Blum Center News & Events

In this chat, we will address common misconceptions, barriers to access, and real-world experiences. The goal is to move beyond awareness and empower people with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their sexual health.

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

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Panelist: Theresa Minukas, RN

Moderator: Eric Jaukkuri

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.

In this interactive session, we will discuss what is skin cancer, the different types of skin cancers, and the risk factors for developing skin cancer. Participants will also learn how skin cancer is detected, how to photograph and track skin lesions at home, and effective ways to protect their skin to reduce the risk for developing skin cancer.

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

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

Speaker: Shinjita Das, MD, MPH

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.

Strong social support has been associated with improved survival, better quality of life, and enhanced overall well-being for cancer survivors. It also plays a vital role in alleviating the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Having a dependable support network can make a profound difference throughout the healing journey. Join us to learn practical strategies for building meaningful connections that foster healing and resilience.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speakers:

• Dana Haggett, MS, RN, FNP-BC
  Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Stephanie Eisenstat, MD
  Internist and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

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 PAVING the Path to Wellness Series

Based on the principles of lifestyle medicine, PAVING the Path to Wellness provides education on the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, sleep, stress management, and the power of personal connections for individuals of all ages with a breast cancer diagnosis.

In collaboration with Lifestyle Medicine at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and the Maxwell & Eleanor Blum Patient and Family Learning Center, we are pleased to offer this monthly webinar series to all cancer survivors, thrivers, those living with cancer, and their loved ones of all cancer types.

There are many types of medicines. Do you know what you are taking right now? It is important to keep an up-to-date list of your medicines, understand why you are taking them, and know the potential side effects. In this Wednesday Afternoon Learning Series, we will cover how you can stay on top of your current medicines, and how a family member can be a partner in helping you manage them.

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

Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 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.

This session teaches how dementia affects communication, including tips for communicating well with family, friends, and healthcare professionals.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speakers:
Neela Agarwal
Norma Milligan

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 in this MGH Disability Education Series session to learn practical tips and strategies to improve healthcare access for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. We will focus on reducing anxiety and enhancing care through the use of social stories, visual supports, and individualized accommodations. A caregiver will share lived experiences navigating the healthcare system and offer insights into how visual supports can promote more successful and positive medical visits.

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

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

Speakers:
Jill Pineda, PhD
Michelle M. Picard, BSN

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.

Dates:

• Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
• Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM EST

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

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

In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month, join us for an engaging session that empowers you and your loved ones with the knowledge to reduce stroke risk, recognize warning signs, learn about treatment, and take proactive steps to protect your brain and overall health.

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

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speaker: Angela Reddington, RN, MSN, SCRN, CNRN

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.

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? In this Wednesday Afternoon Learning Series, we will explore this question 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: 4:00 PM – 5:00 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.

This hybrid session explores heart–brain communication and its role in emotional regulation, heart coherence, and resilience. Participants will learn how emotional states influence physiology, gain an understanding of how the heart and brain interact, and practice a simple heart‑centered breathing technique to synchronize the heart, brain, and nervous system.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speaker: Carmen Alvarez, MHA, Reiki Master
Carmen is a certified Positivity and Relaxation Response Training Facilitator by the Benson Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine. She is also a certified Workforce Mindfulness Facilitator by the Mindful Leader™ and a certified SKY Wellness Coach by the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). Carmen is also a certified Reiki Master and has served as a Reiki Therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA since 2018. Carmen serves as the Director of Physician & Patient Engagement at Mass General Brigham International Patient Services, with attention to Latin American Markets, and she is a member of the Workforce Well-Being Collaborative Board at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In-Person Option:

• 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: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM EST

During cancer treatment, your nutrition goals may temporarily change. In this session, we will discuss dietary patterns that are appropriate as you finish treatment and transition into life as a cancer survivor.

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 Nutrition During Cancer Treatment Education Series

In this monthly webinar series, registered dietitians from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute will discuss common nutrition-related issues that patients may face during cancer treatment. Join these sessions to learn practical strategies for managing these challenges and optimizing your diet throughout the cancer care journey.

The Nutrition During Cancer Treatment Education Series is a collaboration between Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and the Maxwell & Eleanor Blum Patient and Family Learning Center.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

This session shares evidence-based practical tips to help lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia including diet, exercise, and cognitive engagement.

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.

This in-person session invites participants to explore creativity as a pathway to mindfulness, using focused attention to enhance presence. Participants will engage in a reflective creative exercise through mindful drawing or observation of natural elements, with opportunities to explore with flowers and botanical objects.

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST

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

Speaker: Carmen Alvarez, MHA, Reiki Master
Carmen is a certified Positivity and Relaxation Response Training Facilitator by the Benson Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine. She is also a certified Workforce Mindfulness Facilitator by the Mindful Leader™ and a certified SKY Wellness Coach by the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). Carmen is also a certified Reiki Master and has served as a Reiki Therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA since 2018. Carmen serves as the Director of Physician & Patient Engagement at Mass General Brigham International Patient Services, with attention to Latin American Markets, and she is a member of the Workforce Well-Being Collaborative Board at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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

Interested in learning how diet impacts energy, performance, and recovery when working out? Join Leah Capomaccio as she discusses the role of macronutrients (like protein), vitamins, minerals, and hydration in athletic performance. She will review proper fueling for a variety of activities, including marathon training tips, and will debunk some common nutrition myths.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Speaker: Leah Capomaccio, MS

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: 12:00 PM – 1:00 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.