School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Bulletin 2008-2009

Published by the University at Washington, D.C. 20052

Information in this Bulletin is generally accurate as of spring 2008. The University reserves the right to change courses, programs, and fees, or to make other changes deemed necessary or desirable, giving advance notice of change when possible.

Contents
  4     The University
  7     The School of Medicine and Health Sciences
22     The Doctor of Medicine Degree Program
54     Health Sciences Programs
72     Courses of Instruction for M.D. Students
72         Anatomy and Regenerative Biology
72         Anesthesiology
73         Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
73         Emergency Medicine
73         Interdisciplinary Courses
74         Medicine
76         Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine
76         Neurological Surgery
76         Neurology
76         Obstetrics and Gynecology
76         Ophthalmology
77         Orthopaedic Surgery
77         Pathology
77         Pediatrics
78         Pharmacology and Physiology
78         Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
79         Radiology
79         Surgery
79         Urology
80     Courses of Instruction for Health Sciences Students
80         Health Sciences
82         Clinical Laboratory Science
83         Clinical Management and Leadership
84         Clinical Practice Management
84         Clinical Research Administration
85         Emergency Health Services
87         End-of-Life Care
88         Nursing
89         Pharmacogenomics
90         Physical Therapy
92         Physician Assistant
94         Sonography
95         Spirituality and Health Care
97     Index

The University
George Washington was determined to have a great national university in the nation’s capital. His hope was that students from all parts of the country would gain a first hand knowledge of the practice as well as the theory of republican government while being instructed in the arts and sciences. He bequeathed 50 shares of The Potomac Company “towards the endowment of a University to be established within the limits of the District of Columbia, under the auspices of the General Government, if that government should incline to extend a fostering hand towards it.” Despite Washington’s intentions, The Potomac Company folded and Congress never extended a “fostering hand,” so the University did not take shape until a group of Baptist clergymen led by Reverend Luther Rice took up the cause. They raised funds for the purchase of a site and petitioned Congress for a charter. Congress insisted on giving the institution a non-sectarian charter which stated “That persons of every religious denomination shall be capable of being elected Trustees; nor shall any person, either as President, Professor, Tutor or pupil be refused admittance into said College, or denied any of the privileges, immunities, or advantages thereof, for or on account of his sentiments in matters of religion.”
Columbian College, as it was originally named, took up residence on College Hill, a 46-acre tract between the present 14th and 15th Streets extending from Florida Avenue to Columbia Road. The name of the institution was changed in 1873 to Columbian University and in 1904 to The George Washington University.
By 1918, the University had moved to the Foggy Bottom neighborhood—between 19th and 24th Streets, south of Pennsylvania Avenue—in the heart of Washington, D.C. The more than 100 buildings are situated on 43 acres bordered by the White House, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the State Department, and the World Bank, as well as numerous federal agencies, national galleries and museums.
GW’s Virginia Campus, initiated for graduate studies, research projects, and professional development programs, is located along the high-tech corridor on Route 7, just to the west of Route 28, in Loudoun County. In 1998, GW established The George Washington University at Mount Vernon College in order to offer unique living and learning opportunities for women. GW’s Mount Vernon Campus is located on Foxhall Road in Northwest Washington.
Currently, the University’s enrollments total more than 25,000, of which 10,400 are undergraduates, about 13,700 are graduate and professional students, and almost 1,000 are nondegree students. The students come from all 50 states and some 125 different countries.

Academic Status

The George Washington University is accredited by its regional accrediting agency, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The University is on the approved list of the American Association of University Women and is a member of the College Board.
The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has had continuous approval by its accrediting body, which is currently the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, sponsored jointly by the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Its Doctor of Medicine degree is recognized by all state and territorial medical licensure boards in the United States. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs has accredited the health sciences programs in sonography and physician assistant. The clinical laboratory science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science.

University Policy on Equal Opportunity

George Washington University does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of the University, including admission to educational programs and employment. The University is also subject to the District of Columbia Human Rights Law.
Inquiries concerning the application of this policy and federal laws and regulations regarding discrimination in education or employment programs and activities may be addressed to Susan B. Kaplan, Senior Counsel for Labor Relations and Compliance, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, (202)994-4433, or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.

The Board of Trustees of the University

The University is privately endowed and is governed by a Board of Trustees of which the President of the University is an ex officio member. Trustees who are GW alumni are indicated by an asterisk; a dagger indicates a graduate of Mount Vernon College before it became part of GW.
*W. Russell Ramsey, Chairman
*Lydia W. Thomas, Vice Chair
*Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr., Vice Chair
*Patricia D. Gurne, Secretary
*I. Allan From, Assistant Secretary
Robert L. Allbritton, Chairman and CEO, Allbritton Communications Company
*J. Zoë Beckerman, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell
*Richard W. Blackburn, Retired Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer, Duke Energy
†Maria Matilde Pastoriza De Bonetti
*Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr., President and CEO, Snowbird Capital
*Myron P. Curzan, Chief Executive Officer, UniDev
*Henry C. Duques, Retired Chairman, First Data Corporation
*Heather S. Foley
*I. Allan From, Partner, Howard, Stallings, From, & Hutson
Gary Granoff, Chairman and President, Ameritrans Capital Funding
*Patricia D. Gurne, Partner, Gurne, Porter
Michele V. Hagans, President and CEO, Fort Lincoln Realty Company
*Mark V. Hughes, Retired President, System and Network Solutions Group (SAIC)
*James F. Humphreys, President, James F. Humphreys & Associates
Bobbie Greene Kilberg, President, Northern Virginia Technology Council
Gerald Lazarus, Chief of Dermatology and Director of the Wound Healing
Center, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
*Charles T. Manatt, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Jeanette A. Michael, Executive Director, DC Lottery
*Raymond J. Oglethorpe, President, Oglethorpe Holdings
*Kristy McDonnell Ortiz, Consultant, The Boston Consulting Group
*Robert G. Perry, Former Chairman and CEO, BSI
*Linda D. Rabbitt, Chairman and CEO, Rand Construction Corporation
*W. Russell Ramsey, Chairman and CEO, Ramsey Asset Management
*Steven S. Ross, Senior Vice President, Ferris Baker Watts
*Mark R. Shenkman, President and Chief Investment Officer, Shenkman Capital Management
*David Bruce Smith, Editorial and Writing Consultant
*Robert K. Tanenbaum, Principal, Lerner Enterprises, and Principal Owner, Washington Nationals
Lydia W. Thomas, Retired President and CEO, Noblis
†Cynthia Steele Vance, Director, Public Relations, Saks Jandel

