Gold Humanism Honor Society Receives ‘Exemplary” Ranking
The Gold Humanism Honor Society chapter at the West Virginia University School of Medicine has been recognized by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation with an ‘Exemplary’ chapter ranking.
The ranking recognizes the efforts of GHHS medical students work in events, activities and programs that increase engagement and empathy with the diverse patient community they serve, encourage clinician resilience and team building, and teach advocacy and leadership skills that are critical for today’s clinicians and highlight the importance of compassionate care at all levels in the healthcare workplace.
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a national honor society that honors senior medical students, residents, role-model physician teachers and other exemplars recognized for demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service. It was created by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine.
Earlier this year, WVU Charleston Campus third year medical students Will Crecelius, Landon Simpson and Evan Vance were chosen for this distinction by their WVU School of Medicine peers and faculty for their exemplary competence, compassion and model of humanism in medicine.
The new GHHS members join WVU Charleston campus medical students Brooke Bertus MS4, Tommy Casto MS4, Thomas Gaughan MS4, Joe Marshalek MS4, Luke Roberts MS4, Grace Walkup MS4 and David Zekan MS4, post-graduate residents Rebecca Brown MD, internal medicine/psychiatry PGY2, Sarah Curry MD, Family Medicine PGY3; and Darrin Nichols MD PGY3, former Chief Resident, and Chelsea Knotts, Surgery PGY4 in the Gold Foundation program whose mission is to infuse the human connection into healthcare by engaging schools, health systems, companies, and individual clinicians in the joy and meaning of humanistic healthcare, so that they have the strength and knowledge to ensure patients and families are partners in collaborative, compassionate, and scientifically excellent care.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the 2019-2020 academic year, the GHHS members continue to work on activities as they are able. In February, they joined their peers nationally in GHHS Solidarity Week, encouraging activities that promote humanism in medicine throughout the country. This year’s GHHS team is coordinating a healthcare workers appreciation project that includes inspirational and motivational messages to encourage their colleagues on the front lines during this unprecedented time.
The annual WVU-Charleston GHHS Summit, “Professional Advocacy: Beyond the Bedside”, that was planned for April 16, 2020 had to be cancelled, but the pre-work and preparation done by the GHHS members was an impressive collective effort. The Summit’s topic had been chosen by GHHS fourth year medical student members and was to include a series of professional advocacy lectures and interactive workshops led by national AAMC representatives, as well as Statewide and local physician and faculty advocacy leaders.
The WVU Charleston GHHS team includes Jim Griffith, MD, Associate Dean and Charter WVU School of Medicine GHHS faculty member, Kathleen Bors MD, FAAFP, Gold Humanism Honor Society Campus Faculty Advisor, Jim Mears, MD, WVU Family Medicine/CAMC Palliative Care, GHHS Faculty member, Mary Ann Maurer, DO, WVU Family Medicine, GHHS faculty member, and newest GHHS Faculty member John Linton PhD.
GHHS Faculty Advisor Dr. Kathleen Bors congratulated the GHHS members upon hearing of the ranking. “Congratulations to you - each and all – and thank you for your hard work, collegial leadership and the humanism you model in our daily shared work,” Dr. Bors said.