Thursday, February 20, 2014

USA Gold Humanism Honor Society Members Focus on Compassion

Gold Humanism Honor Society members (from left) Ben Cason, Alicia Glass, Mary Walker, Stephanie Stropka, James Towner and Davida Yarbrough pose for a picture with Surgery Professor Dr. Charles Rodning and Clinical Education Coordinator Karen Braswell before giving out candy and other goodies for Solidarity Day on Feb. 14, 2014.
In honor of the Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society's (GHHS) 4th annual National Solidarity Day for Compassionate Patient Care, the University of South Alabama chapter of GHHS participated in several activities Feb. 14 to remind students and employees of the importance of compassion in medicine.

This year, GHHS members delivered breakfast, “Thank You” cards, compassionate care buttons, and goodie bags to all members of the health care team at USA Medical Center & USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital including residents, nurses, janitors, engineers, IT, security, therapists, and everywhere in-between.

"We truly went to almost every corner of the hospitals," said fourth-year medical student Stephanie Stopka, a member of GHHS. "The GHHS members were all smiles and in such good spirits after getting this opportunity to thank everyone for going the extra mile for our patients. Everyone was very receptive and grateful for the well-deserved appreciation."

The Society delivered these gifts of appreciation to encourage USA Health System team members to continue to go above and beyond the daily checklists and take that extra moment to care for others the way they'd want to be treated if they were the patient or patient's family.

"It takes a large team of people to pull off the routine medical care and medical miracles our hospitals deliver each day,” Stopka said. “It is very easy in this day and age to become jaded, cynical, and removed from the humanity that is so crucial in the medical field. We do this as a way to say thank you for all of their time and help in delivering compassionate medical care to our patients and their families here at USA."

The GHHS Solidarity Day for Compassionate Patient Care was initiated after the 2011 shootings in Tucson, Ariz., to honor the humanistic actions of Dr. Randall Friese, the trauma surgeon who first treated Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Each year, schools, medical facilities, and other organizations show their support through many diverse events and activities.

The senior medical students of the USA chapter of GHHS who participated last week are Sarah Bragg, Benton M. Cason, Alicia T. Glass, Stephanie S. Stopka, James E. Towner, Mary N. Walker, and Davida E. Yarbrough.

To view more photos from the event, click here. To learn more about National Solidarity Day, click here.
Gold Humanism Honor Society member Stephanie Stopka gives a bag of candy to an employee at the USA Medical Center for Solidarity Day on Feb. 14, 2014.