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Month: October 2025

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Feature image for the Fall September Study Break Guide

Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest

Date: November 1, 2025

Location: Adams Morgan

Cost: Free

One of the District’s most popular neighborhoods showcases some of DC’s best musical talent. Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest will feature nearly 100 artists playing an array of genres, including classic rock, funk, go-go, rap, reggae, bluegrass, classical, and pop. Twenty porches, business patios and parks, as well as the closed 18th Street, will become stages for the day, drawing music-lovers from around the region into the tree-lined streets and small businesses of Adams Morgan.

Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared

Date: November 8, 2025 – February 1, 2026

Location: National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20560

Cost: Free

The National Museum of Asian Art surveys ancient times to the present in a stunning exhibit that displays works that beautifully speak to the diversity of Korea’s artistic legacy across the world. Once private treasures are now public, depicting the evolution of innovation, shifts in style, and technology.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage-Extraordinary Cinema: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Date: November 9, 2025

Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20566 in the Justice Forum at the REACH.

Cost: Free

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight captures the childhood of eight-year-old Bobo on her family farm in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) at the end of the Zimbabwean War for independence in 1980.

African American Civil War Museum Reopening

Date: November 10-11, 2025

Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Cost: Free

Celebrate the grand reopening of the African American Civil War Museum (which is supported by the African American Civil War Memorial) with two days of events. The DC institution will debut its new home (part of the redevelopment of the Grimke School) with a dedication of its new Lincoln statue (depicting the 16th President signing the Emancipation Proclamation), a trail march, a public ribbon-cutting, a happy hour, a Reading of the Names, and more.

Veterans Day: Honor Those Who Served

Date: November 11, 2025

Location: various monuments, memorials, and special programming

Cost: Free

Many of the monuments and memorials in the nation’s capital honor service members, shedding light on the immense sacrifices that the U.S. Armed Forces have made to protect this country. Any time of year, but especially on Veterans Day, choose from a collection of monuments, memorials, and special programming to celebrate and honor those who served.

DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle

Date: November 14, 2025 – December 23, 2025

Location: 1500 Block of 19th Street NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free

30-plus small businesses with artisanal goods, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts, and unique gift items, plus festive decor, local performers, and beloved holiday treats. 

DowntownDC Holiday Market

Date: November 21, 2025 – December 23, 2025

Location: F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free

This year's edition of the DowntownDC Holiday Market will occupy 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 season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing just before Christmas.

Zoolights

Date: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Cost: $6 

Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights, powered by Pepco, a part of their annual holiday tradition. 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.

Season’s Greetings

Date: November 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Location: U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001

Cost: Free

Trade in your dreams of a white Christmas for something even better – a green Christmas. At this year's Season's Greenings exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden, displays will feature not only holiday lights, but thousands of poinsettias, unbelievable plant-based sculptures, a circuit of model trains, and pollinators galore. Tickets are not required. This year's theme? Dinosaurs. 
The Botanic Garden will stay open late on Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and Jan. 1. It is closed on Dec. 25.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage Films – Extraordinary Cinema: East of Wall

Date: November 23, 2025

Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20566 in the Justice Forum at the REACH.

Cost: Free

East of Wall is an authentic portrait of female resilience in the “New West,” inspired and played by the women and girls who live it.

Chanukah Holiday Market

Date: December 2, 2025

Location: Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free but RSVP required

Join us for one of the largest Chanukah holiday markets in the city! Shop handmade goods from independent artists and food vendors – we’ll have everything from holiday cards to jewelry to baked goods. It’s Etsy IRL! In addition to our vendors, we will also have hot beverages and snacks for sale.

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The Rotation occasionally turns its lens on standout teams across the GW community. Today, we’re featuring the GW Cancer Center: where groundbreaking research, compassionate care, and community engagement come together every day. We spoke with scientists, clinicians, and outreach leaders from both the GW Cancer Center and the GW Cancer Prevention and Wellness Center to share a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and impact driving their work. This post is the second post of a two-part series. Check out part one of this exciting discussion from last week!

The Cancer Center is involved in educating the next generation of researchers and health care providers in various aspects of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. What types of educational programs, research training, and professional education are available for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in cancer research?

Photo of Alison Hall

Alison Hall, PhD: Associate Center Director for Education & Training; Senior Associate Dean for Research; Director of the Institute for Biomedical Science; Professor of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine

Speaking for our education and training portfolio, we’ve built a true pipeline - from early undergraduates to practicing clinicians - that equips people to conduct impactful, equity-minded cancer research at GW. 

Undergraduates:

  • GW-SPARC (Summer Program Advancing Research on Cancer) is the flagship 10-week, mentored summer program co-led by Drs. Alison Hall and Ed Seto. SPARC places diverse rising juniors in GW Cancer Center labs for hands-on research, and features a robust program of skills training and career development centered on addressing the cancer health needs of our catchment area. Students present posters at summer’s end. This program is supported by the American Cancer Society and GWCC.
  • Biology of Cancer Course: GW undergraduates participate in the popular BISC 2213 Biology of Cancer course, taught by Dr. Daoud Meerzaman of NCI.

