CPH - School of Nursing

School of Nursing offers its first full scholarship thanks to generous donor support

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:21 +0000

School of Nursing offers its first full scholarship thanks to generous donor support Taylor Thomas Mon, 04/20/2026 - 11:54

The support of donors has life-changing impacts for 91�� students. An incredible show of generosity by an anonymous donor will provide full scholarship support for an undergraduate student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the College of Public Health’s School of Nursing. The Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey Endowed Scholarship will cover tuition for an entire academic year. This is the first full scholarship at the College of Public Health.

“We are profoundly grateful for the generosity of our donors, whose support has transformative effects on the lives of our students. This extraordinary gift will enable deserving Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to pursue their education without the burden of tuition,” said Dean Melissa Perry. “Such acts of kindness and commitment to education not only honor the legacy of Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey but also inspire our students to strive for excellence and make a meaningful impact in the field of public health and beyond. To our donors, thank you for believing in the power of education and for investing in the future leaders of health care.”

The scholarship was established to honor the late Barry Berkey and his wife, Velma Berkey. Berkey was a well-known psychiatrist, author, and the first clinical director of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute before he began his long-standing private practice. The first scholarship will be awarded in the fall 2026 semester to a full-time, in-state student who demonstrates high academic performance (minimum 3.5 GPA) and financial need.

The college extends thanks to all our generous donors.

Learn more about how you can give to the College of Public Health at 91��.

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Topics

scholarship

CPH scholarship

CPH - School of Nursing

bachelor of science in nursing

College of Public Health

philanthropy

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Students

Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the 91�� School of Nursing

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:59:44 +0000

Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the 91�� School of Nursing Taylor Thomas Fri, 03/06/2026 - 11:59

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Key Takeaways:

Karen Drenkard has been announced as the 91�� School of Nursing Acting Divisional Dean.
Drenkard, a George Mason School of Nursing alumna (PhD '06), boasts an impressive career as a leader in nursing education and health care innovation across academic, clinical, and organizational settings.
As Acting Divisional Dean, Drenkard's expertise will further the School of Nursing's mission to produce nursing leaders who will contribute to the health of all populations through innovative and impactful research, practice, and service.

Karen Drenkard. Photo provided.

The College of Public Health welcomes Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN as its new Acting Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing. A George Mason alum (PhD ’06), Drenkard brings exceptional leadership, national recognition, and deep expertise across academic nursing, clinical practice, health care innovation, and strategic program development. As President of Drenkard Healthcare Consulting, LLC, she has guided large integrated health care systems, schools of nursing, technology companies, and national organizations in strategic planning, academic–practice partnership development, quality management, and leadership advancement.

"Dr. Drenkard's distinguished career and transformative leadership in nursing education and health care innovation will help advance key initiatives in the School of Nursing. We welcome her vast expertise and visionary approach, which are well-aligned with our mission to advance health and well-being through education and innovation,” said Dean of the College of Public Health Melissa Perry.

Most recently, Drenkard served as professor and associate dean of clinical practice and community engagement at The George Washington University School of Nursing, where she led major clinical initiatives, including the school’s COVID-19 response efforts. Her prior leadership includes a decade as Chief Nurse at Inova Health System, as well as executive roles at GetWell and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, where she served as Executive Director of the Magnet Recognition® Program.

Drenkard is recognized nationally for her transformative leadership and service. She currently chairs the Inova Alexandria Hospital Board Quality and Safety Committee and serves on the boards of the American Organization for Nurse Leaders, the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board, and the Watson Caring Science Institute. She is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Councils for the Indiana University School of Nursing and Russell Sage College, and serves as visiting faculty at the UCSF School of Nursing.

Her thought leadership extends across the country through hundreds of keynote presentations and her extensive faculty work with the UCSF Leadership Institute, where she teaches executive sessions on strategic planning, succession planning, and the integration of human caring into leadership practice. She has also developed comprehensive leadership modules for major health care organizations, spanning executive presence, business planning, financial management, career mapping, and media engagement.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academies of Practice, Drenkard earned her PhD in nursing administration, policy, and ethics from 91�� and is both a Wharton Nurse Executive Fellow and a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow.