Emeritus Trustees
*Harold F. Baker, Partner, Howrey & Simon
*Luther W. Brady, Drexel University
*Joseph L. Brand, Partner, Patton Boggs
*Nancy Broyhill, Associate Broker, Long & Foster Realtors
Mortimer M. Caplin, Senior Member, Caplin & Drysdale
*Oliver T. Carr, Jr., Chairman, Oliver Carr Company
A. James Clark, Chairman & CEO, Clark Enterprises, Inc.
*Sheldon S. Cohen, Farr, Miller & Washington
*Emilio A. Fernandez, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Wabtec Corporation
*Morton I. Funger, Partner, Condur Company
Estelle Gelman, President, Gelman Companies
David Gladstone, Chairman, Gladstone Management Corporation
*Hazel S. Hanback, Management Consultant
*Howard P. Hoffman, CEO, Hoffman Associates
*Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator
*Marvin L. Kay, Secretary/Treasurer, Richmarr Development Company
*Clifford M. Kendall, Retired Chairman, Computer Data Systems
Melvin R. Laird, Formerly U.S. Secretary of Defense; Senior Counselor, National
and International Affairs, Reader’s Digest Association
Eugene I. Lambert, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling
*Theodore N. Lerner, President, Lerner Corporation, and Principal Owner, Washington Nationals
*Thaddeus A. Lindner, Chairman, Colonial Parking
*John R. Manning, Intellectual Property Consultant, Former Senior Attorney, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
W. Jarvis Moody, Former Chairman and CEO, American Security Bank
*Abe Pollin, Chairman of the Board, Washington Sports & Entertainment
John T. Sapienza, Retired Partner, Covington & Burling
Robert H. Smith, Chairman, Charles E. Smith Residential
*Robert L. Tull, Former Chairman of the Board, Security Storage Company
*J. McDonald Williams, Former Chairman, Trammell Crow Company
John D. Zeglis, Former Chairman and CEO, AT&T Wireless Group

Honorary Trustees
*F. Elwood Davis, Attorney
*Dorothy Shapiro, President, J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Trust

Officers of Administration of the University
*Steven Knapp, President
*William F. Howard, Interim Vice President and General Counsel
*Robert A. Chernak, Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services
*Michael G. Freedman, Vice President for Communications
*John Kudless, Interim Vice President of Developmet
*Louis H. Katz, Executive Vice President and Treasurer
*Donald Richard Lehman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
*Richard N. Sawaya, Vice President for Government, International, and Corporate Affairs
*John Franklin Williams, Jr., Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Officers of Administration of the Medical Center

John F. Williams, Jr., Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs, and Bloedorn Professor of Administrative Medicine
Stephen L. Badger, Chief Executive Officer, GW Medical Faculty Associates, Inc.
Astra Bain-Dowell, Associate Vice President for Resource Management, Operations, and Emergency Preparedness
Gerald H. Bass, Senior Associate Vice President for Health Economics
Richard B. Becker, CEO, GW Hospital; Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs
Leroy R. Charles, Assistant Vice President for Development and Government Relations
Frank J. Cilluffo, Associate Vice President for Homeland Security
Melanie F. Gehen, Associate Vice President for Health Economics
Ronna L. Halbgewachs, Assistant Vice President for Planning and Health Affairs
Anne N. Hirshfield, Associate Vice President for Health Research, Compliance, and Technology Transfer
Alan G. Wasserman, President, GW Medical Faculty Associates, Inc., and Chair, Department of Medicine

Office of the Dean

The Office of the Dean bears the responsibility for the curriculum; student affairs, including scholarship and financial aid; health sciences programs; educational evaluation; admissions; support services of the library and audiovisual facilities; and alumni affairs.
James L. Scott, Dean, School of Medicine and Health Sciences
W. Scott Schroth, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Jean E. Johnson, Senior Associate Dean for Health Sciences
Mark L. Batshaw, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Children’s National Medical Center
Brian J. McGrath, Associate Dean for Administration and Graduate Medical Education
Linda Werling, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Rhonda M. Goldberg, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Education
Keith Holtermann, Associate Dean for Health Sciences
Sylvia Silver, Associate Dean for Health Sciences
Diane P. McQuail, Assistant Dean for Admissions
Lisa Alexander, Assistant Dean for Community-Based Partnerships
Yolanda C. Haywood, Assistant Dean for Student and Curricular Affairs
Office of Health Research, Compliance, and Technology Transfer
The Office of Health Research, Compliance, and Technology Transfer is responsible for research compliance functions for the entire University, including research using human subjects, recombinant DNA, experimental animals, radiation safety, biological safety, research integrity, as well as intellectual property development and technology transfer. In addition, this office is responsible for the development and support of the Medical Center research program, including laboratory research, public health research, and clinical trials.
Anne N. Hirshfield, Associate Vice President for Health Research, Compliance, and Technology Transfer
Michael Manion, Director, Animal Research Facility
Daniel Z. Lieberman, Chair, Institutional Review Board
Frances Noonan, Chair, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
B. Allan Dye, Director, Laboratory Safety

