The Gold Humanism Honor Society is honoring three chapters with 2018 Distinguished Chapter Awards for their impact, leadership, service activities and humanistic learning environment:
Distinguished Chapter Award Winner | New Chapters
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (formed in 2015)
Distinguished Chapter Award Winners | Established Chapters:
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine (2004)
Georgetown University School of Medicine (2012)
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) has 150 chapters in medical schools across the United States, as well as about a dozen residency programs. Members are selected by their peers as exemplars of compassionate patient care and serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. Each GHHS chapter creates its own ways to foster humanism, suited for its school and community, which can include such Gold Foundation-led initiatives as Solidarity Week and Thank a Residency Day.
Georgetown University School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society members participate in the inaugural Thank A Resident Day by handing out candy to their residents as a sign of thanks.
For example, during Solidarity Week this February, the GHHS chapter at Georgetown initiated a Tell Me More® project at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and organized a pet therapy visit.
“It is clear from the programming, events and research projects designed and carried out by these GHHS chapters that humanism is alive and well in each of these schools,” said Dr. Dorothy Levine, director of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. “The passion and dedication of chapter members and their classmates to the patient-centered mission is inspirational. This level of success takes creativity and perseverance in today’s helter-skelter world of healthcare.”
The award criteria includes:
- Impact:Evidence of impact on the institution in the advancement of a culture of patient-centered care
- Learning Environment/Research:Demonstrated activity to improve and sustain a humanistic learning environment
- Service Activities: Initiatives and/or projects that contribute to fostering humanistic patient care
- Leadership:Defined efforts to enhance the leadership skills of medical students and residents
Five chapters were also named Outstanding Chapters for their exemplary activity:
- University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
- New York University School of Medicine
- Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
- State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University College of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society members during their 2018 induction ceremony
Every GHHS chapter is guided by one or more advisors, faculty members who encourage and support their GHHS members and model humanistic behavior. The advisors of the winners of the 2018 Distinguished Chapter Awards are Dr. Eileen Moore, at Georgetown; Dr. Carol Stanford at University of Missouri – Kansas City; and Drs.Brian Drolet, Amy Fleming, Keith Meador, Bill Cutrer and Ms. Katherine Anderson at Vanderbilt.
“We are grateful for the hard work and fortitude of these programs’ chapter advisors who serve as exemplars of GHHS principles,” said Dr. Levine. “The Gold Foundation looks forward to the deepening and broadening of our relationship with each of these energetic young physicians, as well as the faculty and institutions that promoted their success.”