Topics

CPH - School of Nursing

Nursing Leadership

Nursing Faculty

College of Public Health

Alumni

Faculty and Staff News

Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:06:05 +0000

Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges Taylor Thomas Fri, 10/10/2025 - 13:06

The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics’ Empowered Communities program’s success is driven by dynamic partnerships between 91�� and community organizations that are transforming public health outcomes in underserved communities.

Initiatives convene networks of nurses, peer specialists, community health workers, and students to bring acute and chronic health care services, immunizations, school health exams, substance misuse treatment, mental health services, and more to low-income, uninsured, or refugee populations. For example, the Empowered Communities Opioid Project helps people involved with the justice system who struggle with opioid use disorders connect with health care providers and community resources.

Photo by Emily Roscher.

Empowered Communities programs exemplify how college-community alliances can directly improve highly targeted public health issues. These collaborations are foundational to delivering sustainable, person-centered care where it’s needed most. By combining academic expertise with on-the-ground community insight, these partnerships are creating scalable models for building healthier communities.

Prince William County and MAP Clinics partner on several initiatives, including the Jail Medication-Assisted Treatment Program, the Peer Internship Project, and Community MAT efforts. The collaboration is rooted in shared goals of expanding access to treatment, strengthening peer support services, and promoting recovery within justice-involved populations. Their remarkable collaboration was recognized with the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations in the category of Partnership Initiative.

“Partnerships like these are essential for building coordinated, comprehensive responses to the opioid epidemic, substance use, and behavioral health challenges in Prince William County, City of Manassas, and Manassas Park. By working together, we can leverage collective expertise, align resources, and deliver consistent, person-centered care across systems,” said Sara Wheeler, division manager of the Adult Behavioral Health and Recovery Services in the Prince William County Government.

Harnessing Tech Partners to Improve Health

Sri Vasireddy, co-founder and CEO of REAN Foundation, leads an organization dedicated to using technology to improve access, affordability, and efficiency in health care. Together, REAN and the MAP Clinics created Mason HealthLink, an AI companion that allows patients to self-manage their own care by connecting them with resources, practitioners, and updated care plans. Their partnership exemplifies the intersection of technology and health care.

“There is tremendous need for what we do and there's a lot that we need to put together. I am a technology entrepreneur, and I have little direct knowledge in health care,” said Vasireddy. "What I know comes from working with organizations and partnerships, meeting people, and learning about their communities’ needs. On the technology side, the technology people process aspects of building a platform. But we need nursing staff and community workers and volunteers to help answer is this contextualized, is this personalized? It’s not just one discipline. We need psychology, we need science, we need technology, we need business in terms of the operations."

These partnerships—between academic institutions, local governments, and technology innovators—are the foundation of Empowered Communities’ success. They demonstrate how collaboration across sectors can drive sustainable public health solutions and improve outcomes for underserved populations.

Over the past two years, the Empowered Communities has hosted a conference that served as a platform for these partners to showcase milestones and reaffirm their shared commitment to providing resources to those most in need.

“Gatherings like the Empowered Communities Conference foster connection, knowledge sharing, and inspiration across sectors. They provide a platform to highlight innovative practices, celebrate progress, and strengthen the collective commitment to recovery, equity, and community resilience,” said Wheeler.

Photo by Emily Roscher.

Topics

Empowered Communities

Mason and Partners (MAP)

CPH - School of Nursing

Campus News

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:10:06 +0000

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts John Brandon C… Tue, 02/28/2023 - 14:10

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Kerri LaCharite, PhD

Erin D. Maughan, PhD

Topics

food insecurity

CPH - Nutrition and Food Studies

CPH - Social Work

CPH - School of Nursing

SNAP benefits

Food and Nutrition

Poverty and Inequalities

March 1 end of program will impact millions of Americans–predominantly families and people of color

Millions of families rely on food pantries, even after the height of the pandemic. Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, 91�� BSW '20

On the same day National Nutrition Month kicks off, millions of individuals and families in the U.S. who currently receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assessment Program (SNAP) will see a decrease in their federal food benefits. On March 1, pandemic emergency allotments to SNAP are set to end–cutting benefits by $90 per month per person (on average).