History

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences of The George Washington University Medical Center has a distinguished history that goes back more than 175 years. In March 1825, the School opened with the intention of building a “medical school commensurate with the progress and demands of a rising metropolis, and the improvement of service throughout the country.” The School, the eleventh oldest medical school in the country, has met this responsibility by providing its students with a foundation in the medical and health sciences upon which they have built careers in practice, teaching, research, and administration.
The School took on a new dimension in 1844 when Congress granted it the use of the Washington Infirmary, creating one of America’s first teaching hospitals. The Infirmary also served as a military hospital for a short time during the Civil War. It was destroyed by fire in 1861. Subsequent facilities for medical education and for a hospital were ultimately found within University buildings. There, the medical faculty met the dawn of the 20th century with such noted colleagues as Walter Reed, M.D., who identified the mosquito as the carrier of yellow fever. Until the middle of the century, the buildings were located 10 blocks east of their current situation. In 1948 a then-new hospital was dedicated and cited as a premier medical facility in the nation’s capital. Its surgery unit was later established in 1966 as one of the first in the country to offer same-day care for minor surgical procedures.
In 1969, the Medical Center acquired the H.B. Burns Memorial Building, across the street from the Hospital, which served as the University Clinic. This was an era in which medical schools across the country were moving away from having only voluntary faculty to having full-time faculty as well. In the early 1970s, the name of the clinic was changed to Ambulatory Care Division, and then to Medical Faculty Associates in 1975. In July 2000, the Medical Faculty Associates incorporated as an independent faculty practice plan affiliated with the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
In 1973, with the expansion of undergraduate programs in health sciences, the name of the School was officially changed from the School of Medicine to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In addition to undergraduate programs, graduate degree and certificate programs are now offered; the Health Sciences programs are among the leaders in innovative web-based education. These programs make higher education accessible to professionals in a wide array of health disciplines.
The Medical Center’s staff made front-page news in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan, shot at close range, was rushed to receive emergency treatment at the GW Hospital. The superb medical care that saved the President’s life was commemorated ten years later by the establishment of The Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine to provide training and conduct research in emergency medicine.
In recent years, GW Medical Center has continued to experience its share of high-profile events, including treatment of victims from the September 11th Pentagon attack, screening of 700 people for anthrax, Vice President Cheney’s visits, the arrival of a gunman wounded by Secret Service outside the White House, and our involvement in the case of two officers fatally wounded by a gunman at the U.S. Capitol.
In 1997, the public health programs in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences had sufficiently expanded to form the basis for a separate, second school, the School of Public Health and Health Services. Today, SPHHS has Departments of Prevention and Community Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Exercise Science, Global Health, Health Policy, and Health Services Management and Leadership. SPHHS has forged a national and international reputation for its leading-edge health policy programs and research.
In 2002, the GW Medical Center and Universal Health Services Inc. proudly opened the doors of a new state-of-the-art GW Hospital on 23rd Street. This technologically advanced facility includes a sixth-floor education center that houses health sciences programs including the nationally ranked Physician Assistant program and the Departments of Health Care Sciences, Nursing Education, and Clinical Management and Leadership. Also unique to this floor is the Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center, home to the standardized patient program and the surgical simulation suite, giving health practitioners revolutionary new training in their fields.
Also in 2002, the GW Medical Center launched the GW Cancer Institute, an urban oncology center dedicated to understanding cancer disparities. The Homeland Security Policy Institute and its Center for Emergency Preparedness lead efforts in policy research, education, and training.
Today, The George Washington University Medical Center is internationally known for its outstanding medical education, research, and clinical care. In emergency medicine, the neurosciences, cancer, cardiology, infectious diseases, and numerous other areas, the Medical Center has proven itself a leader.

Mission of the George Washington University Medical Center

Teaching with creativity and dedication
    Healing with quality and compassion,
        Discovering with imagination and innovation,
Working together in our nation’s capital, with integrity and resolve, The George Washington University Medical Center is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national, and global communities.
Mission of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences
The mission of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is to advance knowledge and to educate and train scientifically astute, highly competent and compassionate physicians, health care and public health professionals, and researchers for the 21st century. Our graduates will be esteemed generalists as well as specialist practitioners, researchers, educators, and policymakers, ready to lead in the development and implementation of new health care techniques and delivery systems, and to serve their patients and society. We will implement this mission by building on our history and heritage, remaining true to our core values, and responding to the changing context of contemporary medical education and health care delivery.

