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Category: Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility

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On the White House lawn, a child high fives an adult at the 2024 White House Easter Egg roll.
Representatives from GW's OT, PT and Speech Language Hearing programs help make the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll sensory friendly and accessible to all participants.

Let’s spend some time learning about occupational therapy, sensory friendly spaces, and learning about a recent initiative of GW’s Occupational Therapy program.

Occupational therapy is an allied health profession which helps people develop, recover, or maintain the occupations (or activities) of their everyday lives. Occupational therapists are found in a wide variety of settings, from hospitals to nursing homes, schools to mental health centers. OTs frequently work on an interprofessional basis, collaborating with doctors, psychologists, social workers and special education teachers to help their clients carry out their activities of daily living and increase their participation in activities. (Stein & Reed, 2020)

Occupational therapy as a discipline was officially recognized in the United States with the establishment of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy in 1917. That organization is known today as the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The field of occupational therapy has transformed considerably since its inception just over a century ago, and its goal of achieving occupational justice has been made more concrete. AOTA included occupational justice in its Occupational Therapy Practice Framework beginning in 2014. “The framework states that occupational justice is a part of the domain of occupational therapy because environmental forces impact participation in occupation, the provision of occupational therapy services, and patient health outcomes.” (Bailliard et al., 2020) At GW, students within the OT program are trained to engage with the principles of occupational justice to support client empowerment.

One area in which GW’s OT program is engaged is the successful adaptation of environments and programs to be more sensory friendly. Program director Dr. Roger Ideishi explains, “‘Sensory friendly’ refers to creating a supportive and welcoming environment for children with disabilities. The term sensory friendly has been historically used for community programs aimed to support children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Adaptations are made to the environment such as lessening the sound and lights to accommodate children who have sensory sensitivities.”

Sensory friendly adaptations increase opportunities for children with all types of disabilities to encounter a friendly and accepting environment. According to Ideishi, “a welcoming, non-judgmental environment makes a huge difference to children with disabilities and their families who constantly face discrimination and ridicule in public.” Ideishi has been at the forefront of the sensory friendly movement for two decades, and has advised cultural institutions including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institution.

The White House held its first sensory friendly Easter Egg Roll in 2023. In 2023, over 100 GW students and faculty from Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech, Language and Hearing supported the White House's efforts. This year again, over 100 OT, PT, and Speech students and faculty supported the accessibility and inclusion initiatives at the White House Easter Egg Roll. GW students and faculty contributed to the event in a number of ways, according to Dr. Ann Henshaw, Assistant Professor in the OT Program. GW affiliates assisted with sensory friendly activities; ensured wheelchairs were accessible to those in need; and, because the White House lawn is sloped, which is challenging for those with mobility deficits, they made recommendations around the location of events. Additionally, GW volunteers provided adaptive devices to allow participants with limited mobility to push the egg down the track. These devices were reachers and long handled sponges that were decorated as Peeps®, or hockey sticks with adaptive grips.

Two people stand in front of the White House with aprons that say White House Easter Egg Roll.
Two adults standing on a lawn looking on as children roll Easter eggs. One adult is applauding.
Two adults standing on a lawn looking during the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll. One adult is applauding.
An adult looks on as a child rolls an Easter egg on the White House lawn.

For those interested in learning more about OT at GW, a student-led information session on the entry-level OTD program will be held on April 17.

References

Bailliard, A. L., Dallman, A. R., Carroll, A., Lee, B. D., & Szendrey, S. (2020). Doing Occupational Justice: A Central Dimension of Everyday Occupational Therapy Practice. Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergothérapie, 87(2), 144–152. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417419898930

Stein, F., & Reed, K. L. (2020). Occupational therapy : A guide for prospective students, consumers and advocates. SLACK, Incorporated.

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Picture of a person holding a white board with the text "Hello My Pronouns are ___" written in rainbow color letters.

