Nuestras Estrellas

(“Our Stars”)

Recognizes nominated BIDMC staff for their dedication and contributions in promoting, supporting and advocating for Latino/Hispanic patients within the BID system or in their communities.

Dr. Felipe Collares

A Brazilian native, Dr. Collares completed medical school and radiology residency in Brazil, moving to the United States to finish his training in interventional radiology at BIDMC. Currently, Dr Collares is an attending interventional radiologist at BIDMC, serving as the medical director of the Massachusetts Vein Care Center (http://www.massveincare.com/), our outpatient clinic for patients with chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins. He was also appointed as director of Quality Assurance for Interventional Radiology and co-director of the Noninvasive Vascular Lab at BIDMC.

Dr. Collares is working to increase awareness and access to medical care for venous insufficiency by the Brazilian population in the Boston metro area. Venous insufficiency and varicose veins is a highly prevalent and undertreated condition that causes significant symptoms affecting the quality of life of these patients. To overcome the language barrier and reach the Brazilian population in Boston, Dr. Collares promotes his work in portuguse on a local Brazilian newspaper offering free consultations in Portuguese and Spanish for latino patients with varicose veins. Latino patients feel welcome and appreciate discussing their problems and treatment options on their native language. Being an expert in venous insufficiency and varicose veins, Dr Collares has also been invited to several meetings in Brazil and Argentina.

Our HMFP Radiology Practice Sites are members of the Newton/Needham and Brookline Chambers of Commerce. The Newton/Needham Chamber has an extension that is “Women in Networking” and this group kicked the new year off with a “Healthier You” focus. The details are below.

Mass Vein Care and HMFP Radiology participated. We had a table with information on bone density (DXA scans) as well as body composition (Marian Howes spoke to these services). Mass Vein Care also had table information however the Chamber wanted “fun interactive engaging” so…we brought the ultrasound machine and performed complimentary vein evaluations. The fair was 11:30 – 2 pm and we had to turn folks away!

75 Chamber members registered and had the opportunity to visit up to 14 Stations as well as 5 breakout sessions.

Some other participating health/wellness providers included:

• Newton Wellesley Women’s Health – Dr. Stephanie Morris
• BID Needham – Flu Shots – table staffed by Occupational Health Nurse and a member of BID Marketing
• Marathon Sports – Pelvic Floor Health
• Newton HealthCare – Blood pressure checks
• Newton Chiropractic – Posture checks
• The Wellness Room – Stress Reduction and Reiki
• Whole Foods – Cooking demonstrations and provided lunch

Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:30-2 p.m.
West Suburban YMCA
276 Church St., Newton, MA

Get 2014 off to a healthy start at a health fair for women, organized by the Chamber’s Women In Networking Committee. There will be health stations throughout the room hosted by diverse group of the area’s leading alternative and traditional health care practitioners. From BMI (Body Mass Index) testing, to blood pressure, to posture checking, to acupuncture and more.

We’ll help you kick off the new year with practical advice about feeling better, eating better and moving better. We’ll also have a series of short breakout sessions on eating healthier, the benefits of hiring a personal trainer, the top ten ways to reduce your stress today and answers to questions you’re too afraid to ask your doctor.