Two named Tow Humanism in Medicine awardees

Don Coulter, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics-hematology/oncology, and Priya Maillacheruvu, a third-year medical student, are this year’s recipients of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards.

They will be honored at the Gold Humanism Honor Society induction ceremony on Saturday.

In nominating Dr. Coulter for the award, John Sparks, M.D., chair of pediatrics, and Wendy Grant, M.D., professor of surgery, pointed to five qualities: passion, integrity, honesty, curiosity, and humility.

“Don is an exceptional pediatric hematologist/oncologist and an extraordinary person,” their nomination letter read. “Our residents recognize him as a role model for how to do medicine right. Don is widely known as a superb teacher in a variety of settings, including bedside teaching and his regular participation in morning conferences.

“What draws everybody to Dr. Coulter on a regular basis is the rapport that he establishes with his patients and their families. In the field of pediatric oncology, this may be a given, but he goes above and beyond.”

Nominator Charity Evans, M.D., assistant professor of surgery-general surgery, said Maillacheruvu, a Gold Humanism Honor Society member, exemplified the qualities recognized by the award: integrity, excellence, collaboration and compassion, altruism, respect and resilience, empathy and service.

“I was present as Priya cared for a young child in the neurology clinic,” Dr. Evans said. “She approached the anxious parents with kindness and compassion, understanding the gravity of the situation. She played with the young boy, easing his fears of being in the doctor’s office. She acted with respect for both the parents and child, and articulated the parents’ concern to the attending physician.”

Maillacheruvu called the award an immense honor.

“It also is a huge reminder for me as I enter the beginning of my career to keep patients on the forefront of everything I do and not forget the experiences that have helped shape what I value,” she said. “The Gold Humanism Honor Society really brings together what medicine means, to me at least.”

Dr. Coulter noted that any award that recognizes how someone deals with patients really is an award for an effective and committed care team, praising both his colleagues in pediatrics hematology/oncology and other health care colleagues.

“If I have time to share with a patient or to spend speaking with a worried family, that’s a reflection on a great number of other people who are working hard so that I can make time to do that,” he said.