The George Washington University | 1

2Opening Letter

Looking Back

3Welcoming New Senior Leadership

4News You Can Use

6GW In Touch Staff Spotlight Rose Bruckner: Living Smoke-Free

7Dr. Stephen Forssell’s LGBT Health Graduate Certificate Program

8Dr. Mary Ellsberg: Leading the Charge for Women’s Rights

9Step Out and Get Fit: Five Great Places to Bike and Hike in the D.C. Metro Area

10Coaching Conversations

In Memoriam

11Ask UHR

In this issue...Volume 1, Issue 3September 2013

A publication of GW’s Division of University Human Resources

President: Steven Knapp

Executive Vice President and Treasurer: Louis Katz

Vice President for University Human Resources: Sabrina Ellis

Editors: Sam Collins and Lisa Goodson, Ph.D.

Photographers: Sam Collins and Jessica McConnell Burt

Contributors: Tanya K. Bell, Taylor Cole, Erica Hayton, Sara Melita, Keri Ohlheiser, and Joe Wilson

Design: GW Marketing & Creative Services

GW In Touch is published by

The Division of University Human Resources The George Washington University 2121 Eye Street, Suite 101 Washington, DC 20052

The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Opinions expressed here are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the university.

Healthy Campus Issue

Rose Bruckner, Facilities Shop Expeditor in Facilities Services

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Dear GW Faculty & Staff,

Over the past year, we have explored

many ideas to promote health on our

campus. In August, GW launched its

smoke-free program, which topped off a

two-year initiative that was spearheaded

by students and faculty to promote a

healthier, smoke-free campus.

In this issue of GW In Touch, we highlight

healthy living by featuring our staff

summer softball league, five great places

to bike and hike in the D.C. metro area,

a newly launched LGBT Health Graduate

Certificate Program, and steps you can

take to improve your health and lower

your healthcare costs. We also share the

story of a GW employee who became a

champion for health by breaking free of

a 35-year smoking habit. It is our hope

that this newsletter will inspire others to

explore ways to improve their overall

wellness.

Please join me in celebrating GW’s focus

on a healthy mind and body. Feel free

to use the resources outlined in this

publication on your journey to healthy

living.

Sabrina Ellis

Vice President for University Human Resources

Rose Bruckner, facilities shop expeditor in Facilities Services, is one of several GW employees who enrolled in the “Quit for Life” program, a nationally recognized smoking cessation program offered by UHR’s Colonial Community, free of charge. Because of “Quit for Life,” Ms. Bruckner was able to kick her 35-year smoking habit. She tells GW In Touch about her journey to a smoke-free lifestyle on page 6. / Photo: Sam Collins

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Opening Letter

On the Cover

GW Summer Softball LeagueThis summer, over 200 faculty and staff members exuded their GW spirit as participants of the GW Summer Softball League, a Colonial Community sponsored and Office of Campus Recreation administered activity for faculty and staff. This fun, healthy summer activity gave GW employees an opportunity to “meet, greet, and defeat” other faculty, staff, and student employees across departments. The season ran from mid-June to early August and teams played on the varsity softball field on the Mount Vernon Campus.

left The Regulators softball team, which includes staff from UHR, Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, and Gelman Library, won the Recreational Division championship on August 13th. / Photo courtesy of Aubre Jones

right Zero Athletic Ability softball team, which includes staff from the Lerner Health & Wellness Center and the Department of Athletics and Recreation, won the Competitive Division championship on August 13th. / Photo courtesy of Aubre Jones

LOOKING BACK

Proud to Be GW FestivalIn June, more than 1,100 faculty and staff members celebrated community, diversity, and teamwork at the annual Proud to Be GW Festival. For the fourth consecutive year, participants joined senior leadership and celebrated employee contributions with food, music, and healthy activities.

