Each year, a select group of students, residents and faculty members are named to the society through a peer-nominated process. GHHS membership recognizes individuals who exemplify compassionate patient care and serve as role models, mentors and leaders in medicine.
“Election to the GHHS is significant because these students, residents and faculty have been identified as individuals who represent the GHHS goal of placing compassion, dignity and human value at the heart of education and clinical practice,” said T.J. Hundley, M.D., associate dean for medical education, who was named a chapter adviser, replacing Susan LeDoux, Ph.D., who recently retired.
Medical student Nkemdi Agwaramgbo said being named to the society was “a humbling recognition.”
“I’ve never considered compassion to be a personality trait; it’s a set of behaviors – listening, encouraging, respecting privacy and others – reinforced by repetition,” Agwaramgbo said. “For me the honor of being nominated by my peers for Gold Humanism is a call to keep practicing these behaviors.”
This year, the following third-year medical students, residents and faculty were selected:
- Nkemdi Agwaramgbo, student
- Grayson Domingue, student
- Dala Eloubeidi, student
- Tyler King, student
- W. Hamilton Moore, student
- Raymond Moosavi, student
- Ravi Rajendra, student
- Jordan M. Smith, student
- Gisella Ward, student
- Zachary White, student
- Linda Ding, M.D.; faculty, department of surgery
- Sara McConnell, D.O.; resident, internal medicine/pediatrics
- Taylor Twiggs, M.D.; resident, department of obstetrics and gynecology
- Jonathan Bernard, M.D.; resident, department of surgery
Moore said he was honored to be elected and excited to serve as president. “I truly believe that compassionate medical care is one of the best ways to serve someone else, so to be recognized by my classmates as a future physician that displays integrity, compassion and clinical excellence is one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive,” he said. “With this recognition comes a responsibility that motivates me to treat all of my patients and colleagues with kindness.”
Medical student Gisella Ward said that, for her, the society represents a class of individuals who genuinely care about the whole patient beyond an office encounter or a disease state. “Humanistic care starts with compassion and is amplified by providers who take the time to listen, educate and empower their patients to be as health as possible,” Ward said. “I’m honored to be selected among practicing and future physicians who exhibit those qualities and plan to continue to do so with enthusiasm.”
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation sustains the commitment of healthcare 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 is set for Feb. 10-14, as the GHHS Class of 2020 will participate in several activities to remind students and employees of the importance of compassion in medicine.
