"Do the best you can until you know better." - Maya Angelou

May is here, and so is the end of another semester!         

Whether this was your first or your final term, take a moment to reflect on all you’ve accomplished over the past few months. You’ve put in the time, effort, and heart - so be sure to celebrate your progress and honor your commitment to this educational journey. As the semester winds down and summer approaches, we hope you find time to rest, reset, and take care of yourself. You’ve earned it!

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:

As part of our ongoing efforts to respond to student needs and concerns, the Office of Student Support has released our Annual Survey for 2025-26 We invite and encourage you to share your feedback about OSS with us. The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes, and is completely anonymous.

Anyone who completes the survey will be eligible to enter a raffle for a gift from the GW Campus Store. You will be able to enter your name via a different webform following completion of the survey. This separate Google form ensures confidentiality in your responses. A randomized drawing for the gift will be completed following the close of the survey.

You can access the survey by clicking the button or scanning the QR code above: The survey will close on Friday, May 15th at 11:59pm EST.

If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, are curious how we have implemented previous survey feedback, or would like to speak to us about another matter, please don't hesitate to contact us. To those who have already completed the survey - thank you! We appreciate your feedback.

The Office of Student Support wishes to congratulate all 2026 graduates!

Your contributions to your program have shaped the experience of the students and professors around you, the entire community is stronger for it. Whether you are patient facing or working behind the scenes, in labs or in policy (among many others), we are excited to know that you are changing lives and making GW proud. Raise High!

Thank you to everyone who donated, stopped by, and helped make the event such a success - your participation helped reduce waste and promote a culture of reuse on our campus. We loved seeing these items “passed on” and given a new life!

All leftover items were donated to Community Forklift, a local organization which works to eliminate waste and foster a healthier environment by recognizing, retaining, and returning the value of used and surplus materials to the community. As a nonprofit reuse warehouse, they collect donations of new and gently used building materials and home essentials, redistributing them through community giving programs and at below-market prices through their warehouse store.

Learn more about Community Forklift here.

Thank you to everyone who shared a photo! Our GW SMHS students have made the most of the Spring season - from blooming nature walks to amazing international adventures.

🌟Congrats to our raffle winner: Long Truong (PT student)!

Whether it’s a cap-and-gown moment, a celebration with friends and family, or a quiet reflection on how far you’ve come - share it with us! Submit your graduation or end-of-year photo and help us capture the pride, joy, and accomplishments across the GW SMHS community.

Your submission enters you into a raffle to win GW swag!

Deadline: Friday, 5/29 at 11:59pm

Acceptable books include: any gently used textbooks or other sources which helped you through SMHS courses.

Last day to donate: Friday, 5/8

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!

May seasonal produce includes: strawberries, pineapple, lemons, mushrooms, carrots, corn, peas, chives, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this BLT Pasta Salad with Jalapeño Dressing! It's packed with fresh and flavorful ingredients, and the dressing is dairy-free.

Passport DC - 5/1 - 5/31: A month of programming across the city focuses on highlighting DC’s international culture. The Around the World Embassy Tour and the European Union Open House are annual highlights. Most events and tours can be enjoyed entirely free of charge. 

Spring Night Market - 5/14, 5-10:30pm: Tiger Fork transforms Hi-Lawn into a Hong Kong night market with delicious street food-inspired fare and tasty treats from Love, Makoto, Chai Pani, Canton Disco, Chiko, China Chilcano, Dan Dan Noodles, Tiger Fork (of course) and many more. Attendees can also browse specialty gifts (think jewelry, kimonos, ceramics and artwork) from pop-up market stalls throughout the celebration and enjoy lion and dragon dancing.

Jazz in the Garden - Returns 5/22: Kick back and groove to the music with sangria in hand at Jazz in the Garden on Fridays throughout the summer, held in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. An eclectic mix of DC-area jazz musicians lend a soundtrack to one of the city’s most idyllic scenes set around the sculpture garden’s central fountain. This is a free seasonal tradition that you do not want to miss. Due to high demand, the museum has instituted a lottery system.

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.

End-of-semester stress got you down? Take a break and join OSS in Ross 202-C next Tuesday (5/5) for donut holes and coloring - an easy way to relax and recharge.

All GW SMHS students are welcome, and feel free to bring your lunch!

We’ll also have QR code flyers for the OSS Annual Survey (AY 2025–26). 

Anyone who picks up a flyer - and those who have already completed the survey - will be entered into a raffle to win a Talkspace travel coffee tumbler!

Take a creative pause with Art Therapy Intern Mia Goff during Open Studio Hours! These drop-in sessions offer a relaxed, supportive space to unwind, reflect, and engage in art-making - no experience required. 

Date: 5/11
Time: 12–2 PM
Location: Ross Hall, Room 202C

This is a drop-in, low-pressure space to decompress and create. Optional activities and prompts will be available, including:

- Drawing your to-do list as a character

- Mindful coloring and grounding exercises

- Drawing your stress as a silly monster

- Pebble path drawing

All GW SMHS students are invited, stop by anytime during the session and create at your own pace. Feel free to bring your lunch if you wish!

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.

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!