March 31st is the Transgender Day of Visibility. Here at GW we are proud to support our transgender community, and wanted to share the message that we are here for you. Today is not just about encouraging awareness of the transgender community, but it serves as a call to action for members of the medical community to foster a healthcare system that values and respects everyone’s gender identity. 

If you are new to the GW community and are looking for some resources, look no further than our very own Multicultural Student Services Center. They offer not only programming and ways to get involved, but also access to health and wellness resources. As aspiring professionals, or current practitioners within the medical community, it is important to appreciate the difference between gender identity and sexual identity in order to provide appropriate care for transgender patients. 

Visibility matters in Healthcare. Transgender patients face unique challenges and barriers, including limited access to gender-affirming care. It is important to know that visibility plays an impactful role in addressing those changes, visibility helps to break down stereotypes and misconceptions about transgender people, which may lead to more empathetic and affirming care. If your practice has transgender-specific treatments or quality of care, be sure to publicize them.

When transgender individuals see themselves represented in healthcare settings, they are more likely to seek out and engage with healthcare services. Remember to acknowledge your patients. Visibility goes a long way toward eliminating stereotypes and misconceptions about transgendered individuals. Doing so can lead to more empathetic and affirming care. 

As future healthcare providers, medical students have a unique opportunity to champion transgender visibility and inclusivity. If you are not sure where to begin, a good place to start is to educate yourself: seek out opportunities to learn about transgender health during your medical studies. Attend workshops and lectures, or join student-led initiatives focused on LGBTQ+ health.

 Advocate for inclusive policies and practices such as those described by GW’s LGBTQIA+ Community Support, a resource for all members of the GW community. 

As always, offer support to those in need. Continued allyship with your transgender peers and patients will foster understanding and a more connected patient community. Listen to their experience, validate their identities, and advocate for their needs within healthcare settings in your school, including the introduction of gender-neutral facilities, the use of inclusive language on patient forms, and training on transgender health for faculty and staff. 

Let us commit to creating a healthcare environment where transgender individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. By promoting visibility, fostering inclusivity, and advocating for gender-affirming care, medical students, staff, and faculty can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our transgender patients and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive healthcare system for all. 

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Photo of New York City Disability Pride Parade participants
Image by New York City Department of Transportation on Flickr, 3rd Annual Disability Pride Parade | NYC DOT, NYC MOPD, and … | Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Many of us are familiar with Helen Keller and her impact on beliefs about disabled persons and disability rights in the early 20th century. There are others who have made profound impacts and are far less known and recognized. We pay tribute to some of these important disability rights activists and provide sources if you want to know more about these extraordinary women.

Elizabeth Ware Packard - Packard, born in Massachusetts in 1816, was needlessly committed to asylums twice in her life. At 19 her father sent her to an asylum in Worcester when she suffered from what was called “brain fever”. She believed the treatment she received made her symptoms worse. At the time asylums were “a quasi-prison, ruled by a psychiatric director”(Himelhoch, 1979). Patients had no rights to know their diagnosis, refuse treatment, or leave. As a middle-aged woman with six children, her husband committed her a second time when their religious beliefs diverged and she began to practice missionary and religious work outside the home. Though due process was required to institutionalize a man, husbands could commit wives without any evidence of mental illness. After three years at the Illinois Hospital for the Insane and a court case where she sued her husband for imprisoning her in their home after her release, Packard devoted the rest of her life to advocate for the rights of married women and the mentally ill through lectures, lobbying, and publications. Thanks to her work Illinois repealed the law that allowed women and children to be committed without due process safeguards; Iowa, Maine, and Massachusetts allowed visiting teams to assess conditions in their asylums; and, in Iowa, “Packard’s Law” made it illegal for asylum patients’ mail to be interfered with.

Learn more about Elizabeth Ware Packard at:

Brandman, Marianna. (2021). Elizabeth Packard. National Women’s History Museum.

