February 19, 1999

Cardiac Catheterization lab open house
All are invited to tour the new MGH Knight Center for Interventional Cardiovascular Therapy, located on Blake 9 at an open house Feb. 23, 3 to 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served. The new center is one of the most technologically advanced cardiac catheterization facilities in New England. The cardiac catheterization lab, currently located on Gray 1, will move to the new location March 1. The main phone number will remain 6-7400. For more information about the open house, call 6-5544.

The Blum Patient and Family Learning Center: open house and call for volunteers
The Maxwell and Eleanor Blum Patient and Family Learning Center – opening March 1 in the Main Corridor at the top of the staircase – will hold an open house for the MGH and Partners community, Feb. 24, 2 to 4 pm. The center is being established to provide library services for patients and their families. It will house a collection of educational and consumer-focused books, pamphlets, brochures, magazines, videos, audio-tapes and computer software. Staffing will include a full-time health information librarian and a patient education specialist nurse.
     The center also is recruiting volunteers to work Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Responsibilities will include assisting visitors in finding information and resources about health, illness and treatment as well as helping the center's staff with "behind the scenes" work, such as processing, mailing and copying.
     Volunteers should have strong communication skills, enjoy working with people of all ages and be able to commit to a regular schedule, which includes covering three-hour shifts. In addition, volunteers will be given orientation and training sessions to learn library technology.
     For more information about this volunteer opportunity, stop by the Volunteer Department on Clinics 1 or call the office at 6-8540.

MGPO staff meeting
All MGPO physicians and employees are invited to attend the organization's quarterly staff meeting March 3, 5 to 6:30 pm, in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. Speakers include W. Gerald Austen, MD, MGPO chairman and CEO; Daniel Ginsburg, MGPO president and COO; Samuel O. Thier, MD, president and CEO of Partners; James J. Mongan, MD, MGH president; James Richter, MD, MGPO medical director; Jeffrey Weilburg, MD, MGPO associate medical director; and Joan Sapir, vice president of MGH/MGPO Customer Service and Practice Support. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 4-9080.

MGH Breast Imaging Center provides rapid results
The MGH Breast Imaging Center, located at Zero Emerson Place, now provides online reading for outpatients getting mammograms. This service offers preliminary mammogram results before patients leave their appointment. Certified radiologists are located onsite to interpret mammogram results. All mammograms are read by two radiologists to ensure accuracy and the highest quality of care for patients. For more information about this new service, call 6-5005 or 6-3517.

Faculty development videos
Videotapes of the Faculty Development Seminar Series – a series of presentations for junior faculty and fellows – are now available for loan. Sponsored by the MGH Department of Medicine Academic Council, these panel discussions cover such topics as "Career Pathways in Medicine," "Academic Advancement and Promotion," "What and When to Publish" and "How to Write a Grant." To borrow a video, call 6-1774.

Lock Monsters host benefit for MGH Angel Fund
The Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League, an affiliate of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, will host a special evening to benefit the MGH Angel Fund supporting Lou Gehrig's disease research, March 17, 6 pm, at the Andover Marriott, 123 River Road, Andover. The evening will feature cocktails, dinner and dancing to music by the band "Mixed Nuts." Guests also will have the chance to meet the Lock Monster players.
     Tickets are available at Lock Monster offices in the Paul E. Tsongas Arena in Lowell. Admission requires a $100 donation or $125 for a table with a Lock Monster player. To purchase tickets or for more information, call (978) 458-7825.

PeopleSoft training
PeopleSoft online requisition classes are being offered through March 30, Tuesdays, 8:30 am to noon, in Founders room 643. All participants should have a working knowledge of Windows software. To sign up for training, call at 4-1388.

Eating disorders forum
The Harvard Eating Disorders Center will sponsor a free, public forum entitled "Culture, Media and Eating Disorders: The Challenge of Promoting Self-Acceptance" Feb. 23, 7 pm, Askwith Lecture Hall, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 6 Appian Way, Cambridge. Taking place during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the forum will feature renowned guest speakers and a panel of clinical experts, including David Herzog, MD, director of the MGH Eating Disorders Unit and president and founder of the Harvard Eating Disorders Center. For more information, call 236-7766.

Diversity in research careers panel discussion
Harvard Medical School (HMS) will host a discussion entitled "Diversity in Research Careers: Looking Ahead," March 4, 3 to 5 pm, in the T-MEC Amphitheater, second floor, 260 Longwood Ave. A reception will follow from 5 to 6 pm. The presentation is open to the Harvard medical community. For more information, call 432-1572.

Head and neck gene therapy
James Rocco, MD, PhD, from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, will speak about "Tumor Suppressive Gene Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma" Feb. 26, 8 am, fourth floor Conference Room, MEEI. The MGH community is welcome. For information, call 573-3654.