‘Hoyas on the Hill’ Event Highlights Federally Funded Research

Posted in GUMC Stories  |  Tagged advocacy, research funding

(May 27, 2025) — Each year, Georgetown hosts “Hoyas on the Hill,” an event to celebrate alumni who serve as members of Congress and work in congressional offices. This year’s event shined a spotlight on federally funded research endeavors now underway at the university, with projects ranging from cancer to strokes, from health disparities to mental health.

Hoyas in the 119th Congress include 21 representatives and seven U.S. senators who represent 18 states and the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which have non-voting delegates. They also include faculty and alumni from nearly all of Georgetown’s schools, including 12 faculty and alumni from Georgetown Law and nine alumni from the School of Foreign Service.

Distinguished University Professor Lucile Adams-Campbell, PhD, founding director of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention, shared the center’s work, which is focused on a dynamic patient navigation model that supports cancer screening, diagnostic, treatment, and preventative measures as well as solutions for expanding access to clinical trials.

“This research will help patients realize the benefits of clinical trial participation, resulting in longer survival and better quality of life,” said Adams-Campbell.

Hoyas on the Hill speakers also included Matthew Biel, MD, director of the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities, on how his projects support the mental health of military families; Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD, on his work to improve the lives of people with cognitive and language after a stroke; Anna Johnson, director of the Context, Development, and Social Policy Lab, on her work on evaluating children’s post-COVID recovery; and Lisa Singh, director of the Massive Data Institute at McCourt School of Public Policy, on developing technologies that harness modern computing to better understand human behavior and improve decision making.

In addressing the legislators and staffers, Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., MD, MHS, executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean of the School of Medicine, shared that from a young age, his mother would talk about people experience ongoing struggles and the unjust nature of the struggles.

“The pace of doing something has to be commensurate with the ongoing struggle,” Beauchamp said. “So much of the ability to bring change is in this room.”

Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., MD, MHS, executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean of the School of Medicine, addressed legislators and staffers.

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, spoke during the proceedings.

Lucile Adams-Campbell, PhD (pictured right), founding director of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention, discussed her work with Gwen Coleman, director of Georgetown’s Office of Neighborhood Life.

(From right) Rosemary E. Kilkenny, JD, vice president, diversity, equity, inclusion and chief diversity officer, Georgetown; Christopher King, PhD, dean of the Georgetown University School of Health, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), and Scott Fleming, retired associate vice president for federal relations at Georgetown

Matthew Biel, MD, director of the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities, speaks about his work with Moira Lenehan-Rezzuri, alum and senior policy advisor in the office of Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).