Himelhoch, Myra Samuels, and Arthur H. Shaffer. (1979). Elizabeth Packard: Nineteenth-Century Crusader for the Rights of Mental Patients. Journal of American Studies 13.3, 343–375 https://www.jstor.org/stable/27553740 

Agatha Tiegel Hanson - Hanson was born in Pittsburgh in 1867 and became deaf and blind in one eye at 7 years of age after a case of spinal meningitis. She attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and was one of the first women enrolled in the National Deaf-Mute College which became Gallaudet University. The success of her women’s debate group pushed the college president to lift his ban on women’s organizations on campus and she helped establish the Phi Kappa Zeta Society. She was the only woman to graduate in 1893 and the first woman valedictorian at the college. In her commencement address, “The Intellect of Women”, she argued against the structural inequalities women faced. After graduation, she taught, wrote poetry and newspaper articles, and was a community activist in Seattle with her deaf husband Olof. Gallaudet’s Hanson Plaza and Dining Hall are named in her honor.

Learn more about Agatha Tiegel Hanson at:

Arlington Public Library. (2019). This Week in 19th Amendment History: Agatha Tiegel Hanson 

Brooks, Gary. (2020) The Feather: The Agatha Tiegel Hanson Story, video production, Gallaudet Studios.

Jankowski, K., & Goss, K. L. (2023). Agatha Tiegel Hanson : our places in the sun. Gallaudet University Press.

Johnnie Lacy - Lacy was born in Louisiana in 1937 and moved to California when she was 10. She contracted polio during a practicum as a 19-year-old nursing student and became paralyzed. When she applied to a speech therapy program at San Francisco State as a wheelchair user in 1980, she was at first denied admission due to her disability. After asserting her rights under the Rehabilitation Act (the only federal protection for disabled persons at the time) she was admitted but was not allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. She co-founded the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and was an early activist in the independent living movement. As a Black woman, Lacy advocated at the intersection of race and disability at a time when most who were prominent in the movement were white. 

Learn more about Johnnie Lacy at:

The Center for Learner Equity. (2021). Johnnie Lacy—An Advocate for Independent Living.

University of California. (1998). Johnnie Lacy: Director, Community Resources for Independent Living:  An African-American Woman's Perspective on the Independent Living Movement in the Bay Area 1960-1980, oral history/video.  

Barbara Faye Waxman Fiduccia - Waxman was born in Los Angeles in 1955. Both Barbara and her brother Michael were born with spinal muscular atrophy, a hereditary disorder that causes progressive muscular weakness. She used an external ventilation system most of her life. Waxman graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in psychology and worked for Planned Parenthood and the Los Angeles Regional Family Planning Council as a sexual health educator and counselor. She advocated for the reproductive rights of disabled persons, authoring many publications on the topic. She and her husband who was also disabled fought to protect their right to be married without losing their Medicaid and Medicare benefits and provided testimony to a congressional committee about it in 1994. Tragically, Waxman died a few days after her husband in 2001 when her ventilator malfunctioned. Disability rights advocates are still fighting to do away with “the marriage penalty”, most recently in the form of HR6405. 

Learn more about Barbara Faye Waxman Fiduccia at:

Gellene, D. (2020). Overlooked No More: Barbara Waxman Fiduccia, Reproductive Rights Advocate: Biography. The New York Times.

Mathews, J. (1994). Disabled Couple Faces Benefits Cut; Administration Faulted Over Marriage Penalty: FINAL Edition. The Washington Post.

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The image shows 3 women sitting in front of flowers. They are all wearing jeans and are sitting outdoors.

March 8th is  International Women’s Day! What a fantastic time to appreciate not only the women dear to us, but also to applaud the many women who have made progress in the field of Medicine. To discover more about the timeline of Women who made history in medicine, AMA has a brief timeline to illuminate those who helped to make the field of medicine what it is today.

Today, women continue to excel in all areas of healthcare, from clinical practice to research and academia. Female physicians, surgeons, researchers, and educators continue to make significant contributions to their fields that drive innovation and the improvement of patient care. Their dedication and expertise inspire the next generation of medical professionals.