University Regulations
Students enrolled in the University are required to conform to the following regulations and to comply with the rules and regulations of the school or other academic division in which they are registered.
Students who withdraw or are suspended, or who, for any other reason, are not registered at the University for one semester or more, may reenter and continue course work only under the regulations and requirements in force at the time of return.
If students knowingly make false statements or conceal material information on applications for admission, registration forms, or any other University documents, students’ registrations may be canceled. Notwithstanding any provision of the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities or the Regulations for M.D. Candidates, if such falsification is discovered after students have matriculated at the University, students may be subject to immediate dismissal from the University. Such students will be ineligible (except by special action of the faculty) for subsequent registration in the University.
Registration
Attendance in class requires compliance with the School’s registration deadlines. Note Immunization Requirements (outlined under Student Health Service, below), which must be met to maintain registration. Registration is not complete until financial obligations have been fulfilled.
Patent and Copyright Policies
Students who produce creative works or make scientific discoveries while employed or supported by the University or through substantial use of University resources are subject to the University’s patent and copyright policies (see www.gwu.edu/~research under Intellectual Property).
Human Research Requirements
Students who are planning to conduct research involving the use of human subjects (for a thesis, dissertation, journal article, poster session, etc.) must obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before collecting any data. In order to receive this approval, contact the Office of Human Research, Ross Hall, Suite 712, 202-994-2715, to submit the study for the approval process.
University Policy on the Release of Student Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) applies to institutional policies governing access to and release of student education records.
The University will release the following directory information upon request: name, local address, phone number and e-mail address; name and address of emergency contact; dates of attendance; school or division of enrollment; field of study; enrollment status; credit hours earned; degrees earned; honors received; participation in University-recognized organizations and activities (including intercollegiate athletics); and height, weight, and age of members of athletic teams as well as likenesses used in University publications. A student who does not wish such directory information released must file written notice to this effect in the Office of the Registrar.
The University’s full policy statement on the release of student information is published in the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities, available in the Office of the Dean of Students.
Right to Dismiss Students
Notwithstanding any provision of the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities or the Regulations for M.D. Candidates, the right is reserved by the University to dismiss or exclude any student from the University or from any class or classes whenever, in the interest of the student or the University, the University administration deems it advisable.
Right to Change Rules and Programs
The University and its schools reserve the right to modify or change requirements, rules, and fees. Such regulations shall go into force whenever the proper authorities may determine. The right is reserved by the University to make changes in programs without notice whenever circumstances warrant such changes.
The Libraries
Students have the privilege of using the University’s Gelman Library and the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. The stacks are open, and all students are welcome to browse at their leisure. A card denoting approved enrollment for the current semester must be presented. All students using the libraries are expected to be familiar with the regulations governing their use, which are available at each library.
Property Responsibility
The University is not responsible for the loss of personal property. A Lost and Found Office is maintained on campus in the University Police Department.
Fees and Financial Regulations
The following fees and financial regulations were adopted for the academic year 2008–09. Costs are expected to increase in subsequent years.
Tuition Fees
M.D. candidates, for academic year 2008–09*:

The schedule of fees for health sciences students is available at www.gwumc.edu/healthsci.
Cost of Textbooks and Equipment for M.D. Candidates—The average cost of textbooks and equipment (such as glass slides, clinical thermometer, stethoscope, hemocytometer, and lab coats) is approximately as follows: first year, $2,000; second year, $1,400; third year, $700; and fourth year, $575.
Student Association Fee—For new students enrolling in an on-campus program Fall 2008 or later, $1.50 per credit hour to a maximum of $22.50 per semester. For students in an on-campus program who first enrolled prior to Fall 2008, $1 per credit hour to a maximum of $15 per semester. The fee is nonrefundable.
Voluntary Library Fee—The Registration Schedule and Invoice includes a voluntary gift for the university libraries. Check the box labeled “Library Gift Decline” and omit the amount from your payment if you do not wish to include the library gift in your reimbursement to the University.
Special Fees and Deposits (Nonrefundable)

