October 19, 2001

Bioterrorism information sessions
The MGH Infection Control Unit and the MGH Infectious Disease Unit will offer two sessions to provide MGH employees with information about bioterrorism. The sessions will be held Oct. 21, from 9:30 to 10:30 am and Oct. 23, from 3 to 4 pm. Both sessions will be in the O’Keeffe Auditorium. For more information, call (617) 726-2036.

Friends Fighting Breast Cancer events
Friends Fighting Breast Cancer (FFBC) will sponsor several events throughout October. Hats and other head coverings for women with breast cancer are being accepted at Fabric Place stores in Framingham, Randolph and Woburn, Mass., until Oct. 27. FFBC representatives will be at the stores to collect hats from 1 to 4 pm on that date. Fabric Place will donate $5 toward breast cancer research at the MGH for each hat donated. The FFBC will host a quilt raffle at the Castleberry Fair at Shriner’s Hall in Wilmington, Mass., Oct. 19 through 21. A comedy benefit will be held Oct. 21, at 6:30 pm at the Prince Restaurant on Route 1 in Saugus, Mass. Tickets are $30. All proceeds from the raffle and comedy show will benefit breast cancer research at the MGH. For more information, contact Chris Lojko at (617) 724-2818.

Making a Difference Grant program
Proposals now are being accepted for the 2002 Making a Difference Grant program. Jointly sponsored by the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, the program recognizes and supports employee creativity and dedication in improving the quality of patient, family and staff experiences at the MGH. The grants offer one-time payments in varying amounts to benefit employee-sponsored service initiatives. All proposals must be received by Nov. 1. For more information or to obtain an application, call (617) 726-1816.

Vincent Club fall medical symposium and luncheon
MGH Vincent Club will hold its fall medical symposium and luncheon Oct. 22, from 9 am to 2 pm in the O’Keeffe Auditorium. Jonathan Tilly, PhD, director of the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, will present "Cigarettes: Death of Eggs and Early Menopause – The Smoking Gun Revealed." Joan Gallagher, EdD, RNCS, AOCN, of MGH Patient Care Services, will discuss "Long-Term Illness and its Effect on the Dynamics of Family Life." Sandy Tsao, MD, of the MGH Dermatology Laser Center, will address "Skin Conditions Associated with Hormonal Imbalance." For more information, call (617) 523-3900.

Responsible Conduct of Research program
The Partners Responsible Conduct of Research program will be held Oct. 29, 10 am to 4 pm in the Bornstein Amphitheater at BWH. The program is designed to fulfill National Institutes of Health ethics training requirements for all pre-doctoral and post-doctoral National Research Service Award trainees who are receiving support from individual or institutional grants, fellowships or awards. For more information or to register, call Victoria Mirabello at (617) 726-1291 or send e-mail to vmirabello@partners.org.

Latino Heritage Month events
The MGH will be hosting several events in recognition of Latino Heritage Month. "Care of Latino Patients – Nursing Grand Rounds" will be held Oct. 25, 1:30 to 2:30 pm in the O’Keeffe Auditorium. A Latino Health Resource Information table will be in the Main Corridor Oct. 26. "An Inside Look into the Latino Culture, Heritage and History," will be held Oct. 26, in the Walcott Rooms, from 2 to 5 pm.