Unfortunately throughout the world, women continue to face bias, discrimination, workplace pay inequality, and a lack of protection. A recent study from the World Bank reveals that the gender gap between men and women is wider than ever before. Moreover, women of color and those from underprivileged backgrounds often encounter additional barriers to advancement and recognition.

Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from not only the community as a whole but also medical schools and hospitals. Consider encouraging Initiatives that promote diversity and equality and encourage a more supportive and inclusive environment for women in medicine. GW’s very own Clara Bliss Hinds Society is a powerful and inspirational task force that hosts workshops and events to promote Women in the industry.

Let us not forget that tomorrow matters. As educators and mentors, we have a responsibility to empower the next generation of Women in Medicine. It may be beneficial to study and highlight the achievements of female role models in medicine and sharing their stories can inspire students to pursue their passions and overcome obstacles. Representation matters, and by showcasing diverse role models, we can challenge stereotypes and broaden perceptions of who can succeed in medicine.

Further reading can be found at Himmelfarb:

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Black History Month. Image of Dr. Numa P.G. Adams with his name beneath.
Image from Wikipedia.

In honor of Black History Month, Himmelfarb Library celebrates the life of Dr. Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams, the first Black Dean of Howard University’s College of Medicine. Numa P.G. Adams was born in 1885 in Delaplane, Virginia, about 55 miles west of Washington, D.C. His grandmother, Mrs. Amanda Adams, an important figure in Adams’ life, was a respected midwife who assisted in delivering hundreds of babies (Cobb, 1951). According to a 1951 article in the Journal of the National Medical Association, Adams’ grandmother “inspired the beginning of his scientific curiosity” through her “vast knowledge of medicinal herbs” (Cobb, 1951). 

At age 13, Adams’ family moved to Steelton, Pennsylvania. Adams bought a second-hand cornet in Pennsylvania and learned to play (AAREG, n.d.). This musical ability would serve him well later in life when he played in bands to earn the money that would pay his way through college and medical school (Cobb, 1951). Adams attended public school in Pennsylvania and graduated high school with honors in 1905 (Cobb, 1951). After high school, he spent a year working as a substitute teacher in Steelton, followed by a year teaching seventh grade in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Cobb, 1951).

In 1911, Adams received a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University in 1912 (Cobb, 1951). Adams served as an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor of chemistry at Howard University from 1912-1919, and as the head of the Department of Chemistry from 1918 to 1919 (Cobb, 1951). Adams left Howard University to begin medical school at Rush Medical College in the Spring of 1920 and received an M.D. after completing an internship at St. Louis City Hospital No. 2 in 1924 (Cobb, 1951).

In 1929, Adams became the first Black dean of Howard University College of Medicine, a role he would have until he died in 1940 (Lloyd, 2006). He is largely remembered for his fervent recruitment of young faculty members, specifically young Black faculty. Through funding from the General Education Board, Adams was able to send these young Black faculty members for “two years of advanced training at prestigious universities and hospitals around the country” (Lloyd, 2006). Dr. Charles Drew was among the faculty members Adams recruited into this program. During his final years as Dean, Adams was instrumental in integrating Howard University and Freedman’s Hospital (AAREG, n.d). 

Adams also continued to work on projects outside of the medical school. Adams was active in numerous professional organizations. He served as Chairman of the Commission on Medical Education and was a member of the Advisory Committee on the Legislation of the National Medical Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Hygiene Society, and the National Tuberculosis Association just to name a few (Maloney, 1940). 

Adams was a staunch supporter of medical libraries, and when he was shown plans for the Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, “he quietly pointed out that he saw no provision for a library and a first-class hospital must have a good library” (Cobb, 1951). Adams even published a piece in the Journal of the National Medical Association titled “Medical Libraries in Approved Hospitals for Negroes” in 1938. In this article, he states: 

“No investment of hospital funds will produce bigger or better income than that made in the blossoming and maintenance of an adequate medical library. For an approved hospital the provision of such a library is an obligation.” (Adams, 1938)

