Gold Humanism Honor Society inducts 27 UNMC members

UNMC's inaugural class of inductees into the Gold Humanism Honor Society

The University of Nebraska Medical Center inducted its first class of Gold Humanism Honor Society members earlier this month in a ceremony at the Omaha Press Club.

The class included 18 third-year medical students, six resident physicians and three faculty members.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) was established in 2002 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which was established by Drs. Arnold and Sandra Gold at Columbia University. The national organization has more than 20,000 members in training and practice.

Since 1988, the Gold Foundation has partnered with medical schools and teaching hospitals to infuse humanism into medical training. The honor society is one more way the foundation is working to achieve this goal.

As noted in the organization’s website, "The power of the society lies in bringing together like-minded individuals to sustain their own humanism and to inspire and nurture humanism in others."

Medical school chapters may induct up to:

  • 10 to 15 percent of the third-year medical student class;
  • Two faculty members selected by students in their core clinical year; and
  • Six residents selected by students in their core clinical year.

Inductees are selected through a vetted peer- and faculty-nomination process, said Charity Evans, M.D., assistant professor of surgery and co-advisor for the honor society.

"For the inaugural class, UNMC has selected a group of student, faculty and resident members that exemplify the qualities and attributes – compassion and empathy in medicine – that this society was created to celebrate and engender in the medical community," Dr. Evans said.

This year's inductees included:

Third-year medical students (listed by hometown):

Nebraska medical students:

Columbus – Katherine Ernst, Autumn Kresha

Doniphan – Katie Maliszewski

Hartington – Craig Sudbeck

Kearney – Blake Cover

Lewiston – Sydney Rees

Lincoln – Joshua Gruhl, Elizabeth Sutton

Omaha – Einstein Juma, Matt Pazderka, Sara Schenk, Matt Smith

Ord – Riley Machal

Other medical students:

Mesa, Ariz. – David Bayne

Brighton, Colo. – Chris Deans

St. Joseph, Mo. – Meredith Humphreys

Orem, Utah – Andrea Langeveld

Asotin, Wash. – Caitlin Loseth

Resident physicians (listed by hometown):

Nebraska residents:

Fremont — Kilie Donovan, M.D.

Newman Grove – Melissa Hernandez, M.D.

Omaha – Jennifer Dwyer, M.D., John Pesavento, M.D., Caleb Steffen, M.D.

Other resident:

Pamplemousses, Mauritius – Chetaj Mahabir,M.D. 

Faculty:

Shannon Boerner, M.D., Wendy Grant, M.D., Bud Shaw, M.D.

Induction of three faculty members is allowed in the first year, and Dr. Boerner will join Dr. Evans as a co-advisor for the group.

The student members will meet soon to create service projects, Dr. Evans said.

"The projects will benefit the UNMC community at large," she said. "This next year's work will be the beginning of a legacy for the GHHS here at UNMC, and we hope to involve first- and second-year medical students to keep them aware of the mission of the GHHS."

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