109 Highland Ave

Needham, MA  02494

Phone:  781 444-7778 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Educational Support Group Programs:

Please send us your e-mail address and where you live, so that we may notify you of the plans.   Send to: aafane@aafane.org.

Let us know if you are interested in receiving meeting notices of a specific group.

 Meetings for Winter/Spring 2008

Feb 25

Nashoba Valley Asthma/Allergy Educational Support Group (Westford, MA)

Meets at Rita Miller Elementary School, 1 Mitchell Way, Westford , MA

Leader: Jean Claffey, RN

Medical Advisor: Jordan E. Scott, MD  

"The ABC's of Allergy Testing"  Speaker: Allergist Jordan Scott, MD
March 5

Merrimack Valley Asthma and Allergy Support Group   

Meets at Atkinson Elementary School, 111 Phillips Brooks Rd., No. Andover , MA)

Leaders: Linda Sullivan, RN; Mary Hadjian, RN; Gail Munro, RN

Medical Advisors:  Kenneth Chan, MD, John Saryan, MD

 

Open Forum: “Living with Asthma and Allergies”

Bring your questions and concerns to discuss with pediatrician Kenneth Chan, MD, and school nurses Mary Hadjian , RN; Gail Munro , RN; and Linda Sullivan, RN

 
March 6

Food Allergy Group of the North Shore (Salem, MA)

Meets at Salem Hospital, Davenport Conference Rooms - First floor)

Leader: Cindy Blonder, 

Medical Advisor: James MacLean, MD

“Ask the Allergist,” 

Cristina Palumbo, MD
March 10

Northwest Suburban Boston Area (Lexington , MA)

 

Meets at Beth Israel and Children’s Hospital Medical Care Center, 482 Bedford St. , Lexington, MA. Directions: From Rt. 128, take exit 31B (“Bedford, Rts. 4 & 225”). Get in right lane to make “Jug handle” U-turn, then turn into parking lot.

 

Leader: Laurel Francoeur

Medical Advisor: Anahita 

Dioun, MD

"Food Allergy Parent Roundtable" Share experiences and hear ideas from others about travel and vacation tips, summer programs, birthday parties, school lunches, visiting relatives, and more.
March 11

Metro-Boston at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Newton , MA
Rt. 16 near intersection of Rt. 128

 

Leaders: Deborah Elbaum, Kara Sullivan

Medical Advisor: Curtis Moody, MD 		"Food Allergy Parent Roundtable"  Share experiences and hear ideas from others about travel and vacation tips, summer programs, birthday parties, school lunches, visiting relatives, and more.
March 20

Southeastern MA Food Allergy Parent Support Group (Foxboro, MA)

Meets third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Pediatric Specialists, 132 Central St., Suite 116, Foxboro (Exit 7B off Rt. 95 -Route 140 North; enter through North entrance in rear).

 

Leaders: Pat Mulligan, LICSW and Patricia Bates , RD

Medical Advisor: Donald Accetta, MD

Understanding and protecting the Legal Rights of Students with Food Allergies," Attorney Tim Sindelar, Disability Rights Specialist

 
March 31

Nashoba Valley Asthma/Allergy Educational Support Group (Westford, MA)

Meets at Rita Miller Elementary School, 1 Mitchell Way, Westford , MA

Leader: Jean Claffey, RN

Medical Advisor: Jordan E. Scott, MD  

"Allergen-Free Foods:  an Insider's Peek at Manufacturing and Shopping for Families with Food Allergies"  Speaker:  Jill Robbins, owner of Gak's Snaks
March 31

Rhode Island Allergy And Asthma Educational Support Group

Meets at Asthma & Allergy Physicians of Rhode Island, 1056 Hope St. , Providence , RI

Leader: Toby F. Weiser , PA-C Medical Advisor: John F. Zwetchkenbaum, MD

“Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Children with Food Allergies”

Speaker: Katelyn Ariagno, RD

Pediatric Clinical Dietitian

Hasbro Children’s Hospital/Rhode Island Hospital

 

April 2

Shoreside Asthma & Allergy Educational Support Group ( Pembroke , MA )
Meets at N. Pembroke Elementary School, 72 Pilgrim Rd.

Leader: Judi McAuliffe , RN,

Medical Advisor: John Costa, MD  

Food Allergy Parent Roundtable

Share ideas and resources; meet other parents of children with food allergies.

 

April 3

Food Allergy Group of the North Shore (Salem, MA)

Meets at Salem Hospital, Davenport Conference Rooms - First floor)

Leader: Cindy Blonder, 

Medical Advisor: James MacLean, MD

Parent Roundtable on “Food Allergies at School”

Share strategies for working with the school this spring so that an individualized health plan will be in place for your child at the start of the next school year.

 

 
April 9

Metro-West Allergy & Asthma Support Group (Framingham, MA)

Meets at Allergy & Asthma Treatment Specialists, 475 Franklin St., Suite 206 , Framingham (near intersection of Mt. Wayte Ave. ) Directions

Leaders: Linda Drews, Lori Brockway

Medical Advisor: Stuart Rhein, MD  

" Food Allergies:  Practical Tips from a Pediatric Allergies and a Father"  Michael Pistiner, MD, Children's Hospital, Boston
April 14

Northwest Suburban Boston Area (Lexington , MA)

 

Meets at Beth Israel and Children’s Hospital Medical Care Center , 482 Bedford St. , Lexington , MA . Directions: From Rt. 128, take exit 31B (“Bedford, Rts. 4 & 225”). Get in right lane to make “Jug handle” U-turn, then turn into parking lot.

