Looking for a Project?With a grant from the GHHS, the UC Irvine SOMrecently completed the “Health Train Project.”

The chapter targeted underserved Latinopatients in Santa Ana, CA who suffer fromobesity and its complications, including diabetes,hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Members recruited patients through referrals fromphysicians and nurses at the UCI Santa Ana FamilyHealth Center. Volunteer physical therapistsidentified physical limitations and taught stretchesand techniques to help prevent injuries.

The Project: Each session included loggingweekly exercise accomplishments, taking a 30-minute health related workshop, warming upand joining a 4 mile walk or run. At the end ofeach session healthy snacks were served andfitness and nutritional goals set for the upcomingweek. A raffle for prizes was included. The groupmet six Saturdays from 9am–11am.

Results:• Participants lost weight• Improved their exercise endurance• Found training partners in their community

to continue walking after the program ended• Volunteers gained experience and compassion

toward patients struggling with obesity

GHHS Biennial 2012:Building on a Decade of Humanism in ActionNot Just a Conference – A Celebration!In the beginning, three schools established a Gold Humanism HonorSociety. Less than ten years later, GHHS is 99 chapters strong andgrowing. Whether or not you were part of the history of GHHS, youwant to be part of its future. Join us to celebrate all that GHHS hasaccomplished in its first decade and help shape the next one at theHyatt Regency O’Hare, Oct. 4-6, 2012.

• Get inspired by speakers• Explore hot topics at the diverse workshops• View posters designed to show what others are doing to

promote humanism in medicine• Discover ideas and projects at gold mining tables• Kick off your shoes for a night of music and dance• Enjoy good food and lively conversation with colleagues and

mentors

Take it from previous conference attendees--

I took more away from this conference than any other I’ve everattended. The approaches I learned and the people I’ve learnedfrom will not only make me a better physician, but will make mypatients more satisfied…

I felt that I had the opportunity to meet and get to know dozensof amazing people and to feel a part of a warm and hopefulcommunity.

The topics presented are informative, practical, energizing, andinspirational. I have never been to a more meaningful conference.

Watch for more information on our websitehttp://bit.ly/GHHSbiennial.

Maria C. Savoia, MD — GHHS National ChairJacqueline A. Mintz, PhD — Executive Dir.Norma Wagoner, PhD — Dir. Emerita

Harriet Turner — Program AssociateMichele Silver — Program AssistantContact us: GHHS@gold-foundation.org

P: 201-567-7999 Ext. 13F: 201-567-7880

VOLUME XV, SPRING 2012

The University of Wisconsin started publishing acollection of short stories and poems in ChickenSoup for the UW Medical Student Soul in 2007-08 with a grant from GHHS. The following storycomes from its latest issue.

Reflection by Anonymous

Last night I had the opportunity to sit down with mypediatric patient’s parents and reflect on theirexperiences in the hospital as well as my own. Theywere having date night in their daughter’s room andwelcomed me to join them as they told me abouttheir experiences with their daughter. She has acomplex, congenital heart condition and has had thefirst of multiple surgeries. She had returned to thehospital after a setback in her progress. Theyexplained to me that every time they come to thehospital the medical outcome is the same, but howthey feel about their stay when they leave thehospital depends on the people they meet. Theylamented how difficult it can be when a nurse,doctor, student, or ancillary staff is having a difficultday and they forget to leave that tension, stress, andfrustration at the door. What they cared about wasthe health of their daughter and going home as soonas they could. They also talked about how strangean environment the hospital is. Though they hadbecome more comfortable than most, as theycontinued to eat carry-out Chinese and watch thebaseball game, it was still a foreign environmentwhere they didn’t have control over their space orthe comforts of their home.

These thoughts made me think about howdisturbingly comfortable I have become in thehospital. Three and a half months ago I started ona surgery rotation, my first rotation of third year. Iquickly became immune to the oddity of nakedpeople, waking strangers up before the crack ofdawn, and asking complete strangers incrediblypersonal questions. With these thoughts, I realizedin one sense the hospital had become home, aplace where I was comfortable, saw friends, andspent a significant amount of time.

Last night I was reminded that we should neverforget that this isn’t home. We must realize howstrange an environment this is for our patients,and how we must be a kind and caringprofessional if we are going to gain the trust ofsomeone in an unfamiliar place. Lastly I wasreminded of being present, that no matter howchallenging medical school is, or how tired we are,we need to be present for our patients. They hangon our words, our body posture, and the tone wewalk in the room with. Let us be conscious ofourselves as we interact with our patients, whohave very different feelings about our home awayfrom home.