Despite SNAP emergency allotments, many Americans still face food insecurity

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, food insecurity rates doubled overall throughout the nation and tripled in households with children. Congress originally enacted emergency allotments (EAs) during the pandemic to provide economic stimulus and address food insecurity. However, data shows that even though EAs kept more than 4 million people “above the poverty line,” according to a study from the Urban Institute, millions of Americans still experienced food insecurity and lived below the poverty line.

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, assistant professor of social work in the College of Public Health at 91��, underscores the severity of the issue, saying: “Food insecurity was prevalent during the pandemic and will remain a serious concern in a ’post-pandemic’ world, particularly among households with children–who were most likely to face food insecurity during the pandemic–as well as communities of color (per USDA data).”

“When you are struggling to balance rent and daily living expenses, a loss of $168 or $190 can translate to hardship and extreme food insecurity,” said Tomaszewski. “In 2022, 9% of the population of Virginia, or 1 in 11 persons, accessed SNAP benefits. We are talking about our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues.”

A study by American University found that by the end of 2021, Americans were paying an average of 12 percent of their income on food; for lower-income wage earners, it was closer to 36 percent.

In 2023, an estimated 34 million people (including 9 million children) still remain food insecure, and the cost of food is expected to rise by 3.5 percent - 4.5 percent, according to the USDA.

Vulnerable populations already adversely affected by COVID will see the biggest impact

“Our country’s vulnerable populations have been the most affected by COVID and inflation. Those who live significantly below the poverty threshold, including households with children headed by single women and Black and Hispanic households, rely on SNAP benefits to make sure there is food on the table,” said Kerri LaCharite, PhD, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Studies in the College of Public Health.

LaCharite and Tomaszewski are also concerned for populations that will likely dip below the poverty line when EAs end, including college students, seniors living on a fixed income, and individuals with disabilities.

Mason Social Work students volunteer at food pantry during COVID-19 pandemic.

College students who qualified for the emergency allocation will also lose their benefits on March 1, when those defined as “able-bodied adults without dependents” will again be limited to a three-month limit of benefits. According to the College and University Food Bank Alliance, more than 30% of college students were food insecure in 2019, even before the pandemic.

Older adults and persons with disabilities saw a decrease in SNAP benefits when they received “long overdue (and still minimal) increase to social security benefits.” With the end of EAs, benefits will be cut (on average) by $168.00 per month for households with adults aged 60 and older and (on average) $190 per month for persons with disabilities.

The impact of food insecurity is long-lasting for children and adults. “The long-term effects of food insecurity will affect health outcomes. In children, food insecurity is associated with cognitive problems, higher risks of being hospitalized, asthma, behavioral problems, depression, poorer general health, among a longer list. In non-senior adults, food insecurity is associated with diabetes, hypertension, mental health issues, high blood cholesterol levels, and poor sleep,” said LaCharite.

Food banks, schools, and community support - How will individuals, families, and communities meet the need?

Erin Maughan, PhD, associate professor of nursing in the College of Public Health, works with K-12 school districts and school nurses and is particularly concerned about the impact on school-aged children, school systems, and the employees who may already be stretched thin.

“With SNAP emergency funds decreasing, it could increase the number of students or amount of food schools will provide students. Schools already are a safety net for food (breakfast and lunch), and some provide food backpacks for the weekend. Of greater concern is how it will impact mental health and learning. When children are hungry, they can't concentrate; down the road, it could also be an issue of malnutrition,” said Maughan

“Families are going to need to fill the gap somehow,” says LaCharite. “We have seen this in the past. It will likely mean increased reliance on food banks and pantries, skipping meals, and a significant decrease in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Food insecure families buy less fruits and vegetables and buy more nonperishable staples as their budget for food shrinks.”

People are losing a significant amount of support money available via the SNAP EA, resulting in increased reliance on food banks (which are also consistently reporting both increased need and decreased donations.) While many of our area emergency food providers saw a temporary dip in need in fall 2021, they also experienced a large increase in patrons seeking food in the spring of 2022 as inflation rates started to rise.

What can be done to help?

March 1 is also the start of National Social Work Month, and Tomaszewski sees an important role for social work students and faculty–and beyond. In addition to donating to area food banks, there are ways that members of the community can help those experiencing food insecurity.