Medical Students:

  • Clinical & Translational Research Scholarly Concentration: A longitudinal track (≈50 students/year) that pairs medical students with mentors, strengthens research methods, and advances projects from idea to dissemination. Students present posters at the GW Research Showcase. This program has been shown to increase graduates’ careers in academic medicine (Radville et al., 2019).
  • GW Summer Fellowships: Medical students also compete for GW summer fellowships from the WTGill Fellowship as well as the Health Services Fellowship, and are encouraged to seek external support.

Graduate Students and Postdocs:

  • GW Cancer Biology PhD Program: Outstanding students from around the nation participate in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program and earn a PhD in Cancer Biology. Graduate program directors, Dr. Jiyoung Lee and Dr. Dalia Haydar guide PhD students through the program, and many win NIH F31 awards for their study.
  • NCI-Funded Cancer Biology Training (T32): GW’s T32 selects postdocs and one PhD trainee annually for a 2-year program combining discovery research, coursework/workshops, and a focus on cancer health needs in our region. This grant application is currently up for a competing renewal.
  • Early-Career Researchers and Professional Education: Additional structured training and mentored awards are available through the New Investigator workshops (third Thursdays at 4), leading to K and fellowship applications.
  • Services and Training: Study design, REDCap/PowerTrials, data management, regulatory tools; grant writing, plus short courses and workshops lower barriers to starting and completing rigorous studies. 

New faculty are also coached about faculty mentoring committees by Dr. Alison Hall and Dr. Pavani Chalasani.

Across all tiers, our priorities are the same: mentored, hands-on research experiences; structured skills training; near-peer and faculty mentoring; and attention to cancer health disparities in our D.C. catchment area. That’s how SPARC and our broader portfolio are “seeding” the next generation, and how we’re growing a workforce ready to make cancer research more effective, inclusive, and patient-centered.

What advice would you give to medical students or early career researchers who want to get started in cancer research?

Photo of Jenna Clements.
Jenna Clements: PhD Candidate; Seto Lab
Photo of Bethel Sebesbie.
Bethel Sebsebie: Clinical Research Coordinator

Jenna Clements: My advice is first to build a surface-level knowledge base spanning the many arms of cancer research, and then choose your niche and dive deep into that one thing. Once you nurture a deep knowledge base centered on a single topic, a larger web of understanding will naturally develop because of the interconnectedness of all the subfields of cancer research. But if you try to understand everything deeply from the beginning, you’ll quickly be overwhelmed. It will all come with time, but it does take time!

Bethel Sebsebie: Research is very important to the future of medicine. It’s through research that diseases once thought incurable are now being cured and treated today. For medical students or early career researchers, I encourage you to stay curious and open to learning. Each clinical trial and each lab discovery is a step forward to new, innovative treatments for cancer and many other complex diseases. We've already come so far, but there is still so much more to discover. So to anyone considering a career in cancer research and medicine, stay curious, be compassionate, be persistent, collaborate with others, and get involved early. Whether you're working in the lab or at the bedside, your contributions are part of a much larger mission - to improve lives and bring hope to patients everywhere.

Tell us about the National AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (NACSR) and the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC), and their impact on patients, not just at GW, but worldwide.

Photo of Jeffrey Bethony.

Jeffrey Bethony, PhD: Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine; Professor of Epidemiology; Bethony Lab

The GW Biorepository Core is deeply involved in advancing cancer research for people with HIV (PWH), serving as home to two major National Cancer Institute (NCI) programs: the AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR) and the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC).

Together, these programs connect clinical care, laboratory innovation, and global collaboration to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for people affected by both HIV and cancer.

As Director of the ACSR, I lead a national effort headquartered here at GW and established by the NCI in 1994 to provide high-quality, well-annotated biospecimens and data that drive clinical, basic, and translational research. For more than 30 years, the ACSR has served as the world’s primary biorepository dedicated to individuals with HIV and cancer, supporting studies that span the pre- and post-antiretroviral therapy eras. Our global network, which includes satellite sites in São Paulo, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa, ensures that specimens are ethically collected, meticulously curated, and accessible to researchers around the world. Within the ACSR, the AMC Biorepository Program provides the laboratory and governance framework that supports both domestic and international AMC clinical trials, integrating specimen processing, storage, and data management across sites.

In addition to directing the ACSR, I chair the AMC Laboratory Resources Committee (LRC), where I work with colleagues across the consortium to connect laboratory science with the AMC’s clinical trials. This bridge, linking what happens at the bench to what happens in the clinic, ensures that discoveries made in the lab can quickly inform patient care. Here at GW, the AMC Clinical Site, led by Dr. Sharad Goyal, enrolls patients in cutting-edge trials for HIV-associated cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma, offering access to promising new therapies.

Together, these initiatives create a seamless translational pathway, from patient enrollment and biospecimen collection to laboratory discovery and biomarker development. Our shared goal is both simple and profound: to turn science into solutions that improve the lives of people living with HIV and cancer, in the U.S. and around the world.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about the GW Cancer Center?