Adams died on August 29, 1940, at Billings Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Maloney said of Adams in a published memorial that Adams was a “builder of brains” and the “builder and conservator of health” (Maloney, 1940). Adams was highly thought of by those who knew him, including Dr. Robert A. Lambert, former Associate Medical Director of The Rockefeller Foundation. Lambert stated that his “estimate of Dr. Adams may be summarily expressed in the designation man of wisdom, fine sensibility, clear judgment, patient determination, and courageous action” (Cobb, 1951). Dr. Joseph L. Johnson, former Dean of Howard University School of Medicine stated that “to know Numa Adams was to respect, to admire, and to love him. He was of a brilliant mind and was always the quiet, unassuming, soft-spoken gentleman. One could never know of his greatness from his lips” (Cobby, 1951).

References:

Adams N. P. (1938). Medical Libraries in Approved Hospitals for Negroes. Journal of the National Medical Association, 30(2), 49–53.

African American Registry (AAREG). (n.d.). Numa P.G. Adams, doctor, and educator born. AAREG Stories. https://aaregistry.org/story/numa-p-g-adams-born/

Cobb, W.M. (1951). Numa P. G. Adams, M.D., 1885-1940. Journal of the National Medical Association, 43(1), 42–54.

Lloyd, Jr., S.M. (Last updated May 2006). History. Howard University College of Medicine. https://medicine.howard.edu/about/history

Maloney A. H. (1940). In Memoriam: Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams. Journal of the National Medical Association, 32(6), 257–258.

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science is recognized every year on February 11th. It is a day to recognize the contributions women and girls have made to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field, while also addressing the lack of gender diversity within various STEM-related professions. António Guterres, the Secretary General for the United Nations, wrote in his message honoring the day that “From climate change to health to artificial intelligence, the equal participation of women and girls in scientific discovery and innovation is the only way to ensure that science works for everyone.” (United Nations, 2024) While significant strides have been made in the representation of women in science and technology, there are barriers that must be dismantled to recruit more women into the field. 

According to data from the United States Census Bureau, from 1970 to 2019 the percentage of women in the STEM workforce increased from 8% to 27%. Men represented 73% of STEM workers in 2019. Despite the gains for women in the STEM workforce, they are not evenly distributed among the different career paths under the STEM umbrella. For example, women “made up nearly half of those in all math (47%) and life and physical science (45%) occupations” while “Women represented only about a quarter of computer workers and 15% of those in engineering occupations.” (United States Census Bureau, 2021) Pew Research Center data supplements this information. “Women earned 85% of the bachelor’s degrees in health-related fields, but just 22% in engineering and 19% in computer science as of 2018.” (Pew Research Center, 2021) For the women working in these careers, they often earn less money than their male colleagues. The median earnings for women in STEM careers was $66,200, while the median earnings for men was $90,000. (Pew Research Center, 2021)

Women in STEM frequently encounter additional personal and systemic challenges when they enter the career field. The 2020 documentary Picture a Scientist follows several women in different STEM-related careers. The women discuss why they entered into their respective fields, their research interests and some of the challenges they have encountered while working as a scientist. They speak candidly about workplace harassment, lack of institutional support and other barriers, shining a light on some of the harsh realities women face from their fellow colleagues or from professional organizations. Picture a Scientist is available to users through the Himmelfarb Library’s Streaming Video Collection and is worth watching to learn more about the experiences of women in STEM.  

International Day of Women & Girls in Science is an important day to draw more women interested in STEM and openly discuss effective strategies to keep women in the field. Having women in STEM positions will provide space for new perspectives and insights into technical and scientific issues currently facing the world. 

References:

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Picture of a dragon at a Lunar New Year parade.

The Lunar New Year is upon us! During this time of year, families worldwide awaken to the dawn of a new year, one that holds promises of prosperity and joy. Also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, this is a time of great significance for many across the globe. 2024 ushers in the year of the Dragon, which is a symbol of power, strength, courage, and good fortune. 

From February 10th to the 16th, activities will be held across the globe that are filled with ancient customs and modern revelry. If you would like to participate in or see such festivities, DC has its very own Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, February 11th!