“At the macro or systems level, everyone can advocate for the Commonwealth of Virginia to add funds to the program that not only ensures SNAP benefits (at least) similar to the SNAP EA levels but also expands coverage to those that will be losing benefits, such as ‘able-bodied persons’ and college students,” says Tomaszewski.

She also sees an important role for those in the College of Public Health and beyond. “Social work students, and students throughout the College, directly work with those who will be affected by this policy change and/or who are at risk for food insecurity. At the individual level, social work students and allied professionals across the College can learn about food insecurity and available benefits, and ensure that clients know what is available, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and SNAP.”

As the country recognizes National Social Work Month and National Nutrition Month, it is also an opportunity to recognize, support, and advocate for our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues who continue to experience food insecurity across the United States.

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:39:25 +0000

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce Mary Cunningham Tue, 11/22/2022 - 09:39

Future Nurse Program provides financial assistance for Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing students

Fairfax City, VA - 91��’s School of Nursing, in the College of Public Health, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center have established the Future Nurse Program to prepare nurses for clinical practice and to address critical nursing workforce shortages in the region.

MedStar Health will cover in-state tuition for Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing (ABSN) students accepted into the Future Nurse Program for students who agree to work for three years as a full-time licensed registered nurse at MedStar Washington Hospital Center after graduation.

“This partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center will help bolster the nursing workforce in our area, which in turn will support the health and well-being of our local communities. The program makes becoming a Mason nurse more accessible to more people and will allow students to learn critical care skills in the environment they will work,” said Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Chair of the School of Nursing.

Students will complete the required academic coursework at Mason and complete most of their clinical coursework at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

“Mason Nurses are extraordinary. Not only are they prepared with the required technical skills, Mason nurses are kind, caring, and able to adapt to ever-changing situations. We are thrilled to partner with Mason and their ABSN students to develop and train future nurses who can make a difference in our patients' lives and improve our community,” said Catherine Reisenberg, Ph.D., FNP-BC, Director of Academic Practice Partnerships at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

The three-year agreement between the School of Nursing and MedStar Health began in Fall 2022.

Mason’s Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing program is a 12-month, full-time, pre-licensure program for applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program. The program provides successful applicants an opportunity to experience nursing in a variety of clinical settings throughout the National Capitol area. Learn more here.

For more information about the Mason School of Nursing and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, contact Jennifer Sawyer at jsawyer6@gmu.edu.

About Mason

91��, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Public Health

The College of Public Health at 91�� is the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work.

About MedStar Health and MedStar Washington Hospital Center

At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT values—Service, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—across our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we’re committed to providing high-quality health care that’s also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health—It’s how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a not-for-profit, 912-bed, teaching and research hospital in the nation’s capital, and is a major referral center for treating the region’s most complex cases. Its cardiology program is highly acclaimed, and its cardiac surgery program has consistently earned the highest national rating–three stars–from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. MedStar Washington Hospital Center operates the region’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center and the District’s only Cardiac Ventricular Assist Device program, both certified by The Joint Commission. The hospital is also home to MedSTAR, a nationally verified level I trauma center with a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters and ambulances and operates the region’s only adult Burn Center. Learn more at MedStarWashington.org.

In This Story

Cheryl Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Topics

College of Public Health

CPH - School of Nursing

Healthcare Workforce Development

Campus News

Press Release

Virtual reality simulation lab space provides immersive experience for nursing students

ckearney — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:28:05 +0000

Virtual reality simulation lab space provides immersive experience for nursing students ckearney Wed, 01/26/2022 - 13:28

The lab space opened in Fall 2021 and will be available for students across all health disciplines, such as social work, community health, and nutrition.

Nursing students Elianna Puerto, left, and Katherine Gugino use virtual reality sets for a new simulation platform, SimX, during a VR Simulation Lab training class. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

Experience. Learning. Confidence. Autonomy. Scope of practice. These are a few takeaways that Bethany Cieslowski hopes students will gain from their use of 91��’s new Virtual Reality (VR) Simulation Lab space in the Peterson Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

“VR provides many opportunities for patient care in an incredibly realistic, immersive environment,” said Cieslowski, associate professor of nursing and simulation coordinator in the College of Health and Human Services. “Students have the autonomy to treat and care for the patient as if they were the nurse, not student nurse—something that cannot be done in the real patient setting.”