Photo of Julie E. Bauman

Julie E. Bauman, MD, MPH: Dr. Cyrus Katzen Family Director of the GW Cancer Center

The GW Cancer Center is driven by a bold and compassionate vision: to create a cancer-free world through groundbreaking research, innovative education, and equitable care for all. That vision is what inspired me to join and lead this extraordinary organization. It speaks not only to scientific excellence but to a profound responsibility: to eliminate health disparities and ensure that our work is rooted in the realities of the communities we serve.

Our commitment to our catchment area, which includes Washington, D.C., and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia, is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by the voices and leadership of our Community Action Council, we engage deeply with our community, design programs that reflect our communal lived experiences, and build lasting partnerships grounded in trust. Together, we are working to make sure that every individual has a fair and fighting chance against cancer.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share more information about the GW Cancer Center, the exciting research happening there, and the great work being done. 

References:

Radville, L., Aldous, A., Arnold, J., & Hall, A. K. (2019). Outcomes from an elective medical student Research Scholarly Concentration program. Journal of investigative medicine: The official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 67(6), 1018–1023. https://doi.org/10.1136/jim-2018-000943

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PT for Future Me
October 2025 National Physical Therapy Month campaign from the American Physical Therapy Association

Every October, we turn our thoughts to Physical Therapy, in observance of National Physical Therapy Month. This year, the organization representing physical therapists in the United States, the American Physical Therapy Association, has as the theme for this month, PT for Future Me, a campaign aimed at educating consumers about the role of physical therapy in promoting improved movement and independence (PT For Future Me: An APTA ChoosePT Campaign, 2025). The PT for Future Me Patient Toolkit gives consumers a sense of how PT can exert positive effects across the lifespan, from childhood through older adulthood (PT for Future Me Patient Toolkit, n.d.). The website also includes a PT finder tool, which covers all 50 states and Washington, DC.

GW is home to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and also houses PT residency programs in neurology, orthopaedics, and pediatrics. Check out the PT program's news page for the latest updates from the program and its graduates, including this October 2025 article on pro bono PT clinics being established by a DPT alumnus, Dominic DiPrinzio. Dr. DiPrinzio is working to increase access to PT by making services available free of charge, via partnerships with medical professionals across disciplines, as well as institutions (Cohen, 2025).

A PubMed search shows that physical therapy touches on every specialty and discipline within medicine. Before October ends, take some time to examine recent publications in your area of expertise, then consider how physical therapy might help the patients you work with, and how you can partner with a PT to help your patients achieve lifelong mobility and wellness.

References:

Cohen, Charli. October 6, 2025. GW DPT: Founding Pro Bono Clinics, Building Access to Care. The Physical Therapy Program, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://physicaltherapy.smhs.gwu.edu/news/gw-dpt-founding-pro-bono-clinics-building-access-care

PT for Future Me: An APTA ChoosePT Campaign. (2025) Choose PT. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://www.choosept.com/prevention-wellness/future-me

ChoosePT, Provided by APTA. PT for Future Me Patient Toolkit. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://apta.widen.net/s/pp9zsvhtlb/choosept_ptffm-patient-toolkit

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A test tube and syringe. Text: GW Cancer Center. Where Revolutionary Research Meets Compassionate Care.
Used with permission from the GW Cancer Center.

The Rotation occasionally turns its lens on standout teams across the GW community. Today, we’re featuring the GW Cancer Center: where groundbreaking research, compassionate care, and community engagement come together every day. We spoke with scientists, clinicians, and outreach leaders from both the GW Cancer Center and the GW Cancer Prevention and Wellness Center to share a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and impact driving their work. This post is part one of a two-part series. Stay tuned next Wednesday, October 29th, for part two of this exciting discussion!

Tell us about the GW Cancer Center. What is the Cancer Center? Please tell us about what the Cancer Center does and its mission. 

Picture of Julie E. Bauman, MD, MPH

Julie E. Bauman, MD, MPH: Dr. Cyrus Katzen Family Director of the GW Cancer Center

The GW Cancer Center is a powerful force in the fight against cancer, driven by a deep commitment to saving lives and transforming care. We are rooted in Washington, DC, bringing together passionate researchers, dedicated clinicians, and community leaders who work side by side to advance cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship. The Center’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through cutting-edge science, compassionate care, and a fierce dedication to health equity. Every initiative, every breakthrough, and every patient story fuels our determination to build a future where cancer is no longer a life-defining diagnosis, but a challenge that can be met with strength, science, and hope.

Tell us about the research being conducted at the Cancer Center.

Picture of Maho Shibata, PhD

Maho Shibata, PhD: Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shibata Lab

As a member of the GW Cancer Center’s Cancer Biology and Immunology Program, my team is supported by a Katzen Internal Pilot Award. This funding fuels bold, early-stage ideas in cancer research. Our project focuses on prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the District of Columbia.

We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in the field: understanding how immune cells influence tumor growth and spread. Using 3D high-resolution confocal imaging, we’re mapping macrophages in the prostate to see how their interactions within the tumor microenvironment might drive tumor innervation - the connection between cancer cells and nerves that can accelerate disease progression.

