Health Sciences Graduation Celebration 2020

Saturday, May 16, 2020

2020 graduates, with their families and friends, can celebrate their graduation via pre-recorded video.

You are also invited to attend the May 2021 University-wide Bicentennial Commencement on the National Mall.

Pre-recorded Graduation Celebration Event

Watch the Health Sciences Graduation Celebration

Health Sciences Departments: Celebration Information

Each department will be hold their own recognition or award celebration, please use the link below to go to your department.

Graduation Celebration Program

 

Please download the program PDF to view digitally and follow along with the celebration, or print at home.



If you would like a program PDF formatted for professional printing, please email us at smhsweb@gwu.edu for the file and further instructions. Download Health Sciences Program

 

Our Speakers

Singing the National Anthem: Jane Ogagan

Jane Ogagan is graduating with her MS in Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Disease from GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Watch the Singing of the National Anthem

Welcome and Remarks: Barbara Bass, MD

Barbara Bass, MD, is Vice President for Health Affairs, Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Chief Executive Officer, the GW Medical Faculty Associates.

Watch the Welcome and Remarks

Recognizing the Class of 2020: Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA

Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA, is Senior Associate Dean for Health Sciences, Professor.

Watch the Video Recognizing the Class of 2020

2020 Ozgur Ekmekci Interprofessional Leadership Award Presentation: Karen Schlumpf, MPH

Karen Schlumpf, MPH, is Director of the Health Sciences Research Core Curriculum.

Watch the Video of the 2020 Ozgur Ekmekci Interprofessional Leadership Award Presentation

Lauren Wolf, MSHS, Health Care Quality is a pediatrician and a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, serving as the Pediatric Flight Commander and Medical Director at the 88th Medical Group in Ohio. She is also a faculty member at Wright State University and the Uniformed Services University. Dr Wolf also serves as a mentor in an innovative program at Wright State University, called Finding Meaning in Medicine. The program offers medical school residents (across all three years) the opportunity to explore topics such as healing and forgiveness. As a mentor, Lauren facilitates discussion about what those words mean in the context of medicine not only from a patient-physician perspective but also from a personal one. In addition, she is a peer supporter for the patient liaison at her hospital, helping to facilitate communication between patients, physicians, and other hospital staff and administration.

Stephanie Jane Johnson, Doctor of Physical Therapy, is described as a true servant leader. Throughout her time here at GW, she has held several leadership positions including service as a GW graduate senator and Student Life committee member. As the student representative for the Pro-Bono health clinic, Stephanie organized volunteers to provide services on a weekly basis. She worked tirelessly to advocate, fundraise, and procure additional resources, equipment, and supplies so that the clinic could provide a high level of care. Stephanie has also supported a number of interprofessional activities such as the Roll on Capitol Hill event for the United Spinal Association and the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes interprofessional health event. She has also provided feedback and a clinical perspective for a wheelchair designed by GW Biomedical Engineering students.

2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Award Winner, Chloe Andrews, Presented by Andrew Garrett, MD, MPH, FAEMS, FAAP

Andrew Garrett, MD, MPH, FAEMS, FAAP, is an Associate Professor and Program Director for Emergency Health Operations.

Watch the Video of the 2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Award Winner

Chloe Andrews, Emergency Health Services Minor, originally from Northamptonshire, England, Chloe Andrews is a 2020 George Washington University graduate with a bachelors of art in psychology and a minor in emergency health services. During her time at GWU, Chloe worked as a supervising EMT for the GW Emergency Medical Response Group (EMeRG) volunteering over 300 hours a month. Chloe also spent her senior year working for the National Human Trafficking Hotline where she took crisis calls from human trafficking victims and survivors across the nation. Chloe was involved in the greater DC community through her role as an advanced rock climbing coach at Earth Treks Crystal City. This June, she will be moving to Houston, Texas to begin working at Casa de Esperanza as a full time foster parent and advocate for at-risk children aged zero to six.

Watch the Video of Chloe Andrews

2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Award Winner, Lisa Frisch, Presented by Marcia Firmani, PhD, MSPH, MT(ASCP) MBCM

Marcia Firmani, PhD, MSPH, MT(ASCP) MBCM, is Chair of the Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Department and Program Director of the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostic Sciences Graduate Programs.

Watch the Video of the 2020 Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Award

Lisa Frisch, MSHS, Molecular Diagnostic Sciences, was born December 24, 1975 in Washington, D.C. and raised in Friendly, MD. In 1997 she enlisted in the United States Army as 68K Medical Laboratory Technician. In 2004, she completed the Interservice Cytotechnology Program and earned her Bachelor of Science, Health Science, Cytotechnology from The George Washington University. In 2012, Lisa commissioned as 71E Clinical Laboratory Scientist. She currently serves as the laboratory manager for Department of Clinical Investigation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston. Lisa is married to Donald Frisch and enjoys digital scrapbooking and digital art in her free time.

Watch the Video of the Award Winner

Health Sciences Pledge: Dhinakar (Dhinu) Jayaseelan, DPT

The Pledge

Watch the Video of the Pledge

I will lead my life and practice my profession with integrity and compassion, treating each individual I see with dignity and respect.

I promise to comfort, care, and work toward curing the sick and disabled and will strive to promote the health and well-being of all the people for whom I care.

I will work for the benefit of, and avoid harm to, the individuals I serve and those who are my colleagues; and even if directed, I will do nothing that I believe could harm my patient.

I will use my knowledge and skill to serve all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, disease, or social status.

I will respect the privacy of every person and will hold confidential all information about patients for whom I care.

I pledge to continue to learn and grow in my profession and continually seek to gain new knowledge.

I will constantly strive to contribute to my profession through teaching others who can benefit from my knowledge.

I promise to pursue each of the tenets of this pledge with strength and courage, to the utmost of my power.

 

Concluding Remarks and Charge: Karen Wright, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA

Karen Wright, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, is Assistant Dean, Student Life and Academic Affairs, Program Director for Physician Assistant Studies.

Watch the Video of the Concluding Remarks and Charge

The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) has created this candle dedication to provide members of our GW family an outlet for recognition and reflection.

We invite you to light a "virtual" candle on this page to honor those who are important to you or to recognize the memory of a loved one who may have been lost. Our hope is that when you light a candle, you will take a moment to think about that person or group of people you have paid tribute to, and remember them in your thoughts.