Each year, a select group of students, residents and faculty members are named to GHHS. Through a peer-nominated process, GHHS membership recognizes those who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and serve as a role model, mentor and leader in medicine.
Together, Christina Artz, Hilda Watkins, Trevor Stevens and Matthew Robson – fourth-year students at the USA College of Medicine and members of GHHS – assembled gold-themed goodie bags containing hand-written notes from current GHHS members to distribute to the recently elected students, faculty and residents.
This year, to announce those elected, fourth-year members of the honor society decided to “tap” each new inductee in everyday places – such as the classroom or hospital hallways – to publicly recognize the recipient.
“I was waiting for our pediatrics lecture to start when I saw the current GHHS members walk into the room with gift bags,” said Maria Siow, a third-year student at the USA College of Medicine. “I was a little nervous at first as this was something I’ve aspired to participate in since freshman orientation.”
Each member of the Class of 2020 completed a ballot with statements such as “the classmates who have shown exceptional interest in service to those in need in our community” and “the classmates you would like to have work at your side during a medical emergency or unforeseen disaster,” among others. The students named two of their classmates who would best fit the situations described.
Tyler Kaelin, a third-year student at the USA College of Medicine, said he was surprised to hear his named called. “The honor has grown in meaning and value to me,” he said. “Practicing humanistic care is not done for recognition or esteem, but is for connecting with patients and their families to provide the best care we can offer. To be recognized for doing this as a student is nothing I expected, so it is all the more humbling to receive such an honor from my peers.”
The following USA students, residents and faculty were selected:
- Erin Bouska – student
- Joseph Cortopassi – student
- Aaron Dinerman – student
- Bonnie Holley – student
- Tyler Kaelin – student
- Elisabeth Potts – student
- Maria Siow – student
- Destini Smith – student
- Patrick Steadman – student
- Jeremy Towns – student
- Dr. Gabriel Bolanos Guzman – resident, department of internal medicine
- Dr. Rajesh Paladugu – resident, department of obstetrics and gynecology
- Dr. Eli Fox – resident, department of pediatrics
- Dr. Spencer Liles – faculty, department of surgery
This year’s GHHS class officers are Tyler Kaelin, president; Destini Smith, secretary/treasurer; and Joseph Cortopassi, social coordinator. New members will be officially inducted and pinned at the USA College of Medicine’s annual White Coat Ceremony on June 15, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the USA Mitchell Center.
“I am so honored to have been chosen by my classmates as someone who displays the characteristics of a GHHS member,” Siow said. “There are so many great compassionate students in the USA Class of 2020, so it means a lot to me to get to represent the class in this way.”
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation sustains the commitment of health care professionals to provide compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent patient care. The society currently has approximately 30,000 members in training and practice.
Each year, the GHHS participates in Solidarity Week for Compassionate Patient Care to remind students and employees of the importance of compassion in medicine. This year, Solidarity Week will take place Feb. 11-15, as the GHHS Class of 2019 and 2020 will participate in several activities to remind students and employees of the importance of compassion in medicine.