This work is made possible through the collaborative spirit of GW. We’re grateful to the GW Biorepository, imaging expert Dr. Anastas Popratiloff, and the GW Clinical and Translational Oncology Program partners Dr. Michael Whalen (GW Urology) and Dr. Maneesh Jain (DC VA Medical Center) for their essential clinical and scientific expertise.

How does the Cancer Center's research impact patients?

Picture of Maneesh Jain, MD

Maneesh Jain, MD: Washington, DC, VA Medical Center

Cancer research has transformed what it means to receive a diagnosis. Advances in precision medicine, immunotherapy, and targeted drug development have dramatically improved survival rates and made treatments less invasive and more effective. The GW Cancer Center is deeply committed to driving this progress by conducting research that not only expands scientific understanding but also directly improves outcomes for patients in our community and beyond.

Cancer research has transformed what it means to receive a diagnosis. Advances in precision medicine, immunotherapy, and targeted drug development have dramatically improved survival rates and made treatments less invasive and more effective. The GW Cancer Center is deeply committed to driving this progress by conducting research that not only expands scientific understanding but also directly improves outcomes for patients in our community and beyond.

The Cancer Center recently celebrated the opening of the new Cancer Prevention and Wellness Center. Tell us about the new center and the types of programs offered there.

Picture of Sherrie Flynt Wallington, PhD
Sherrie Flynt Wallington, PhD
Picture of Shayla Scarlett, MBA, MPA, DipACLM
Shayla Scarlett, MBA, MPA, DipACLM

Sherrie Flynt Wallington, PhD: Professor of Community of Policy, Populations and Systems (Tenured); Associate Center Director for Community Outreach and Engagement (COE)

Shayla Scarlett, MBA, MPA, DipACLM: Assistant Director, Community Outreach Engagement and Equity

The GW Cancer Center has opened a new kind of space in Southeast DC’s Ward 8 - one built around wellness, prevention, and community. The GW Cancer Prevention and Wellness Center, located at 1201 Sycamore Drive SE, Suite 103, is designed to be a welcoming place where neighbors can come together to learn, connect, and take proactive steps toward wellness. The Wellness Center is more than a building: it's a promise that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, vibrant life.

Inside, visitors will find a wide range of services to support cancer prevention and overall wellness. As programming ramps up, the Wellness Center will offer cancer prevention education, nutrition counseling, tobacco cessation support, and support groups. Currently, we're hosting fitness and stress management programs, and opportunities to connect with others through support groups and community events.

What makes the Wellness Center special is its focus on the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. It blends clinical expertise with strong community partnerships to make prevention accessible, practical, and meaningful.

The idea is simple but powerful: when people have the knowledge, resources, and support they need, they can take real steps toward healthier lives.

At the heart of it all is a shared belief that wellness starts here. And it starts with you.

What inspired you to work in your field?

Photo of Holly J. Meany, MD

Holly J. Meany, MD: Children’s National; Director, Solid Tumor Program; Director, Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program

I always knew I wanted to work with children. I was drawn to a career in pediatric oncology because it allowed me to take care of complex, sick children, but also to have continuity of caring for a patient and family over a long period of time. As I continued in my training, I better appreciated the complexity of the field and constant advances in therapy, which keep every day interesting.

What is your favorite aspect of the work that the Cancer Center does? 

Photo of Molly Gibbs, NP

Molly Gibbs, NP: Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program

What I love most about the Cancer Center’s work is that no two patients are treated the same. While we follow the gold standard of care, we also recognize that each person’s journey is unique. We tailor treatments to align with patients’ goals, preferences, and needs. Every decision is a collaboration between clinicians and patients, empowering patients to take an active role in their care and their future.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share more information about the GW Cancer Center, the exciting research happening there, and the great work being done. We’re excited to hear more about this great work next week in part two of this series!

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The theme for 2025’s International Open Access Week asks ‘Who Owns Our Knowledge?’ The theme  “asks a pointed question about the present moment and how, in a time of disruptions, communities can reassert control over the knowledge they produce” (International Open Access Week, 2025).  

Changes within the publishing and information landscape reveal how fragile existing infrastructures are (Mauran, 2025; Palmer, 2025). Unpacking the long-term consequences of data manipulation or loss will take time. In the near future, these disruptions erode trust in institutions and long-standing research practices. The manipulation and/or loss of research datasets limits researchers' abilities to distribute their findings with colleagues and other invested stakeholders. Data loss and manipulation also contributes to gaps in knowledge that could influence public policy or perception of critical issues. 

These are not new concerns. As illustrated by the following infographic, the current research lifecycle locks information behind financial barriers and fails to capitalize on new knowledge to drive innovation and discovery." The current system for public access to research articles and educational materials is broken: ownership is often unclear, and the reuse of knowledge is limited by policies that do not maximize the impact of public funding” (Garcia, 2013). 

Infographic that describes the current funding cycle for research articles.
(Vollmer & Garcia, 2013)

While multiple parties (such as academic institutions, publishers, funding entities) would need to collaborate to radically change the current publishing landscape, researchers can take small steps to improve public access to their research products. 