In China, preparations for the Lunar New Year often begin weeks in advance as families clean their homes to sweep away any traces of bad luck from the previous year. This tradition, known as "spring cleaning" is believed to invite good fortune and prosperity into the household. Vibrant red decorations adorn doorways and windows, symbolizing luck and protection from misfortune into the new year. 

From dawn until dusk, throughout the Lunar New Year festivities of traditional meals, parades, and fireworks, intertwine with modern celebrations that create a tapestry of cultural richness and diversity that brings many together. 

For many, this occasion is not only a time for celebration but also a moment of reflection and renewal. It's a time to set intentions for the coming year, express gratitude for blessings received, and embrace the many opportunities that come our way. 

From the Himmelfarb Library, we wish you a safe and joyous Lunar New Year, while welcoming in a new chapter filled with promise and possibility, especially to those who celebrate! 

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In 2022, Himmelfarb Library published a list of books to read by African-American authors in honor of Black History Month. The list featured authors across different genres such as Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction and more. We wish to revisit this list of recommendations and offer more titles that shine a light on the experience of African-Americans in the United States. 

  • Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward:  This novel follows Annis, a teenager living through the system of slavery in the United States as she is forced from the Carolinas down to New Orleans. Reviewer Gabino Iglesias wrote in their NPR review: “Readers will walk with Annis, see the world through her eyes, and feel the pain of everything she experiences–but that journey, that suffering, will give them clarity and help them develop a deeper understanding of love, grief, and the realities of slavery.”
  • Chang Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenya:  This debut novel is a satirical examination of consumerism and the prison system. It follows the lives of prisoners and “prize-fighters” Loretta Thurwar and Hamara Stacker who participate in televised fights to gain their freedom from the prison system. This novel was named one of the Top 10 books of 2023 by the New York Times. Giri Nathan writes in their review “As the plot careers forward, Adjei-Brenyah uses footnotes as tethers between fiction and reality, reminding us that his gladiatorial farce is just a little tragicomic leap from an extant American horror.” It may feel easy to get lost in the action between fighters, but readers will also be forced to reflect on their own attitudes towards incarcerated people and the prison system in America. 
  • The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride: This is a murder mystery set in Pennsylvania in a multicultural neighborhood and moves non sequentially through time, starting in the 1970s before jumping back to the 1920s and 1930s as it examines themes of community, prejudice and class. Maureen Corrigan writes that “McBride’s roving narrator is, by turns, astute, withering, giddy, daming and jubilant. He has a fine appreciation for the human comedy: in particular, the surreal situation of African Americans and immigrant Jews in a early-to-mid-20th-century America that celebrates itself as a color-blind, welcoming Land of Liberty.” This novel is an enlightening, hopeful and entertaining piece of literature from a well-established and celebrated American novelist. 
  • Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington: From a GWU alum, this memoir provides an intimate look at Kerry Washington’s life and career. Washington is a well-known TV and film actress who rarely shares details about her personal life. The memoir is Washington’s space where she discusses the hard moments of her life such as disordered eating, her career after the TV show ‘Scandal’ and other events. To learn more about Washington’s thoughts about her memoir, watch her Good Morning America interview with Robin Roberts:
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson: Wilkerson is well known for investigative book Caste: the Origins of our Discontents, her Pulitzer Prize winning journalism while working at the New York Times or from the new Ava DuVernay film, Origins. But her first book, The Warmth of Other Suns is another important piece of work that details the Great Migration, the time between 1910 and 1970 when many African-Americans and their families left Southern states for Northern cities. “The driving force behind the mass movement was to escape racial violence, pursue economic and educational opportunities, and obtain freedom from the oppression of Jim Crow.” (National Archives, 2021) The Warmth of Other Suns covers an important historical event that is not often discussed and the book is a good introduction into Wilkerson’s work as a whole.
  • Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman: Many people first encountered Amanda Gorman during the 2020 Presidential Inauguration when she read her poem, The Hill We Climb. Her first poetry collection,  Call Us What We Carry was published in December 2021 and was instantly recognized as a best seller. In this collection, “Amanda Gorman captures a shipwrecked moment in time and transforms it into a lyric of hope and healing.”  (Penguin Random House, 2024 ) If you were moved by Gorman’s poem The Hill We Climb, then read more of her work in Call Us What We Carry. 
  • The Study of Human Life by Joshua Bennett: Dr. Joshua Bennett is an author and educator who currently serves as a Professor of Literature and Distinguished Chair of the Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Study of Human Life is a collection of work that “recalls and reimagines social worlds almost but not entirely lost, all while gesturing toward the ones we are building even now…” (Penguin Random House, 2024) Some of the book's themes include family, parenthood, vulnerability and ecology. The book blends multiple genres including autobiography and speculative fiction and will challenge many readers. 

