There are several ombudspeople that you can contact for advice. The Ombudspeople provide an opportunity for students and residents to share and discuss concerns in an informal, neutral, independent, and confidential environment. If you are not sure about where to report your concerns or are trying to determine if something needs to be reported, the Ombudspeople are a great place to start.
View complete description of the role of the ombudsperson
Ombudspeople for MD Programs
Ashte' Collins, MD
acollins@mfa.gwu.edu
Ashté Collins, MD is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He is also an associate professor of Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana and his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Dr. Collins completed his Internal Medicine residency at The George Washington University Medical Center, where he served as chief medical resident and was nominated to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. After chief residency, Dr. Collins completed his Nephrology fellowship training at The George Washington University Medical Center.
Lisa Schwartz, EdD, MS
lschwartz@gwu.edu
Lisa Schwartz (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences. After working as a genetic counselor for many years, Dr. Schwartz completed her doctorate in Higher Education Administration at GW's Graduate School of Education and Human Development prior to joining the SMHS faculty in 2010. Since then, Dr. Schwartz has served in numerous roles including chair of the Health Sciences Student Evaluation Committee, chair of the Clara Bliss Hinds Women in Medicine and Science Society, member of the Faculty Senate Standing Committee on Education Policy and Technology, member of the Health Sciences Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) Committee, and as a faculty panelist of the University Integrity and Conduct Council (UICC). In addition, she has led SMHS and university-wide initiatives to support mentorship. She teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students in a number of Health Sciences programs.
Alan Wasserman, MD
awasserman@mfa.gwu.edu
Alan Wasserman is the Eugene Meyer Professor of Medicine and Senior Academic Advisor. He was the Chair of the Department of Medicine from 1997 to 2021. He has been involved in medical house staff and student education for over 40 years as a Program Director, Division Director and Chair. Dr Wasserman is teaching in POM and is working with the Diversity Committee to make GW a more inclusive and safe environment in which to work, teach and learn.
Ombudspeople for Regional Campus
Laura Green, MD
laurakgreen@yahoo.com
Laura K. Green, MD is the Vice Chair for Faculty Development at the Krieger Eye Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore where she previously served as the Residency Program Director from 2010-14. She is originally from Oakton, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC., and is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Green completed her ophthalmology residency at Harvard/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, followed by cornea fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. She has been on the faculty of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore since 2007. Her research interests include simulation for medical and surgical training, medical education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ombudsperson for Graduate Medical Education (Residents and Fellows)
Susanne Bathgate, MD
sbathgate@mfa.gwu.edu
Susanne Bathgate (she/her/hers) is an associate professor of OBGYN who joined the GWU faculty in 1992 after completing her training in OBGYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship at GWU. She has held positions on the SMHS and Post-Bac admissions committee, Medical Student Evaluations Committee, amongst others, and has served as GME ombudsman to the CLE for several years. Additionally, she currently serves as president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and participates in local advocacy. She participates in medical student education through lecturing in the Repro/Endo block, the 3rd year clerkship and directing the MS4 elective in Perinatal Medicine. She strives to create a supportive, inclusive environment where all can participate and make GWU a great place to learn and practice medicine.
Tenagne Haile-Mariam, MD
Tenagne Haile-Mariam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows as well as in efforts to recruit and retain persons from underrepresented groups in academic medicine. She has served on numerous SMHS academic and clinical committees as well as been an advisor to many medical students, residents and fellows. She currently serves on the Committee on the Learning Environment. She trained as a Restorative Justice (RJ) facilitator through the AAMC RJ for Academic Medicine program and hopes to bring the principles of RJ to her role as GW Resident Ombudsperson. Dr. Haile-Mariam received her BA (History) and MD from Dartmouth and completed residencies in IM and EM as well as a fellowship in ID, all at GW. She then joined the GW faculty and has participated in several clinical initiatives including the founding of the Hospitalist program, the GW Wound Center and the International EM Program. She currently splits her clinical time between the GW and UMC ED’s and is a member of the Innovative Practice Division in the Department of EM. She is the recipient of the several honors including the Leonard Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine and the Barbara Carroll Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine.
Ombudsperson for Health Sciences Student:
Susan Okun, PhD
sjo@email.gwu.edu
Susan Okun is an experienced educator and higher education administrator. She earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982 and graduated from law school with a J.D. from Boston University in 1986. Dr. Okun went on to complete a master’s degree in education at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1991.
MS4 CLE Reps:
Mansour Dehan: dehan@gwu.edu
Jocelyn Fant: 518-727-4466 jocelnyfant@gwmail.gwu.edu
Elizabeth Okundaye: eokundaye@gwu.edu
Miriam Salama: 507-271-4437 marsalama@gwmail.gwu.edu
MS3 CLE Reps:
Sofia Barajas : sbarajas@gwmail.gwu.edu
Ryan Antar: ryanantar@gwmail.gwu.edu
Allison Andrews: allison_andrews@gwmail.gwu.edu
Regional Campus Representative:
Cameron Robins: crobins@gwmail.gwu.edu