The Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts

We are halfway to our GOAL, collecting data for advocacy in discussions with legislators and insurance companies.  

Please spare 5-15 minutes to take our survey.  DEADLINE 9/1

• An Endometriosis Task Force was signed into law, as part of the state budget, on July 9th!  Thank you to ALL the elected officials for their support, and to all who shared their story and valuable time to help advocate for this.
• For the first time ever, March was officially declared Endometriosis Awareness Month in Massachusetts!  Championed by State Senator Robyn Kennedy, Senator John Velis, and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, the resolution was unanimously received by the Senate. Advocates from the Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts were present on the Senate floor for the reading.  A BIG thank you to Contributor Amanda Berg for her efforts on this.
• In CPT Code News, TEAM has been participating in conversations to encourage a change to how insurance companies reimburse for endometriosis treatments and practitioner visits. We are supporting efforts of The American End of Endo Project, Getting the Better of Endo, Endo Excision for All, Contend with Endo, to advocate to the American Medical Association for reforms that would help increase access to best practice care. 

• For TEAM, Endometriosis Awareness Month kicked off on March 3^rd providing speakers for a panel organized by UMASS administrator Lauren Ferrari.  The panel included cofounders Dr. Malcolm “Kip” Mackenzie and Melanie Tanionos and TEAM contributor Heather Ballantine, plus volunteer Stacy Costa.

• For the 2^nd consecutive year, TEAM was invited have a table at the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization conference. By chance, shortly after the event, we spotted one of our gray/gold infographics at a nurse’s office in Lexington! 

• School advocacy continued on March 25th, with TEAM contributor, and VP and Fundraising Chair of the American End of Endo Project, Pamela Bove, who presented ENPOWR in Belmont to School Superintendent Dr. Jill Geiser, and the DEIW Director Darnell Thigpen Williams, in collaboration with Maribel Carvajal Founder of Hispanas Amigas and member of the Belmont PTA, among other faculty and parents interested in learning about endometriosis.

• On April 10^th, TEAM went to college! Dr. Malcolm “Kip” Mackenzie, Kate Weldon LeBlanc, and Pamela Bove addressed Northeastern University’s graduating Nurse Practitioner class in Women’s Health and offered a comprehensive program so impactful we were asked to return in June for another class.
• Nicole Tanionos, a teen co-founder of TEAM, spoke candidly with Jennifer Redmond, producer of the podcast Cycles and Seasons. They discussed challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and life in general for teenagers.  Check out this episode, which released on April 28th. 

• Once again, TEAM contributor Amanda Berg and the WooSox organized a spectacular evening at Polar Park to raise awareness of Endometriosis.  We were announced on the field, participated in an interview on NESN from the announcer's box, and Amanda even threw out the first pitch (to Representative Stephen Hendricks). Our next “WooSox Night” has not been announced yet, but when it does, you should join us!

• TEAM is so grateful to the organizers of the powerful Endo March that took place on March 29th on the Boston Common. We were honored to be there, particularly to witness Rachel Davis being lovingly remembered. 

• July 11^th – Swing4Endo! is holding a golf tournament.  Proceeds support Endometriosis Awareness and the Endometriosis Foundation of America.   
• September 8^th – Sit with Strike Endo Out at Fenway during a Red Sox game against the A’s!
• October 11^th – Join Savage Against Endo, and celebrate the publication of Still, She Stands the Fire, (a cookbook for living with endometriosis) and enjoy a Masquerade Ball fundraiser hosted at Jazz Urbane Cafe 
• October 31^st – Come run a 5k, and sign up with The Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts to help us fund raise.
• November 1^st – Come run a half marathon, and sign up with The Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts to help us fund raise.