Community Programs

Adolescent Health Education - Dr. Ann Sattler gives health education talks at various schools. Her talks center around eating disorders and substance abuse and are geared toward area Middle and High School students. She also works with area teachers, health educators, and students to plan courses addressing health education and prevention of health problems related to risk-taking behavior.

Teen Access Program - Dr. David Keller and the staff at South County Pediatrics provides comprehensive health services for adolescents in South Worcester County at South County Pediatrics, including free care, reduced fee care to teens, and health education. Funded by the Department of Public Health through Health Awareness of Central Mass, a UMASS Community Services Grant and Group Practice revenue, this program involves the Webster Children’s Network, 75 community members instrumental in planning and supporting access to health care, tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, and pregnancy and STD prevention.

South County Pediatrics - Dr. David Keller and the staff at South County Pediatrics (SCP) provides comprehensive health services for infants and children in South Worcester County at South County Pediatrics, including free and reduced fee care to infants and children. The services include counseling and social work. With the involvement of the Webster Children’s Network, and funded by the Department of Public Health and Group Practice revenue, this program provides access to health care, injury prevention, and immunizations. SCP worked with the Department of Public Health to develop an immunization tracking system which would be practical to use in an office setting, represented on the Health Education Review Committee to develop alternative programming for Webster’s youth, and participated in the WIC Breast-feeding Support Group. SCP has worked with the Webster Substance Awareness Committee to develop alternative programming for Webster’s youth. They have contracted with Commerce Insurance Company to serve as medical consultant to their 100-child day care center, worked with the Webster Police Department to improve relation between the force and town youth, and worked with Worcester Community Action Council to secure funds for renovation of former Pediatric Center into a "Family Center", devoted to educating parents and children. SCP has been represented on Health Advisory Committee for the Webster/Southbridge Headstart Program. They also joined the DPH-funded Southern Worcester County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, with representation on the Executive Committee and the Outreach Committee. Dr. Keller writes a regular column on children’s health for the local newspaper. The staff at SCP has established the South County Car Seat Loan Program, which provides infant and toddler car seats to families at nominal fee, along with instruction on appropriate use.

Children's Diabetes Center Support Group - Monthly evening meetings for families with a child with diabetes are invited. Topics range from social concerns to nutrition, athletics, school, new research, and other hot diabetic issues as well as an occasional party.

Teen Counseling - Charlene Golub, LICSW, provides school based counseling for high school students of Oxford Public Schools. Funded by Oxford Public Schools, and in collaboration with community agencies, this mostly services disadvantaged populations.

Community Based Needs Assessment - Dr. David Keller, in response to perceived community need, has developed community-based indicators of children’s health status which can be monitored. With the involvement of the Webster Children’s Network and work-study medical students, this program monitors program effectiveness of the children in Webster.

Child Advocacy Team - Dr. Robert Reece, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, directs a multidisciplinary team providing case review and treatment planning for all children reported to DSS for suspected abuse or neglect with follow-up at 2 weeks, 2 months & 9 months after the report. The team also provides training and consultation to UMMC personnel & community agencies.

Worcester Early Intervention and Support Program - Director Jimmilee Prouty and the Staff at Early Intervention provide developmental services to children ages birth to three years old and their families, including screening, assessment, home visits, play groups, and parent support groups. Services are provided by a transdisciplinary team of physical therapists, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, nurses and psychologists. Interpreters are on staff for Spanish speaking and Vietnamese speaking clients and are accessible for other languages. The program is supported by third party reimbursements and by a contract with the Department of Public Health.  Annual Family Participation Fees are assessed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and are based on family size and income.

Pediatric Oncology Parent Support Group - Monthly evening meetings for families of Pediatric oncology patients coordinated by Pediatrics and Nursing, addresses social and psychological support and education of families under stress. WHYME, a community non-profit organization, helps plan meetings and arranges for coffee and snacks.

Caitlin Raymond International Registry of Bone Marrow Donor Banks - Dr. Peter Newburger serves as the Medical Director of this registry which searches for matched unrelated donors for bone marrow transplants. The registry was established and is run by members of the local community.

Hope Lodge - Dr. Molly Schwenn is the Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board of Hope Lodge, local housing for patients with cancer who live too far away to return home at night during treatment at UMMC. The Housing is in close proximity to the Medical Center and is a joint effort of the community board and the American Cancer Society, Massachusetts Division.