 

Leader: Laurel Francoeur

Medical Advisor: Anahita 

Dioun, MD

"Baking for People with Food Allergies"  Speaker: Amy Weinstock

Learn successful ingredient substitutions, recipes, and sources of special products.  Bring your tips to share.

April 17

Southeastern MA Food Allergy Parent Support Group (Foxboro, MA)

Meets third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Pediatric Specialists, 132 Central St., Suite 116, Foxboro (Exit 7B off Rt. 95 -Route 140 North; enter through North entrance in rear).

 

Leaders: Pat Mulligan, LICSW and Patricia Bates , RD

Medical Advisor: Donald Accetta, MD

"Allergy-Free Cooking You Won't Even Miss It," Nancy MacDonald host of cable TV cooking show

 
April 28

Nashoba Valley Asthma/Allergy Educational Support Group (Westford, MA)

Meets at Rita Miller Elementary School, 1 Mitchell Way, Westford , MA

Leader: Jean Claffey, RN

Medical Advisor: Jordan E. Scott, MD  

"Anxiety in Children with Food Allergies:  How to Support Your Child" 

Speaker: Psychologist Jennifer LeBovidge, Ph.D., Children's Hospital, Boston

 

May 1

Food Allergy Group of the North Shore (Salem, MA)

Meets at Salem Hospital, Davenport Conference Rooms - First floor) Directions

Leader: Cindy Blonder, 

Medical Advisor: James MacLean, MD

"The ABCs of Anaphylaxis" 

Speaker: James MacLean, MD

Come and meet the group’s new Medical Advisor!

Bring family members, babysitters, and friends to this important presentation.

Learn the signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, and how to prevent and treat one if it occurs.

 
May 6

Metro-Boston at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Newton , MA
Rt. 16 near intersection of Rt. 128

 

Leaders: Deborah Elbaum, Kara Sullivan

Medical Advisor: Curtis Moody, MD 		"Allergen-Free Foods:  an Insider's Peek at Manufacturing and Shopping for Families with Food Allergies"  Speaker:  Jill Robbins, owner of Gak's Snaks
May 7

Merrimack Valley Asthma and Allergy Support Group   

Meets at Atkinson Elementary School, 111 Phillips Brooks Rd., No. Andover , MA)

Leaders: Linda Sullivan, RN; Mary Hadjian, RN; Gail Munro, RN

Medical Advisors:  Kenneth Chan, MD, John Saryan, MD

 

 “Food Allergies and Your Child: Preparing for the Teen Years,” Michele Carrick, LICSW
May 7

Shoreside Asthma & Allergy Educational Support Group ( Pembroke , MA )
Meets at N. Pembroke Elementary School, 72 Pilgrim Rd.

Leader: Judi McAuliffe , RN,

Medical Advisor: John Costa, MD

"Food Allergy Update: What's New in Research and Prevention?"

Speaker: Allergist Michael Young , MD, author of The Peanut Allergy Answer Book

 

 

May 12 

 

Northwest Suburban Boston Area (Lexington , MA)

 

Meets at Beth Israel and Children’s Hospital Medical Care Center , 482 Bedford St. , Lexington , MA . Directions: From Rt. 128, take exit 31B (“Bedford, Rts. 4 & 225”). Get in right lane to make “Jug handle” U-turn, then turn into parking lot.

 

Leader: Laurel Francoeur

Medical Advisor: Anahita 

Dioun, MD

"Food Allergies at School : Parent Perspectives"  

Learn about food allergy policies and practices in various local school districts, and how to work effectively with the school nurse to develop a plan for your child for the coming school year.  Discuss your experiences and brainstorm options with other parents who share your concerns
May 15

Southeastern MA Food Allergy Parent Support Group (Foxboro, MA)

Meets third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Pediatric Specialists, 132 Central St., Suite 116, Foxboro (Exit 7B off Rt. 95 -Route 140 North; enter through North entrance in rear).

 

Leaders: Pat Mulligan, LICSW and Patricia Bates , RD

Medical Advisor: Donald Accetta, MD

Parent Forum (open discussion)

 
Feb 11

Northwest Suburban Boston Area (Lexington , MA)

 

Meets at Beth Israel and Children’s Hospital Medical Care Center , 482 Bedford St. , Lexington , MA . Directions: From Rt. 128, take exit 31B (“Bedford, Rts. 4 & 225”). Get in right lane to make “Jug handle” U-turn, then turn into parking lot.

 

Leader: Laurel Francoeur

Medical Advisor: Anahita 

Dioun, MD

 

"Nutrition Tips for Children with Food Allergies"

Speaker:  Karen Warman, RD

Feb. 12

Metro-Boston at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Newton , MA
Rt. 16 near intersection of Rt. 128

 

Leaders: Deborah Elbaum, Kara Sullivan

Medical Advisor: Curtis Moody, MD

 

Topic:  “Food Allergies: Practical Tips from a Pediatric Allergist and a Father.”

Speaker: Michael Pistiner, MD, Children's Hospital, Boston

 

Feb 21

Southeastern MA Food Allergy Parent Support Group (Foxboro, MA)

Meets third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Pediatric Specialists, 132 Central St., Suite 116, Foxboro (Exit 7B off Rt. 95 -Route 140 North; enter through North entrance in rear).

 

Leaders: Pat Mulligan, LICSW and Patricia Bates , RD

Medical Advisor: Donald Accetta, MD

Parent Forum (open discussion)