"Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer."  - Anita Krizzan 

As the semester begins to wrap up and Spring settles in, we’re excited to share this month’s OSS newsletter filled with opportunities to connect, recharge, and celebrate our community. Whether you’re looking for ways to get involved, stay organized, or take a well-deserved pause, we hope this newsletter helps you make the most of the season!

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:

You're invited to register for a Bouquet Making Workshop co-sponsored by the Student Wellness Committee and the Office of Student Support! The event will take place Wednesday, 4/15, 12-1pm in the Ross Hall Courtyard, weather permitting. All supplies will be provided.

Space is limited. You can sign up here, and you will be subsequently notified if your place is confirmed.

You're invited to Pass It On: A Spring Clean Sustainability Event. Celebrate Earth Day with us by embracing sustainability and giving items a second life through repurposing!

The Office of Student Support is planning a FREE Spring Clean Sustainability Event for the GW SMHS community. All GW SMHS students, faculty, and staff are invited to browse the market of housewares and other gently used items shared by your fellow SMHS community members. Everyone is welcome to take items (you don't need to bring something).

Event Details
Wednesday, 4/22 | 12PM - 4 PM
Ross Hall Student Lounge

If you happen to have something to repurpose, you can drop it off at OSS (Ross 202) starting Monday, 4/6.

*Please note: clothing will not be accepted. You do not need to bring something to take items.*

Whether it’s a spring break trip, blooming flowers, a sunny study spot, or a quiet moment that made you pause - share it with us! Submit your Spring scene photo and help us capture the energy, color, and renewal of the season across the GW SMHS community.

Your submission enters you into a raffle to win a potted houseplant!

Deadline: Friday, 5/1 at 11:59pm

Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) is an annual, campus-wide celebration recognizing the contributions, resilience, and impact of GW’s graduate and professional students. Throughout the week, students are invited to connect with one another, take a break from their routines, and enjoy a series of free events designed to foster community, well-being, and fun.

From creative opportunities to social gatherings and wellness-focused programming, this week highlights the many dimensions of graduate life at GW- and the students who make it exceptional.

Main Events:

Kick-Off Reception (Mon, April 20 | 6–10 PM | City View Room, ESIA): Meet university leadership, enjoy food, dancing, and socializing

Wellness Wednesday (Wed, April 22 | 1–4 PM | Continental Ballroom, USC): Meditation, crafts, free plants, wellness activities

Music in the Yard (Thurs, April 23 | 3–5 PM | Kogan Plaza): Free pizza/soda (first 200), DJ, lawn games, hourly prizes

Happy Hour @ Hive (Fri, April 24 | 4–7 PM | Hive Rooftop Bar): Free drink tickets (first 150), raffle, social event

Not able to make it to campus for Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week? You can still celebrate with us!

GPSAW includes several virtual events designed for students who are remote, hybrid, or simply unable to attend in person. Join from wherever you are and connect with fellow graduate students across GW.

Here's what's happening ONLINE: 

Virtual Game Night (Mon, April 20 | 6:00 PM | Virtual): Take a break from work and connect with fellow graduate students through a fun, casual online game night

Guided Mindfulness Session (Wed, April 22 | 1:00 PM | Virtual): Pause mid-week to recharge with a relaxing guided mindfulness session you can join from anywhere

Professional Development: Career Progression with Large Scale Impact (Wed, April 22 | 6:30 PM | Virtual): Hear from GW Alumni Josh Lasky on building a career with large-scale impact

Professional Development: Workplace Readiness, Networking & Leveraging Your Experiences (Thurs, April 23 | 1:00 PM | Virtual): Learn from GW Alumni Kalpana Vissa about networking and translating your experiences into career success

On Wednesday, April 25, students across GW SMHS joined OSS and ODI for a Women’s History Month Exchange: Breaking Barriers in the Health Sciences. We were honored to hear from an incredible group of faculty across GW SMHS, including: Marisa Birkmeier, DPT; Charelle Carter-Brooks, MD, MSC; Melissa Carroll, PhD; Emmeline Ha, MD, FAAFP; Libby Hladik, PhD, OTR; Kellie Sawyer, OTD, OTR/L; and Maranda Ward, MPH, EdD.

