“I can’t be there for other people unless I’m there for myself. I can’t really work to push our movement without really investing in myself. By investing in yourself you’re also investing in your community. “ - Dior Vargas, queer Latina mental health advocate and activist

Happy June! As summer begins and the academic year winds down for some, we hope you're finding moments to rest, recharge, and reflect. Whether you're just diving into your program, making your way through clinicals, or enjoying a much-needed break, the Office of Student Support is here for you. We now have a new home in Ross 202/203 - we're open throughout the summer and available to assist with anything you might need. Don’t hesitate to reach out - we’re always happy to connect!

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:

The Office of Student Support has moved! Our new space is on the second floor of Ross Hall - Ross 202. As always, you're welcome to stop by for candy, coffee, tea, or just to chat and see our new space. Stay tuned for events to come!

On Tuesday, June 10th, join the R&WC for a catered lunch and roundtable discussion on Food & Mood with Leigh Frame, PhD, MHS, CERT ’20, the R&WC's associate director and research director.

"2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC! The Capital Pride Alliance is excited for Washington, DC to host WorldPride 2025 and share this momentous and exciting milestone with our international community.

WorldPride is bringing together voices from around the world to support the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing fight for equality, visibility, and justice. We encourage everyone in our global community to participate in this historic moment. By showing up and supporting Pride events globally, the LGBTQ+ community will be visible, vigilant, and heard.

Be a part of The Fabric of Freedom, May 17 - June 8, 2025, in Washington, DC!"

- WorldPride DC 2025

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 finished 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 and Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm and Sundays 8-10am. You can register for a shift clicking the button above or 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!

June seasonal produce includes: berries, corn, cucumbers, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, green onions, and more!

For this month's seasonal recipe, try out this Mexican street corn pasta salad! This is a quick and low effort dish, perfect for an easy week night meal.

Summer Films at The REACH - 5/30 - 8/29: The REACH at the Kennedy Center presents an outdoor film series all summer long. The Millennium Stage Outdoor Film screenings presents classic and modern feature films on the REACH video wall every Friday from May 30 – Aug. 29. The lineup kicks off with The Bourne Identity. Movies begin at dusk and admission is FREE! 

Milk Tree: Pop-Up Art Installation - 6/14 - 15: Robin Bell's newest art installation is open! The exhibit is called Milk Tree, after the prolific succulent species that Bell and his partner began to propagate during the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the art – that is, the plants and the paintings – is for sale, and if you purchase, you'll take a photo and become part of the exhibit too, which focuses on the ways we are all connected.

Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - 6/21 - 22: Rib roasters and sauce bosses show off their delicious wares during the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle. Dozens of pit masters, local restaurants and live music shut down Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th streets NW for a lively street party. Cooking demos and free tastings make for a delicious (and filling) experience. Tickets start at $20.

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.

Pride Resources from Talkspace:

About LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

If You're Questioning Your Sexuality

Explaining Gender Identity vs. Gender Expression

Affirmative Therapy for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Remember that it's part of the Talkspace mission to foster and reinforce LGBTQIA + pride all year long by making supportive mental health support accessible. More than a third of our therapists have expertise in LGBTQIA+ needs.

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 input your GW email address. [Medical Residents should NOT use their MFA email address] After you are registered and matched with your therapist, you can schedule an optional 10-minute live video introduction session.  Students who experience difficulty registering should contact partners-support@talkspace.com and cc Alex Velto (alex.velto@gwu.edu).

Please note that after a year of using the platform, you will need to revalidate your account.  Go to the 'Check my coverage' feature found in your Talkspace app settings - and follow the prompts provided. If you prefer to remain connected to your current therapist, you will have to reach out to partners-support@talkspace.com to validate instead.

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.

The graphic above outlines many types of academic support available to you. See something you don't understand, or want to learn more about? Schedule a meeting with Terri Edwards, the Learning Specialist, for guidance on any of the topics above.

You can schedule a meeting with Terri Edwards through her Calendly, linked here.

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 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 their Calendly links to easily schedule a meeting with them! 

                             Alex's Calendly         Terri's Calendly