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NEWS
FROM CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE
Cambridge Health Alliance Opens Women’s Headache Center for
women, run by women & designed by women
Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop,
MA….Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) announced today the opening
of a Women’s
Headache Center. For the 24 million American women who suffer
from migraine, this place is so ideal it’s as if they designed it
themselves. In fact, they did. The Women’s Headache Center (Center),
located on CHA’s Somerville Hospital campus, in Somerville, Massachusetts,
is the first clinic of its kind in the country – a headache center
for women, run by women, and designed by women.
The Center is the brainstorm of Dr. Carolyn Bernstein, Attending
Neurologist and Medical Director of Medical Specialties at CHA.
Dr. Bernstein is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School where
she just received the Harvard Medical School Faculty Prize for Excellence
in Teaching. She teaches primary care doctors, psychiatrists, and
neurologists from around the world on the diagnosis and treatment
of migraine, a complex illness that varies greatly among patients
in both symptoms and the best treatment options. She’s also a migraine
sufferer herself, which provides her with first-hand understanding
of the debilitating and widely misunderstood disease.
Staffed by two women neurologists, a nutritionist, a biofeedback
instructor, and a psychiatrist who specializes in psychiatric care
of women, the Center is completely patient-directed. Everything
from the style and tone of the waiting room to the services offered
were suggested by women headache sufferers to address their special
concerns. Fragrance-free magazines, soothing, Zen colors, soft,
muted lighting, and classical music are complimented by a green
tea machine. For migraine sufferers, this space is ideal. It minimizes
the many triggers that can aggravate the severe head pain, vomiting
and nausea, and sensitivity to light, sound and smell that mark
this chronic neurological disease.
The Center combines the latest research and cutting-edge medical
approaches with complementary and alternative treatments including
biofeedback, ice therapy, psychotherapy, yoga, and support groups.
Dr. Bernstein is already busy treating patients at the new Center:
“One patient came in to me last week. She was on 11 different medications
for her headaches – and she was still sick.”
“Opening the Women’s Headache Center is a dream I’ve had for a
long time. It’s a place for women to come for ‘one-stop’ headache
care. They can see a neurologist, have a biofeedback session, sit
in on a support group with other women headache sufferers, have
a nutritional consult, and sit in a waiting room painted in Zen
colors where soft music is playing, and they can enjoy green tea,”
said Dr. Bernstein.
The Center also will be a site for research on the connection between
migraine and such factors as depression, domestic violence, and
female hormones.
In order to reach more of America’s 30 million migraine sufferers,
Dr. Bernstein is writing a comprehensive, patient-friendly book
that will explain all aspects of migraines and the latest in treatment
options.
How to Make an Appointment
Referrals are necessary to see the staff at the Women’s Headache
Center. Please contact your primary care provider (PCP) or OB/GYN
for a referral. If you don’t have a PCP we can help you find one.
Women’s Headache Center, Medical Arts Building, 236 Highland Ave,
Somerville, MA 02143, Tel. 617-591-4590
Women’s Headache Center Staff
Carolyn Bernstein, MD, Medical Director, Instructor in Neurology,
Harvard Medical School
Michele Masi, MD, Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Margaret Ross, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical
School
Kathy Kommit, LICSW, Biofeedback
Mara Sansevero, RD, Nutrition Therapy
CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE
Cambridge Health Alliance is a regional healthcare system with three
hospitals and more than twenty primary care practices in Cambridge,
Somerville, and Boston’s metro-North communities. As a teaching
affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance offers
medical residency/training programs and undergraduate learning experiences
in hospital and community settings. Cambridge Health Alliance also
includes the Cambridge Public Health Department, CHA Physician’s
Organization (CHAPO), and Network Health, a managed Medicaid plan.
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Media
Contacts
Alison
Harris
Director Media Relations
Phone: 617-499-8323
Cell: 781-424-3293
Pager: 617-546-8696
aharris@challiance.org
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