: The Caregiver Education Series

Learn, connect, and feel supported in this monthly education series offered in collaboration between the Maxwell & Eleanor Blum Patient and Family Learning Center and the Alzheimer’s Association®. This series is designed to empower caregivers with the confidence and skills to care for someone living with dementia.

Join us for a gentle flow yoga class. Led by yoga instructor, Emily Combias, this evening session is a slow-paced yoga practice that connects breath with movement, focusing on relaxation, balance, and body awareness.

Please bring your own mat and towel.

This session is free and open to everyone of all levels and abilities.

Space is limited on a first come, first served basis. No registration is needed.

Time: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM ET

Instructor: Emily Combias, BSN, RN, RYT-200

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

The Center for Comprehensive Healing (CCH), in partnership with the Small Steps Healing Project, is providing a pop-up healing event to the Mass General Brigham community.

This event gives patients, caregivers, and Mass General Brigham providers and staff the chance to try out integrative healing practices such as sound therapy, Reiki, and acupressure in a low-barrier, no-cost setting. With guidance from trained practitioners, attendees can explore different approaches to healing and discover what resonates with them.

We hope you will join us and take advantage of this opportunity to experience these healing practices firsthand.

Walk-ins are welcome on a first come, first served basis.

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 3 PM – 5 PM
• Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM

For more information on the healing events, email the Center for Comprehensive Healing.

Joint pain is a reality for many people. Sometimes, it is temporary, such as a sprained ankle. Other issues may last longer in the case of gout and lupus. What causes pain in joints? We will explore this question in this Wednesday Afternoon Learning Series session, as well as types of treatments and ways to prevent injury.

You can attend in person or join online. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis. No registration is needed.

Time: 3 PM – 4 PM EST

Speaker: Cara McNally, BSN, RN, MEd

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

Join us for an educational session on brain health led by Jess Soo Hoo. This afternoon session will focus on the brain’s role in thoughts, memory, movement, and emotions, and why caring for your brain is so important. Jess will also discuss ways to support and protect your brain health for overall well-being and healthy aging.

You can attend in person or join online. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis. No registration is needed.

Time: 3 PM – 4 PM EST

Speaker: Jess Soo Hoo

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

Join us for an educational session on summer safety led by Mia Zinni. This session will focus on the importance of staying healthy during the hottest months of the year. We will discuss how to recognize early signs of dehydration, keep summer foods safe in warm temperatures, and stay active while protecting yourself from heat-related illness. You will leave with practical tips and tricks to help keep you and your loved ones safe all summer long.

You can attend in person or join online. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis. No registration is needed.

Time: 4 PM – 5 PM EST

Speaker: Mia Zinni

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

This session, grounded in The Arc’s lived‑experience expertise, will offer patients and families practical strategies to support care for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will explore communication approaches, ways to partner effectively with your care team, and strategies to reduce diagnostic overshadowing. This MGH Disability Education Series session will also cover supported decision‑making, tips for a smoother transition from hospital to home, and information about community‑based supports.

Real-time automated captions and ASL interpreters will be provided. For more information or to request special accommodations, email the Blum Center or call 617-724-7352.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speakers:
Maura K. Sullivan, MPA, The Arc of Massachusetts
Jonathan Gardner

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

The Center for Comprehensive Healing (CCH), in partnership with the Small Steps Healing Project, is providing a pop-up healing event to the Mass General Brigham community.

This event gives patients, caregivers, and Mass General Brigham providers and staff the chance to try out integrative healing practices such as sound therapy, Reiki, and acupressure in a low-barrier, no-cost setting. With guidance from trained practitioners, attendees can explore different approaches to healing and discover what resonates with them.

We hope you will join us and take advantage of this opportunity to experience these healing practices firsthand.

Walk-ins are welcome on a first come, first served basis.

Time: 3 PM – 5 PM

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM

For more information on the healing events, email the Center for Comprehensive Healing.

The Center for Comprehensive Healing (CCH), in partnership with the Small Steps Healing Project, is providing a pop-up healing event to the Mass General Brigham community.

This event gives patients, caregivers, and Mass General Brigham providers and staff the chance to try out integrative healing practices such as sound therapy, Reiki, and acupressure in a low-barrier, no-cost setting. With guidance from trained practitioners, attendees can explore different approaches to healing and discover what resonates with them.

We hope you will join us and take advantage of this opportunity to experience these healing practices firsthand.

Walk-ins are welcome on a first come, first served basis.

August sessions:

• Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Upcoming dates:

• Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 PM – 6 PM
• Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 11 AM – 1 PM

For more information on the healing events, email the Center for Comprehensive Healing.

Navigating today’s complex healthcare environment can be challenging for a hard of hearing or Deaf person—especially when effective communication isn’t in place. This MGH Disability Education Series session will highlight practical strategies and resources that empower patients and family members to advocate for accessible medical care. Participants will gain tools to communicate with greater confidence and partner more effectively with their care teams.

Real-time automated captions and ASL interpreters will be provided. For more information or to request special accommodations, email the Blum Center or call 617-724-7352.

Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST

Speaker: Jonathan O'Dell, ALB, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.

This MGH Disability Education Series session will provide attendees with practical strategies to support individuals who are blind or have low vision. Participants will gain a better understanding of the emotional and identity-related impacts of vision loss and learn best practices for communication and low-cost adaptations. We will highlight key services offered through the Carroll Center for the Blind and other community agencies, along with referral pathways. We will also discuss opportunities to strengthen collaboration between hospitals and community organizations to improve patient outcomes and continuity of care.

Real-time automated captions and ASL interpreters will be provided. For more information or to request special accommodations, email the Blum Center or call 617-724-7352.

Time: 2 PM – 3 PM EST

Speaker:
Tina Laffer, MA, MEd, CVRT
Carroll Center for the Blind

Location:
Blum Center
White Building, First Floor
Room 110
Boston, MA 02114

Virtual Option:

Have Questions About the Topic? Please submit your questions to us before the program, so that the speaker may address them during the session.