March 19, 2004

MGH Back Bay celebrates Seussentennial

In honor of the 100th birthday of Dr. Seuss and the National Education Association's "Read Across America Day," the MGH Back Bay HealthCare Center held a celebration for all of its pediatric patients March 1 to 5.

Pediatric patients were invited to pledge to read a book with an adult or have an adult read one to them on Dr. Seuss' birthday. After bringing the book to MGH Back Bay, the children received a certificate of participation. Preschoolers received a Dr. Seuss book while school-aged patients received the "Read Across America" book selected for Massachusetts — "Letting Swift River Go" by Jane Yolen. Patients who visited the center also had the opportunity to become the Cat in the Hat as they posed for pictures in the cat's signature striped hat.

An MGH Back Bay "cat" with Andrea Reilly, MD

"The event was held to encourage our patients to develop a love of reading and to help them associate a fun, positive experience with their doctor's office where they often come for immunizations and other procedures that might be scary to them," says Lisa Brugnoli-Semeta, RN, of MGH Back Bay and the event organizer. "We're prescribing reading to all our patients."