Gold Humanism Honor Society inducts new class

New members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society were inducted on April 28.

New members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society were inducted on April 28.

UNMC inducted its fourth class of Gold Humanism Honor Society members on April 28.

Nineteen third-year medical students, six residents and five members of the faculty were recognized.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) was established in 2002 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which was established by Drs. Arnold and Sandra Gold at Columbia University. The national organization has more than 26,000 members in training and practice.

Since 1988, the Gold Foundation has partnered with medical schools and teaching hospitals to infuse humanism into medical training. The honor society is one more way the foundation is working to achieve this goal.

According to the organization’s website, “The power of the society lies in bringing together like-minded individuals to sustain their own humanism and to inspire and nurture humanism in others.”

Medical school chapters may induct up to:

  • 10 to 15 percent of the third-year medical student class;
  • Four faculty members selected by students in their core clinical year;
  • Six residents selected by students in their core clinical year; and
  • One graduating medical student and one faculty awardee of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award.

Inductees are selected through a vetted peer- and faculty-nomination process, said Charity Evans, M.D., assistant professor of surgery and co-advisor for the honor society.

Allison Ashford, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine-pediatric and GHHS inductee in 2017, spoke at this year’s event.

The GHHS website states that “membership goes beyond selection and induction into an honor society, as GHHS members have a responsibility to model, support and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care throughout their careers.”

Charity Evans, M.D., GHHS chapter faculty co-advisor, said that this year’s inductees were selected to do just that.

“The GHHS chapter at UNMC has grown substantially since its inception in 2014. This group of phenomenal medical students, residents and faculty represent compassionate and patient-centered care at UNMC, and have used this role to integrate the ideals of GHHS across the UNMC campus through programs such as Sunday Rounds, the Tell Me More campaign, Burn Out dinners, writing club, Thank A Resident Day and the White Coat Ceremony. We are so proud of what this group has accomplished and look forward to another year.”