MASSACHUSETTS

AMHERST
Susan Lowrey - GP (and sees a lot of kids)
	Amity Medical Associates 
	Amherst MA 
	She's very down to earth and low key, brings up issues of weight
	if they relate to a specific problem I might present but does
	not attibute problem to weight and in general makes me feel very
	comfortable. She's always been kind and sensitive in general.
	NOTE: As of June 1999, Dr. Lowery is not accepting new patients,
	neither is Dr. Margulis, her practicing associate.  

ATTLEBORO
Andrea Crowley, midwife
	No longer in practice.

BRIGHTON
Emilie Hitron, M.D., Internal Medicine
	697 Cambridge St.
	Brighton, MA 20135
	(617) 782-5700
	I saw Dr. Hitron and her staff for 3 years while I lived in
	Boston.  Her staff treated me with the greatest respect.  I was
	weighed the first time, and when they didn't have a scale with
	the right markings, they didn't bother weighing me at all. At a
	number of appointments, my weight was never brought up. The one
	time I mentioned it, the doctor didn't recommend medical
	interventions.  A wonderful, wonderful doctor and her nurse
	practitioners are great too.

CAMBRIDGE
Jassy Timberlake, M.Ed.
	Cambridge, MA and environs
	617-256-8693
	Self-referred.
	Size-friendly psychotherapist working with families, couples and
	individuals therapist, with a specialty in sex, sexuality and
	sexual health. GLBT welcoming and affirmative.

CAPE COD
Paige Eastman Dickinson, CPM, Birth Care Midwifery
	Serving Cape Cod & Southeastern Massachusetts
	(area bordered by Taunton, Seekonk, New Beford, Plymouth,
	Whareham)
	(508) 979-8887
	www.birthcaremidwifery.com
	Self-referred.
	I have worked with many different body types and know that size
	plays very little in the equation of birth.  It does not make
	sense physiologically that women of large or small size birth
	differently.  A woman's belief in her ability to birth plays one
	of the most important roles.  This is what I aim to accomplish
	with all of my clients - creating an environment where clients
	feel empowered.

CARVER
Claudio Delise, OB/GYN
	See entry under Hanover.

FOXBORO
Amy Hochler, RN, MS, MSW, WHNP, nurse practitioner 
	Foxboro Women and Family's Health Center 
	Foxboro, MA
	508-698-0033 
	Self-referred. Specializing in women's health.

FRAMINGHAM
Janey O. Yardley, M.D., Internal Medicine/Women's Health
	Framingham Community Health Center
	19 Concord Street
	Framingham, MA  01701
	Phone: 508-370-0113
	http://www.massleague.org/MACHCs/FraminghamCHC.htm
	I was a patient of Dr. Yardley's for several years when she
	practiced in Somerville.  During our first appointment I told
	her that I was queer, into consensual S/M and fat.  She was open
	to all of those and was always super nice to me, never
	judgmental.  Also during this appointment she said, "I am new to
	'fat stuff' so if I make a mistake, I hope you'll be willing to
	educate me rather than fire me."  Her staff never forced (or
	even pushed) me to be weighed.  She always put through any
	referral I asked for without a hassle.  She's moved to her own
	practice now in what is a community health center.  The center
	focuses on serving uninsured, under-insured and immigrant
	populations.  Fortunately, I have health insurance through my
	job but if you don't they will give you lots of help getting on
	an appropriate free-care program.  Most of her staff is
	bilingual.  She never rushed me, most of my yearly physicals
	were over an hour in length.  She always asked me if I wanted a
	gyn exam as part of my physical (pap smear, breast exam, etc.)
	which was awesome because it saved on time, a co-pay and really
	shows how much she cares about women's preventative health.

HANOVER
Claudio Delise, OB/GYN
        South Shore Midwifery
        2100 Washington St, Hanover, MA    (781) 871-2822
        1300 Tremont St., Carver, MA   (508) 866-3398
        851 Main St. # 4, South Weymouth, MA (781) 340-0505
        I asked him at my first appointment if he had a problem treating
        me (for infertility) because of my weight (which at the time was
        @ 380 lbs.)  He right away gave me a funny look and said "why,
        big girls have babies all the time!"  I knew he was the right
        person to be seeing.  His midwives and nurses are very
        professional and never once made me feel out of place because of
        my weight.  He dabbles in infertility, and said if I was not PG
        within 4 months he would send me to an reproductive
        endocrinologist.  He did ask her advice on my treatments though,
        so he does have the resources.  I was pregnant within 2 months.
        He listened to all my concerns and was very supportive
        throughout the pregnancy. -- Margery Blades, emblades@att.net

HUNTINGTON
Marci Yoss, MD 
	413-238-5511
	Worthington Health Center
	Old North Rd.
	Worthington, MA
	and
	Huntington Health Center
	Rt.20
	Huntington, MA
	She believes that fat can be fit and healthy.  Yay!