Other notable authors worth reading include Rivers Solomon, Jasmine Mans, Jericho Brown, Jason Reynolds, Audre Lorde and Colson Whitehead. Many of these titles may be requested directly from Himmelfarb Library, through the Consortium Loan Service or through Documents2Go.

African-American authors have contributed to all genres and learning more about their lives and works is a great way to expand your reading habits and discover a new favorite writer.

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Close-up of stones at Holocaust Memorial, Berlin, Germany.
Holocaust memorial Berlin, by d.i. on Flickr

At the end of January each year, the day arrives. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed this Saturday, January 27.

Memory and the act of commemoration are paramount in preventing history from repeating itself. International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, was established by the United Nations in November 2005. The day commemorates the killing, by the Nazi regime and its collaborators, of six million Jews and millions belonging to other populations. January 27 was the date chosen to commemorate this day because it was the date that the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camps were liberated by Allied forces. Other countries also commemorate the Holocaust on different days.

You may have seen the 2022 Himmelfarb Library blog post commemorating this day, which covered doctors and the Holocaust, and another post from that year, which covered the Nazi Medical Research Dilemma. This year, we will focus on evidence that experiencing the trauma of the Holocaust induced genetic and epigenetic changes that are intergenerational. Epigenetics refers to “heritable changes in phenotype which do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence” (Martin, 2014). 

In a 2014 study, the first of its kind, blood samples were collected from 80 adult offspring with at least one Holocaust survivor parent. These blood samples were correlated with maternal and paternal PTSD in the parents (Yehuda et al., 2014). Findings showed that the glucocorticoid receptor gene GR-1F was altered, but in different ways, depending on whether the subjects experienced maternal or paternal PTSD. The findings of the study indicated that both maternal and paternal PTSD impact the stress response of offspring via the process of methylation, which is a first-line biochemical process that plays a critical role in the modification of DNA (Menezo et al., 2020). 

Systematic review has also been applied to the topic of intergenerational trauma resulting from the Holocaust, Published in 2019, “Intergenerational consequences of the Holocaust on offspring mental health: a systematic review of associated factors and mechanisms”, reviewed 23 studies focused on the impact of the Holocaust on parent and child characteristics and interactions which were found to lead to the development of psychological symptoms, as well as biological and epigenetic variations (Dashorst et al., 2019).

Reviewing the evidence, the authors sought to examine: “association between parental and offspring’s mental health problems;” "perceived parenting and attachment;” “parental Holocaust history;” "additional stress and traumatic life events in Holocaust survivor offspring;” and “cortisol metabolism, epigenetic factors, and genetic predisposition” (Dashorst et al., 2019, pp. 22-23).

Assembling and reviewing this evidence, the authors suggest their findings indicate that, rather than pointing to direct observation of particular disorders in offspring, the impact of Holocaust trauma appears to result in diverse mental health problems that are influenced by characteristics of both the parents and the offspring, suggesting that treatment should be offered to both generations, as well as parenting support for traumatized parents raising children. Intergenerational effects were also found to impact cortisol levels, which regulate the body’s stress response. Holocaust survivor offspring were found to have increased vulnerability to stress.

