Gold Humanism Honor Society

What is the GHHS?

Established in 2002 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is an international association of individuals and medical school chapters whose members are selected as exemplars of empathy, compassion, altruism, integrity and service in their relationships with patients and others in the field of medicine.

What is Humanism in Medicine?

Humanism in medicine describes relationships between physicians and their patients that are respectful and compassionate behaviors that are sensitive to the values, autonomy, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of others.

The humanistic doctor demonstrates the following attributes (I.E., C.A.R.E.S.):

  • Integrity: the congruence between expressed values and behavior.
  • Excellence: the clinical expertise.
  • Compassion: the awareness and acknowledgement of the suffering of another and the desire to relieve it.
  • Altruism: the capacity to put the needs and interests of another before your own.
  • Respect: the regard for the autonomy and values of another person.
  • Empathy: the ability to put oneself in another’s situation, e.g., physician as patient.
  • Service: the sharing of one’s talent, time and resources with those in need; giving beyond what is required.

Who are GHHS Members?

  • Medical students, residents, medical school faculty members and national figures who are role models in their contribution to compassionate service in medicine
  • Recipients of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
  • Recipients of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award
  • Recipients of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award

What does GHHS Offer?

  • International recognition of humanistic achievement
  • Leadership development opportunities
  • Networking with exemplars across the field
  • Participation in community service projects
  • Mentoring/mentee opportunities
  • Professional conferences, lectures, and workshops
  • Financial support for humanistic initiatives and research within the field
  • Awards for outstanding chapter activities
  • Letters and certificates of recognition
  • Access to research and learning materials
  • A community of like-minded professionals

Brody School of Medicine Chapter of GHHS

The Brody School of Medicine Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) began in 2011. Membership into the honor society is by peer selection in their third year of medical school. The activities of the honor society begin with an induction program with speaker and dinner. During the following year, as fourth-year students, they are responsible for selecting and executing a project that exemplifies humanism, participating in Solidarity Day (see explanation below), and sponsoring a fundraising event.

Membership

List of all GHHS members (PDF)

National Solidarity Day

The first ever GHHS National Solidarity Day for Compassionate Patient Care was held on February 14, 2011 just weeks after the tragic shootings in Tuscon. It was ignited by the humanistic actions of Randall Friese, MD, the University of Arizona trauma surgeon who was the first to treat Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Dr. Friese struck a chord when he said the most important thing he did for her in the ER was to take her hand and tell her that she was in the hospital and would be cared for.

GHHS rallied more than 40 medical schools and centers in the U.S. and Canada to demonstrate, through a variety of activities, their support for Dr. Friese and their commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. Now an annual event, each year schools, medical facilities, and other organizations show their support through many diversity events and activities. For the second year in a row, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution declaring February 14, 2014 as National Solidarity Day for Compassionate Patient Care.