Each program has a physician advisor and a volunteer leader who together plan topics of interest. They meet in a variety of free community locations, including medical centers, doctors' offices and schools. The locations of these programs are listed below. For a chronological list of the programs planned, see Calendar Of Events.

To start an educational support program in your community, call us toll free at 1-877-2-ASTHMA.  Most groups September through May; some meet over the summer. 

CURRENT LISTINGS

Programs will be listed as plans become final.  Call the office if you have questions.  781-444-7778.   Updates will be posted on the website regularly.

All programs are free and open to the public.  All groups meet from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
For further information, call AAFA/New England, 781-444-7778, toll free 1-877-2-ASTHMA, or the  local contacts listed below.

MASSACHUSETTS

Merrimack Valley Asthma and Allergy Support Group   

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

Leaders: Linda Sullivan, RN  (978-686-1862); Mary Hadjian, RN; Gail Munro, RN

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

Meetings not yet scheduled.

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

Leaders: Deborah Elbaum, Kara Sulllivan

Medical Advisor: Curtis Moody, MD

Sept. 19  “When do I give epinephrine?  How to recognize and treat a food allergy reaction,” allergist Elizabeth Tepas, MD

Oct.17 Parent Forum on Food Allergies: What works? Share your favorite products, strategies, successes.

Nov. 14 “Food Allergies and Medications: Ingredients in Prescription and Over-The-Counter Products,” pharmacist Arthur Margolis

Dec. 12 “Food Allergies from a Gastrointestinal (GI) Perspective,” pediatric GI specialist Tim Buie, MD

Jan. 9 “Allergy Testing,” allergist Jordan Scott, MD

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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. )

Leaders: Linda Drews, Lori Brockway

Medical Advisor: Stuart Rhein, MD

Sept. 27 “How to Recognize, Prevent and Treat Severe Alelrgic Reactions,” Stuart Rhein , MD

Oct. 25 “Legal Protections for the Food Allergic Student,” attorney Tim Sindelar

Jan. 31  “Taming Mold and Mites at Home, School, and Work,” Jeffrey May (indoor air quality expert and author.)

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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

Sept. 25  “Food allergies and school policies”  Panel discussion, including   health care professionals, student, teacher/administrator, parent

Oct. 30  “Baking for People with Food Allergies,” Patsy Rosenberg, founder of Cherrybrook Kitchen, Inc.

Nov. 27  “Anaphylaxis and the use of Epinephrine- What you need to know,”  Allergist Jordan Scott, MD

Dec. and Jan. – No meetings

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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

Sept. 11 “Nutrition Tips for Children with Food Allergies,” Wendy Elverson, Registered Dietitian

Oct.16  “Anaphylaxis: Understanding and Preventng Severe Allergic Reactions,” allergist John Saryan, MD

Nov. 13  "Food Allergies at School: Preparing Your Child, Your School and Yourself,” Jan Hanson, MA  and Shelly Creager, RN.

Dec. 11    "Ask the Allergist"  Bring your questions for Dr. Anahita Dioun, allergist at Children’s Hospital

Jan. 7:  “Food Allergies: What Would You Do?”  (discussion about how to handle day-to-day situations and decisions)

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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

Sept.  21   “School Policies and Managing Food Allergic Students: A Systems Approach”

Oct.  19   “Raising Food Allergy Responsible Teens: An Empowerment Approach”  Dr. Accetta will be available for questions and epinephrine auto-injection demonstration; kids10 yrs. and older encouraged to attend.  

Nov. 16   “Caring for the Caregiver: Why are my child’s food allergies affecting my mood and the way I eat?”

Dec. 21  Share a holiday treat with us! Celebrate another successful year of food allergy management! (Please bring a safe treat your family enjoys or a recipe to share.)

Jan. 18   “Goal Setting” - Mutual help to make and keep New Year’s resolutions

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

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

Leader: Cindy Blonder, (781)598-5932

Medical Advisor: Paul Hannaway, MD

Oct 12 "Creating a Safe Environment for Your Food Allergic Child" 

Nov. 2  “Taming Mold and Mites at Home, School and Work,” Jeffrey May (indoor air quality expert and author.)  

Dec. 7  “Allergy Testing: Processes, Procedures, Results,” allergist James MacLean, MD

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Waltham/Watertown Food Allergy Support Group (Waltham, MA)

Meets at Media Center of Waltham High School, 617 Lexington St. , Waltham

(Rt. 95, Exit 27A; Totten Pond Road to end and left onto Lexington St.; ¼ mile to campus entrance on the right.

Leaders: Marie DeSisto, RN, 781-314-5462; Cathy Vieira, RN, 781-891-1144

Medical Advisor: David Hackett, MD

Meetings not yet scheduled.

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Shoreside Asthma & Allergy Educational Support Group (Pembroke, MA)

Meets at N. Pembroke Elementary School, 72 Pilgrim Rd.

Leader: Judi McAuliffe, RN,

(781)826-5115

Medical Advisor: John Costa, MD

Meetings not yet scheduled.

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Food Allergy Group of the South Shore (South Weymouth, MA)

Meets 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at South Shore Hospital, 55 Fogg Rd, S.Weymouth.

Leader: Elisabeth Stieb, RN

Medical Advisor: Zuhayr Hemady , MD

Oct. 23 “Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis: Keeping Safe in A Peanut-Filled World,” allergist Michael Young , MD, author of The Peanut Allergy Answer Book

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Cape Cod Asthma & Allergy Group (Yarmouth Port, MA)
Meets at Allergy & Asthma Center for Cape Cod , 244 Willow St. , Yarmouth Port, MA

Call (508)362-0099 for information about upcoming meetings.

Medical Advisor:  Paul Sklarew, MD

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CONNECTICUT

Food & Latex Allergy Awareness Group 

South-Central CT (Milford, CT)
Meets 6:30 – 8:30 at Milford Hospital .

Leaders: Heidi Gianquinto, (203)393-3756, Colleen Inclima

Medical Advisors: Ramsay Fuleihan, MD, Frank Gruskay, MD, José G. Calderon, MD

Call leaders for dates and topics.

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Food Allergy Association of Connecticut FAACT 

(West Hartford, CT)

Generally meets second Monday of the month at The Magnet School, Univ. of Hartford .

Leaders: Laura Austin (860)673-3443, Sandy Jones, Rhonda Rigott-Stevens (860)349-8523

Medical Advisors: Louis Mendelson, MD, Jeffrey Factor, MD

For  dates and topics, call Laura or Rhonda, or e-mail: rriggott@wesleyan.edu

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Food Allergy Group of Southern N.H. (Nashua, NH)
Meets 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Hospital , Nashua , NH

Leaders: Jody Greene (603)888-9536, Lisa Pleat (603)888-1108.

Medical Advisor: Julian Melamed, MD

Meetings not yet scheduled.

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