Evidence related to Holocaust survivors and their offspring offers important guidance on biological mechanisms impacted by trauma, and on the diagnosis and treatment of, and support for, mental health conditions. However, new studies are more difficult to undertake as the generation that survived the Holocaust begins to die off.

Locally, this year’s commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with a surge in antisemitism worldwide, will take place in DC at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27. Events open to the public include reading of victims’ names and the option to light a memorial candle. On Friday, January 26, between 2-3:45 p.m., Holocaust survivors will be present at the museum to engage visitors about their experiences.

Consider making a trip to the Museum this year to speak with a Holocaust survivor -- the opportunity will not last forever.

Holocaust literature is widely available at GW. This research guide from Gelman Library can help guide your exploration of our collections.

Also, consider joining GW’s SMHS Anti-Racism Coalition for its upcoming discussions of the book It Could Happen Here (available to read online through Himmelfarb Library), by Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL was founded in 1913 "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all."

SMHS Anti-Racism Coalition Book Club. Upcoming meetings: Session 2, Tues. Feb 20 at noon or Weds. Feb 21 at 6 pm (chapters 4-7). Session 3, Tues. Mar. 19 at noon or Weds. Mar. 20 at 6 pm (chapters 8-11).

International Holocaust Remembrance Day offers us all an opportunity to reflect, to learn and to consider how we can all work to prevent the conditions that fostered a climate of hate to develop into the historical events that coined the word genocide.

References

Dashorst, P., Mooren, T. M., Kleber, R. J., de Jong, P. J., & Huntjens, R. J. C. (2019). Intergenerational consequences of the Holocaust on offspring mental health: A systematic review of associated factors and mechanisms. European journal of psychotraumatology, 10(1), 1654065. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1654065

Martin S. (2014). Journal Watch review of Influences of maternal and paternal PTSD on epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in Holocaust survivor offspring. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 62(6), 1101–1103. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003065114560792

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Picture of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo by Mark Stebnicki

As we reflect on the life, work, and impact that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has had on our nation and the world, we are reminded that Dr. King was passionate about activism on racial discrimination, poverty, and health disparities. A great way to honor Dr. King’s legacy and continue his important work is to learn more about anti-racism, inequities, and disparities in healthcare and use this knowledge to help build a more inclusive healthcare system. Himmelfarb Library has some great resources that can help you learn more about these topics so you can put your knowledge into action!

Himmelfarb Resources: 

Himmelfarb’s Anriracism in Healthcare Guide provides information and resources related to antiracism in healthcare including links to professional healthcare organizations centered around diversity and health justice issues, training resources, and links to GW-specific organizations. Browse the Journal Special Collections tab to find journal issues and health news on antiracism-related issues. Antiracism books and ebooks available at Himmelfarb are also included in this guide including: 

The Antiracism in Healthcare Guide also has links to podcasts, tutorials, and videos including:

In addition to the Antiracism in Healthcare Guide, Himmelfarb has a Diversity and Disparities in Health Care collection of books and e-books with nearly 200 books addressing issues of disparity and representation of minority communities in healthcare. 

Advancing the Dream Event:

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Noon, SMHS and the Anti-Racism Coalition will hold the 8th Annual SMHS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series - Advancing the Dream: From Dream to Reality - The Journey Continues. This year’s speaker is Dr. Italo M. Brown, MD, MPH. Dr. Brown is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Equity and Social Justice Curriculum Thread Lead at Stanford University School of Medicine. Please join us in room 117 of Ross Hall (virtual attendance via Zoom is available) for this great event!

Flyer for the 8th Annual GW SMHS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series. Information in image is included in blog post.

Student and Professional Organizations:

If you are interested in becoming more involved, consider reaching out to local student or professional organizations such as White Coats for Black Lives or the Antiracism Nursing Student Alliance. Involvement with these and similar organizations can help you put your knowledge into action and offer opportunities for collaboration in furthering the cause of finding solutions to healthcare disparities and opportunities to educate others on issues of health injustices.

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