Counseling & Support Services
Most patients come to the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) because of its reputation for treatment excellence and state-of-the-art research. It’s only once they get to Boston that they discover two additional strengths of the program – the ever-expanding range of support services available to patients and families and the dedicated and compassionate staff who provide them.
The IMP treats patients from across the country and around the world. Being away from home adds another layer of difficulty – being away from known support systems. To support patients and families through this process, we have a dedicated mesothelioma support team. These professionals provide counseling, emotional and spiritual support, practical help with housing and travel needs, and assistance in navigating the health care system:
Ginny Hemani, Chaplain
617-732-7480 (page at 617-732-5656, page# 11946)
Reverend John Kearns, Chaplain
617-732-7480 (page at 617-732-5656, page# 13234)
Beth Flanzbaum, LICSW Social Worker
617 525-3020 (page at 617-732-5656, page# 38319)
The support services team always has their sights set on creating a caring and helpful environment for mesothelioma patients and their families.
IMP Support Services
- Patient Orientation
- Daily Visits
- Patient and Family Navigator
- Weekly Support Groups for Patients and Caregivers
- Patient Matching
- Post-Discharge Support
- Nursing Liaison
- Annual Memorial Service
- Housing and Travel Assistance
In addition to daily, individual support of patients and families, the support services team manages several key services:
- Patient Orientation, a weekly meeting for new patients and families
- Support Groups, one for patients and families and one for the family and friends who serve as a patient’s caregivers
- Patient Matching Program to connect new and current patients (matched as closely as possible by gender, age, locale, and type of treatment) with mesothelioma survivors.
- A Day of Hope and Remembrance, in which families and friends of those who have lost their fight against mesothelioma share memories and stories of loved ones with members of the IMP team and community.
The impact of a diagnosis of mesothelioma is not only physical but also emotional, spiritual, and financial. So the program’s services also include religious counseling and spiritual support. IMP chaplains work with patients of all denominations and offer everything from counseling to prayer to working through a family’s changing priorities.
