January 4, 2002

Partners Physicians Day
All MGH physicians are invited to participate in the third annual Partners Physicians Day Feb. 9, from 8 am to 5 pm. The all-day program will feature more than 30 topics and will include up to six CME and risk management credits. Free childcare services also will be provided. Registration forms recently were mailed to all Partners physicians. The registration deadline is Jan. 18. For more information, call Grace Bommarito at (617) 278-1058. To register online from a Partners workstation, visit http://intranet.partners.org/clinicalaffairs.

Timilty Partnership volunteers wanted
The MGH/Timilty Partnership is looking for employee volunteers to participate in two of its programs. Judges are needed for the annual James P. Timilty Middle School science fair, Feb. 11 through 14, from 9 to 11 am. Volunteers may sign up for a two-hour judging shift on one or more of the available days. No science background is necessary, and round-trip transportation will be available. Hosts also are needed for the City of Boston's Groundhog Job Shadow Day for high school students Feb. 1. The MGH will host students from East Boston High School, the hospital's partner in the ProTech program. The goal of the annual event is to help students make the connection between classroom and workplace learning, allowing them to shadow professionals for three to four hours in the worksite while observing and assisting where appropriate. For more information or to volunteer, contact Wanda Velazquez at (617) 724-3210 or send e-mail to timilty@partners.org

Tax changes for 2002 MBTA and parking deductions
Beginning this month, the federal government's monthly transportation allowance will increase from $65 to $100 per month for transit passes and from $180 to $185 per month for parking. MBTA pass holders who are commuter rail riders will have more of their deduction taken on a pre-tax basis. Because of the current market value of parking, an increased number of parking deductions will be taken on a post-tax basis starting with Jan. 3 paychecks. For more information, call the MGH Commuter Service phone line at (617) 724-6588.

MGH Nursing Career Expo
The MGH Nursing and Human Resources Departments will offer an MGH Nursing Career Expo Jan. 13, from noon to 4 pm in the North and East Garden Dining Rooms. Nursing staff and new graduates are encouraged to meet with nurse managers, nurse educators and human resources staff to discuss career opportunities. The MGH Center for Clinical and Professional Development also will provide two continuing education offerings that day. "Mitral Valve Prolapse – A Case Study" will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, and "Chest Pain: Pulmonary Embolism vs. Angina" will be held from 2 to 3 pm. The sessions are free and will award 1.2 contact hours each. For more information, contact Megan Brown at (617) 726-5593.

Memorial service for Robert J. Krane, MD
A memorial service for Robert J. Krane, MD, who served as director of MGH Neurourology until his death Nov. 17, 2001, will be held Jan. 11, at 2 pm in the MGH Chapel. A reception will be held in the Urology Conference Room on Gray/Bigelow 11 immediately following the service. For more information, contact Robert Seger at (617) 726-8477.