March 1, 2002

Ethics forum
MGH employees are invited to attend "Ethical Issues in Working with Patients with Mental Retardation," a forum comprised of representatives from MGH Nursing, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation and Children's Hospital. The forum will be held March 13, from 4:30 to 6 pm in the Clinics Building Lower Amphitheater. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Marilyn Wise, LICSW, at (617) 726-2617.

Human Research Committee IRB and CRP presentation
The MGH Human Research Committee Internal Review Board (IRB) and Clinical Research Program (CRP) will sponsor "Privacy – What Does the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Mean for Clinical Research?" March 13, from 4 to 5 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. P. Pearl O'Rourke, MD, director of Partners Human Research Affairs, will explain how HIPAA will affect access to health care information and the new procedural requirements for disclosure of that information. Registration is recommended. For more information or to register, call (617) 726-1669 or visit www.crnet.mgh.harvard.edu.

Call for Durante Award nominations
The MGH Cancer Center now is calling for nominations for the 2002 Susan and Arthur Durante Award for Exemplary Care and Service with Cancer Patients. The award recognizes clinical caregivers and support staff whose interaction with cancer patients reflects compassion, caring, exemplary performance and outstanding work. All non-physician staff and leadership who are involved with cancer patients throughout the MGH are eligible. Two awards — one for a clinical employee and one for a support staff member — are granted annually. Employees, managers, patients and families may nominate candidates. Nomination forms are available on all patient care units, at the Gray and Cox information desks and in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1. Nominees will be asked to submit a letter of endorsement from their managers or colleagues. Award recipients will receive $1,000 each, to be used for activities promoting their own personal relaxation and respite. All nominations must be submitted by March 15. For more information, call (617) 726-2689.

Women and Addictions Week
The MGH Social Services Department, the West End Clinic, the MGH HAVEN (Hospitals Helping Abuse and Violence End Now) Program and the MGH Employee Assistance Program will observe Women and Addictions Week with an information table in the Main Corridor March 6, from 9 am to 3 pm. Information and videos featuring a variety of resources will be offered. For more information, call Leigh Horne-Mebel, LICSW, at (617) 726-7681.

Longwood Symphony Orchestra benefit concert
The Longwood Symphony Orchestra (LSO), Boston's orchestra of the medical community, will perform a concert benefiting the Dimock Community Health Center March 9. The concert will begin at 8 pm at Jordan Hall in Boston. Cello virtuoso Clancy Newman and members of the New World Chorale will join the LSO for their program. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $20 for all others. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the LSO at (617) 332-7011.

Palliative care presentation
In celebration of its fifth anniversary and to thank the MGH community for its continued support, the MGH Palliative Care Program will sponsor a presentation by Rabbi Earl Grollman March 6. Grollman, an internationally known lecturer and writer, will present "Explaining Dying and Death to Children and Ourselves," at noon in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. A buffet luncheon will follow the presentation. For more information, call Nan Lawless at (617) 724-9197.

Spanish for health care
Registration for Spanish for health care classes, sponsored by MGH Human Resources and Partners Training, begins March 1 for courses starting the week of March 25. Four levels of classes are offered, including a beginning-level course for those who have not previously studied the language. The fee is $40 for a 10-week course. For more information, call Partners Training at (617) 726-2230.