Open Licenses, Institutional Repositories & Research Products

The Creative Commons licenses are a set of legal and digital tools that are available to users interested in distributing their products and explicitly and systematically outlining how others may engage with their work. There are six licenses available for use, plus a public domain dedication label. The following infographic from Ohio State University arranges the license from most open to least open and includes definitions for the four license elements.

Infographic that orders the Creative Commons licenses from most open at the top to least open. The order is as followed: CC-0, CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, CC-BY-NC, CC-BY-ND, CC-BY-NC-SA, CC-BY-NC-ND. To the right is the icons for the license elements and definitions for each license element.
(Ohio State University, n.d.)

Creative Commons licenses are designed with three layers: the legal code, the common deed and associated metadata. They may be applied to research or creative products such as posters and presentations, though open source software should use appropriate licenses. List of open source software licenses are available through the Free Software Foundation and the Open Source Initiative. The Creative Commons licenses give clear and explicit permission to viewers who engage with open access materials. 

The licenses are interoperable, working across multiple systems and platforms which makes research products accessible to large populations. When used in conjunction with an open access repository, such as the Health Sciences Research Commons, Creative Commons licenses empower researchers to retain ownership of their work, define reuse terms and open knowledge to institutions and individuals. If you need assistance with selecting an appropriate license, the Creative Commons License Chooser Tool is a helpful resource. By answering a few questions, the tool automatically presents the best license for your situation. It also provides rich text and HTML for seamless embedding.

Why This Matters

Open access and open knowledge is valuable for many reasons. It democratizes the knowledge production process, allowing for researchers from different disciplines and communities to contribute their knowledge and expertise. In turn, these open knowledge sources are accessible to everyone, allowing for a continuous conversation. 

Open research builds trust between researchers and communities who often contribute to research funding through taxes. Research data and products are no longer intangible artefacts, but variables that are consulted when improving individual and communal quality of life. 

Last, open access gives researchers greater flexibility in dictating how others may use their work. Creative commons licenses and open access platforms provide explicit instructions for reuse so terms and conditions are equitably applied. 

Redesigning the current publishing landscape and infrastructure requires patience and collaboration. A fully open access publishing environment will not appear overnight. There are small steps we can take to push for more access to information and research. Over time, these steps will make way for a greater, more robust open access ecosystem. 

References:

Creative Commons. (2025). International Open Access Week. https://www.openaccessweek.org/

García, T.S. (2013). Public access to publicly funded materials: What could be. Creative Commons Blog. https://creativecommons.org/2013/09/25/public-access-to-publicly-funded-materials-what-could-be/

Mauran, C. (January 31, 2025). Thousands of datasets from Data.gov have disappeared since Trump's inauguration. What's going on? Mashable. https://mashable.com/article/government-datasets-disappear-since-trump-inauguration

Palmer, K. (June 10, 2025). Preserving the federal data Trump is trying to purge. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2025/06/10/preserving-federal-data-trump-trying-purge

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MLA Medical Library Association. Better information. Better Decisions. Partner with your medical librarian.

October is National Medical Librarian Month! True to this year’s theme, librarians and staff at Himmelfarb Library can help you find ‘Better Information’ to help you make ‘Better Decisions.’ You might be surprised at the number of resources and services we provide. Whether you’re looking for help performing a literature search, installing clinical apps like Lexidrug or DynaMed, working on a systematic review, or navigating the scholarly publishing landscape, accessing materials at other local academic libraries (and beyond), Himmelfarb can help!

General Himmelfarb Statistics

To give you an idea of the wide variety of resources and services Himmelfarb Library offers, here’s an overview of some general Himmelfarb statistics from the last academic year:

General InformationUse
In-Person Library Visits141,680
Library Catalog Searches1,229,787
Research Guide Views1,501,277
CollectionsTotals
Physical Volumes Owned70,703
Unique Book Titles29,479
Journal Titles6,600
Databases120
Borrowing & UsageUse
Journal Usage1,211,421
Database Usage269,835
Physical Items Borrowed3,280

It’s clear from the above data that Himmelfarb users are visiting our physical space and using our physical collections, electronic journals, databases, and research guides. 

Himmelfarb Services

Himmelfarb librarians and staff provided valuable services to support education, research, and clinical care. From answering reference questions through our Ask a Librarian service, providing in-depth reference consultations, processing 3D printing requests, and borrowing books and articles from other libraries for our users, we’ve been busy! Here’s a look at what we’ve done in these areas during the last academic year:

ServicesUse
Reference Questions Answered1,661
Reference Consultations441
3D Printing Jobs Completed100
Docs2Go & CLS Items Borrowed1,839

Health Sciences Research Commons

Himmelfarb’s institutional repository, the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC), also had a busy year. The HSRC is where you can archive your scholarly works, including articles, conference papers, poster presentations, working papers, datasets, and other scholarly works. Works archived in the HSRC are indexed in Google Scholar, which can help your work get noticed. Just take a look at the number of times works archived in the HSRC have been downloaded below:

Health Sciences Research CommonsTotals
Total Works Archived50,821
Total Works Downloaded1,866,330
Works Archived (24-25 Academic Year)2,744
Works Downloaded (24-25 Academic Year)462,161

Thank You, Himmelfarb Librarians & Staff!