The festival kicks off GW’s year-round schedule of faculty and staff appreciation events, which include the GW Celebration of Excellence in October and November, the Holiday Party in December, and Career Milestones in March.

above Ashley Williams (left), senior secretary in the Department of Economics, and Krystal Warner (right), senior program coordinator at the Multicultural Student Services Center, enjoy a cool summer breeze at the 2013 Proud to Be GW Festival.

The George Washington University | 3

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Among these additions are Antoinette ‘Ann’ McCorvey, Deputy Executive Vice President & Treasurer, and David Greene, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Administration in the Division of University Human Resources.

Ms. McCorvey recently served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Prior to that, she spent twenty years with industrial materials producer Solutia and its former parent, Monsanto. She is responsible for the Office of Finance, the Division of Operations, the University Budget Office, and Financial Management.

Before joining GW, Mr. Greene held positions at Tulane University as Associate Vice President of Benefits and Compensation and at Howard University as Director of Pension Benefits and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). In addition, Mr. Greene has worked as a consultant with the firms PricewaterhouseCoopers, Towers Perrin, and Watson Wyatt. In his new role at GW, he oversees UHR’s Talent Acquisition, Benefits Strategy and Planning, Compensation, and HRIS units.

Brown Bag Lunch SeriesColonial Community offers a Brown Bag Lunch Series—informal meetings where employees learn about ways to improve their health, work-life balance, and general well-being. Topics of previous brown bag lunches include workplace issues and stress management. For more information or to set an appointment for your department’s brown bag lunch, please email Brenda Jones at bmjones@gwu.edu. A minimum of 10 participants is needed for consideration.

Start! Walking Challenge GW received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Fit Friendly Gold Level Description in June 2013 for the third year in a row. This designation is given to employers that help lower employees’ risk of heart disease by promoting walking programs and providing walking routes. Last year, Colonial Community partnered with AHA to launch the Start! Walking Monthly Challenge. Prizes are awarded to employees who walk and run a certain number of miles each month. For more information about the walking challenge, please visit http://hr.gwu.edu/gw-start-monthly-walking-challenge.

Welcoming New Senior Leadership

Since the spring 2013 issue of GW In Touch, more

than 300 new faculty and staff have joined the GW

community.

Ann McCorvey, Deputy Executive Vice President & Treasurer, is responsible for the Office of Finance, the Division of Operations, the University Budget Office, and Financial Management.

David Greene, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Administration in UHR, oversees its Talent Acquisition, Benefits Strategy and Planning, Compensation, and HRIS units.

4 |

News You Can UseChange in GW’s Introductory and Transfer Probationary Period ProcessTo provide employees more time to transition into new positions, the university is extending the length of probation from 90 to 180 calendar days for all regular staff positions, effective September 1, 2013. This means that probationary reviews for all staff members hired or transferred within the university on or after September 1 will be based on a 180-calendar day performance period. Employees will continue to be eligible to use paid leave upon request after 90 days.

The performance management (PM) process during the probationary period is critical to ensuring the success of a new or transitioning employee. Ongoing communication regarding priorities and expectations is essential to optimizing performance. It is encouraged that employees have a formal performance checkpoint meeting halfway through the period.

To learn more about performance management during the probationary period, please visit the performance management section, under the “Optimize Performance” tab on the ODE website, http://ode.hr.gwu.edu.

Understanding the Benefit of In-Network ServicesWhen making decisions regarding your healthcare, it is important to understand the financial benefits of going to an in-network provider. The cost of care can vary widely among providers. By going to an in-network provider you will not be charged above the amount pre-negotiated by UnitedHealthcare. However, when you go out-of-network, there is no cost-control in place and the additional costs you may be responsible for can be significant.

If you need help finding an in-network provider, please contact Health Advocate—a GW-paid benefit available to all regular employees and their family members. Health Advocate can help you and your family members find in-network providers, estimate costs, and even help you schedule a medical appointment. To contact Health Advocate, please call 866–695–8622.

