FAQs

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation works with healthcare professionals to ensure that compassion, respect and empathy are at the core of all healthcare interactions. The Foundation is a public, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, established in 1988 by Arnold Gold, MD and Sandra Gold, EdD, their colleagues at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York and philanthropists. The Foundation relies on donations to advance its vital work.

Arnold Gold, MD was a world-renowned pediatric neurologist at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. He and his wife Sandra Gold, EdD, and their colleagues at Columbia began the Foundation in 1988 with the power of an idea – to nurture and preserve the tradition of the caring physician.

That idea was conceived in response to troubling trends witnessed by Dr. Arnold Gold. He feared that burgeoning scientific discoveries and advances in technology were shifting the focus of medicine from caring for the whole person to an over-reliance on technology. Physician trainees were scientifically proficient and technically well-trained, but often demonstrated a sad lack of caring and compassion. Arnold decided, with Sandra’s help, to do something about it.

Read the story of how the Gold Foundation began in Arnold’s words.

Our logo— a golden Mobius loop—symbolizes the continuous bond of trust, respect and communication that connects healthcare professionals with their patients when humanism is at the core of medical practice.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation defines humanism in healthcare as clinically excellent care that is kind, safe, and trustworthy.

Read an article in the Journal of Patient Experience by Gold President and CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves about updating the definition.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that compassion and empathy are critical components of good medicine. When healthcare professionals give humanistic care, patients are more likely to adhere to their medical plan, which results in better health outcomes. When patients engage in preventive healthcare practices and heal more quickly, it results in cost-savings to the healthcare system.

The work begins with the training of healthcare professionals, where the Gold Foundation supports efforts to spread the habit of humanism. Our strategies are to:

• establish clear expectations and standards for trainees early in the educational process;
• identify, reward and promote exemplary role models/mentors;
• provide experiences and opportunities for healthcare professionals to understand the patient perspective and to reflect on their role as caregivers.

Here are a few examples of the reach of the Foundation’s work:

• Approximately 2,800 individuals have received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, instituted to recognize exemplary faculty and graduating medical students
• The White Coat Ceremony was initiated by the Foundation to welcome new students into the medical profession and to set clear expectations regarding their primary role as physicians by professing an oath. It is now a traditional rite of passage at nearly all medical schools and many nursing schools in the United States.
• The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is comprised of over 50,000 healthcare professionals in training and in practice who have been recognized for practicing patient-centered care.

There are many ways volunteers can get involved in the work of the Foundation.  See our Get Involved page to learn about opportunities for recognizing the humanistic doctors in your life, hosting an event, writing for our blog or making a gift.

The quickly changing healthcare landscape is filled with new challenges and opportunities, and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation stands ready to meet them. While we continue strengthening our relationships with physicians in training, we are also expanding our work to engage practicing physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other members of the healthcare team in training and in practice. We are involving patients more intimately by promoting and amplifying their voices and educating them about the importance of humanistic healthcare.