“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”   - Coretta Scott King

February can be a busy and sometimes stressful time in the semester, which is why this month’s newsletter is focused on opportunities to both de-stress and stay engaged. From creative and community-building programming like Acts of Kindness Bingo, Art Therapy Open Studio Hours, and Hearts & Crafts, to timely academic support and citation resources to help you stay on track, there’s something here for everyone. We hope these offerings give you a chance to recharge, connect with others, and feel supported as you settle into the semester.

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:

In February 1976, President Gerald Ford declared February African American History Month. In 2006, national Black History Month transformed into the Black Heritage Celebration (BHC) at GW. Throughout the month of February, GW celebrates Black heritage, showcasing the rich history, culture and accomplishments of the Black community. The Multicultural Student Services Center provides logistical support for Black organizations to collaborate and promote cultural awareness. Find a partial selection of BHC events on campus below and follow @gwubhc on Instagram for updates and more.

NPHC Stroll-Off - 2/6 at 7pm, Betts Theatre

Soul Revue - 2/7 at 6:30pm, Betts theatre

Black Queer Alliance Drag Brunch - 2/8 at 12pm, Betts Theatre

117 Years of the NAACP - 2/12 at 6pm, MSSC Multipurpose Room

George Washington University Men's Basketball vs George Mason- DMV Night, Black History Month Celebration - 2/13 at 7pm 

BHC Finale - 2/28, Proper 21

Need a study break? Join the Student Wellness Committee for Valentine's Day treats and crafts in the Ross Hall Student Lounge on Thursday, 2/12, from 12-1pm!

All supplies will be provided: strawberries, melted chocolate, card supplies, and more!

Thank you to everyone who shared a photo! Our GW SMHS students have made the most of the winter season - from snowy nature walks to time spent having fun with friends in the cold.

🌟Congrats to our raffle winner: Aahana Kidambi (MD student)!

Looking for a fun and easy way to spread kindness this month?
Try our Acts of Kindness Bingo! Each square features a small, meaningful action to help brighten someone’s day. Click the button above to download your bingo sheet and start tracking your acts of kindness.

Once you earn a bingo, email us your completed card by 11:59pm on Sunday, 3/1 to be entered into a raffle to win a small LEGO set! ✨

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!

The GW SMHS Recipe Book is available for you to view! Click the button above to access it. We will continue adding to the recipe book and updating it each month with the release of our monthly newsletter. Please submit your favorite recipes below so this project can continue to grow!

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Have a go-to meal that gets you through tough weeks? A favorite dish that always brings comfort? Share it with your fellow students in the first-ever SMHS Community Recipe Book! We’re collecting recipes from students across SMHS to create a digital recipe book filled with quick bites, hearty meals, tasty desserts, and more!

*Recipes do not have to be entirely your own; feel free to submit links to recipes you have found online that have become a favorite!

February seasonal produce includes: kale, spinach, carrots, broccoli, citrus, pomegranates, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Jalapeño Spinach Artichoke Dip! Its made with greek yogurt for extra protein.

Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise - Ongoing: The U.S. Botanic Garden invites you to see the ferocious side of flora and fauna at its special new exhibit. Many plants have evolved defenses against infection, herbivores and their plant competition. The multisensory display will showcase this evolution and also pinpoint how these plants can be both harmful and helpful to humans. Admission is FREE.

Celebrate Black History Month in DC - All month long: Black history and culture are an essential part of DC’s identity, which means that there's an abundance of ways to celebrate Black History Month in the city. The nation’s capital is also full of year-round ways to honor the Black experience at museums and memorials. You can also stop by a Black-owned business or read up on the District's Black-owned restaurants and Black chefs.

Celebrate Lunar New Year - Begins 2/17: Locations all over the city ring in the Year of the Horse with colorful celebrations, including performances, educational talks, special tours and hands-on activities. Be sure to check out the festive Downtown Parade, events at the Smithsonian's free National Museum of Asian Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and more.

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.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about New Year's Resolutions

Thank you to those of you who submitted a question! Your questions help create a space where we can all learn and grow together.

Q: Is making more than one resolution manageable? Or should we stick to one to increase the chances of succeeding at that one?

A: You can set more than one resolution if each is supported by smart structure, timing, and attuned with your neurobiology. 

Our basal ganglia contains "go" and "no-go" circuits  - the part of your brain that either initiates or suppresses actions. When you try to do too much, especially if it's high in limbic friction (mental/emotional resistance), the "no-go" circuits dominate.

Q: How to deal with limited winter daylight and outdoor time, especially post-holidays?

A: Winter mood and energy dips can be managed by biological light anchors, temperature-based routines and using strategic physical movement.

Q: How to find the motivation to stick to New Year’s resolutions 3–6 months in?

A: Motivation drops are normal. Behavior science shows that initial motivation peaks in January due to the “fresh start effect,” but wanes over time. 

Q: How to hold ourselves accountable to goals every day? And deal with reluctance or negativity around them?

Q: How to avoid feeling fatigued by your to-do list or the weight of deciding your career trajectory?

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. 

Dates: Every 2nd & 4th Monday - 2/2, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/13, 4/27
Time: 12–2 PM
Location: Ross Hall, Room 202C

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.

Himmelfarb Library offers a variety of research guides tailored for GW SMHS students. 

We recommend bookmarking these guides for future reference:

AMA Citation Style  

APA Citation Style

Harvard Citation Style Introduction: Why is referencing important?

RefWorks is a web-based reference management service that allows you to import references from online databases and other sources. You can use these references in writing papers and automatically format the in-text citations and the bibliography in seconds.

Himmelfarb Library answers questions about citations and provides support and training on RefWorks - need assistance, Ask A Librarian.

If you have any questions related to these resources, please email himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

Looking for ways to engage with OSS without scheduling an appointment? Check out the OSS website!

You’ll find a variety of on-demand resources to support small study group success, building a personalized study plan, citation style guides, time management, CV development, and more - available anytime, anywhere.

CV Support: We have a dedicated faculty advisor with whom you can schedule appointments to review and revise your CV. To schedule an appointment, email OSS  with your request and attach any resume or CV documents you may have. If you have never created a CV before, we are happy to work with you and share our template.

Learning Support: Our dedicated learning specialist, Terri Edwards, is available to meet with students to discuss active learning strategies, study strategies and scheduling, test taking strategies, and more. To book an appointment with her, please use her Calendly link.

Peer Tutoring: If you would like to work with a peer tutor, email OSS to learn more about peer-led academic support. 

Small Study Groups: Consider adding small group studying into your academic schedule. OSS assigns students to a study group of 2-5 students; the sessions are facilitated by a student who commits to that role. Groups may choose to meet in person or virtually. Contact OSS for more information to be a facilitator or participant.

Writing Coach: Coaching sessions help students build their writing confidence and develop vital writing skills for writing assignments, personal statements, and professional writing. To receive a referral to the writing coach, please email OSS directly.    

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!