SOH Communitas Newsletter Header File
Spring 2023

Welcome to Communitas, the new Georgetown University School of Health newsletter designed to connect our community. Cura communitas is Latin for care for the whole community -- aligning with our School's vision to improve the health of communities.

In our first issue of Communitas, you'll see stories and achievements of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni from our three Departments - Human Science, Global Health and Health Management and Policy.

As the inaugural dean of the School of Health, I have collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to move us closer to a world class academic destination for advancing health. You can read more about my journey and vision for our School of Health and can email me at [email protected].

Enjoy Communitas!

Christopher J. King, PhD, MHSc, FACHE
Dean, School of Health
More than 90 Georgetown students from biology, chemistry, psychology, nursing, physics and human sciences presented their research projects at the annual Georgetown Undergraduate Research Conference, which was founded in 2003 by the Human Science Department at the School of Health and organized by a student planning committee.
Graduate students in the Masters of Health Systems Administration (MHSA) program recently journeyed to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to learn about the varying levels of national health care resources across public and private health care facilities as part of an experiential learning opportunity at the School of Health.
Two School of Health undergraduates track disease outbreaks and learn how public information can negatively impact people’s health as part of a unique course requirement for global health majors that provides impactful real-world opportunities through internships.
Students returned to Food & Friends, a Washington community-based organization, for their annual Day of Service. Volunteers worked in shifts to help pack medically tailored meals for Food & Friends’ clients in the D.C. region living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
Sharing Our Values
Georgetown School of Health chaplain, Sr. Celeste Mokrzycki, and Fr. Mark Bosco, Georgetown’s vice president for mission & ministry, delivered the annual Values Based Lecture titled “Re-energizing Our Values: Reflecting on the Spirit of Georgetown in Our New Moment.”
At this year’s Georgetown University Black Alumni Summit, deans from the schools of health, nursing and medicine joined Georgetown President John J. DeGioia to discuss strategies for closing the health-disparities gap in Black communities.
Faculty & Staff Achievements
Derek Griffith, PhD, founder and director of the Georgetown Center for Men’s Health Equity and professor of health management and policy at the School of Health, was awarded a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association (APA) for his extraordinary leadership in addressing the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of the nation and specifically for African American and Latino men.
Rosemary K. Sokas, MD, MOH, MSc, professor, Departments of Human Science and Family Medicine, received the School of Health Mentorship Award from Georgetown Women in Medicine (GWIM). The Awards Ceremony and Reception honored women faculty members who have dedicated themselves to mentorship, research, education and service throughout the medical center.
In this role, Ryung Suh, MD, MPH, MBA, MPP, associate professor of health management and policy in the School of Health, provides senior executive level assistance supporting the largest integrated health care system in the United States, which delivers care to more than 9 million enrolled veterans at over 1,300 health care facilities with an annual budget of over $100 billion.
Brian Floyd, assistant dean for academic affairs in the School of Health, received the Vicennial Medal in honor of his 20 years of service to Georgetown. In this tribute, global health major Abby Donnelly (H’23) reflects on Floyd’s tenure.
Angel Phan Takes Role in Dean's Office
Meet Angel Phan, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the School of Health.
Angel Phan headshot
Alumni News
The U.S. State Department recently announced that 49 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral students and alumni from Georgetown University won Fulbright scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year, making the school the top producer of scholars in the U.S.
After graduating in 2021, Clara Ortega (NHS’21) worked full-time as a health care consultant and credited Georgetown for helping her find her passion for hospital administration. Ortega grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and her familiarity with Brazil would later inspire her undergraduate thesis work.
Announcements
The university will expand its benefits in the Yellow Ribbon Program, an agreement between higher education institutions and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that funds portions of tuition and fees that aren’t covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers educational benefits for military members who served after Sept. 10, 2001.
Program Applications Open In June / July for Fall 2024 Entry
The undergraduate first year application for Fall 2024 entry will be available in June 2023.
The graduate application for Fall 2024 entry will be available in July 2023.
The NIH Research With Activities Related to Diversity (ReWARD) Program provides support for the health-related research of scientists who are making a significant contribution to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and who have no current NIH research project grant funding. The program provides funding for both the scientific research and the DEIA activities of investigators.
Join us for the pomp and circumstance, and our time honored traditions during Georgetown University's 2023 Commencement. All ceremony livestreams will be viewable on the Georgetown University Facebook page.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Gaston Hall

Dr. Jones is a world-renowned public health thought leader. For nearly three decades, her work as a family physician and epidemiologist poised her to delve into root causes of health disparities, as well as opportunities to advance the health equity agenda. Dr. Jones' body of work epitomizes our vision for a world where all people can thrive and achieve their full health potential. You can learn more about Dr. Jones on our website.
2023 Commencement Speaker Dr Camara Phyllis Jones Headshot
Georgetown’s School of Health is convening diverse perspectives to better understand urgent challenges to human health and well being—and to find solutions. Your support is essential as we prepare future leaders to improve the health of communities near and far.
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