Payment of Fees
M.D. Program—The annual tuition fee for the M.D. program is payable in two equal installments on or before registration day for each semester. M.D. students who register during the summer for courses offered in other divisions of the University are charged the regular summer tuition and other fees.
All Other Programs—Except for the M.D. program, tuition and fees will be assessed each semester on the basis of the program of studies for which the student registers.
A student who registers for classes in any semester or session incurs a financial obligation to the University. Payment of tuition and fees, as detailed on the Schedule and Invoice, is due approximately two weeks prior to the first day of classes. Changes to registration that affect charges to the student’s account must be recorded through the Office of the Registrar. In addition to payment of tuition and fees, the University requires that a student confirm his or her registration. Students whose registrations are not confirmed by the third week of the semester may be canceled from all courses. Receipt of the tear-off portion of the Schedule and Invoice, typically mailed with the student’s payment, is requested for confirmation of registration. All students whose registrations are not confirmed are notified in writing that their registrations will be canceled and are asked to contact the Student Accounts Office immediately.
Charges for residence halls and meal plans are in accordance with lease agreements signed by the student. Questions concerning those charges should be referred to the Community Living and Learning Center.
The University offers options for payment of tuition and fees in addition to payment in full upon receipt of the Schedule and Invoice or at the time of registration.
Monthly Payment Plan—The University’s payment plan is open to all students and is available for the fall and spring semesters only. Students must complete and submit an application by August 15 for the academic year or by January 5 for the spring semester to participate in the plan. Upon approval of the application, the University will furnish coupons and return address labels for each payment. The monthly payment plan for the academic year begins in June and ends in March, with the first five payments applied to the fall account and the second five applied to spring. For spring semester only, the plan begins in November and ends in March. Under the plan, all payments are due on the first of each month. The student will receive a monthly bill, but no interest or late fees will be charged provided payments are received as scheduled. Students who enroll in the plan after the first month must make up all payments to the month of enrollment. Interest and a late payment fee are assessed all accounts not paid in full by October 5 for fall and March 5 for spring. An outside vendor administers the plan and charges a one-time participation fee in addition to interest and late fees for any payments received late. For more information, see www.gwu.edu/~sao/ payment_plan.html.
Third-Party Payment—The University accepts employer vouchers or purchase orders that are not contingent upon receipt of grades. Under all circumstances, the charges for tuition and fees remain the responsibility of the student. Authorization from a sponsor to be billed for a student’s charges must be received in the Student Accounts Office by the end of the third week of the fall or spring semester. A late authorization fee may be incurred for responses received after these times. Bills are mailed to sponsors in October for the fall semester and in February for the spring semester. Should a sponsor fail to remit payment to the University, the University will contact the student for payment. Students whose employers or sponsors reimburse them for tuition and fees after receipt of grades must pay in full upon receipt of the Schedule and Invoice or at the time of registration to avoid interest, late fees, and/or cancellation of registration. Students whose tuition is paid in full or part by employee benefits or teacher tuition remission must pay any remaining balance by the stated due date to avoid interest, late fees, and/or cancellation of registration.
Past Due Accounts—Accounts that are past due are encumbered by the University. A student whose account is encumbered may not register for future semesters and may not receive diplomas or transcripts. Late payment fees and interest may also be assessed each month that the account has an overdue outstanding balance. Please see the University’s Tuition Payment Disclosure Statement at www.gwu.edu/~sao/disclosurestatement.pdf for more information on those fees and billing practices. Accounts that are more than 90 days past due are referred to an agency and/or attorney for collection. The student is then responsible for all charges, costs, and fees due to, or incurred by, the University as well as all costs, fees, and charges incurred by the agency and/or attorney, including attorney’s fees. Students whose registrations have been revoked or canceled for failure to make timely payments are not permitted to attend class and may not occupy University housing.
Dishonored/Returned Checks—A student whose check is returned unpaid by the bank for any reason will be charged a returned check fee and will be responsible for any associated costs and/or attorney’s fees incurred by the University should a civil lawsuit or other collection effort be instituted to collect on such dishonored check. In any case where the University has reason to believe that a student presented a dishonored check in bad faith, the University may, in addition to any collection efforts, refer the matter to the proper authorities for criminal prosecution.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Applications for withdrawal from the University or for change in class schedule must be made in person or in writing to the dean. Notification to an instructor is not an acceptable notice. Financial aid recipients must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance in writing.
In authorized withdrawals and changes in schedule, cancellations of semester tuition charges and fees will be made in accordance with the following pro rata schedule for the fall and spring semesters.
1.  Complete withdrawal from all courses (on-campus students):

2.  Partial withdrawal. If the change in program results in a lower tuition charge, the refund schedule above applies to the difference.
3.  Withdrawal from Year III of the M.D. program. The school is aware that a student wishing to transfer to another university between the second and third years of the M.D. program may need to register for Year III at this School before receiving word of acceptance from the intended new program. Therefore, if a student has informed the School that he or she is attempting to transfer and learns that the transfer application has been successful only after registering for Year III at this University, the following refund schedule will apply:

4.  Regulations governing student withdrawals as they relate to residence hall and food service charges are contained in the specific lease arrangements.
5.  Summer Sessions. In cases of authorized withdrawals from courses, refunds of 85% of tuition and fees will be made for courses dropped within the first seven calendar days of the start of a session. No refund will be made for courses thereafter.
6.  Refund schedule for off-campus students:

 No refund will be made for sessions of less than 21 days.
The above information regarding cancellation of tuition charges and fees after withdrawal from the University may not apply to entering students who are recipients of federal aid; those students should contact the Student Accounts Office for the applicable cancellation schedule.
Refund policies of the University are in conformity with guidelines for refunds as adopted by the American Council on Education. Federal regulations require that financial aid recipients use such refunds to repay financial aid received for that semester’s attendance. This policy applies to institutional aid as well.
In no case will tuition be reduced or refunded because of absence from classes.
Authorization to withdraw and certification for work done will not be given a student who does not have a clear financial record.
Student Services
The Office of Student and Academic Support Services establishes policy and procedures for those departments that affect student life, including the Dean of Students, Student Health Service, Counseling Center, Career Center, Multicultural Student Services Center, International Services, Disability Support Services, and Student Activities Center.