NORTH READING
Wayne Weinreb, M.D.
        North Reading Medical Associates
        Shaenaeus M. Graf. P.A.-C
        Main Street - North Reading, MA 01864
        978-664-1990
        I switched to Dr. Weinreb from a primary care Dr. who was
        aggressively urging me to get my stomach stapled.  My first
        visit to Dr. Weinreb's office was with his assistant Shaena -
        she is wonderful - my sister assures me Dr. Weinreb is as well
        but i had such good feelings about finding Shaena that i am
        sticking with her. When i went for my first visit with Shaena i
        was very impressed with the whole staff - they put you at ease
        and make one of lifes least pleasant experiences not so hard to
        take!

NORTHAMPTON
Dr Barbara Jones - OB/GYN
	Hampshire OB/GYN 
	Northampton MA
	Never mentions weight, I have asked if my weight will be an
	issue in getting or being pregnant and she's very low key and
	practical, supportive, willing to read articles and discuss
	things. The nurses there are not always so pleasant though. 

Mohamad Kamel
	Carlton Street
	Northampton Mass.
	(413) 585-0700
	He is the "greatest." For years I would not go to a doctor...so
	embarrassed and so afraid. The first time I went to see him, he
	was so wonderful to me...Never mentioning anything about my
	weight..He only asked me to take a blood test, just to see if
	everything was ok...(he knew that I was afraid, so he did it
	himself in his office). The only time that my weight came up, was
	when I brought it up. I am happy with him, and I know any
	other "fat" woman would be comfortable too.

Alicia Landman-Reiner -- MD, Naturopath, Homeopath
	118 Conz Street 
	Northampton, MA  01060
	413-584-9990  
	Not only has Alicia been fat friendly (urging me not to diet,
	but instead to work on ways to increase muscle strength and
	improve overall health), but she has also been willing to hear
	my horror stories about the fatphobia of other medical
	professionals I have dealt with. When given information about
	the ways in which I have experienced fatphobia and homophobia,
	she promised me that she would learn from my experiences. This
	is a Doctor who *listens*, is highly open and respecting, and
	who works in partnership with her patients.  -- jdewey 
	NOTE: As of Nov 99, reported not to be accepting new patients. 

Nancy Posner, Nurse Practitioner
	Hampshire OB/GYN 
	Northampton, MA
	I've been seeing Nancy for almost 3 years now.  She's absolutely
	wonderful. Very soft spoken, sensitive, and has never mentioned
	my weight. In fact, she doesn't even weigh me when I go to the
	office. Whatever questions I have, she will take the time to
	answer everything. She does pap smears, STD screening, and
	basically anything a gynecologist would do except deliver
	babies! -- mjbnikki@yahoo.com

NORWOOD
Joseph Perrotto, GP, Gastroenterology
	One Lenox Street
	Norwood, MA 02062
	781-769-4682
	I have been a patient of Dr. Perrotto for over 10 years. I weigh
	over 400 lbs. He has never tried to put me on a diet. I
	initially went to him for stomach problems, and his only comment
	to me about food was to stay away from spicy food. His staff is
	amazing, his office has wide chairs. The office is on the second
	floor, but if you park across the street, you enter at the right
	level and then there are only 4 steps to go up. I have never
	been asked to be weighed, and never told that if I lost weight,
	my condition would improve or go away. When I asked him about
	diet drugs a couple of years ago - he laughed at me and said "I
	would never do that to you, Phen/fen is a prescription for
	death!" My fiancÈ also goes to Dr. Perrotto - he weighs 300+
	lbs. My mother (200 lbs.) also is a patient. Neither have ever
	been encouraged to lose weight. -- Deidra Daley

QUINCY
Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, LMHC  
	Quincy, MA
	kbkcounsel@comcast.net
	617-773-2344
	Self-referred.
	Private Practice Psychotherapist specializing in food and body
	image concerns. Coauthor of Weight Wisdom: Affirmations to Free
	You From Food and Body Concerns, Brunner-Routledge, 2003.
	(Stef's note: Weight Wisdom is about healing from eating
	disorders, not about weight loss.)

SALEM
Leather Dupris, Midwife, Reiki Therapist, 
	Director of Services
	MoonDragon Birthing Services & Home Health Care
	0 (Zero) Boardman Street
	Salem, MA  01970
	office: 978-744-5583
	fax: 978-741-2015
	website: www.moondragon.org
	email: midwife@moondragon.org
	Self-referred
	Homebirth midwifery service for healthy pregnant women, new moms
	and their babies regardless of size, religion, race, culture or
	financial ability. We use preventive, holistic methods of care
	including nutritional counseling. As a large woman myself, I am
	aware of and have received size-prejudice in the medical
	community. As a midwife I have found that healthy women-of-size
	are capable of having happy, healthy, fulfilling pregnancies and
	birth at home without complications or need of medical
	interventions. I will not require my larger clients to "diet"
	but will encourage healthy nutritional and lifestyle habits.
	Full midwifery care includes pre-pregnancy counseling, pregnancy
	testing, prenatal care, nutritional counseling, Reiki therapy,
	natural childbirth education, homebirth midwifery services,
	neonatal care, postpartum care, breastfeeding education &
	support, parenting education & support, and contraceptive
	counseling. 