The Simulation Team trained and tested the VR lab last fall, and deployed VR with 110 students enrolled in NURS 455 Advanced Technologies in Nursing. More than 50 nursing students a week participated in the VR lab experience and were presented with various patient scenarios that included medical history and an emerging medical issue.

Graduate teaching assistant Sindhu Mallala said once students put on their headset, they log into the SIM X application, which is used for their VR-based simulations, and enter a replica of a hospital lobby.

“The scenario usually takes place in a hospital room with patients, a handoff nurse, and a relative,” said Mallala, a former general physician in India who is majoring in health informatics. “The students enter as the nurses on shift and are assigned to that patient. The whole scenario is supposed to be a virtual replica of a real-life case management scenario that takes place.”

Mallala said the VR simulation lab is a safe environment for students to learn and develop a plan to treat their patients. “It’s a great exercise to improve critical thinking, a must-have quality in medical field.”

Graduate teaching assistant Sindhi Mallala runs the virtual reality simulation platform, SimX, during a VR Simulation Lab training class. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

“My biggest takeaway from the virtual simulation training was that medical mistakes happen,” said Katie Gugino, a senior in the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) traditional program with a concentration in health promotion. “As health care professionals, we need to double-check steps to prevent them and then be prepared to act when they do happen.”

“It is important that we keep our patients safe and do our best to prevent medical errors and fix them as they arise,” Gugino said.

Cieslowski said the patient responds to the student’s actions, performance, and communication. A debrief immediately following the VR case helps educators understand and evaluate the critical thinking processes that drove students’ actions, performance, and outcomes.

“I think it's beneficial to have these simulation drills to really help us gain the muscle memory and critical thinking skills for how best to respond to emergency situations,” said Elianna Puerto, a senior in the traditional BSN program.

Puerto said she appreciated being able to ask the virtual patient questions.

“I try to stay with yes or no questions, which in a way is helpful for me to sort of triage the patient,” said Puerto. “For instance, I can ask the patient ‘Do you feel itchy? Is it getting harder for you to breathe?’ And the patient can say yes or no.”

Cieslowski said the virtual simulation lab prepares students for a career in the nursing and health care fields by providing another modality and opportunity for interprofessional education—the ability to learn about, with and from other disciplines.

“What I appreciate most about Dr. Cieslowski’s teaching style is that she allows us to discuss how we feel after lab and simulations and how she can improve the lab experience to make it more memorable,” said senior nursing major MaKayla Fortune.

Nursing students discuss how the class went after using virtual reality sets for the new simulation platform. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

Senior nursing student Catherine Robinson appreciates the interactivity. “In simulations in the past, we just click and look at a computer screen, which I don’t find helpful because I am more of a hands-on learner,” said Robinson.

This spring semester, Cieslowski said the lab will be used to augment and enhance pediatric clinical hours for 108 junior-level nursing students to help alleviate the shortage of pediatric clinical sites available in the community.

Future applications of the VR simulation could include social work cases and interprofessional education experiences, Cieslowski added.

Topics

Students

innovative classes

College of Public Health

CPH - School of Nursing

virtual reality

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

CPH - School of Nursing

School of Nursing offers its first full scholarship thanks to generous donor support

Related Stories

Key Takeaways:

In This Story

Topics

Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the 91���� School of Nursing

In This Story

Key Takeaways:

Topics

Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges

Harnessing Tech Partners to Improve Health

Topics

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts

In This Story

Topics

March 1 end of program will impact millions of Americans–predominantly families and people of color

Despite SNAP emergency allotments, many Americans still face food insecurity

Vulnerable populations already adversely affected by COVID will see the biggest impact

Food banks, schools, and community support - How will individuals, families, and communities meet the need?

What can be done to help?

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce

Future Nurse Program provides financial assistance for Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing students

In This Story

Topics

Virtual reality simulation lab space provides immersive experience for nursing students

Topics

Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the 91�� School of Nursing