What is GHHS?

Established in 2002, the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a national organization that is comprised of medical students, residents, and physicians whose members have been recognized for practicing patient-centered medical care by modeling the qualities of integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, respect and empathy.  GHHS advocates for humanism in medicine through a variety of events and activities (for more details, please visit The Arnold P. Gold Foundation).  Follow us on Twitter/Instagram!

Members of GHHS have the opportunity to work with peers on projects that benefit their classmates, patients, and the community at large through community outreach (toiletry drive, La Casita stocking stuffers), Compassion Grand Round subcommittees, collaboration with Medical Student Affairs  on GHHS Bookshelf/Book club and Golden Glimmers.  As stated on the national GHHS website, these projects are geared at "helping physicians combine the high tech skills of cutting edge medicine with the high touch skills of effective communication, empathy, and compassion."  Current GHHS Members have also found that their projects provided excellent conversation points during residency interviews.

The Society recommends that medical students be selected for membership in their third year as soon as peers and clerkship directors have had ample time to observe clinical practice.  The inclusion of this honor should be in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) and selected students should be humanistic exemplars for the entire student body and should range from 10-15% of the class.  

 Class of 2021 GHHS Inductees

The Selection Process:

Ballots are distributed to the third year class.  After all ballots are returned to Student Affairs by the due date, the office tallies all ballots and the tallied ballots are then presented to the GHHS selection committee.  The top 25% nominees will then be asked to provide an essay (1 page) about why they want to serve as an active member of the GHHS.  This essay will answer two questions (subject to change):

1. Describe examples of ways you have demonstrated humanism during your medical education.
2. If you were selected for GHHS, what ideas and projects would you want to participate in and see implemented in the chapter?

These essays will be de-identified and the committee will then select/elect the members of GHHS, which will comprise approximately 15% of the entire class.  Students will be notified by email of election to GHHS.