April 30, 2004 What's Happening
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April 30, 2004

What's Happening

Health disparities forum
Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, and the hospital's Disparities Committee invite the MGH community to a forum "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health: The Past, Present and Future" May 6, from 10 to 11:30 am in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. The forum will feature two prominent members of the Institute of Medicine committee that issued the "Unequal Treatment" report. Michael Byrd, MD, from the Harvard School of Public Health, who co-authored a Pulitzer-prize- nominated book on the history of disparities, will speak along with Martha Hill, PhD, RN, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, who is known internationally for her work in preventing and treating hypertension, particularly among African-American men. This event is co-sponsored by MGH Nursing, MGH Community Benefits, the Patient Care Services Diversity Steering Committee, MGH Multicultural Affairs Office, the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization. For more information, call Angela Maina at (617) 724-4613.

Medical care in Peru
Klaus John, MD, a German surgeon, will present a talk on the medical care of the Quichau Indians of Peru May 6, at 5:15 pm in the Bigelow Amphitheater on White 4. Klaus and his wife, a pediatrician, are in the process of opening Hospital Diopsi Suyana in Peru, which will be dedicated to the care of the indigenous Quichau Indians. The presentation will describe the culture and health problems of the Quichau and the plan for the hospital. All are welcome to attend.

Women's health night
The MGH Community Health Associates, in collaboration with the MGH community health centers and the North End Community Health Center, will host the fourth annual women's health night "Celebrating Women: Living a Vibrant, Healthy Life" May 13, from 5:30 to 9 pm at Revere High School, 101 School St. Mallika Marshall, MD, WBZ-TV Healthwatch reporter and an MGH physician, will serve as the keynote speaker. This free event includes a light supper, health fair, and raffles as well as massages, reiki sessions, yoga, blood pressure screenings, body mass index tests, posture and balance screenings and much more. For more information, visit www2.massgeneral.org/womenshealthevent. To volunteer at the health fair, send e-mail to emanning@partners.org.

Cholesterol screenings for seniors
MGH Senior HealthWISE program and the Blum Patient and Family Learning Center will sponsor a cholesterol screening for seniors over 60 May 3, from 3 to 4:30 pm in the Walcott Conference Rooms. Cholesterol screenings, blood pressure checks and health and wellness information will be available.

Women's health seminar
A free women's health seminar "Taking Charge" will be held May 8 at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston, from 8:30 am to 1 pm. Physicians and nurses from the MGH and Lahey Clinic will discuss topics such as varicose vein therapy, peripheral vascular disease, pelvic venous congestion, stroke, uterine fibroid embolization, osteoporosis and compression fracture treatment. Nurses will receive 2.4 CEUs. For more information, visit www.mgh-takingcharge.org or call (617) 726-8753 or (617) 724-4902.

Mental health issues symposium
The MGH/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency and Psychology Training Programs will sponsor "African American Mental Health Issues in the 21st Century" May 7, from 9:30 am to 6 pm at the Holiday Inn at 5 Blossom St., Boston. The objective is to increase the knowledge of and sensitivity to issues relating to African Americans when providing quality mental health treatment. To register, visit www2.massgeneral.org/depts/aamhis/index.htm or call Sara Nadelman at (617) 726-5758.

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