Hole in the Wall Gang Camp - Dr. Molly Schwenn is a member of the Medical Advisory board and the camp doctor for the Hole in The Wall Gang Camp, a summer camp for children with cancer and blood diseases.

Special Immunology Clinic - Dr. John Sullivan provides comprehensive care to HIV infected children and families in conjunction with the AIDS Project Worcester, provides inservice regarding Pediatric AIDS to day care, schools and social service agencies.

Special Immunology Outreach - Dr. John Sullivan provides physician specialty care and access to clinical trials to Family Health Centers in Lowell and Lawrence. A nurse provides communication and education to community agencies, schools, and families.

Pediatric Rheumatology/Immunology Clinic - Dr. John Sullivan provides comprehensive care to children with rheumatic/immune disorders and families. Provides care for children and families with immune/rheumatologic disorders in Central Massachusetts as well as children referred from other areas, i.e., Connecticut and New York. Van service is provided as well as direct family support in crisis and education, home visits, etc.

Women’s Caucus, Worcester District Medical Society - This group of women physicians and medical students meet to address career issues and to promote women’s health in the community. Participant: Dr. Phyllis Pollack, Chairperson

Girl Scouts of Today, Physicians of Tomorrow - Mentoring program where women physicians volunteer to have a girl scout join them to observe their practice for a day. Participant: Dr. Phyllis Pollack.

Growth and Nutrition Clinic - The Growth and Nutrition Clinic provides interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment of infants and young children with Failure to Thrive. Family centered care addresses medical, nutritional, behavioral, developmental, and social problems that can be associated with growth and feeding disorders. Intervention also includes comprehensive case management and coordination of care with community providers. The clinic maintains formal and informal relationships with other health centers, and provides technical assistance in the identification and treatment of FTT.

Pediatric Cardiology Parent Support Group - Professional and group support for parents of children with complex congenital heart disease. Monthly meetings include educational programs, picnics, and a party in the holiday season.

Heart Health Education of the Young - Members of task force of the Massachusetts affiliate of the American Heart Association School Site Committee. Interfaces with schools to offer educational materials and programs promoting healthy lifestyles.

Comprehensive Care for Cooleys Anemia/Thalassemia - Provides education for physicians, residents and medical students, as well as screening and education for families with children at risk for Thalassemia and other related hemoglobinopathies. Target: Southeast Asian population. Also provides coordinated care for children/adolescents with Thalassemia Major.

Fitchburg Pediatric Cardiac Clinic - Monthly Pediatric Cardiac clinics are done at Burbank Hospital to provide care for infants and children with cardiac conditions in Northern Worcester County. Participant: Dr. Lucy Arnold.

Pediatric Cardiac Clinic, Berkshire Medical Center - Monthly Pediatric Cardiac clinics are done at Berkshire Medical Center to provide care for infants and children with cardiac conditions in Western Massachusetts. Participant: Dr. Phyllis Pollack, Consultant

Fetal Cardiac Consultation - Weekly clinics are done at Memorial Hospital in Worcester to provide fetal echocardiography and consultation on high risk patients referred by obstetricians. Participant: Dr. Phyllis Pollack.

National Association of Pediatric Home and Community Care (NAPHAC) - This national non-profit organization devoted to the education, research, and support of professionals in the field of pediatric home care. It was conceived within the Pulmonary Division and is administered in conjunction with UMASS Health System Ventures.

MASSTART - One of the five state wide resource centers for the integration of the technology dependent child into the school system is run within the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary.

Camp Chestnut - The Medical Directorship of the Massachusetts Lung Association’s camp for asthmatic children is provided by the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary.

The Continuing Care of the Chronically Ill and Technology Dependent Child and Family - - This annual conference was conceived and sponsored by the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary in conjunction with the National Association of Pediatric Home and Community Care. It attracts health care professionals from 25 states and Canada. The Annual Conferences take place in October.

University of Massachusetts Cystic Fibrosis Center - We are certified as a Clinical, Research, and Training Center by the Cystic Fibroses Foundation. A multidisciplinary team cares for a growing population of infants, children, and adults with cystic fibrosis. Multiple research trials including the first gene therapy to take place in the University are ongoing. The Klein Lecture in cystic fibrosis is an annual event attracting nationally recognized experts in the field.

Support and Education Groups - for patients and their families with asthma, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, and cystic fibrosis are an integral part of the Pediatric Pulmonary clinical practice.