"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home." - Edith Sitwell

Happy December - you're almost there!

As the year winds down, we want to celebrate all of your hard work and perseverance this semester. A special congratulations to our December graduates, we wish you the best of luck as you embark on your next chapter beyond GW!

We know this time of year can feel overwhelming with exams, the holidays, and everything else on your plate. Remember, OSS is here to support you every step of the way. This month’s newsletter has some helpful resources on holiday stress, tips for navigating exam season, and details about upcoming events to help you de-stress and stay connected. Take a moment for yourself when you can; we’re cheering you on to the finish line!

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:

At its best, the holidays can bring relaxation, reflection, and joy — but for many, this time of year can also be emotionally challenging. Grief, family tensions, financial stress, loneliness, or even the internal pressure to make the holidays “perfect” can all impact mental well-being. Because it’s often hard to know who may be silently struggling, offering gentle, accessible support can make a meaningful difference.

Learn more via the resources below:

How To Practice Self-Care During the Holidays

Dealing with Grief During the Holidays

How to Set Family Boundaries

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.

Plan your Study Approach Early: Use resources such as textbook and lecture questions and prior quiz and test questions to build self-assessments. These will help you identify your knowledge gaps and strengths. 

Study Actively, Not Passively: Spend the majority of your study time addressing the gaps, making sure to use active learning strategies. Using your words to summarize and answer questions is more effective than passively looking at text or repeating words from lectures and textbooks. 

Develop a Test-taking Strategy: Develop and practice test-taking strategies before the exam. Strategies include taking a few seconds to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths after every ten questions. If you cannot answer a question, consider marking an answer and moving on to save time for other questions. 

Manage Test Anxiety & Maintain Focus: Established and practiced test-taking strategies will help you maintain focus during the exam. For example, practicing multiple questions from self-assessments and practice tests and verbalizing summaries from memory will reduce test anxiety on exam day. 

If you want to discuss these exam preparation tips, please schedule a meeting with Terri Edwards, Learning Specialist.

On Tuesday, December 9th, join the GW R&WC for a catered lunch and roundtable discussion on Sleep, Memory, & Learning with Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, MD, MS, NCC, LCPC-SP, LCADAS, Associate and Behavioral Services Director of the R&WC. Please register using the link above. Spots are limited and offered first come, first served!

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.    

PT, OT, and PA students: Interested in joining the SMHS Student Wellness Committee? Email us at smhsstudents@gwu.edu to express your interest.

*Please note: MD students have already joined the 2026 SMHS Student Wellness Committee.

"The Student Wellness Committee is a group of SMHS 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

Back by very popular demand - the SMHS Fall Baking Competition, co-sponsored by the Student Wellness Committee! After an incredible turnout and delicious lineup of entries last year, we’re excited to bring this event back for another round of friendly competition.

Signups have ended, but all SMHS students are invited to taste the entries and vote for their favorites to help crown the winners!

Need a break from studying? Swing by the Ross Hall Student Lounge during the week of 12/8 at lunchtime for the SWC’s Exam Season Wellness Station! Enjoy a build-your-own trail mix bar, contribute to our gratitude wall, and grab a fidget toy to help you stay grounded.

All SMHS students are invited!

*Not on Foggy Bottom campus? Add to the Virtual Gratitude Wall below!

Thank you for participating in our week of recharging! Check out the notes of encouragement left by our students above.

🌟Congrats to our raffle winner: Alexis Robinson, PA student!

The GW Himmelfarb Library is accepting book donations! Acceptable books include: any medical or health sciences-related books.

*The deadline to donate is Thursday, December 11th.

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!

-------------------------------------------------------------

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!

December seasonal produce includes: apples, pomegranates, cranberries, citrus, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Lemon Orzo Soup recipe! The recipe includes chicken - feel free to substitute with chickpeas or another protein of your choice.

DowntownDC Holiday Market - 11/12 - 12/23: The DowntownDC Holiday Market occupies the street and sidewalk on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Now in its 21st year, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter and Chinatown to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood. The spacious, open-air village is free and open to the public, kicking off the holiday season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing for the season just before Christmas. 

ZooLights at the National Zoo - 11/21 - 1/3: The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian's National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required. Admission is just $6.

Ice Skate in DC: Lace up some skates and triple axel 'round the District at popular ice skating rinks at the National Building Museum, the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront and The Wharf. Click the link to read a detailed breakdown of each spot.

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 2025? 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!