GW Safety Expo The Office of Emergency Management will host the ninth annual Safety Expo on September 18, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at University Yard and September 25, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Enterprise Hall on the Virginia Science & Technology Campus. The Expo brings local, federal, and non-profit agencies, as well as GW offices and departments together to share information and resources about personal preparedness and safety. Activities include a tutorial on building a preparedness kit. For more information about the Safety Expo, please visit http://campusadvisories.gwu.edu.

SAVE THE DATE

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The George Washington University | 5

Featuring news and updates relevant to your work and work-life.

Smoke-Free GW Update GW went smoke-free on August 1, 2013. Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of any GW building or in public spaces such as Kogan Plaza and University Yard. For more information about the GW smoking policy, please visit http://smokefree.gwu.edu.

To learn more about smoking cessation resources offered by the Division of University Human Resources, please visit http://smokefree.gwu.edu/students-faculty-staff-cessation-support-programs.

Here is what the GW community is saying about Smoke-Free.*

“Thanks for doing this. I walk through your lovely campus almost every day to and from the Foggy Bottom Metro. It is good to know the air will be cleaner and more pleasant in the future.”

–Joshua H., GW Community Member from the Department of State

“As a student who has grown up with breathing problems, I really appreciate this university smoke-free policy, and hope that it makes a positive difference in student life.”

—Alora H., GW Student

“As someone who once smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, I want to thank you for instituting this policy. This change was the push I needed to quit. It was much easier to make that decision knowing that I wouldn’t be surrounded by smokers in front of Gelman or anywhere else on campus.

It was also a tremendous help to have the Quit for Life program offered free of charge. Quitting is hard, but having that kind of support available makes all the difference. I’ve tried many programs in the past and Quit for Life is the best by far.

It means a lot that GW is offering such a great resource. I hope a lot of other folks are taking advantage of it and that GW will continue to support the health of the community, students, and faculty. From the bottom of heart (which is already healthier), thank you!“

—Maggie T., GW Alumna, Class of 2013

New WebsiteThis summer, University Human Resources redesigned its website in accordance with the university’s new branding standards. In addition to support services, up-to-date information about parking & transportation, tax, payroll, and benefits transactions, visitors may access an applicant portal that is easier to navigate and can review archived GW In Touch publications. To view the new website, please visit http://hr.gwu.edu.

New2GW App Launch This summer, UHR launched a new smartphone feature within the GW Mobile App to provide an even smoother onboarding process for new GW employees. The New2GW feature gives new employees access to helpful GW resources via their wireless devices.

Features include a checklist of important action steps to complete within the first year of employment, a calendar of upcoming employee events, and a directory of people, offices, and resources that offer employee support.

The New2GW feature and the GW Mobile App are only available for Apple iPhone users.

For more information, please visit http://hr.gwu.edu/new-employees.

Sam

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*Printed with permission.

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Staff Spotlight

This help could have not come sooner for Rose Bruckner, facilities shop expeditor in Facilities Services. After unsuccessful attempts of her own, she realized that she needed support in the workplace while attempting to quit smoking. She decided to finally stop smoking after learning about GW’s smoking cessation support and its offering of the “Quit for Life” program in a Colonial Community e-newsletter. Ms. Bruckner now lives smoke-free and continues to celebrate more than 200 days since her last cigarette.

“As soon as I stopped smoking, I started to feel so much healthier,” said Bruckner. “I felt better about myself and my overall wellbeing.”

The Journey to a Smoke-Free Lifestyle Ms. Bruckner was one of several employees to enroll in the “Quit for Life” program when it launched at GW in October 2012. “Quit for Life,” a nationally recognized smoking cessation program that is promoted by the American Cancer Society, helps more than 1,500 people across the country quit every day. According to a study conducted by Alere Wellbeing, the organization that manages “Quit for Life,” employees who enroll in the program enjoy a 94 percent satisfaction rate. GW employees and their adult dependents bear no cost when they enroll in the program.

