Gregory L. Fricchione, MD
Director

Gregory L. Fricchione, MD is Director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves as Associate Chief of Psychiatry at MGH and is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

He is a 1978 graduate of the New York University School of Medicine and did his postgraduate training in psychiatry at NYU-Bellevue and in psychosomatic medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. From 2000 to 2002, he served as Director of the Mental Health Task Force at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, while on leave of absence from HMS. While there he worked with Mrs. Rosalynn Carter and former President Jimmy Carter on public and international mental health issues and policy. Dr. Fricchione has published over 80 journal articles and has co-authored 4 books.
He has overall responsibility for the clinical, educational and research missions of BHI.

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Herbert Benson, MD
Director Emeritus

Herbert Benson, MD is the Director Emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and the Mind/Body Medical Institute Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Harvard Medical School, Dr. Benson is the author or co-author of more than 175 scientific publications and eleven books.

He assists in the direction of the clinical and research activities of the BHI.

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Albert Yeung, MD, ScD
Director of Clinical Research

Albert Yeung, MD, ScD, is Director of Clinical Research at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He also serves as Staff Psychiatrist at the Depression Clinical and Research Program at MGH, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Yeung obtained his medical degree from National Taiwan University. He obtained a Doctor of Science degree with a major in epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health and held the position of Assistant Professor for Research at Brown University in Rhode Island. He completed residency training in psychiatry at the MGH, and has been a staff psychiatrist at MGH since completion of his residency training.

He received a travel award and a post-doctoral research-training award from the Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry of the American Psychiatric Association Office of Research. He is also a recipient of a Career Development (K) Award from the National Institute of Mental Health. He has authored or co-authored close to 40 original articles and book chapters.

Dr. Yeung's major research interests include: mind/body interventions for mood and somatic symptoms, cross-cultural psychiatry, collaboration between mental health professionals and primary care clinicians in the treatment of mental disorders, and use of acupuncture in treating mood and anxiety disorders.

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Aggie Casey, MS, RN
Director, Cardiac Wellness Program

Ms. Casey is director of the Cardiac Wellness Program and a clinical nurse specialist. She received her MSN degree in Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Ms. Casey joined the BHI in 1991 and, overall, she has more than 25 years experience in acute cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, and health promotion.

Ms. Casey also is the director of Affiliate Cardiac Programs at the Benson-Henry Institute and an Associate in Medicine, Harvard Medical School. She is the author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure, and is also co-author of Mind Your Heart, A Mind/Body Approach to Stress Management, Exercise and Nutrition for Heart Health (Harvard Health Publications; Simon and Schuster.)

She trains numerous healthcare professionals from around the country in cardiac wellness and has presented at national conferences.

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Clinical Staff

Patricia Martin Arcari, PhD, RN
Director, Calm Mother, Happy Child Program

Dr. Arcari is director of the Calm Mother, Happy Child Program and a clinical nurse specialist. She joined the BHI in 1993 and also serves as clinical director of Affiliate Programs and a researcher at the BHI.

She earned her MS degree at Boston University and her PhD degree in nursing at Boston College. Dr. Arcari is an Associate in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and an Associate at Boston College School of Nursing. She was a University Fellow at Boston College.

Dr. Arcari's specialty areas include parenting, infertility and mindfulness meditation.

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Peg Baim, MS, NP
Clinical Director, Center for Training
Director, Lighten Up Program
Director, Medical Symptom Reduction Program

Ms. Baim is director of the Lighten Up Program and Medical Symptom Reduction Program, and a clinical nurse practitioner. She is also the clinical director of the Center for Training in Mind/Body Medicine and a researcher at the BHI.

Ms. Baim earned her MS degree and did postgraduate work in nursing at Boston College and has gained clinical experience at several major hospitals.

She is also an Associate in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and is an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Graduate Programs in Primary Health Care Nursing at Simmons College.

Ms. Baim joined the BHI in 1990 and her specialty areas include cognitive applications of positive psychology and contemplative meditation.

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Rana Chudnofsky, MEd
Director, Education Initiative

Rana Chudnofsky is the Director of the Education Initiative at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Ms. Chudnofsky received her masters degree in Education from Harvard University in 1997 and is certified in Massachusetts in teaching where she earned dual undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

At the Benson-Henry Institute, as Director of the Education Initiative, Rana Chudnofsky brings Mind Body Medicine to clinical treatment centers, schools, and university systems. Ms. Chudnofsky is also a clinical trainer and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and teaches a master’s-level seminar at Lesley University. Most recently Ms.Chudnofsky has spoken at the “Harvard Mental Health Conference” offered by the department of Psychiatry and Cambridge Health Alliance and the “Learning & Brain Conference”, sponsored by Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at MIT and Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Ms. Chudnofsky is an accomplished entrepreneur, trainer and lecturer. In 1993 Rana Chudnofsky founded NextStep Technologies Inc., a software training firm, now specializing in technical and Java training.

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Janet Fronk, MEd, CS
Staff Psychotherapist

Ms. Fronk is a clinical nurse specialist and advanced practice nurse, licensed and certified to provide mental health services to individuals and couples. She has expertise in treating mood and anxiety disorders using mind/body techniques and cognitive/behavioral therapy. Her specialty areas include infertility and sexuality.