Carol Fairbank, BCCE, CD(DONA)
	Bradley-Certified Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula,
	Breastfeeding Support, Pregnancy & Birth Photography
	(978) 744-4182
	Self-referred
	I have helped many fat women have safe, natural births in
	settings that are not always fat-friendly.  I am also a large
	woman myself and feel very comfortable working with other fat
	women.

SOMERVILLE
Maurice Martin, General Practitioner (Family Practice)
	Somerville Family Practice
	Somerville, Massachusetts
	I was always treated with total respect and my weight was never
	blamed for any of my problems. At one point I decided I wanted
	to lose some weight, and described the diet I was doing, in
	order to get feedback. He was supportive but not pushy about it.
	When I later gained it back (and more) he didn't say anything.
	He also had the sensible attitude that healthy behavior (such as
	exercise) or things that could cause problems (such as coffee)
	could be done in moderation. So, for example, when he encouraged
	me to cut down on caffeine to help my digestive system he said,
	"Just cut down. You don't have to give it up completely -- you
	want to be able to have some fun in your life." One time he was
	drawing blood from my arm, and was having trouble finding the
	vein. I asked why. He said, "Well, you've put on some weight
	lately, so there's a thicker layer of fat, and that makes the
	vein less easy to see. But that's not your problem, that's my
	problem." The only reason I stopped seeing him was because I
	moved out of state! The staff was great also. 
	-- Joyce Wermont 

SOUTH WEYMOUTH
Claudio Delise, OB/GYN
	See entry under Hanover.

SPRINGFIELD
Sarah Barnett, MD MPH
	Baystate Children's Hospital
	office at 140 High Street, Springfield MA 01199
	413 794 2515
	Self-referred
	I'm an MD in pediatrics, and have been a fat-blessed person all
	of my adult life.  Although I have had surgery for weight loss,
	I am in my heart and soul still a fat-blessed person, and I
	believe that Fat does NOT automatically mean unhealthy.  I don't
	believe in directing anyone else's weight in any direction
	through any means (diet, drug, surgery); each of us makes
	choices, and we all have the right to be the weight we are.

Lucy Bayer-Zwirello and Dr. Markenson, perinatologists 
	Springfield, MA 
	413-794-9939
	They are both phenomenal.  They are part of the Fetal and
	Maternal Medicine Group in Springfield, MA (part of Baystate
	Hospital). They only take patients that are pregnant who are
	high risk (including diabetics like myself). My experience with
	them has been nothing but positive. They are absolutely
	wonderful and completely sensitive to weight and your feelings.
	They blame nothing on weight and don't even mention it unless it
	pertains to a problem you are having (e.g. gestational diabetes
	or preeclampsia).-- Nikki (mjbnikki@yahoo.com)

Thomas J. Doney, MD, OB/GYN
	Valley Women's Health Group, LLC
	2 Medical Center Drive, Suite 512
	Springfield, MA  01107
	Telephone 413-732-2311
	Dr. Doney is a quality professional doctor.  He is the best
	OB/GYN I have ever come in contact with.  He has never made me
	feel uncomfortable or even mention about my weight. I'm a super
	size women.  He has taken wonderful care of me through out my
	entire pregnancy.  The nursing staff is wonderful too. The only
	one complaint I would have is that sometimes you have to wait a
	while after your scheduled appointment to see him, because he's
	so thorough with every patient and takes him time.  When it's
	your turn, he takes his time with you and it's well worth the
	wait.  I would highly recommend Dr. Doney.

STONEHAM
Glen A. Dixon, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
        Women's Health Care of New England
        Woodland Road - Stoneham, MA 02180
        Phone: 781-662-7385
	I was pleasantly surprised by Dr. Dixon after seeing my previous
	OB/Gyn who informed me that she would not assist me in a
	pregnancy unless i went for a stomach stapling. i went to see
	Dr. Dixon ready to walk out of the initial meeting.  His  nurse
	was just as nice as you could ask for and when he came in we
	chatted back and forth for a while before i asked "how do you
	feel about a VERY overweight pregnancy"? his response was a very
	casual He didn't have any issues with it if i didn't and that he
	had delivered healthy babies with mothers considerably larger
	than i was.  I left with my faith in the medical profession
	restored!

WORTHINGTON
	See HUNTINGTON, above