Upon her enrollment, Ms. Bruckner received an eight-week supply of nicotine patches, as well

as workbooks with tips to adopt a smoke-free lifestyle. She, as well as other enrollees, was then assigned a “quit coach,” an expert who gives support and advice to enrollees through telephone discussions. With the assistance of the quit coach, Ms. Bruckner was able to select a date—her quit date—when she would officially quit smoking after her initiation into the six-month program.

“The [Quit for Life] website shows how many days you have quit, how many smoke-free breaths you’ve taken, and how many days you’ve earned back on your life,” said Bruckner. “It’s an incentive that keeps you motivated.”

Since achieving her goal, Ms. Bruckner has taken the N.O.P.E. (Not One Puff Ever) Pledge, promising to live a smoke-free lifestyle and help others quit. During this period of the program, Rose tracked her progress online, calculated the costs she saved by not buying cigarettes, and joined online discussion groups with more than 25,000 active members of the program across the country.

As a result of enrolling in the “Quit for Life” program, Ms. Bruckner learned to make healthier decisions. For instance, when she wants to feel relaxed after dinner, Ms. Bruckner takes a warm bath instead of going out to smoke a cigarette. Bruckner also confided in Dionne Thomas, a management customer service representative in the Facilities Department, throughout the entire process. For Ms. Thomas, observing Ms. Bruckner help

other employees to quit smoking has been inspiring.

“Because of the skills she acquired from the ‘Quit for Life’ program, Rose has learned to effectively encourage other smokers to adapt a step-by-step process so that they can reach their own goals to quit smoking,” said Thomas.

Looking ForwardMs. Bruckner considers her choice to join “Quit for Life” and quit smoking as one of her best life decisions. She is grateful for the tools that she learned and the helpful resources that she gained from the program.

“Now that I’ve quit smoking, I am so proud of myself and would like to continue to help others on campus to be smoke-free, as well” said Ms. Bruckner. “The support and encouragement that I received while being an active member and participant of this program helped me to achieve my personal goal of being a non-smoker.”

For more information about the “Quit for Life” program and other smoking cessation resources available to GW employees and dependents, please visit http://smokefree.gwu.edu/students-faculty-staff-cessation-support-programs.

Four out of five Americans

attempted to quit smoking last

year, according to a 2013 Gallup

Poll. However, people need

support so that these attempts

are successful in the long-term.

Employers nationwide are

helping their employees to quit

smoking by offering smoking

cessation resources at little or

no cost to employees.

ROSE BRUCKNER LIVING SMOKE-FREE

Rose Bruckner, facilities shop expeditor for Facilities Services, discovered the “Quit for Life” program in a Colonial Community

e-newsletter. Since joining the program, she has been smoke free for more than 200 days. / Photo: Sam Collins

The George Washington University | 7

Dr. Stephen Forssell, director of the LGBT Health Graduate Certificate Program, greets the first cohort of students during their week-long visit to Foggy Bottom. / Photo: Sam Collins

“Students will be able to use their own original projects as a means of advancing their careers and helping their workplaces become more efficient and accepting of health-related policy change,” said Dr. Forssell.

The development and implementation of the certificate program was led by a coalition of expert faculty members from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS), Trachtenberg School for Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA), School of Nursing (SoN), Psychology Department, and the Women’s Studies Department. Other partners include an advisory group comprised of government officials, community members, and representatives of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

“There are other programs that focus on health issues, but they only focus on developing research skills,” said Dr. Forssell. “Our program is unique. One of the main goals of this LGBT Health Certificate Program for our students is to successfully become effective health care providers to people throughout our community.”

For more information about the Columbian College’s LBGT Health Graduate Cerificate program, please visit http://programs.columbian.gwu.edu/lgbt.

