Those reading this column are no doubt as disturbed, dismayed, and disheartened as I am by the seemingly relentless acts of violence in our society, too many of which reflect the persistent racism and injustice that have continued to plague our country – with often devastating impact on people of color – since its founding. It is inconceivable to me that in 2016 we have not yet found ways either locally or globally to achieve a more peaceful, equitable, and just world for all. At the same time, I believe, as President Obama so eloquently noted in his remarks at the memorial for the five...

Everything in nature is awake with bright hues! The grass is green, the sky brilliant blues! The birds sing to us a joyful song. The nights are warm and the days are long. The warm breeze is alive with flowers’ perfume. These are the joys and delights of June! Heather Bahnmaier, 2010 On May 9th the Institute celebrated 524 students who received their degrees or certificates and were awarded their diplomas. This 36th Commencement was especially noteworthy as the first two graduates of our PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program received the highest degree awarded by the Institute. As always,...

Dear Graduates of the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Congratulations on the attainment of your degree. While this degree “commences” your new life as a professional healthcare provider, researcher, or academic instructor it also serves as an important benchmark in your educational and clinical life. Be sure to take time to celebrate and enjoy this important transition. In addition to my congratulations, I also want to send three invitations. First, I invite you to stay connected with the MGH Institute. We need you. We need your input and feedback. Consider when you will be ready to...

MGH Institute President Janis P. Bellack, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF and MGH Institute Board Chair George E. Thibault, MD The following is an excerpt from an op-ed published in the January 2016 issue of the Journal of Nursing Education. In April 2015, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, for which Dr. Thibault serves as president, sponsored an invitational conference focused on exploring the promise and impact of new technologies on the future of health professions education. President Bellack served as a member of the conference planning committee and a conference participant. Although the op-ed...

This column, written by 2014 Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate Dan Kelleher, originally was published in the November 19, 2015 issue of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Caring Headlines. Kelleher is a staff physical therapist at the hospital. My name is Dan Kelleher , and I am a staff physical therapist. Mrs. R was an 82-year-old woman who was admitted to the Ellison 11 Cardiac Unit for a work-up on her mitral valve. The hope was that she’d be a candidate for mitral-valve-replacement surgery or the less invasive mitral-clip insertion to help manage her symptoms. Six months prior to being...

In the cycle of commentary that follows mass shootings in the United States, calls for increased mental health services nearly always surface. It's hard to refute the need for supporting those with mental illness, and it's certainly easier than navigating the politics of gun control. Still, as the New York Times editorialized , less than five percent of gun homicides can be linked to people with diagnosed mental illness. That prominent voices in contemporary debates can associate mass violence with mental illness demonstrates how much stigma people with mental illness must endure. Unlike...