In honor of National Medical Librarians Month, we’d like to say thank you to every Himmelfarb staff member for all of the hard work and dedication they put into every single day! Without our amazing staff and librarians, we wouldn’t be able to provide our students, faculty, and staff with the services and resources they need to pursue their educational, research, and clinical care goals every day. 

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When was the last time you got outside? If the answer is "summer," we strongly recommend you get up from your desk and head outside! Fall is here. Enjoy a seasonal beverage, breathe in the crisp air, and while you're at it, take a photo of the beautiful colors of autumn! Himmelfarb Library's Fall Colors Photo Contest opens today!

Enter your best photo for the chance to win a fabulous PRIZE. All digital photos submitted will be showcased in the online 2025 Himmelfarb Fall Colors Photo Gallery, and prints will be displayed in Himmelfarb Library.

To get inspired, see posts from past Fall Colors photo contests.

Photo submission dates:  Monday, October 13, 2025 – Sunday, November 9, 2025.

  • Who may enter: GW students, residents, faculty and staff affiliated with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Nursing.
  • Limit 1 entry per person. Subsequent submissions by the same person will not be entered into the contest.
  • Contest photo must be original and taken by the submitter in 2025.
  • Submitted photos will be displayed in online and print galleries with the photographer's name and photo title.
  • By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the above rules of the contest.

Judging:

Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. One winner will be chosen by a prior contest winner and members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee.

*Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify rules at its discretion. Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to reject any entrant whose entry appears off-topic or violates the rules.

For questions, contact: Deborah Wassertzug (deborah.wassertzug@gwu.edu)

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It's Fall and with the cooler weather coming in, it's time to look at one of the many menaces to public health: the flu!

Panel 1: Image: Rebecca, a woman with pale skin, glasses and dark hair in a ponytail, walks through a forest with a beverage Rebecca: Ah, Fall. What a great time of year. Time for fall foliage, hot apple cider, and-
Panel 2: Image: Rebecca sneezes, dropping her drink as an enlarged cartoon version of the Influenza virus appears Rebecca: Achoo! Influenza: Me!
Panel 3: Image: Rebecca looks at Flu, glaring as it preens back at her. Text: Yeah, you too, I guess. Though, I doubt anyone looks forward to seeing you.
Page 1, Panel 4: Image: Flu looks at a calendar that is on the month of october with a cat that says “hang in there” Narration: Ah, yes. Flu season. The time of year when Influenza, more commonly referred to as the flu, is the most prevalent (1). Flu: “Wow, time to clock in overtime already?”
Page 1, Panel 5: Narration: In North America, flu season tends to run from October to May. The cold weather creates conditions that help the virus thrive. Image: Flu, looking at a thermometer with alarm as it reaches the temperature of 60 degrees fahrenheit Flu: No, my cold weather!
Panel 6: Narration: And a thriving flu means a lot of sick and miserable people (or worse) Image: A man with brown skin is shown wrapped in a blanket on his sofa with an ice pack on his head and a thermometer in his mouth. Next to him are a stack of tissues.
Panel 7: Narration: So what is influenza? Influenza is a RNA virus that is classified into four types: A, B, C, D. Each type infects different species (2) Image: A variety of species that type A influenza infects are shown: Pigs, birds ,cats, whales and humans.
Panel 8: Narration: A and B tend to be responsible for flu season, though type C can also cause disease in humans Image: There are two subpanels: with their own narration Panel A: Text: type a example: the swine flu outbreak of 2009 was caused by a type A flu virus . Below is the image of a pig (2). Type b example: yamagata potentially eradicated during the covid-19 mitigation measures (4) Below is the image of a doctor with dark skin shouting “we got one!”
Panel 9 Narration: Within flu types, there are a variety of strains which even have their own subtypes. Some strains are more deadly than others. The mortality of one type of bird flu is high in humans (5). Image: A chicken is shown looking rather nervous
Panel 10: Narration: This variety and flu’s ability to mutate and shift, help make it more dangerous. So how do you best protect yourself from the flu? Image: Rebecca and the flu talk Flu: staying out of the cold? Rebecca: no? Flu: having more orange juice Rebecca: Tasty but no
Panel 11: Narration: No, I’m talking about the flu vaccine Image: An image of the flu vaccine is shown. On the vial, a cartoon version of the flu is crossed out
Panel 12: Image: Rebecca sits at a desk and talks Rebecca: The flu vaccine is remarkable when you think about it. Because multiple strains of flu are in circulation at once, the vaccine has to account for that.
Panel 13: Narration: Twice a year, experts from around the world gather and select the strains included in this year’s vaccine (6). Image: a parody of the “who wants to be a millionaire” logo is shown but the text says “who wants to be the next pandemic”
Panel 14: Narration: It’s an international effort to track and share all this flu data: over 138 national influenza centers take part in WHO flu tracking (6). Image: A wanted sign for the flu is shown with the text “report all sightings to the national flu center”
Panel 14: Image: Rebecca, back at desk, is interrupted by the flu virus Flu: Excuse me!
Panel 15: Image: The flu is dressed up in a disguise of glasses and a mustache. Flu: I’ve heard you can still get the flu even if you get the vaccine so why bother?
Panel 16: Narration: Well, yes you can still get the flu even if you got the vaccine given the variety of strains, but it lowers the risk substantially of getting flu, so it’s still worth getting (7) Image: A stunt man stands in front of a car and a dangerous course with the grim reaper lurking in the background looking skeptical Stuntman: since seatbelts don’t stop all car accidents, I do all my stunts without them!
Panel 17: Image: The flu, now in a different disguise speaks Flu: but the vaccine contains a bunch of chemicals Rebecca: I mean everything has chemicals. Chemicals are a part of nature. Image pt 2: H2o= water is shown along with a strawberry and the chemical formula for the smell of strawberries
Panel 18: Flu, in a new disguise, wearing an eyepath: what about the side effects? I heard they’re way worse for flu! Someone even told me they got the flu from the vaccine Rebecca: you can’t catch flu from the vaccine: the shot contains only dead virus. And most folks don’t experience side effects (7) Image: a petri dish of dead cartoon flu virus is shown
Panel 19: Rebecca and the flu, now wearing a disguise of a top hat and a monocle are talking Flu: But I won’t get sick because I’m healthy and my friend said- Rebecca: okay wait a second
Panel 20: Narration: Look, it’s entirely fine to have questions or be concerned, and the best person to ask about specific questions related to your health is your primary care provider Image: a Black woman with her hair in two buns sits at a stall that sais “flu advice, the doctor is in” Doctor: Look, the office budget for family medicine is thin, okay?
Panel 21: Narration: They can best give you advice about your specific concerns. Image: The doctor speaks to the audience. Doctor: Scared of needles? Let’s talk about the nasal vaccine. Allergies? Let’s look at guidance.
Panel 22: Narration: If you don’t have a PCP you can also check medical organization’s guidance. Image: a list of organizations is shown along with the outline of a hospital. The organizations are “the american academy of family physicians, the american academy of pediatrics, the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists and many more”
Panel 23: Narration: Either option is more likely to be accurate than a social media algorithm Image: a robot with a stethoscope looks shocked Robot: but my web MD degree
Panel 24: Narration: there are other things we can do to prevent the spread of flu along with getting vaccinated (8) Image: a bar of soap, a face mask and a spray bottle are shown next to the following tips: wash your hands with soap and water, wearing a mask and/or covering your coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces and critically, stay home if you feel sick
Panel 25: Narration: Protecting our communities from flu is a team effort Image: the flu stands across from a football player with short hair and pale skin
Panel 26: Narration: and if we all work to mitigate it. Image: the football player punts the flu who screams Flu: Wait a second!
Panel 27: Narration: we can help humans-not flu- to have a winning season Image: the flu is shot through the field goal