“We hope that most of the students who complete our program will go back to their places of employment and effectively advocate for the LGBT community by insisting on changing unequal institutional policies,” said Dr. Stephen Forssell, director of the LGBT Health Graduate Certificate Program and professorial lecturer in the Columbian College’s department of psychology.

Among the program’s first group of graduate students are a director of an HIV center in South Africa and an employee of a non-profit organization that works to eliminate commercial sex trafficking. Students study topics ranging from LGBT physical and mental health studies to policy analysis to volunteering and service learning throughout LGBT communities.

Most of the courses in this program are online and students visit Foggy Bottom twice a year. Each visit lasts a week and includes tours of the U.S. Capitol and lectures from distinguished guests such as Shane Snowdon, founding director of the Center for LGBT Health & Equity at the University of California San Francisco. The program’s first cohort met Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the country’s first openly gay senator and the first woman to be elected to this office in her state, during a visit to the U.S. Capitol.

Upon completion of the certificate program, the students will have the know-how and academic tools to conceptualize, develop, and implement their own research projects that they can apply to real-life issues.

We hope that most of the students who complete our program will go back to their places of employment and effectively advocate for the LGBT community by insisting on changing unequal institutional policies.Dr. Stephen Forssell

This summer, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences officially launched its new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health Graduate Certificate Program. The 12-credit online hybrid program broadly explores LGBT health and policy issues, and provides students with tools to advocate for underserved and diverse communities.

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In the United States, a woman is beaten or assaulted every nine seconds. The World Health Organization considers violence against women a violation of basic human rights. It is a pressing public health concern that affects women around the world.

It has long been the mission of Dr. Mary Ellsberg, the director of the Global Women’s Institute (GWI), to highlight issues most crucial to the physical and mental well-being of women around the world.

“I am excited about the progress that GWI has made as a relatively new initiative at GW,” said Dr. Ellsberg. “We help connect a variety of students and faculty members to international researchers to help end the violence against women and girls, along with increasing women’s participation and leadership in society.”

The Global Women’s Institute is a university-wide initiative that strives to advance the rights of women and girls worldwide through research, teaching, and civic engagement. Since its inception last year, GWI has led, supported, and provided research assistance to gender-focused projects and events that raise the awareness of women’s issues.

GWI has spearheaded collaboration on research endeavors between faculty members, students, health practitioners, public activists, and policy makers to advance the rights of women and girls. The institute is currently analyzing the United Nations General Assembly’s report to the Secretary General on the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women in order to identify research gaps in evidence-based studies focused on gender-based violence.

In February 2013, GWI joined 4,100 gender and human rights organizations across 172 countries in observing “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence,” an international campaign that facilitates activism against gender-based violence via social media. Later that year, GWI, in conjunction with the GW Athletics Department, sponsored “1 Billion Rising,” a day when GW faculty, staff, and

students join over one billion men and women around the world to stand up in support of women who have been abused.

Dr. Ellsberg has fervently shed light on women’s rights issues throughout the world long before the start of her tenure at GW. Her work at the International Center for Research on Women includes research about HIV-related stigma and discrimination. In addition, she served as an advisor for gender, violence, and human rights at the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health. Her past experiences have been instrumental in creating one central place on campus where members of

the community with different backgrounds, academic expertise, ideas, and opinions cohesively address key women’s rights issues such as sexual harassment and assault.

“We are working very closely with schools and departments throughout GW and will create an internal advisory board, which will include students and staff as well as faculty,” explains Dr. Ellsberg. “We want input into what we are doing and how we are serving the GW community.”

For more information about the GW Global Women’s Institute, please visit http://globalwomensinstitute.gwu.edu.

Dr. Mary Ellsberg Leading the Charge for Women’s Rights

Dr. Mary Ellsberg, director of the Global Women’s Institute,

strives to highlight issues most critical to the physical

and mental well-being of women around the world. /

Photo: Sam Collins

The George Washington University | 9

Studies show that two and a half hours of moderate exercise every week significantly reduces chronic health risks and improves overall health. It does not have to be physically or financially burdensome or confined to a gym. In fact, engaging in physical activity while outdoors increases exposure to direct sunlight, which in turn increases Vitamin D levels and improves one’s health and quality of life.

