"July is like the sunniest hour of the day." - William C. Bryant

July is here! Whether you're taking classes, working, doing research, or enjoying some well-earned downtime, we hope you're finding ways to recharge this summer. In this month's newsletter, you'll find self-care resources, tips for staying cool in the summer heat, personal statement tips from our OSS Writing Coach, and other updates from OSS. 

As always, we're here to support you - stay connected with us this summer!

To schedule a virtual or in-person meeting, contact our office at SMHSstudents@gwu.edu.

In this edition of the newsletter, you can find the following:

On Monday, July 13th, join Art Therapy Intern Mia Goff on Monday, July 13 at 6:30pm for a webinar on making self-care fit into a busy schedule. Participants will learn practical strategies for prioritizing their well-being and explore several quick, accessible art therapy activities that can be done on busy days using limited art supplies.

Click here to add the event to your calendar.

Please register by clicking the button or scanning the QR code above to receive the Zoom link and help us estimate attendance.

Talkspace: As educators of our future healthcare professionals, we know how important mental health is and are pleased to offer all SMHS students a free subscription to Talkspace. Talkspace offers unlimited text messaging and four 30-minute video sessions a month with a licensed therapist and is a convenient, clinically effective, and confidential service. You will be matched with a therapist that suits you and your needs via a special algorithm. To register, go to www.talkspace.com/gwu and click "Get Started." You will then be asked to input your contact information and the organization keyword that corresponds with your SMHS program. Keywords include: GWU-MEDSTU (MD students), GWU-HEALTHSCI (Health Sciences students), and GWU-MEDRES (Medical Residents). 

Please note that after 12 months of using the platform, you will need to revalidate your account. You should receive notification 21 days and 7 days before your renewal deadline. Please follow this guide to help you revalidate. If you are unable to revalidate before your deadline, please reach out to Talkspace Partner Support using their Help Desk (click the button below) to be revalidated and request to continue with your current therapist.

Students who experience difficulty registering or revalidating should contact Alex Velto (alex.velto@gwu.edu).

Student Health Center:  The Student Health Center (formally CHC) is open and operating to assist students seeking medical, psychiatric, counseling, and psychological services. Physicians and counselors provide in-person treatment in the office, and virtual appointments are offered during regular business hours. Call 202-994-5300 to schedule an appointment.  

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (ET); extended hours until 7pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Saturday: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Sunday: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm on the Mount Vernon Campus

Resiliency and Well-Being Center: OSS frequently collaborates with the GW RW&C on matters related to individual and group well-being. The R&W Center takes an evidence-based, whole-person approach in the health and wellness (well-being) services it provides to the GW medical enterprise—SMHS, GW MFA, and the GW Hospital.  The R&W Center provides individual, departmental, and institutional-level services.  

Additional Resiliency and Well-Being Center workshop information can be found here.

We’d like to extend our immense gratitude to all SMHS students who completed this year’s Annual Survey. We recorded our highest response rate to date, which has given us a lot of valuable feedback. 

Overall, we received an overwhelmingly positive response across all three of our pillars of service. In particular:

Of course, there is always room for growth, and we are carefully reviewing your feedback to identify opportunities for improvement. We are already exploring ways to enhance our services and communication, including:

Lastly, we have found that one of the most effective ways students learn about our services is through word of mouth. If you know someone who could benefit from OSS support, please share your experience and encourage them to engage with us!

Please Note: While not all of the feedback we received falls within the scope of OSS, we will ensure that relevant concerns are shared with the appropriate departments and offices.

Thank you again for your feedback and partnership in helping us sustain a supportive and engaged GW SMHS community.

Summer in the DMV can be hot, humid, and exhausting. Whether you're spending time outdoors, commuting to campus, or enjoying a well-deserved break, taking steps to stay safe and cool is important. 

Check out these simple tips for beating the heat this summer! 🌞

The Office of Graduate Affairs (OGA) is dedicated to supporting and enriching the graduate student experience at The George Washington University. 

OGA adds to the rich programming within departments and schools by facilitating university-wide initiatives and access to centralized resources across the university. 

The Office of Graduate Affairs is excited to share their updated Graduate Student Handbook. Designed with your success in mind, this handbook serves as a guide to essential information about university-wide academic policies and campus resources designed to enhance your education and personal growth. 

Whether you are a new student or looking to refresh your knowledge, this handbook is here to support you every step of the way.

Thank you to those of you who submitted a DMV recommendation! We received an overwhelming amount of engagement, which resulted in an extensive Navigating the DMV Guide. Click the button above to access the guide. If you have any additional recommendations, or missed our first call for submissions, don't worry! We will continue accepting submissions, and the guide will continue to be updated.

Click the button below to submit a recommendation.

The GroW Community Garden is looking for volunteers who can help out during gardening hours. The garden is located right behind the SMHS building and garden hours are Tuesdays 3-4pm, Thursdays 1-2pm, and Sundays 10am-12pm. You can register for a shift clicking the button above or scanning the QR code on the flyer. Come join us for some time in the sun and help grow produce that will be donated to Miriam's Kitchen!

July seasonal produce includes: berries, peaches, carrots, corn, tomatoes, avocados, green beans, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Feta Orzo!

Extended Summer Hours in Washington, DC: Make the most of long summer days with extended hours and evening experiences at some of DC’s most beloved institutions, from sunset strolls to after-hours access to history and art.

Student Wellness Committee: "The Wellness Committee is a group of elected students from all programs within the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences with a passion for promoting wellness in our community. We believe that as students who are training to become healthcare providers, it is critical that we learn to care for ourselves by nurturing our own personal health and wellness, as we strive to care for others. This committee seeks to promote wellness by organizing events and initiatives that enhance student wellbeing and strengthen relationships within our programs. We consider many dimensions of wellness and work with the Office for Student Support (OSS) to ensure accessibility to resources and safe spaces, as well as provide events like movie nights, picnics, cookie decorating, therapy dogs, and other initiatives to promote connectivity and healthy habits." - Student Wellness Committee Leadership

For information on how to join the Student Wellness Committee, or to send suggestions/ideas for wellness events, please send them an email.

SMHS Student - Parent Support Network: The Office of Student Support (OSS) is excited to announce an initiative aimed at connecting student-parents across SMHS. We recognize that balancing academic responsibilities with parenting can be challenging, and we want to offer a supportive network to help navigate these demands. By filling out a short google form, you will have the opportunity to receive contact information for other student-parents who are also interested in joining this network. Click here to fill out the form.

Student Organizations: Interested in joining one of the 80+ student organizations SMHS has to offer? You can find a full list of them here, updated every semester.

Want to start your own organization? The Medical Center Student Council provides guidance on the process on their website, with enrollment periods open twice a year.

GW SMHS Event Promotion - OSS Newsletter Feature Request Form: Do you have an upcoming event or campaign open to all GW SMHS students? Need help getting the word out? Complete the brief form below to apply for your event to be featured in the next edition of our newsletter.

Deadline: The form must be submitted at least one week prior to the release of the newsletter edition in question. Editions are released on the first weekday of each month. 

Questions? Contact Emma Smith at emma.smith@gwu.edu.

Want to stay up-to date with OSS Events in 2026? Click here to add the Office of Student Support (OSS) Events Calendar to your Google Calendar. You can also check out the Events Tab on the OSS website to see event details.

Interested in meeting with our learning specialist, Terri Edwards, or with our Associate Director, Alex Velto? Use Zoom Scheduler to easily schedule a meeting!