Support Groups and Workshops

• Date/Time: Twice a year in the Spring and Fall
• Location: Smilow Center for Translational Research
• Led by: The Amyloidosis Support Groups Organization

This group provides an opportunity for brain tumor patients, caregivers, and families to support, share and educate each other.

For more information, please call 215-615-5240.

• Date/Time: Second Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm to 8 pm
• Location: HUP, Third Floor Conference Room, Silverstein, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Led By: Arbena Merolli, MSW

This group provides an opportunity to network with other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It offers education and peer support to enhance coping with your breast cancer diagnosis.

Interested patients should contact 215-605-5046.

• Date/Time: Second Tuesday of each month from 12 pm to 1:30 pm
• Location: Patient and Family Services Conference Room, 1st Floor South Pavilion, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
• Led by: Laura Kotler-Klein, DSW

The Cancer and Intimacy group provides an opportunity for women to discuss changes in intimacy related to cancer treatments. Relationships, body image, and sexuality are all central to our sense of self and it is common for these to be impacted during treatment for cancer. It is a safe, inclusive space to talk, ask questions and learn from one another.

• Date/Time: Every fourth Wednesday
• Location: Patient and Family Services Conference Room, 1st Floor South Pavilion, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
• Led by: Laura Kotler-Klein, DSW

This program is for caregivers and loved ones of those with cancer to share concerns and coping strategies. This program is available at the following two locations:

Pennsylvania Hospital

• Date/Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 1 pm to 2 pm
• Location: Pennsylvania Hospital, Farm Journal Building, 230 W Washington Square, 1st Floor, Suite 102
• Led by: Chaplain Hurley-Browning and Dr. Koller.

For more information, contact Chaplain Hurley-Browning at 215-829-7210 or Dr. Koller at 215-829-7338.

Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine

• Date/Time: Every third Tuesday, 12pm to 2 PM
• Location: Patient and Family Services Conference Room, 1st Floor South Pavilion, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
• Led by: Megan Melick, LSW

For patients and caregivers who have undergone an esophagectomy, this group was created by the nurses of the thoracic surgery department with the mission to be a source of information and support for patients and their families as they navigate the recovery process.

Please call 215-662-3878 or email ThoracicNursing@uphs.upenn.edu to register or learn more.

• Date/Time: Quarterly, third Thursday of every month from 4 pm to 6 pm
• Location: Smilow Center for Translational Research
• Led by: Guest Speakers and nursing staff

All patients, in any phase of treatment or recovery, are welcome to this group.

To register or learn more, call 215-662-6193 or email Tracy Lautenbach-Hynes, MSW, LCSW at Tracy.Lautenbach@uphs.upenn.edu.

• Date/Time: First Wednesday of the month from 9:45 am to 11:15 am
• Location: Patient and Family Services Conference Room, 1st Floor South Pavilion, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine

NOTE: No group held in July and August.

This support and educational group is offered twice per year at Pennsylvania Hospital and is based on Holistic and Traditional Chinese Medicine principles for building health and preventing disease.

To register for this free program, or for more information, please call Abby Wetzel, RDN at 215-829-6737.

• Date/Time: Spring and Fall 2017, 7 week program: Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
• Location: Pennsylvania Hospital, Farm Journal Building, 230 W Washington Square, 1st Floor, Suite 102
• Led by: Wayne Mylin, Dipl. ABT and Debra DeMille, RD, CSO

This support group is facilitated by chaplain and social worker at Pennsylvania Hospital. It is a great opportunity to meet with other patients, gain support and learn strategies for coping.

• Date/Time: Meets second and fourth Mondays from 3 to 4 pm; March 13-June 26
• Location: Pennsylvania Hospital, Farm Journal Building, 230 W Washington Square, 1st flr, Suite 102
• Led by: Samantha Null, MSS, LCSW and Mark Bur, PsyD

Provided in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, this workshop provides beauty techniques, support, courage and community to help face the challenge of a lifetime. In particular, the workshop teaches women that are in chemotherapy and radiation beauty techniques to combat appearance-related side effects of treatment. This program is available at the following two locations.

To find out more information or to register, please call the American Cancer Society National Call Center at 800-227-2345.

Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine

• Date/Time: Second Monday of every other month from 10am to 12pm
• Location: Patient & Family Services Conference Room, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 1st Floor South Pavilion
• Led by: Tiffany Raroha, LSW

Pennsylvania Hospital

• Date/Time: Alternating months from 10am to 12pm
• Location: Pennsylvania Hospital, Farm Journal Building, 230 W Washington Square, 2nd floor conference room
• Led by: Jenny Egg, MSW

This is a group for men with cancer; a safe space for men to congregate and provide and receive support. Topics range from relationship issues, coping with disease and symptoms, intimacy concerns, work/life balance and more. Free parking and refreshments provided.

For more information, please call 215-662-8785.

• Date/Time: Third Wednesday of each month from 11 am to 12:30 pm
• Location: Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Cancer Conference Room, Medical Arts Building 1st Floor
• Led By: Dolan A. Keafsey, MSS, LSW

The Pancreatic Networking Group will provide positive support to patients, family, and friends. We look to encourage one another, share information and resources. Patients, family, and friends are welcome.

For more information, call Megan Melick, LSW at 215-360-0570

• Date/Time: Fourth Wednesday of every month from 3pm to 5pm
• Location: Patient & Family Services Conference Room, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 1st Floor South Pavilion
• Led by: Megan Melick, LSW

This support group is open to all patients and their caregivers. All aspects of prostate cancer, both pre and post treatment, are discussed.

To register for the Prostate Cancer Support Group, please contact Neal Niznan at 215-349-8183 or Neal.Niznan@uphs.upenn.edu

• Date/Time: Third Thursday of every month from 4:30 pm to 6 pm
• Location: Patient & Family Services Conference Room, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 1st Floor South Pavilion
• Led by: Neal Niznan, MSW, LCSW