The D.C. metropolitan area has numerous parks, monuments, and trails that are known as visually stunning locations with walkable pathways that the entire family can enjoy. Here are five places in and around the nation’s capital to hike while enjoying the great outdoors.

Theodore Roosevelt Island

George Washington Memorial Parkway near Rosslyn, Virginia, in the middle of the Potomac River

Roosevelt Island is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving the metropolitan area. You can hike on the trails leading out of the central memorial area and see the variety of birds and flowers that make this trail beautiful.

Great Falls Park

McLean, Virginia

This popular park provides several amenities, including a picnic and open grass area for an afternoon game of football or Frisbee. Visitors can also walk through the River Trail and catch a glimpse of the Potomac River.

The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historic Park

Follows the route of the Potomac River, with popular locations in Georgetown and Potomac, Maryland

This location is great for those who want to explore our local terrain by engaging in a multitude of adventurous activities such as boating, biking, hiking, and kayaking. The hiking trails span 180 miles from Georgetown to West Virginia and Cumberland, Pennsylvania.

Wheaton Regional Park

Wheaton, Maryland, less than one mile from the Glenmont Metro Station

The park offers many activities for adults and children. In addition to a picnic area, families can stroll along one of its many trails, take a spin on the carousel, engage in horseback rides, or visit its on-site ice skating rink and athletic facilities.

The Mount Vernon Trail

An 18-mile trail that starts at Roosevelt Island and goes through Riverside Park and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve before ending in Mount Vernon, the home of President George Washington

This trail provides its visitors a chance to experience history while staying physically fit. Once there, visitors can tour President Washington’s house and learn more about his life. This is a great option for a day-long bike trip with the family.

The Mount Vernon Trail

Step Out and Get Fit: Five Great Places to Bike and Hike in the D.C. Metro Area

The next time you are looking for something entertaining to do with friends or family, opt for spending time outdoors at one of these locations. Each place offers enjoyable and physically engaging activities without making exercising seem like a chore. These great places to hike allow you to be creative, have fun, and enjoy yourself while visiting nationally renowned sites.

Photos by: Sam Collins

The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historic Park

Great Falls Park

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Wheaton Regional Park

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New Supervisors: Tips for Success Organizations are living, breathing organisms that are constantly evolving. Hiring new staff is essential to ensuring continuity, infusion of new ideas, and the growth of an organization. Perhaps you have been in a situation where you have a new boss or you may have recently taken on a supervisory role.

Both represent opportunities for GW managers and employees, but also represent challenges that can test one’s resolve, patience, and loyalty. Sharing an optimistic outlook is key to ensuring that the transition of a new supervisor is smooth and most importantly the department or organization is able to move forward and progress. It is also vital to recognize the contributions of junior and mid-level staff because senior leadership can benefit from their perspectives on organizational culture and their fellow colleagues.

Below are some tips derived from the human resources and organizational development firm Emergence Consulting that can help lead to a seamless transition for new supervisors as well as staff members who have new supervisors.

Tips for New Supervisors

• Actively listen.

• Take the time to get to know your staff. Use your first meeting as an opportunity for a mutual exchange.

• Ask about challenges. This provides an opportunity for staff to express their thoughts on the current work environment.

• Always maintain cordial and respectful communication, verbally and in email.

• Discuss your preferences in how you would like to engage with direct reports.

• Avoid perceptions of favoritism. This will improve your staff’s effectiveness and confidence in your leadership.

• Be a model for how your staff should behave. When things do not go as planned, monitor your emotions and do not become visibly upset.

• Clarify your expectations of your staff. Be friendly and relaxed, but direct.