Student Health Service

The Student Health Service is an outpatient clinic staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Students can be evaluated and treated for most medical problems. Psychiatrists are on staff to provide evaluation and short-term therapy as well as crisis intervention. Visits should be arranged by appointment; urgent problems may be seen on a walk-in basis if necessary. Charges for visits, labwork, and medication apply. Health education and outreach programs on a variety of topics are provided throughout the year.
For serious emergencies occurring during hours when the Student Health Service is closed, students may go to the Emergency Room of the University Hospital for treatment. All fees are the responsibility of the student.
Students must be currently enrolled on campus in the University to receive treatment at the Student Health Service. Students enrolled in off-campus programs and continuing education programs are not eligible. Bills incurred both in and outside of the Student Health Service (for example, x-ray work, laboratory work, and office visits to private physicians) are the responsibility of the student. Additional information about the Student Health Service can be found at gwired.gwu.edu/shs.
Health and Accident Insurance—All students in the M.D. and health sciences programs are required to have health and accident insurance. Students who fail to maintain such insurance may be placed on Leave of Absence without tuition refund. For information on group health insurance options through the University, students should contact United Healthcare at 1-800-767-0700 or www.uhcsr.com.
Disability Insurance—Disability insurance is strongly recommended but not required by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This insurance can provide short-term and long-term benefits in the event of accident or illness during medical education. Several private insurance carriers offer this type of insurance. Information is available at the Dean’s Office or the SMHS website.
Immunization Requirements—The District of Columbia Immunization Law requires that all students under the age of 26 have a record on file with the Student Health Service documenting a current tetanus/diphtheria booster (within 10 years prior to initial registration) and two doses of vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella that were given after the first birthday. All students enrolled in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, regardless of age, are required to maintain these immunization records at the Student Health Service. In addition, all students must provide evidence of immunization or immunity to Hepatitis B and varicella or a signed waiver if they are unable or refuse to do so. Skin testing for tuberculosis exposure is required on a periodic basis. The Health Service can give any needed inoculations on a fee-for-service basis. Students who have not provided proof of necessary immunization by the end of the second week of classes may be removed from classes until such proof is given and will be encumbered by the Student Health Service and will not be able to register for the next semester until such proof is given.
GW Housing Programs and Food Service
Complete information concerning the University’s housing is available at gwired.gwu.edu/gwhousing.
A wide variety of off-campus housing is available in the Washington metropolitan area. The Medical Center’s location at the Foggy Bottom metro stop makes it easily accessible via public transportation. The off-campus housing resource website, at www.och.gwu.edu, includes daily housing listings, transportation information, and a movers’ guide.
A schedule of costs for the variety of food plans available can be found at gworld.gwu.edu.
University Counseling Center
University Counseling Center services help students address personal, social, career, and study problems that can interfere with their academic progress and success. Services include brief individual counseling, crisis intervention, group counseling, and workshops on topics such as time management, study skills, family and relationship issues, choosing a career, anxiety and stress management, self-esteem/personal growth, eating disorders, and adjustment to GW. The Center offers consultation and training programs for student, faculty, and staff groups. Further information about all services and links to psychoeducational materials can be obtained at gwired.gwu.edu/counsel. Information and referrals during business hours and after-hours emergency services are available at 202-994-5300.
Career Center
The Career Center promotes effective career planning, teaches job search strategies, and facilitates contacts between GW students, alumni, and prospective employers through its many services. Services include full- and part-time job listings; internship listings; career consulting; workshops (including job search strategies, letters and resumes, and effective interviewing); the career resource room; on-campus recruiting; resume critiques; facilitating the federal work–study program; cooperative education programs. Further information can be found at gwired.gwu.edu/career.
Speech and Hearing Center
The Speech and Hearing Center provides diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of speech, language, and hearing disorders. These include developmental impairments of articulation and language, stuttering, voice disorders, and speech and language impairments resulting from neurological damage. Services are available for persons wishing to modify a regional dialect or foreign accent. Evaluation and aural rehabilitation are also provided for hearing-impaired individuals. The Speech and Hearing Center operates in conjunction with the Department of Speech and Hearing Science.
Writing Center
The Writing Center provides writing instruction to GW students for all courses, both graduate and undergraduate, at all levels of experience and expertise. Students are assisted in identifying writing problems and learning how best to express ideas. Trained tutors (undergraduate peer tutors, graduate students, and the director and other members of the faculty) work with students individually on areas of specific need or interest. Tutors provide assistance in such areas as organizing a mass of information efficiently and clearly, using correct grammar and punctuation, getting started on a writing project, developing a thesis, providing evidence to support an argument, and presenting the findings of an experiment or the solution to a research problem.
International Services Office
The International Services Office provides services to GW’s international students, scholars, faculty, and staff. The office provides advising on a variety of personal issues, including cultural adjustment, living conditions, academic concerns, and finances; provides immigration assistance and information on U.S. government requirements and regulations specific to the international community; conducts orientation programs to assist in living, studying, and working in the United States; and serves as a resource center for the University community on issues of cross-cultural understanding.
Disability Support Services
Disability Support Services provides and coordinates support services for students with a wide variety of disabilities, as well as those temporarily disabled by injury or illness. Accommodations are available through DSS to facilitate academic access for students with disabilities. Services provided without charge to the student may include orientation to campus, registration assistance, readers, interpreters, scribes, learning disabilities advising, adaptive materials and equipment, assistance with note taking, laboratory assistance, test accommodations, regular advising, and referrals. DSS does not provide content tutoring, although it is available on a fee basis from other campus resources. The University does not pay for personal attendant care. DSS is located in the Marvin Center and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and at other times by appointment. It is the responsibility of the student who is requesting accommodations to contact DSS directly.
Multicultural Student Services Center
The Multicultural Student Services Center is a University-wide resource for multicultural information, communication, programs, and services. MSSC supports the academic, professional, personal, and spiritual growth of students in the multicultural community, while providing cultural education experiences and cross-cultural immersion and exposure for the entire campus community.
The Multicultural Student Services Center partners with student support service providers to help ensure that students of color are represented in every aspect of University life; integrated into the fabric of University life; engaged in utilizing the services of the University; graduating at a rate comparable to their peers; and connected with the University family for life. MSSC is a critical player in maintaining a campus community that fosters the understanding and appreciation of cultural difference to ensure that GW students are prepared for an increasingly diverse world of work.
Significant resources on multicultural speakers, internships, scholarships, and job opportunities, as well as periodicals, are maintained by MSSC.
Student Activities Center
The Student Activities Center furthers the educational mission of the University by offering programs, services, and facilities that foster the social and cultural development and school spirit of members of the University community. Staff members assist individual students and campus organizations with event planning, program coordination, and participation in special projects.
Programs and activities include advisement of campus organizations, registration of student organizations, planning and coordination of major campus events, and oversight of Greek Affairs, Colonial Inauguration, the Presidential Administrative Fellows Program, band and cheerleading, and intramural and club sports. Additional information about the services offered by the Student Activities Center, and about the various student organizations and committees, can be obtained from the Student Planner and Handbook.
Program Board—The Program Board, composed chiefly of elected and appointed students, has the primary responsibility of allocating resources for student programming on campus. In addition, the Program Board provides funding for activities presented by various campus organizations and encourages student participation in program planning through involvement in committees on the arts, concerts, festivals, films, parties, political affairs, and public relations.
Student Government—The George Washington University Student Association is made up of all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who are registered for academic credit on campus. A body of elected and appointed individuals is responsible for representing the interests of students at the University. The Student Association provides various services for students, such as academic evaluations, test and syllabus files, and the Student Advocate Service.
Student involvement in the governance of the University is also possible through participation in various administrative and Faculty Senate committees, advisory councils of the schools and college, selected committees of the Board of Trustees, and specialized bodies, such as the Residence Hall Association, the Joint Food Services Board, and the Marvin Center Governing Board. This involvement has helped develop policies and programs beneficial to students and to the University community as a whole.
Student Organizations—Students are encouraged to become involved with existing student organizations or to initiate their own. There are over 350 registered organizations on campus, covering a broad spectrum of interests, including academic, professional, international, cultural, political, service, sports, hobbies, recreational, religious, and meditative groups as well as social fraternities and sororities.
Religious Life
The University recognizes the contribution that religion makes to the life of its students and encourages them to participate in the religious organizations of their own choice. Several religious bodies sponsor various groups and form a link between the University and the religious community. The advisors of the religious organizations are available for counseling and together constitute the Board of Chaplains to enhance religious life on campus. Religious services and special observances are also provided for the University community as announced.
Major Program Events
Art Exhibits—The work of locally, nationally, and internationally known artists is shown in exhibitions in the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in the Media and Public Affairs Building. Student art exhibits are presented each semester in the Dimock Gallery in Lisner Auditorium.
Concert Series—The Department of Music presents a series of concerts featuring faculty, guest, and student artists throughout each year. Other concerts are held regularly in the Marvin Center, Lisner Auditorium, and the Smith Center.
Dance—The Department of Theatre and Dance presents major dance concerts, informal studio performances, experimental events, television appearances, and lecture–demonstrations. Students may audition to participate and have the opportunity to choreograph, perform, and gain experience in the technical aspects of dance productions.
Glee Club, Jazz Band, and Orchestra—The University Singers, University Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra are available to students either as credit courses or as cocurricular activities. All of these organizations present major performances to the University community several times a year, including regular winter and spring concerts. Chamber groups and jazz combos are regularly available for participation by all students.
Program Board—The University Program Board, through its various committees and in cooperation with other campus groups, regularly sponsors films, lectures, concerts, social activities, and special events.
Theatre—The Department of Theatre and Dance produces four major plays and musicals during the year on the proscenium/thrust stage in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. Additional works, including original and experimental plays, are produced in a more intimate studio theatre. Students can participate in all aspects of theatre and may receive credit toward their B.A. or M.F.A. degrees for some of their production work.

