April 11, 2003

Weight management class
MGH Nutrition Services is offering a 10-week weight management class called "Winning at the Losing Game," beginning April 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and meeting every Tuesday. This class will include nutritional education with an individualized plan by a registered dietitian, an exercise program supervised by a physical therapist and a martial arts instructor, and behavior modification to assist with lifestyle change. The cost of the class is $240 for MGH employees and is limited to 15 participants. For more information or to register, call (617) 726-2779.

Passover offering
The MGH Chaplaincy staff extends its best wishes to patients, families and staff who are celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover, beginning at sunset April 16 and continuing through April 24. MGH Chaplaincy will host a Seder service April 16, from 1 to 2 pm in the MGH Chapel, located on Ellison 1. The Seder will include traditional songs, modern additions and prayers for healing. This service will be broadcast to patients on Channel 16. MGHers are asked to notify Jewish patients in advance and contact Rabbi Ben Lanckton for Seder foods if patients are medically cleared to participate or if patients have special Passover needs or requests. For more information, call (617) 724-3228 or send email to blanckton@partners.org.

Holy Week services
The MGH Chaplaincy will offer the following services in the MGH Chapel during Holy Week . A Roman Catholic Mass will be held April 12 and 13 at 4 pm. Palms will be distributed on the morning of April 13 to inpatient units and will be available at the Mass. An Ecumenical prayer service will be held April 14, 15 and 16 at 12:15 pm, and a Roman Catholic Mass will be held at 4 pm. Ecumenical prayers for Holy Thursday will be held April 17 at 12:15 pm, followed by a Roman Catholic Mass of the Last Supper for Holy Thursday at 4 pm. A Good Friday Ecumenical service will be held April 18 at 12:15 pm, and a Roman Catholic Passion of the Lord and Holy Communion service will be held at 4 pm. A Roman Catholic Easter Vigil Mass will be held April 19 at 7 pm. A Roman Catholic Easter Sunday Mass will be held April 20 at 4 pm. For more information, contact the MGH Chaplaincy at (617) 726-2220.

MGH 5K Run for Asthma
The MGH will hold its first 5K Run for Asthma May 3. The goal of this event is to raise money to benefit asthma research at the hospital. Sponsors, volunteers and race participants are needed. For more information, contact the 5K Run for Asthma Committee at (617) 726-6694 or visit www.coolrunning.com/major/03/asthma.

HIPAA case studies
The Clinical Research Program (CRP) and Partners Human Research Committee is sponsoring a seminar about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). "HIPAA Case Studies #1," will be held April 15, from 4 to 5:30 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. Judy Scheer, training coordinator of the CRP, and Harry DeMonaco, chair of the Partners Human Research Committee, will discuss requiring waiver of authorization and requiring authorization. This lecture meets the mandatory HIPAA education requirement. For more information or to register, visit www.crnet.mgh.harvard.edu or call (617) 726-1669.

Robert W. Carey Lecture
The first Robert W. Carey Lecture will be held April 14, from 6 to 8 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. Carey currently is a physician in the Hematology/Oncology Unit. A reception will be held from 6 to 6:45 pm outside the auditorium followed by "The Care Method, Compassion in Skilled Hands," a lecture given by Edwin Cassem, MD, former chief of MGH Psychiatry. For more information, contact Waveny Cole at (617) 724-4424.