The Gold Humanism Honor Society is the heart of our Community of Caring. Founded in 2002, through the generous support of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Berrie Foundation, and an anonymous donor, GHHS now has more than 150 chapters in medical schools and residency programs. More than 30,000 medical students, physicians, and other leaders have been inducted and serve as role models of the human connection in healthcare.
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Announcing the 2019 Distinguished Chapter Awards Winners!
Congratulations to The University of Colorado, University of Minnesota Medical School, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Lincoln Memorial University-Debusk College of Medicine, our 2019 Distinguished Chapter Award Winners!
Other incredible chapters who received well-deserved Honorable Mentions include: Indiana University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Medical University of South Carolina, The Ohio University College of Medicine, and Wayne State University School of Medicine.
GHHS 2018 Veterans Health Initiative
This Quality Improvement Project addresses healthcare disparities through the identification of veteran status and associated risk for unique employment-related illnesses. To learn more about the Veterans Health Initiative, please click here.
To share your programming plans, or to request stickers, please click here.
Golden Glimmers
Introducing Golden Glimmers! A new way for GHHS Members to express themselves, and at the same time, stay connected with their GHHS peers! Staff will periodically request themed submissions in the form of art, writing, photos, and more. With approval, submissions will be shared on our website and social media pages.
Next call for Golden Glimmers coming soon!
A designation of compassion
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. GHHS members are peer nominated and are the ones that others say they want taking care of their own family.
The Society currently has about 30,000 members in training and practice.
Spreading empathy
Membership in GHHS goes beyond selection and induction into an honor society. Its members have a responsibility to model, support, and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care throughout their careers. The creation of a GHHS chapter signifies to the medical community that an institution places high value on the interpersonal skills and attitudes that are essential for the highest level of patient care.
“The state of healthcare is quite challenging out there. GHHS is a reminder that despite the obstacles, this is all about treating people and all about the patient care. GHHS and the Gold Foundation inoculates you against a lot of those obstacles and provides you with some strength to confront all of that.” — Dr. Scott Shaffer, Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University
Benefits of GHHS membership
With the support of the Gold Foundation and GHHS Supporters, GHHS funds educational events, supports research, promotes professional growth and creates opportunities for GHHS members to network with others who share their values and beliefs.
Benefits include:
- International recognition of humanistic achievement
- Special recognition on the ERAS residency application form
- Leadership development opportunities
- Chapter awards and grants
- Networking and mentoring connections
- Professional conferences, lectures, and workshops
- Resources to promote humanistic care in their community
History & early support
Inspiration for GHHS came from medical educators and residency program directors who expressed a need for a way to identify applicants to residency training programs who had outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Berrie Foundation, and an anonymous donor gave generously to launch GHHS. We are grateful for their crucial support.
Since its inception in 2002, GHHS has grown in influence to become a vital part of medical school and residency training program cultures throughout the US.
In 2012, we celebrated 10 years of GHHS:
In 2016, a GHHS identifier was placed on the Electronic Residency application making it clear that GHHS membership was something institutions advisors looked for in residency applicants. The power of GHHS lies in bringing together like-minded individuals to sustain their own humanism and to inspire and nurture humanism in others.
“It is hardest to practice the values of empathy and compassion when I am behind on my schedule, when multiple patients are waiting, and I feel pressure to rush. Physicians that do it best are the ones that are able to focus on each individual patient in the moment and temporarily forget the factors outside the room that discourage compassion.” – 4th year medical student and GHHS Member
With the support of the APGF and GHHS Supporters, GHHS funds educational events, supports research, promotes professional growth and creates opportunities for GHHS members to network with others who share their values and beliefs.
- What’s New in GHHS
- Chapter Resources
- Conferences and Events
- GHHS Newsletter
- Download a one page handout about GHHS
- Start a GHHS Chapter at your medical school
- Submit a blog post