The event created space for meaningful conversations as students connected with faculty, learned from their diverse career journeys, and reflected on the challenges and opportunities within their fields. It was also a chance to build community across programs and celebrate the impact of women in the health sciences.

Submissions are now open for Himmelfarb's annual Spring Flowers Photo Contest, which celebrates the beauty of the new season. Full details here.

Submissions are now open for Himmelfarb Library's 38th Annual Art Show! All members of the Himmelfarb community are invited to submit artwork for our on-site and/or virtual art show, which will open on April 22. Full details here.

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!

April seasonal produce includes: strawberries, rhubarb, citrus fruits, radishes, chickpeas, leafy greens, scallions, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Herby Lemon Jalapeno Pasta with Chickpeas! Its ready in about 20 minutes and is packed with flavor.

National Cherry Blossom Festival - 3/20 - 4/12: DC celebrates the blooming of cherry trees with a month-long festival that commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city. Check out popular festival events in the lead-up to the celebration, in addition to this guide to the celebration, how to get the most popular blossom spots and the best places to snap photos. 

Washington Nationals Baseball Home Opener - 4/3: The Washington Nationals, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents. Use code VISITDC for 15% off single game tickets throughout the season.

Georgetown French Market - 4/24-26: Georgetown's Book Hill neighborhood turns into its own version of Paris for an entire weekend every April. The Georgetown French Market features more than 35 locally owned merchants, restaurants, galleries and salons participating in an open-air shopping frenzy from Friday through Sunday. Spectacles also include a caricature artist, live music and stilt-walkers.

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.

This month, OSS is focusing on time management strategies to help you finish off the semester strong. In doing so, it is important to recognize that time management isn’t a monolith. It is a set of skills, in which you may be stronger in one area and weaker in another. The ability to identify which areas need improvement is the key to develop better time management skills. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

Scheduling: The starting point for time management is finding time in your day to do your work. Amidst a full day of lectures or a full-time job, not to mention family and personal life, it can seem like there’s no time in the day for studying or assignments. If you’re someone who struggles with scheduling, try time-blocking: the practice of entering all of your times (academic, professional, personal) into a calendar. You’ll quickly realize that you may have more time than you realize. 

Successful time-blocking involves being as specific as possible (eg: instead of saying “Study” from 6-8 PM, say “Complete practice questions related to X topic” from 6-8 PM) as you are ultimately working towards that specific goal, rather than generally working in that time frame. Tasks grow to fit the time you allot them, so be realistic about how long a task actually takes you.

Prioritizing: So, you’ve scheduled time. Now what? If you struggle with prioritization, it can be tough to identify what needs doing first. To help with this, take a couple minutes at the start of each day and look at your entire to-do list. Identify what tasks have both a high level of importance (eg: studying for a test) and a high level of urgency (eg: the test is tomorrow). Get all of those tasks done first, before moving onto anything else. That way, even if you don’t accomplish everything today, the important stuff is done.

When looking at your to-do list, it is important to include everything – not just schoolwork. If it’s your friend’s birthday that night, block off time for it. If you are dedicated to working out each day, protect time in your day for that. While it may seem like it’s taking away from schoolwork, you will ultimately burn out fast from ignoring your personal needs. Determine what non-negotiables will always be part of your schedule.

Resource Management: You have the time and you have a plan, but how do you actually execute it? We’ve touched on calendars already, which is a great tool to use, but figuring out exactly what you need to stay organized is key. There are several tools that can be analog or digital (eg: planner vs Google calendar), so adapting to your preference is important. Additionally, having your course resources easily accessible can help you effectively manage your time. Knowing the features of textbooks/e-books such as practice questions, audio, and/or summaries will allow you to build these resources into your study time.

OSS has a list of apps and resources that can help with creating to-do lists, scheduling, focusing, and organizing. There’s no one best tool – the one that helps you accomplish your goal is the best one for you. 

 “The best time to adopt a time management strategy was 20   years ago. The second-best time is today.” – OSS Proverb 

Adapting your strategies can be tough, and often is slower at the start. Like any new habit, it’s important to give yourself time to adjust and see if it’s working for you. 

*Want to talk through your time management strengths and weaknesses? Make an appointment with OSS, and we can build a custom study plan for your needs.

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.    

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 - 3/9, 3/23, 4/13, 4/27
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!