The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences was honored with the Distinguished Academic Partner Award by the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Educational Foundation.
The award was given for the GW Health Careers Opportunity Program, led by Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA, professor and senior associate dean for health sciences at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The GW Health Careers Opportunity Program aims to create a future generation of health professionals from diverse backgrounds to provide culturally competent care for underserved populations. NOVA students who are part of the program have received stipends, scholarships, training, mentoring, and career counseling to help them realize their dreams for a health career.
Bushardt received the award at the NOVA Educational Foundation’s 40th Annual Recognition Dinner at the Marriott Fairview Park on November 13. Nearly 500 guests and leaders from government, business, education, and the local community, including Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia State Senator and incoming Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, were in attendance. Former chair of the GW Board of Trustees, Russ Ramsey, presented the Distinguished Academic Partner Award to Bushardt.
"We are honored to be recognized by the NOVA Foundation for our work to strengthen the diversity of our regional health care workforce and its capacity to deliver the highest quality care to every member of our community,” said Bushardt. “Public-private partnerships are integral to tackling complex problems in our community, such as health equity, and GW is proud to have strong partners in Virginia who are also passionate about this work, such as NOVA and Alexandria City Public Schools. My team and I are inspired every day by the talent, dedication to serving others, and humility of the student ambassadors and scholarship recipients in the GW Health Careers Opportunity Program."
In addition to the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sharon Bulova, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Northrop Grumman Corporation were recognized.