Medical Center Facilities
Walter G. Ross Hall
Walter G. Ross Hall houses the administrative, teaching, and laboratory facilities for students in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the School of Public Health and Health Services. It also houses the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. Ross Hall occupies a city block on the northwest edge of the University campus.
Educational Support Services
A group of cores facilities and services supports the educational, clinical, and research programs of the Medical Center. Coordinated under the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs, these services include the following divisions.
Office of Educational Resources—This office guides the development of all centrally coordinated academic information services, educational support services, and learning resources. The Office coordinates several groups and committees dedicated to the advancement of the Medical Center’s educational mission including the Medical Center Web Advisory Committee. In addition, the Office serves as the primary liaison to the University’s Information Systems and Services Office to coordinate network services and Internet access for the Medical Center.
The Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library’s collection includes more than 27,000 monographs and over 1,300 active journal holdings, including a growing number of titles available electronically. The Library also maintains an extensive audiovisual study center and microcomputer laboratory including video programs, computer-aided instruction, software, and interactive media for all components of the curriculum. Numerous databases, including medline and health, are available as well as electronic mail and Internet access. Most services are available through the Web at www.gwumc.edu/library/.
Biomedical Communications supports the professional activities of Medical Center faculty, staff, and students requiring photographic, illustrative, graphic, and print media. Academic Computing Services provides computer services in the areas of test scoring, course evaluation, student feedback, faculty databases, and specialized databases to support academic administration. Computer Applications and Support Services provides desktop support for computer network services. Classroom Services provides audiovisual technical support for the classrooms in Ross Hall.
Office of Interdisciplinary Medical Education—The Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center (CLASS) provides teaching and evaluation for students, residents, and faculty utilizing procedural simulations and standardized patients.
Office of Student Opportunities—The Office of Student Opportunities, a new program with elective tracks of study, provides GW medical students with the option of pursuing an area of interest beyond the core curriculum. The track program supports students in developing a broad perspective and encourages students to pursue paths of leadership within the field through six tracks of study and a joint degree program: community/urban health, emergency preparedness, global health, healthcare policy, healthcare research, and medical education as well as the M.D./M.P.H. program.
Didactic and experiential learning are the foundation of the track program curriculum with core components including an interactive lecture series during the first two years of study and summer and fourth-year elective opportunities. Other educational activities specific to each track are being developed for students to participate throughout their term of study.
The George Washington University Hospital
Tracing its origin to 1844, the Hospital has been jointly owned and operated since 1997 by a partnership between the University (20%) and Universal Health Service Inc. (80%). In 2002, the hospital moved to a new $96 million facility, the first new hospital in the District in twenty years and one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the country. With millions of dollars of medical equipment, and a completely wireless network, GW Hospital offers state-of-the-art medical care and patient accommodations. The new 371-bed hospital admits more than 15,000 patients each year, with more than 60,000 out-patient visits. The medical staff is made up of 875 physicians, and more than 475 nurses are on staff. As a multidisciplinary, tertiary-care hospital, GW Hospital offers many diverse services all in one central location. It is known for its clinical expertise in breast care services, cancer care, cardiovascular care, emergency medicine, minimally invasive surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. GW Hospital is also known for its exceptional Childbirth Center, Women’s Heart Program, and Seniors Program.
The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, Inc.
The GW MFA is the largest multi-specialty physician practice in Washington, conveniently located in one building. In 2000, the MFA separately incorporated from the University and became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. MFA physicians are a core component of the Medical Center, as they provide a substantial portion of the clinical training for GW medical students, residents, and fellows and provide the primary clinical component of GW’s research program. An average of 1,500 patients are seen each day by the more than 270 MFA physicians in 41 medical specialties. Recently, 53 MFA physicians were included in the Washingtonian magazine’s list of “Top Docs.”
To accelerate the addition of cutting edge medical technologies to its practice, the MFA’s new Allscripts TouchWorks electronic health record is improving patient care by providing physicians with enhanced and timely access to patient medical information, enabling higher coding levels from improved documentation and reducing chart transcription, and staff expenses.
Primary Affiliated Hospitals and Research Centers
Children’s National Medical Center—Children’s is a Washington metropolitan area resource for the care of critically ill children as well as for primary care, and is a referral center for children throughout the world. Children’s is the site for the School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Department of Pediatrics. It provides a comprehensive clerkship experience for third-year medical students and a variety of rotations for fourth-year medical students, as well as residency training for pediatrics and a number of specialties in the GW graduate medical education program.
Holy Cross Hospital—This is a full-service community teaching hospital located in a residential suburb, and is a large provider of complex primary and secondary care. There are third-year medical student clerkships and fourth-year medical student rotations at Holy Cross, as well as a number of GW graduate medical education residency rotations.
INOVA Fairfax Hospital—This is a 656-bed regional teaching hospital that serves the Washington metropolitan area, including burgeoning suburbs. There are third-year medical student clerkships and fourth-year medical student rotations at INOVA Fairfax, plus a number of GW graduate medical education residency rotations.
The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR)—TIGR is a nonprofit organization that has been at the forefront of the revolution in sequencing and analyzing the genetic material of various microbial organisms and humans. GW and TIGR recently formed a strategic partnership that will allow GW faculty and students unprecedented exposure to research in these areas.
Prince George’s Hospital Center—This is a 250-bed primary and tertiary care center with a full array of medical and surgical services, including a Level I trauma center with advanced cardiac, neurosurgical, and interventional radiology services. The emergency department has over 50,000 patient visits annually, approximately 20 percent of which are pediatric patients; the level of acuity is high, with over 20 percent of patients being admitted to the hospital. The emergency department is staffed by board certified emergency medicine physicians who are faculty members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Veterans Administration Medical Center—This is a large facility committed to providing the highest quality health care to veterans in an environment that is conducive to medical education and research. There are third-year medical student clerkships and fourth-year medical student rotations at the VA, as well as a large number of GW graduate medical education residency rotations.