Works Cited:

  1. Flu Season. CDC. September 26, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html
  2. Segaloff HE, Katz MA. Influenza. In: Boulton ML, Wallace RB. eds. Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health & Preventive Medicine, 16e. McGraw Hill; 2022. Accessed October 09, 2025. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=3078&sectionid=257464293
  3. Baker RE, Mahmud AS, Miller IF, et al. Infectious disease in an era of global change. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022;20(4):193-205. doi:10.1038/s41579-021-00639-z
  4. Barr, I.G., Subbarao, K. Implications of the apparent extinction of B/Yamagata-lineage human influenza viruses. npj Vaccines 9, 219 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-01010-y
  5. Lewis T. First Human Bird Flu Death in U.S. Reported—How Worried Should We Be? Scientific American. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-human-bird-flu-death-in-u-s-reported-how-worried-should-we-be/
  6. What goes into making our seasonal flu jab? - Expert Q+A. Science Media Center. May 2, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/05/02/what-goes-into-making-our-seasonal-flu-jab-expert-qa/
  7. 5 myths about the flu vaccine. World Health Organization. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/influenza-are-we-ready/5-myths-about-the-flu-vaccine
  8. Healthy Habits to Prevent Flu. CDC. September 3, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/actions-prevent-flu.html

Published on
Computer circuit background with a 3D word spelling Ai above the background.
Photo by Numan Ali on Unsplash

This post is a repost of an IMPACT Insights email originally sent to members of the GW community on September 16, 2025. Reposted with permission.

We’ve been reading and thinking about student assessments. Specifically, ways to help ensure that assessments measure how well students meet the intended outcomes, not how well ChatGPT can.  

We’d recommend the podcast, AI, Cheating, and Trusting Students to be Human, an interview with Tricia Bertram Gallant, coauthor of the book The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI (request book through the Consortium Loan Service).

Try the following sections of the podcast: 

  • Where to start for instructors concerned about academic integrity? (11:35)
  • Oral exams: Is it a dereliction of duty to not have them? Plus, a study showing students' appreciation of them. (26:08)
  • How to respond if a student has cheated (32:10)

One of the ideas Dr. Bertram Gallant raises is friction, in this case, reducing the temptation to rely on GenAI. Friction is important to learning, and AI reduces friction. The literature we’ve been seeing focuses on two general ways to increase friction for students: visible assessments and process over product.  

First, consider carefully: Is this knowledge or a skill students need to be able to demonstrate without any use of GAI? Do students need to remember or memorize this content? 

