Gold Humanism Honor Society

Start a New Chapter

We are delighted that you are interested in establishing an Undergraduate Medical Education GHHS chapter at your institution. Our GHHS Chapters from around the world are a community of students, residents, and faculty members who are dedicated to the compassionate care of their patients, as well as committed to creating a healthcare system that is kind, safe, and trustworthy.

Membership into the Gold Humanism Honor Society is an opportunity for our members to act as leaders of humanism in healthcare in their communities.

Essential components of starting a GHHS Chapter and inducting members

  • A school must have a GHHS approved chapter to induct members
  • Selection of new members by new and existing GHHS Chapters include a two-step process: a primary peer-nomination followed by a review process led by a selection committee. It is the responsibility of the selection committee to ensure that those students who were nominated by their peers are in good academic standing and have demonstrated the values of the Gold Humanism Honor Society Chapters. Selection processes should follow the guidelines and procedures detailed in the GHHS Chapter Toolkit.
  • GHHS members must be peer-nominated (no self-nominations are accepted) via a peer nomination process for GHHS membership utilizing the Peer Nomination Survey as soon as peers and clerkship directors had sufficient time to observe them in clinical settings.
  • Medical student chapters may select no greater than 15% of a medical school class, four faculty members, and up to six residents each year.
  • GHHS members are responsible for completing at least one service project annually.

Apply for a GHHS Chapter

To be considered for a GHHS chapter, please complete this application.

To prepare to submit your application you will need:

  • The name and position of proposed Chapter Advisor(s) and a short statement to expressing their interest in accepting this role.
  • A statement sharing the types of service learning, community, mentorship or other programs that your chapter might be interested in championing.
  • A short statement describing the vision for branding and sustaining the chapter so that it becomes a part of the culture at your Institution.
  • A description and timeline of the peer nomination and selection process that will be implemented by your chapter
  • A description sharing how will you introduce GHHS to your student body/institution
  • Plans for formally inducting selected members into GHHS
  • Medical education programs that have received and met provisional accreditation standards from LMCE, have met pre-accreditation standards for a minimum of two years from COCA, or, have met the equivalent level of standards from their national equivalent may petition the GHHS Advisory Council to start a Chapter of GHHS.
  • A letter of support from the dean acknowledging the annual GHHS dues that are required to maintain your chapter’s active status. A GHHS Chapter is responsible for annual dues of $4,000.
    • Gold Partners Council memberships automatically include GHHS dues. Join the Gold Partners Council, a group of leading schools and hospitals that support humanism in healthcare, and receive many other benefits, too. Interested? Please contact, Judith Friedland at jfriedland@gold-foundation.org for more information.

The value of starting a new GHHS chapter and being a GHHS member

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.

Chapter benefits include:

Member benefits include:

  • Access to the Gold Member Portal which offers engagement benefits for future connection and professional development
  • Leadership development opportunities and convenings
  • Networking and mentoring connections
  • Continuing education opportunities

Resources for chapter application

  • Chapter Toolkit: a compilation of suggestions and best practices. This resource is intended to guide the leaders of prospective and existing GHHS chapters in sustaining and developing their programs.

Selecting Chapter Advisor(s)

  • The Chapter Advisor(s) should have a strong commitment to the humanistic development of trainees at your institution and the delivery of compassionate patient care.
  • Responsibilities include overseeing nomination & selection procedures, updating member information with the GHHS national office, planning the Induction Ceremony, and working with chapter members on activities aligned with the mission of GHHS.
  • Chapter Advisor(s) must be a member of the faculty.
  • Once selected, Chapter Advisor(s) become a member of GHHS and are inducted at the inaugural Induction Ceremony.

Inducting GHHS members

  • All inductees will receive a pin and digital certificate issued by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
  • After the selection of new GHHS members, Chapter Advisors must complete the Induction Procedure Form 21 days prior to the Induction Ceremony to receive pins and digital certificates in a timely fashion.
  • New GHHS members should be recognized in a formal Induction Ceremony held at any point between the completion of the selection process and graduation.
  • Formal recognition should also take place when other student honors and awards are bestowed. In addition, schools are expected to acknowledge student membership in GHHS at graduation ceremonies.

Building and sustaining a GHHS chapter

Newly selected GHHS members should meet soon after selection to build community, collaborate, and determine the activities and priorities the group will pursue in the year ahead.

To support continuity as students graduate and transition into residency, we strongly encourage chapters to establish a student leadership team at the outset. Thoughtful structure from the beginning can help ensure a smooth flow of operations year after year.

Consider appointing student leaders (or leadership teams) responsible for core areas of chapter engagement, such as:

  • Annual Operations: Supporting the chapter advisor in tracking important deadlines—ordering pins, submitting nominations, and applying for awards, grants, and programs.
  • Communications & Connection: Staying current with updates from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, promoting involvement in national initiatives and the Annual Gold Humanism Summit, managing social media, and maintaining communication platforms (such as Instagram or GroupMe) to help members stay connected.
  • Programming: Ensuring meaningful GHHS programming is active on campus, sharing updates and photos with national leadership, and pursuing grant opportunities to support events and initiatives.

There are many leadership models that can be successful—these are simply examples that tend to align well with national GHHS efforts.

Another effective approach is to create leadership teams for each focus area rather than assigning a single individual. Dividing responsibilities among small groups can promote fairness, shared ownership, and broader member involvement while strengthening chapter sustainability.

We also encourage student leaders to participate in the monthly student leader calls to ask questions, share ideas, and stay informed about national updates. Those can be found here.