Tips for Staff Who Have New Supervisors

• Actively listen.

• Develop a positive relationship with your supervisor. Keep timeline commitments and maintain regular communication.

• Identify the priorities of your supervisor. This helps you think about the role you play in the success of your department.

• Understand your supervisor’s leadership style and preferences in order to communicate with him or her more effectively.

• Prepare a list of projects you are working on and be prepared to discuss them when working with your supervisor. This helps your supervisor to better understand your role in current projects.

• Practice good, non-verbal communication.

Discussing the Art of Handling ‘Difficult Conversations’ According to a study conducted by corporate leadership development firm VitalSmarts, seven out of ten people dread discussing sensitive, work-related topics with employers and co-workers. Furthermore, 25 percent admit that they have postponed having those types of conversations for about a year.

Maintaining open lines of communication is part of fostering a healthy and productive work environment. Conversations pertaining to an employee or coworker’s underperformance or negotiations with a difficult client do not have to cause anxiety.

In July 2013, 60 members of the Leadership Education and Development Program (LEAD), a UHR initiative that strengthens employee leadership abilities, studied methods for talking with coworkers when difficult issues arise without eliciting strong emotions or triggering defensiveness. These methods are found in ‘Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most,’ one of the books participants in LEAD’s Summer Book Club discussed.

The Summer Book Club is in its fourth year and is one of many activities that LEAD organizes throughout the year. For information about the book club and other activities, please visit http://ode.hr.gwu.edu/leaders-all-levels.

IN MEMORIAM

This year, we remember 18 faculty and staff members who are no longer with us and whose memory we celebrate. We honor their contributions to the university community.

TIPS FOR SUPERVISORS

TIPS FOR STAFF

Robert Barnes Housekeeping Services

Oren Breslouer Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Mariano Diaz Development and Alumni Relations

Lloyd Elliott President Emeritus

James Hansell Professorial Psychology Program

Linda Harrington Student Financial Aid Assistance

Allen Jensen Institute for Health Policy

Jean King School of Engineering & Applied Science

Frederick Kurtz Department of Accountancy

William Pucilowsky Department of Theatre & Dance

James Robinson GW Police Department

Thelma Robinson School of Nursing

Eric Simms GW Police Department

Arthur Smith Computational Biology Institute

Thomas Verghese Department of Accountancy

George Wang Department of East Asian Language and Literature

Robert Woofter GW Police Department

Harry Yeide Religion Department

COACHING CONVERSATIONS

The George Washington University | 11

QAAsk

UHR

Dear UHR,

How can I maintain my health while reducing costs?

Dear GW Employee,

Below are four steps you can take to reduce healthcare costs.

Call NurseLine for medical advice. When you have a health concern, NurseLine services

can help you make the best healthcare decisions with immediate telephone access to

experienced registered nurses. NurseLine is a free service for UnitedHealthcare members

and is available 24 hours every day of the week by calling 877–706–1739.

Visit your doctor for your annual preventive health screening. The better your health, the

lower your healthcare costs are likely to be. Preventive health screenings are 100% covered

by all GW health plans if you go to an in-network provider. Make your appointment today!

Use Health Advocate when looking for care. If you are looking for a doctor, specialist,

or other medical service, Health Advocate can help you find the care you need and to

make sure it is the best possible. It can even help you schedule an appointment. For more

information, please call 866–695–8622.

Choose generic prescription drugs over name-brand. Generic prescription medications

generally have a lower copay. Any time you receive a prescription, ask your doctor if a

generic drug is available, and whether it’s right for your condition. Doing so may save you

hundreds of dollars.

We hope that you found this information helpful. For more information about reducing

healthcare costs and healthy activities Colonial Community offers, please visit

http://hr.gwu.edu/health-wellness.

©iStockphoto.com/teekay

This is your newsletter! Please forward any article suggestions, ideas, and comments to askuhr@gwu.edu.

HR

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