Alumni Associations
The GW Alumni Association
The GWAA was founded to strengthen the relationship between alumni and the University. Central among the goals of the GWAA are strengthening relationships between alumni around the world and the University by offering graduates tangible opportunities for involvement in the life and support of GW; communicating the achievements and concerns of alumni to the University and to each other and the accomplishments, aspirations, and needs of the University to its alumni; and creating a worldwide network of alumni leaders who contribute to the continued advancement of the University, its students, and its graduates. The GWAA is led by a volunteer Board of Directors, which includes representatives from the University’s nine schools and colleges. The GWAA works collaboratively with and in support of the Office of Alumni Programs to implement programs and services for the benefit of alumni. Membership in the association is conveyed automatically to anyone who has been graduated from any school or division in the University. Anyone who has earned 15 credit hours at GW, who left the University in good standing, and whose class has graduated is eligible for membership.
Medical Alumni Association
The Medical Alumni Association provides constructive services for physician alumni and graduate medical education alumni of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Central among the goals of the association are to perpetuate and strengthen the bonds of loyalty and friendship among the alumni, the Medical Center, and the University; to promote the scientific, cultural, and socioeconomic interests of the members of the Association; to communicate the achievements and concerns of alumni to the Medical Center and the accomplishments, aspirations, and needs of the Medical Center to its alumni; and to work closely with The George Washington Alumni Association to promote the interests of all alumni. Membership in the association is automatically granted to those who hold the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences or have had one or more years of postgraduate medical education training at The George Washington University Hospital.
* M.D. candidates who take courses offered by other schools of the University during the summer sessions pay tuition charges as announced at www.gwu.edu/summer.