If yes, and a proctored exam is not appropriate or desirable, consider making the assignment a visible one, where you can see students perform the skill, and/or focusing on the process of the assignment more than the product.

Need ideas for this? The Impact team can help with this, whether your course is in-person, hybrid, or online. Contact them at hsptech@gwu.edu.

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Feature image for the Fall September Study Break Guide

Corazón y vida: Lowrider Culture

Date: Opens Friday, October 3, exhibit hours 10am – 5:30pm daily

Location: National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560

Cost: Free

A new exhibit at the National Museum of American History reveals the 80-year history of lowriding culture and community-building through a display of photographs, posters, car club clothing, trophies, a pinstripe tool kit, and much more. The unique, vibrant, and bilingual exhibition dives deep into how the Lowrider tradition has become a source of pride in Mexican American communities and a way of combating discrimination.

Oktoberfest at The Wharf

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2pm – 7pm

Location: The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

Cost: Free

Don a dirndl or lederhosen and make your way to The Wharf for its free annual Oktoberfest celebration. The Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash kicks off the festivities, followed by a stein-hoisting championship and Polka on the Pier, which includes a free polka dance class, live music, and a best-dressed contest.

National Gallery Nights Fall 2025 Lottery – Strike a Pose

Date: Thursday, October 9, 6pm – 9pm

Location: National Gallery of Art East Building, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art hosts another edition of one of the museum’s most popular events. Strike a Pose emphasizes the Gallery’s newest exhibit, Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985, with a delirious celebration of self-expression, fashion, and photography. Wear your favorite outfit inspired by looks from the ‘50s through the ‘80s, step into the photobooth, experiment with photography via on-site artmaking, and take advantage of a rare opportunity to visit the West Building after-hours to check out the exhibit.

Due to high demand, passes to National Gallery Nights are distributed through a free lottery system. Lottery open: Monday, September 29, 10:00 a.m. — Thursday, October 2, 12:00 p.m.

Results announced: Friday, October 3

With Passion and Purpose

Date:  Now - Oct. 5, 10am – 5pm

Location: National Gallery of Art, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

A collection that spans 100 years of Black creativity comes to the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Mezzanine thanks to Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson. The largest group of objects by Black artists to enter the museum’s collection at one time includes 175 works. These range from lyrical abstractions to intricate sculptures to well-known paintings. Featured artists include Jacob Lawrence, Archibald Motley, Vivian Browne, Mildred Thompson, Alison Saar, and many others.

Race The District

Date:  Oct. 9 -12, 11am – 9pm

Location: 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Cost: Free

Union Market District brings back its electric outdoor go-kart racetrack, this time with the backdrop of a full festival weekend of live entertainment, food, and family activities daily. Races are ticketed and 15 minutes each, open to all skill levels (58" or taller), and just as fun to watch. On Oct. 11, electronic duo Louis The Child headlines a block party on 5th Street, presented by Nü Androids. Ticket holders are invited to access F1 Arcade’s sim racing for free, and all are welcome to Songbyrd’s 10th-anniversary block party on Oct. 12.

Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15 – March 8, 2026 10am – 5pm

Location: 1250 New York Ave. NW Washington, DC 20005

Cost: Free

The photography-based work of Tawny Chatmon receives a glorious tribute at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The exhibition will debut pieces from Chatmon’s latest series, which also incorporate audio narrative, embroidery, film, and assemblage. Selections from Chatmon’s acclaimed previous work will also be on display.

Adams Morgan Apple Festival

Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:30am

Location: The Line DC, 1770 Euclid Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Cost: Free

The 12th Annual Apple Festival brings neighbors and visitors together to celebrate the season with heirloom apple varieties from the Adams Morgan Farmers’ Market and a spirited apple pie-baking contest judged by local food personalities. Guests can sample apples, cheer on the bakers and purchase slices of freshly made pies. Proceeds support the Sitar Arts Center, a local nonprofit that provides arts education to young people.

Turkish Festival

Date: Sunday, Oct. 19, 11am - 6:30pm

Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd Street and 6th Street

Cost: Free

The community-organized Turkish Festival fills Pennsylvania Avenue with special art and photo exhibits, folk dancers and concerts ranging from Turkish rock to folk. There will also be Turkish coffee and tea demos and a bazaar touting food and artisanal goods.

Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985

Date: Now – Jan 11, 2026 10am – 5pm

Location: National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson, and many more.

LGBTJews in the Federal City

Date: Daily, Now - Jan 04, 2026 6pm – 9:30pm 

Location: Capital Jewish Museum 575 3rd St. NW Washington, DC 20001

Cost: $12 Adults, $10 Ages 65+ & Students w/Valid ID, Free Ages 12 & Younger, Free for Members

This landmark exhibition is the first of its kind to explore DC history, Jewish history, and LGBTQ+ history together, drawing from the Museum’s robust LGBTQ+ archive. Immerse yourself in historical and contemporary photography, artifacts, and oral histories. Learn about legal milestones, far-ranging protests, changes in religious spaces, and vibrant cultural life. Saturday, October 4, 2pm – 7pm

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