NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL 18th ANNUAL GALA RAISES $875,000 TO BENEFIT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS/ADDICTION SERVICES (SAS)

More than 600 guests gathered together recently at the Westin Copley Place, Boston, for the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation’s 18th annual Gala, raising more than $875,000 to benefit the Hospital’s new Substance Use Disorder/Addiction Services (SAS).

“SAS is a multidisciplinary program that will treat substance use disorders (SUD),” explained Dr. Antje Barreveld, the Medical Director of the Pain Management Service at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Gala Chair. “Addiction can impact anyone, but recovery is possible with more informed choices of pain management and substance abuse treatment. This is a much needed service for our community.”

Led by Dr. Barreveld, the SAS team will provide coordinated, safe, multi-modal treatment for patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders and help patients transition to long-term care when needed while expanding clinical education and training programs for care givers.

“Through the generous support of so many, Newton-Wellesley Hospital has continually invested in new programs to support the health and well-being of those living in our communities and beyond,” said Michael R. Jaff, DO, President, Newton-Wellesley Hospital. “Thanks to the generous spirit of our community, we will now have the opportunity to help combat this deadly crisis by supporting the SAS program.”

Today, over 20 million Americans suffer from a substance use disorder – almost eight percent of the adolescent and adult population. Whether it is the rapid rise of addiction to prescription opioids, alcohol or other illegal drugs, substance abuse prevents individuals from living healthy and productive lives, placing a tremendous burden on families, workplaces and communities.

“This crisis cuts across all boundaries of economic status, race, gender, and education level. It is happening at a significant rate in the Newton-Wellesley community,” said Dr. Jaff. “Addiction can affect anyone, but recovery is possible with more informed choices of pain management and substance abuse treatment. We look forward to establishing this much needed service for our community.”

For more information or to donate to Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Substance Abuse Services or other programs, contact Heather Colmore Mack, Vice President, Development at hmack1@partners.org.

Gala Chairs and Committee

Gala Chairs Antje Barreveld, MD, and Sebastian Barreveld (Jamaica Plain); Nancy and Mark Belsky, MD (Wellesley); Susan and Joseph D’Alton, MD (West Newton); Michelle and Timothy Foster, MD (Wellesley); Debra and Michael R. Jaff, DO (Newton); and Rosalind and Jacob Joffe, MD (Newton), and the 2017 Gala Committee helped to make the evening a resounding success.

Members of the dedicated 2017 Gala Committee included: Thomas Aaron (Westwood); Joan Archer and Robert Merriam (Wellesley); Jean Barringer (Needham Heights); Stephanie and Mark Blumenthal, MD (Natick); Christine and Henry D’Angelo, MD (Medfield); Nancy and Neal Foster (Weston); Lisa and Al Hanmer, MD (Dover); Jennifer and Barnett Helzberg (Wellesley); Ann and David Ingram (Natick); Sara Spitz and David Jellinek (Newton); Janet (Jodi) Larson, MD and Erik Larson (Newton); Tamilyn Levin (Weston); Margaret and Brian McNeill (Wellesley); Deneen Pelletier, MD and Nicholas Mascoli, MD (Bedford); Gloria and Philip Plottel (Waban); Julia Ragland, MD and Bill Paulson (Needham); Rosie Reyes and Edward Mank (Natick); Nancy and Paul Satwicz, MD (Auburndale); Jennifer Snider, CNP and Jonathan Snider, MD (Newton); Kathleen and Robert Stansky (Weston); and Susan Swick, MD and Matthew Trokel, MD (Newton).

Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a full system member of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. (PHCS), a nonprofit organization that includes acute care hospitals Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's/Faulkner Hospitals, The North Shore Medical Center, and specialty hospitals McLean Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, and the community-based doctors and hospitals of Partners Community HealthCare, Inc.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital provides a wide range of services, including medical, surgical, ob/gyn, cardiovascular, emergency, orthopaedic, neonatal, pediatric, hematology/oncology, and psychiatric care. Newton-Wellesley has been serving its community for over a century. The medical staff of the Hospital includes nearly 1,000 physicians practicing a full range of specialties. NWH is a major teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine and also has established post-graduate training programs for Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital residents, teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School.