NEC Health Services
Welcome!
The health and wellness of our students is important to us here at NEC. To help keep our students well, we provide primary care and counseling services right here on-campus.
For more information about our Health Services contact Colleen Bryant, the Director of Student Life & Health Services.
Health Center Location
The NEC Health Center is located in Saint Botolph, Room 112.
Health Services
Primary Care: We provide confidential, high quality care to students who have acute illnesses or injuries, annual exams, and those who require ongoing management of chronic diseases. All NEC students who have paid the 'NEC Health Center Fee' are eligible to see our BIDMC staff for their primary care and psychiatric needs.
The NEC Health Center if affiliated with the well-known Beth Israel deaconess Medical Center [BIDMC], a Harvard teaching hospital, which is located just a few minutes from NEC.
Counseling: We offer confidential psychological services, free of charge, to all full-time NEC students. Our staff of part-time clinicians can address a wide range of concerns, including performance anxiety, personal or professional identity, self-esteem, relationships, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Student Health Insurance: In addition to the Health Services provided at our Health Center, we also offer students affordable student health insurance provided by Koster Insurance. To waive Koster Insurance follow the link above.
Health Service Links
Health Center
Student Health Insurance
Health Report & Medical Records
- Medical Records - obtain a copy of your records
- PDF Forms - required health report & meningitis waiver
Local Clinics
Health Resources
Health Services
BIDMC Primary & Psychiatric Care
BIDMC Primary & Psychiatric Care
To make an appointment please call (617) 585-1284.
Our offices are located in the Health Center, in St. Botolph, Room 112.
To avoid long waits, students are encouraged to make an appointment.
Hours of Operation
| Monday | 10:00am – 4:00pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am – 4:00pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00pm – 4:00pm |
| Thursday | 9:00am – 5:00pm |
| Friday | 10:00am –4:00pm |
BIDMC Staff
| Dr. Maryann Murphy | Medical Director | 617.585.1284 |
| Leah McKinnon-Howe, MS, APRN, BC | Health Services Coordinator |
617.585.1284 |
| Barbara Inskeep, MS, APRN, BC | Nurse Practitioner | 617.585.1284 |
| Dr. Fernando Rodriguez-Villa | Psychiatrist | 617.585.1398 |
Iroghama Ogbeifun |
Practice Assistant | 617.585.1284 |
To make an appointment please call (617) 585-1398.
Our offices are located in the Health Center, in St. Botolph, Room 112.
Feel free to drop by without an appointment during walk-in hours.
Walk-In Hours
| Monday | 12:00pm – 1:00pm |
| Tuesday | 12:00pm – 1:00pm |
| Wednesday | 1:00pm – 2:00pm |
| Thursday | 12:00pm – 1:00pm |
| Friday | 11:00am –12:00pm |
Counseling Staff
| Jan Lerbinger | Director of Conseling | 617.585.1398 |
| Amy Engel | Conselor |
617.585.1398 |
| John Rosario-Perez | Conselor | 617.585.1398 |
| Penelope Metropolis | Conselor | 617.585.1398 |
| Dr. Fernando Rodriguez-Villa | Psychiatrist | 617.585.1398 |
Access to your Medical Records
Please follow these steps to access Health and Immunization records that are housed in the Health Center:
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Complete the Authorization for the Release of Information form.
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Return the completed form to the Health Center or Student Life.
Please note that your medical record may contain sensitive information and that you must be specific regarding the information that you would like to have released. Please read the release form carefully.
Feel free to contact Colleen Bryant, the Director of Student Life & Health Services at 617.585.1295 if you have any questions.
- NEC Health Letter - Includes Immunization Requirements
- Health Report - Required for all full time students
- Meningitis Waiver - All students living in the residence hall are required by the state of Massachusetts to waive or receive the Meningitis Vaccination
- Medical Information Release - Any time you need your records from NEC
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
(participating healthcare provider)
Healthcare Associates
Shapiro 1 or 6
330 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA 02245
(617) 667-9600
Hours: M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Massachusetts General Hospital Walk-in Clinic
(participating healthcare provider)
55 Fruit Street
(Near Charles St Red line station)
(617) 726-2707
Hours: M-F 8:30 am- 8:00 pm
Sat & Sun 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fenway Community Health Care
(participating healthcare provider)
- Urgent Care Phone Fenway Community (617) 927-6100, select *1
- Fenway Office
7 Haviland Street
(617) 927-6000
Hours: M-Th 7:30 am – 8:00 pm
Fri 7:30 am -7:00 pm
Sat 8:30 am -1:00 pm
- South End Office
142 Berkeley Street
(617) 247-7555
Hours: M 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
T 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
W 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Th 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
F 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Norovirus Awareness
Please seek medical attetion if you develop any nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has advised the public of outbreaks of gastro-intestinal illness in the Boston area likely related to Norovirus. This is a highly contagious seasonal infection causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea generally lasting a few days. Most people recover in 1 to 2 days although sometimes infected people are unable to drink enough fluid to replace what they are losing from diarrhea and vomiting. This can lead to dehydration which sometimes necessitates a visit to the emergency room for treatment with intravenous fluids. Dehydration is more likely to occur in very young children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system.
