October 20, 2000

Domestic violence awareness
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Domestic Violence Working Group will sponsor "Broken Vows: Religious Perspectives on Domestic Violence," Oct. 26, noon to 1 pm in the Wellman Conference Room. Lunch will be served. For more information, call 724-0054.

HOPES seminars
The MGH HOPES (Helping our Patients and Families through Education and Support) program will offer "Fear of Death: Spiritual Resources," facilitated by Michael McElhinny, MDiv, of the MGH Chaplaincy, Oct. 23, noon to 1 pm. "Parenting in Challenging Times: A Drop-in Support Group for Parents," facilitated by Paula Rauch, MD, of MGH Psychiatry, will be offered Oct. 24, 11 am to noon. "What to Expect after TRAM-Flap Breast Reconstruction," facilitated by Diane Heislein, PT, MSN, of MGH Physical Therapy, will be offered Oct. 25, noon to 1 pm. "The Great Estrogen Debate: The Pros and Cons of Estrogen Replacement Therapy," facilitated by Janet Gallant, RN, NP, of the MGH Gillette Center for Women's Cancers, and Maria Roche, RN, NP, of MGH Hematology/Oncology, will be offered Oct. 27, noon to 1 pm. All seminars are held in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1. For more information, call 724-1822 or 72-HOPES.

Psychotherapy conference
The Center for Psychoanalytic Studies at the MGH will present its fall conference Oct. 28, from 8:15 am to 4:45 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. This year's topic is "Reframing the Frame: Boundaries in Psychotherapy." Faculty members from the center will present and discuss challenging psychotherapy cases from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Lunch and coffee breaks are included. The cost of the conference is $35 in advance and $40 the day of the event. Hospital trainees, however, may attend the conference free of charge. To register, call Elizabeth Shapiro, PhD, at 724-0808.

Strength for Caring
A "Strength For Caring" program will be offered Nov. 4, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in the Cox 8 conference room. This is a full-day program of education and support for family members and loved ones caring for an oncology patient. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Invitations and brochures about the program may be picked up in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1 or from Michelle Hazelwood in Cox 802D. For more information or to register, call Hazelwood at 724-1833.

Storybook Ball

The MassGeneral Hospital for Children will host the "Storybook Ball" Oct. 27, 6:30 pm to midnight at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston. The event will feature dinner, dancing, an auction and entertainment by Peter Duchin and his orchestra. This fundraising event is sold out.

Health Day 2000
The MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center and Boston Evening Medical Center (BEMC) will participate in Health Day 2000, sponsored by the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Conference of Neighborhood Health Centers, a subcommittee of the League of Community Health Centers. Both centers will host health-screening events Oct. 21, 9 am to noon. At the Charlestown site, screenings for osteoporosis, cholesterol and blood pressure will be available, and there will be gifts and refreshments. At the BEMC site, screenings for blood pressure will be available, and there will be gifts for participants. For more information, call Gretchen Buxbaum at MGH Charlestown at 724-8143 or Christine Bonanno at BEMC at 585-7416.

Benefits open enrollment
Open enrollment will be held at the MGH Oct. 23 though Nov. 6, with changes effective Jan. 1, 2000. Personal benefit summaries were mailed to employees' homes this week. Employees can stop by information sessions, called BeneFairs and QuickStops, to ask questions about various benefit programs. There will be QuickStops Oct. 23, 2 to 4 pm at MGH Chelsea, Oct. 24, noon to 5 pm at CNY, Oct. 25, 11 am to 1 pm at 50 Staniford St., 10th Floor Library and Oct. 26, 2 to 4 pm in the Wellman Conference Room. There will be a BeneFair Oct. 24, 10 am to 1:30 pm in the Walcott Conference Room. Complete schedules were mailed to employees with personal benefit summaries. For more information, call the Benefits Office at 726-8133.