NEW Art Therapy Group

Join us for a series of 5 bi-weekly art therapy classes featuring various creative exercises led by expressive art therapist, Kerry Lang, LMHC.  Kerry is a MA Licensed Mental Health Counselor with years of experience leading groups and workshops for those with chronic illness, specifically those with Lyme disease, and more recently Long-COVID and ME/CFS.

These 90-minute sessions will be a mix of fun, creativity, connection, vulnerability, and exploration. No experience with the arts is necessary- we welcome all levels of creative experience!

The group will meet on Zoom every other Thursday from 2:30 - 4:00 P.M.

The first session is Thursday, March 24th.

*Registration is open through March 14 for MassME members. Professional licensing requirements constrain us to offering this program to MA residents only. Class size is limited to 12 participants.  There is a $20 suggested donation to cover materials.

Click here for full details and registration information

 

 

Sunday Conversations - March 20, 2022

"A Functional Medicine Approach to Complex, Chronic Illnesses”

Presented by Andrew Lenhardt, M.D.

The presentation is relevant to ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Long Covid and Chronic Lyme Disease.

Sunday, March 20, 2022, 4 p.m. ET – Please join us!

 

Dr. Andrew Lenhardt

Andrew Lenhardt, M.D., is a board-certified family doctor with a background in functional and integrative medicine. He has long experience treating people with complex, chronic diseases. He practices in Beverly, MA.

He is the author of two books: The Best of Both Worlds and Emotional Intelligence in a Complex World. Dr. Lenhardt is on the faculty of Tufts Medical School, Endicott College and Yale University and has been teaching medical students and nurse practitioner students for over 15 years. He has developed the algorithms used for the RootFinder tool at Complex Health Solutions. In his personal life, he is married with three sons and two Pomeranians. His interests include pickleball, bridge and exotic travel.

Dr. Lenhardt presented his approach to evaluating and treating patients with complex, chronic diseases.

This is a virtual presentation via Zoom.

Video links:

Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz31KwoUbYrEBZUVzD6OZb9GXJqoRWbPJ
Full event: https://youtu.be/21AwgCUT8fE
Part 1 - Intro to Functional Medicine: https://youtu.be/4oW8_YBL1ds
Part 2 - Patient Perspective: https://youtu.be/z6V1r1SWNBo
Part 3 - Q&A: https://youtu.be/i55KER2y06s

 


 

Sunday Conversations - February 2022, Applying for Social Security Disability

"Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits if You Have ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia”

The presentation is also relevant to Long Covid and Chronic Lyme Disease.

Sunday, February 20, 2022, 4 p.m. ET 

The Conversation discusses when and how to apply for benefits, qualification requirements, the application process, and how to medically-document your disability – as well as how to optimize your chances for approval.

An experienced disability and worker’s compensation attorney discusses the role of an attorney in the disability process and the need for legal representation at hearings. A parent of an ME/CFS patient will discuss how he assisted his daughter win her benefits.

Links for this program

Playlist 
Full event video 
Part 1: Applying for Disability 
Part 2: Patient Experience 
Part 3: An Attorney's Role  
Part 4: Q&A   

Speaker slides

Your Questions Answered! (from Chat)

More resources 

Featured speakers

Atty. Ron Belluso, attorney specializing in disability at Keches Law Group, and a MassME Board member. Ron has successfully represented many ME/CFS and other disabled patients through the disability process and at Administrative Hearings and is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR).

Ken Casanova, MassME member and Disability Counselor. Ken is the primary author of the Association’s Disability Handbook, “How to Apply for Social Security if You Have ME/CFS,” and has guided nearly 100 people through the disability process over the years. He has been the Association's president twice, and has been a social worker, community organizer, and legislative advocate.

Bob Robitaille, MassME member and volunteer. Bob assisted his daughter win her Disability benefits and now provides guidance to others as a member of our Patient Services team.

Moderator: Karin Dove, MassME Patient Services Volunteer 

 


 

Sunday Conversation - January 2022

January 2022: Physical/Occupational Therapy for ME/CFS and Similar Chronic Illnesses

Dr. Kenneth J. Friedman

 

 

 

Sunday, January 16, 4:00 - 5:00 ET via Zoom
Featuring Kenneth J. Friedman, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine,
School of Osteopathic Medicine of Rowan University, Stratford, NJ

 

Discussants:

Alba Azola, MD
Assistant Professor
Co-director of the PMR Post-Acute COVID-19 Team (JH PACT) Program
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Mom of a severely ill daughter with ME/CFS

The overlap of symptoms in ME/CFS, long-haul COVID, and other post-infectious illnesses suggests that the symptoms are not unique to the individual conditions. Rather, they represent a common response, most likely with similar underlying pathophysiologies. Guiding principles of patient management are then set forward for all healthcare providers including physical and occupational therapists.

Video of the full event 
Playlist

Dr. Friedman video 
Dr. Friedman's slides

Dr Azola video
Dr. Azola's slides

Amy Mooney video
Amy Mooney's slides

Q&A video

Resources from the chat

Dr. Friedman has contributed to three nationally-recognized primers on ME/CFS, written numerous articles about the disease in peer-reviewed journals, participated in the U.S. Department of Health’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, and edited three medical journal issues focused on ME/CFS. His research suggests ME/CFS is one of many post-infectious illnesses with similar symptoms and pathophysiologies, and that advances in one illness could benefit others.

Dr. Azola offers her perspective as a clinician working with over 900 patients in a Long Covid clinic; 30 - 35% meet the criteria for ME/CFS. 

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L, offers her comments about the unique perspective and guidance that Occupational Therapy offers.

The Moderator for this event is Kerry Lang, LMHC, an expressive art therapist and the Wellness and Mental Health Program Manager at the Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA. She also leads support groups for Long Covid patients.


 

 

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