We do feel it is important to educate our community about this virus and the prevention. Due to the highly contagious nature of this illness, it is important to recognize the symptoms should they occur. We did not see any evidence of Norovirus in the NEC Community. As always are committed to limiting the spread of infection in the event that infection does it occurs.
The single best way to protect yourself from this virus is to wash your hands after using the bathroom, before preparing food or eating, and before placing your hands near your face or mouth. The use of soap and water, or alcohol based hand sanitizers are both highly effective methods of destroying viruses.
Please see the fact sheet below, adapted from the Boston Department of Public Health Website.
Norovirus Fact Sheet
What is norovirus?
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Norovirus is often mistakenly called "stomach flu" -- it is not related to flu (influenza), which can cause respiratory illness.
Who gets norovirus?
Anyone can develop disease. It occurs only in humans and is found worldwide.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually begin 1 to 2 days after exposure to the virus, but can occur as early as 12 hours after exposure. Common symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Sometimes people may develop low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. The illness may come on suddenly. Sometimes people with norovirus have no symptoms at all, but can still pass the illness on to others.
How long does it last?
Most people recover in 1 to 2 days. Sometimes infected people are unable to drink enough fluid to replace what they are losing from diarrhea and vomiting, and can become dehydrated. This is more likely to occur in very young children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system.
How does it spread?
Noroviruses are found in the stool (feces) or vomit of infected people. Noroviruses are transferred to food, water, or surfaces by the hands of infected people who have not washed adequately after using the bathroom.
People become infected with Norovirus by:
--Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by an infected person.
--Eating uncooked shellfish that has been harvested from contaminated waters.
--Touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their mouth or eating without washing their hands first.
What should I do if I have these symptoms?
Drink plenty of fluids so you do not become dehydrated, wash your hands often and contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns (especially if you do not recover quickly or are at risk for dehydration).
How long can an infected person spread Norovirus?
People can spread the virus from the time they feel sick until 3 days after they get better. Good hand washing is important to prevent spread to others.
Should I stay home from work or school?
Yes; to prevent spreading the illness to others a sick person should stay home until they have completely recovered. Food handlers, healthcare workers and children in day care should talk with their health care provider before returning to work or school. Foodhandlers must stay out of work for an additional three days after recovery.
How can I prevent norovirus infection?
--Wash your hands often with soap and warm water
--Wash your hands after using the bathroom
--Wash your hands after changing diapers
--Wash your hands before preparing foods
--Wash your hands before eating
--Wash your hands more often when someone in your household is sick
--Clean and disinfect surfaces immediately after vomiting or diarrhea accidents.
--Cook food appropriately (especially shellfish)
--Wash and/or peel fruits and vegetables before eating them.
--Avoid preparing food for others while you have symptoms for at least 3 days after you recover
For more information, please contact
Boston Public Health Commission
Communicable Disease Control
(617) 534-5611 or www.bphc.org
HPV information
Get Vaccinated at NEC
HPV: Human Papilloma Virus
Human papilloma (HPV) virus has garnered much attention in the press and popular women's magazines. Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.
Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Every year in the U.S. about 10,000 women get cervical cancer and 3,700 die from it. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women.
Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. Genital warts are single or multiple growths or bumps that appear in the genital area, and sometimes are cauliflower shaped. Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.
There is no treatment for HPV infection, but the conditions it causes can be treated. One strategy to reduce the spread of infection is to vaccinate girls and women between the ages of 9 to 26 years of age against HPV. HPV vaccine is an inactivated (not live) vaccine which protects against 4 major types of HPV. These include two types that cause about 70% of cervical cancer and two types that cause about 90% of genital warts. HPV vaccine can prevent most genital warts in most cases of cervical cancer. Protection from HPV vaccine is expected to be long-lasting. But vaccinated women still need cervical cancer screening because the vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
HPV vaccine is given as a 3-dose series at 0, 2, and 6 months. (Example, March 1, 2007, May 1, 2007, in September 1, 2007) Recipients of the vaccine must receive all 3 immunizations in order to develop complete immunity to the HPV subtypes covered by the vaccine. Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, or to any other component of the HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine. I am attaching a copy of the vaccine information sheet available through the CDC website to provide you with more detailed information regarding the vaccination.
HPV vaccination is covered by many commercial insurers. Unfortunately, most student health insurance plans cover accidents and illnesses only, in an effort to keep the cost of premiums affordable for students. Therefore most student health insurance plans, including Koster (NEC's student health insurance plan), do not cover the cost of the vaccine. The NEC health and counseling service has established an account with Merck pharmaceuticals in an effort to provide the vaccine to NEC students at cost. The cost for each vaccination is $120 ($360 for the series of 3).
- Each Dose is $120 (a $40 savings!)
If you are interested in receiving the vaccine please notify the health center.
Payment for the vaccine will be made payable to the New England Conservatory of Music in the amount of $120. Students will be provided with a receipt that they can submit to their private insurer for possible reimbursement.