~2~

It wasn’t my child or relative being called to the stage to be inductedinto the Gold Humanism Honor Society, so why was I so moved?Attending Howard University COM’s recent inaugural GHHS inductionfelt much like a family gathering. On my arrival, I saw a room set for acelebration -- a welcoming sight for the guests who soon started toflow through the doors, dressed for the occasion, smiles on their faces.Gold tablecloths, lovely flowers and warm weather reminded me thatWashington, DC was also welcoming spring in mid-March. Each placehad a program acknowledging those who give their best to theirpatients and their university family.

Dean Mark S. Johnson, MD, MPH opened the ceremony followed byremarks by Clive O. Callender, MD, Professor and Chair, Honor Council.Inductees’ jitters were calmed by the music and mellow voice of GeneJohnson. After dinner, Dr. Callender introduced Wayne A.I. Frederick, Jr.,MD, MBA, FACS, Deputy Provost for Health Sciences, who eloquentlytraced the role humanism and humanistic mentoring played in his life.Talk about role models for students and residents! If one learns byexample, Howard’s students are most certainly getting the message fromtheir professors and school staff. I include staff because all the staff I metshowed great spirit and caring for their colleagues and guests.

The evening had many memorable moments including the enthusiasm ofpast Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine recipients Drs. Kevin Hurtt andEsther Forrester as they were called up to be pinned, followed by thenew student inductees. I couldn’t help but admire Blake Brown’sgrandmothers Lessie White and Carrie Brown (ages 91 and 92) who camein from California to see their grandson inducted into the honor society.But that’s not all; they’re coming back for his graduation. Blake told methey greatly motivated him and he thanks them for helping him get wherehe is today.

Kudos to Howard University College of Medicine! As Dr. Frederick urgedthe students to “Do your utmost best,” I thought that’s exactly whateveryone did!

Happy Times at Howard Universityby Harriet Turner, Program Asssociate

Blake Brown and family

RESEARCH application for “Humanism Influencing Medicine” deadline is June 15, 2012.

~3~

GHHS Solidarity Day 2012Tops Last Year’s Participants

Ashley Weil (far left) and Britni Bradshaw (far right) hand out puzzles atU of So. Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital.

During special session of newly implemented "Well Read" book cart rounds forpatients at U of Toledo Medical Center, volunteers provide books to interestedpatients while offering conversation, smiles and Valentine wishes to all.

Hofstra students, faculty and officestaff volunteer at a homeless shelter.

In honor of the GHHS 2nd annual Solidarity Day forCompassionate Patient Care, 43 GHHS chapters andinstitutions participated in myriad activities to remindeveryone of the importance of compassion in medicine.

Welcome New GHHS Chapters!Georgetown University School of MedicineMarshall University, Joan C. Edwards SOMTTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine

University of Washington School of Medicine

CongratulationsSheryl Pfeil, MD (GHHS 2008) selected for Ohio State GHHSChapter’s Linda C. Stone, MD Award in Mentoring. The awardexemplifies a deep commitment to fostering the professionaland personal growth of students.

Benjamin Preyss (GHHS 2011) selected as a 2011 PisacanoScholar. Benjamin is a 4th year medical student at the U Illinoisat Chicago COM pursuing a joint MD/MBA degree.

LeAnne J. Roberts (GHHS 2011) 4th year student at UMDNJ NewJersey Medical School, was named chair-elect of the AmericanMedical Association’s Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS).

Kumkum Sarkar (GHHS 2011) named this year's mostdistinguished medical student by American Association ofPhysicians of Indian Origin.

Rachel Scheerer, MD (GHHS 2011) recognized as physician inresidency by The Florida Academy of Family Physicians forbringing a legacy of compassion and service.

Robert Watson, MD (GHHS 2005) retired senior associate deanof U Florida COM will have a classroom in the medical educationbuilding named after him. Dr. Watson was instrumental instarting the Chapman chapter of GHHS at the university.

Congratulations Graduates!Stay connected by updating your profile in the

GHHS directory. Contact us for your login.

Tell us your news GHHS@gold-foundation.org

Findings Favor GHHS“Associations of Medical Student Personality andHealth/Wellness Characteristics With Their Medical SchoolPerformance Across the Curriculum,” by Scott J. Haight, MD,John T. Chibnall, PhD, Debra L. Schindler, PhD, andStuart J. Slavin, MD, MEd

Among other findings, this study showed that students whoexhibit certain personality characteristics perform better in theclinical setting. These individuals show more interpersonalwarmth, gregariousness, energy, and positive emotions. Theyare better at identifying with another person’s thoughts orcondition by putting themselves in that person’s place(empathy). These characteristics are among the most desiredqualities of practicing physicians. The admissions processfocuses too heavily on previous test performance and notenough on interpersonal and communication skills. Read articlepublished in April 2012 Academic Medicine.