Support Groups
UMass Memorial Medical Center hosts kidney (renal) and pancreas transplant support groups to help you and your family members before, during, and after transplant. Participants do not need to be UMass Memorial patients to attend.
Organ Transplant Support at UMass Memorial
Whether you are waiting for your transplant or have already had surgery, it is very important to have support all along the way from different people and groups. Read about the value of a support group and how you can make the most of it.
The UMass Memorial Kidney Pancreas Transplant Support Group is facilitated by transplant social workers and offers you and your care provider monthly guest speakers talking about a variety of topics related to kidney and pancreas transplant. But just as importantly, our group is a forum for supportive sharing and spontaneous conversation among you and participants. Give-and-take discussions often touch upon:
- Nutrition
- Medical compliance
- Medications
- Financial support options
- Family relationships
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Attitudes toward illness
You do not have to be UMass Memorial patient to attend. Light refreshments are provided.
UMass Memorial also hosts a separate support group for kidney transplant patients who are actively seeking a donor. Call for more information.
*Schedule exceptions:
- July: No meeting
- August: Summer BBQ Potluck & Open Discussion
- December: Gift of Life Celebration instead of regular meeting. The group also hosts a small holiday gathering; dates to be decided.
Meeting Time:
First Wednesday of each month* 4:30 to 6 pm
Location:
UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus Transplant Conference Room, Level A
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
Call:
Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Clinical Social Worker, 508-334-1269
No registration or RSVP is required. Call with any questions.
UMass Memorial Medical Center hosts liver transplant support groups to help patients and their families before, during and after transplant. You do not need to be UMass Memorial patient to attend.
UMass Memorial Liver Transplant Support Group
Whether you are waiting for your transplant or have already had surgery, it is very important to have support all along the way from different people and groups.
The UMass Memorial Liver Transplant Support Group is facilitated by transplant social workers and occasionally features a prescheduled topic or presentation. But just as importantly, our group is a forum for supportive sharing and spontaneous conversation among you and participants. Topics often include:
- Nutrition
- Medical compliance
- Medications
- Financial support options
- Family relationships
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Attitudes toward illness
Light refreshments are provided.
No registration or RSVP is required. Call with any questions.
Meeting Time:
First Thursday of each month 4 to 5:00 pm
Location:
UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus Transplant Conference Room, Level A
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
Call:
Doris Tripp-MacPherson, LICSW, 774-441-8646
UMass Memorial Medical Center hosts liver transplant support groups to help patients and their families before, during and after transplant. You do not need to be UMass Memorial patient to attend.
UMass Memorial Liver Transplant Support Group
Whether you are waiting for your transplant or have already had surgery, it is very important to have support all along the way from different people and groups.
The UMass Memorial Liver Transplant Support Group is facilitated by transplant social workers and occasionally features a prescheduled topic or presentation. But just as importantly, our group is a forum for supportive sharing and spontaneous conversation among you and participants. Topics often include:
- Nutrition
- Medical compliance
- Medications
- Financial support options
- Family relationships
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Attitudes toward illness
Light refreshments are provided.
No registration or RSVP is required. Call with any questions.
Meeting Time:
First Thursday of each month 4 to 5:00 pm
Location:
UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus Transplant Conference Room, Level A
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
Call:
Doris Tripp-MacPherson, LICSW, 774-441-8646
A Diabetes Support Group meets the second Wednesday of the month. Family members and significant others are welcome.
Meeting Time:
Second Wednesday of the month, 2 to 3:30 pm and 7 to 8:30 pm
Location:
Marlborough,
Call:
Information: Call 508-486-5430.
The group is open to anyone with a past or present cancer diagnosis. Family, friends and significant others are invited to attend. The group offers a supportive environment for open discussion, exchange of information and sharing experiences. Parking is free.
Meeting Time:
Third Monday of each month, 6:30 to 8 pm (unless there is a Monday holiday). January and February meetings are held the second Monday of the month.
Location:
UMass Memorial Medical Center - Memorial Campus, Levine Ambulatory Center, 1st floor conference room
33 Kendall Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Call:
Please call Elisabeth Larrivee, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker, at 774-442-4383 for more information and for cancellations.