Ms. Fronk also is a clinical trainer at the BHI and has had experience directing infertility and medical symptom reduction programs.

She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in nursing and education at the University of Michigan and Antioch University. She has more than 25 years experience in mental health services and has held executive positions in nursing management and education at several Boston-area institutions.

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James S. Huddleston, MS, PT
Staff Physical Therapist

Mr. Huddleston is a physical therapist, exercise specialist, clinical trainer, and a researcher for the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine.

With the BHI since 1988, Mr. Huddleston has more than 25 years of clinical experience in the areas of physical disabilities and acute and chronic exercise needs.

Through the Benson-Henry Institute, Mr. Huddleston has trained health professionals from around the world. He is an adjunct instructor in the School of Health Studies at Simmons College. In addition, he has contributed to several Harvard Medical School Health Publications including Mind Your Heart, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure and Mind Over Menopause, and has written chapters on exercise, health promotion and behavior change for two other educational textbooks: Health Promotion Throughout the Lifespan (4th and 5th editions), and Teaching Strategies for Health Education and Health Promotion.

His specialty areas include promoting a mind/body approach to physical activity, and cardiovascular health and wellness.

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Leslee Kagan, MS, NP
Director, Mind/Body Program for Menopause and Mind/Body Program for Infertility
Co-Director, Medical Symptom Reduction Program

Ms. Kagan is the director of Women’s Health at the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. She is a clinical nurse practitioner who facilitates the Mind Over Menopause, Infertility and Medical Symptom Reduction Programs. She is also part of the research team at BHI.

She earned her BS degree from the State University of New York at StonyBrook and completed her MS degree and postgraduate nurse practitioner training at Pace University and Harvard Community Health Plan.

With the BHI since 1998, she has 20 years experience in providing health care for women in institutions such as Harvard Vanguard Medical Center and Somerville Hospital.

Her work in menopause has been recognized by the North American Menopause Society and she is first author of Mind Over Menopause, The Complete Mind-Body Approach to Coping with Menopause, (Harvard Health Publications; Simon and Schuster). She is also a contributing author to Our Bodies Ourselves: Menopause, (The Boston Women’s Health Collective; Simon and Schuster 2006).

Ms. Kagan has trained numerous health care professionals around the country in mind body medicine and women's health, and has presented at national conferences. Her specialty areas include preventive medicine, and the application of mind/body techniques to infertility and menopause. She is an Associate in Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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Darshan Mehta, MD
Staff Physician

Dr. Mehta is a staff physician at the Benson-Henry Instiute. He received his BA in Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MD from University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at University of Illinois-Chicago Hospital.

Dr. Mehta is also a staff physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and he is a clinical research fellow at the Harvard Medical School Osher Institute. His research interests include mind/body educational interventions in health professions training, as well as complementary and alternative therapies used in the South Asian immigrant population. In addition, he is also interested in developing integrative models of healthcare in developing countries. He will receive a Master of Public Health degree in June 2007 from the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Eva Selhub, MD
Staff Physician

Dr. Selhub is medical director of the Health and Wellness Center at the Benson-Henry Institute. She is also a clinical trainer and researcher at the BHI.

Dr. Selhub received her BA degree from Tufts University and her MD degree from the Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Boston Medical Center in Boston, MA. She is on staff at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is an Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical School.

Dr. Selhub also is as an integrative health consultant who merges Eastern and Western approaches into her practice, and a professional guest lecturer and teacher.

She is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Holistic Medical Association, and The Forge Institute.

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Ellen A. Slawsby, PhD
Director, Mind/Body Chronic Pain Service
Staff Psychotherapist

Dr. Slawsby is director of the Mind/Body Chronic Pain Service and provides individual therapy, specializing in individuals with chronic illness, chronic fatigue, or pain. She received her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

With the BHI since 1996, she is also a researcher and clinical trainer at the Benson-Henry Institute and an Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Slawsby has published and presented research on chronic medical illness and infertility.

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Narmin Virani, RD, LDN
Staff Dietitian

Ms.Virani is the clinical dietitian for the Cardiac Wellness Program and other programs of the Health and Wellness Center.

She earned an undergraduate degree in nutrition from the University of Mumbai, India, and Texas Woman's University and completed a postgraduate dietetic internship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She also holds a certificate of training in adult weight management from the American Dietetic Association.

Her specialty areas include nutritional management of cardiac and diabetes patients, weight management, and digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

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Ann Webster, PhD
Director, Mind/Body Program for Cancer
Staff Psychologist

Dr. Webster is the director of the Mind/Body Programs for Cancer and for HIV+/AIDS. She is a health psychologist and a researcher and clinical/corporate trainer for the BHI.

With the BHI since 1987, she earned her PhD degree in health psychology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine/Yeshiva University. She is an Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School and an Instructor at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Webster has received several awards, most notably from the AIDS Action Committee and the Northern Lights Alternatives, for her work with HIV+/AIDS patients. She also was a finalist for the Compassionate Caregiver Award from the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center.

Dr. Webster sits on the boards of The Medical Foundation, the Community Research Initiative, and the Institute for Body, Mind, and Spirituality at Lesley University.

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