One of the biggest criticisms of the entire medical field is that healthcare providers lack empathy and do not provide compassionate care. For the past few decades, there have been large movements to address these concerns, emphasizing that medical care should treat patients as human beings and not merely as cases or conditions.
The Gold Humanism Honor Society honors medical students who exemplify these positive traits, encouraging all medical students to always treat patients with respect and empathy.
Including GHHS membership on your CV or resume can help you positively differentiate yourself from your peers and achieve your career aspirations.
In this article, we will explain what GHHS is, its founding principles, why medical students should care, how you can position yourself to be admitted, and what to do if you do not earn GHHS status.
What Is GHHS (Gold Humanism Honor Society)?
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a prestigious national honor society dedicated to recognizing and fostering humanism in medicine. Established in 2002 by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, GHHS honors medical students, residents, and faculty who exemplify exceptional humanistic qualities, such as compassion, empathy, respect, and integrity, in their clinical practice.
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is also known for starting the White Coat Ceremony, which is a practice now adopted by 99% of MD schools and in 19 countries across the globe, as well as the highly prestigious Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. The goal of the Gold Foundation is to ensure physicians practice patient-centered care based on humanistic principles.
But let’s take a step back and discuss what an honors medical society is. An honors medical society is an organization that recognizes outstanding medical students for their achievements, research contributions, and personal traits. There are several honor medical societies out there, but the most important two are Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) and GHHS.
The key difference between the two is that while AOA is more focused on highlighting students for their academics and research, GHHS focuses on students who have extensive community engagement and utilize patient-centered approaches to medicine.
The History of GHHS
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) was established in 2002 by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, an organization dedicated to fostering humanism in healthcare. The foundation itself was founded in 1988 by Dr. Arnold P. Gold, a professor of clinical neurology and pediatrics at Columbia University.
The society was born out of a growing recognition that medical training and practice were becoming increasingly focused on technology and efficiency, often at the expense of the human connection between doctor and patient. The society was designed to identify and support medical students, residents, and faculty who demonstrated exemplary humanistic behaviors and to inspire others to follow their example.
Although this honors medical society started a little more than 20 years ago, over 175 medical schools have active GHHS chapters. See which schools have GHHS chapters.
Why Should Med Students Care?
There are multiple compelling reasons why medical students should care about GHHS.
1 | Recognition of Humanistic Excellence
GHHS recognizes and celebrates students who have demonstrated exceptional interactions with patients. Being formally acknowledged sets students apart from their peers and makes it clear to future employers that providing humanistic care is your top priority as a physician.
Additionally, having membership in GHHS will enhance your residency applications, as many programs actively value and seek candidates who exhibit strong interpersonal skills and have a patient-centered approach to medicine.
2 | Networking and Professional Development
GHHS is an exclusive network, and having membership opens doors to like-minded professionals who value humanistic medicine. This network comes with opportunities for mentorship, support, and professional development.
Additionally, because GHHS is a newer organization in the medical community, they are constantly looking for medical students and physicians to take on leadership roles within the society. By doing so, you are further bolstering your CV.
How to Earn Gold Humanism Honor Society Status
GHHS is unique in the sense that applicants need to be peer nominated and then selected from the pool of nominated students. Students eligible for nomination are typically 3rd year medical students who have completed their core clinical rotations. The majority of schools will limit the number of admitted students to 15% of the total class size.
Who submits your peer nomination depends on how your medical school operates. Some schools require nominations from fellow classmates, whereas others ask physicians you worked with during your clerkship years to submit the form.
Often, the nomination form will ask for the following information:
- Examples of how you demonstrated humanistic qualities
- Rating your clinical care skills
- Involvement with advocacy and leadership positions
- Commitment to your community
- Engagement with self-reflection and narrative medicine
After a student is nominated, the selection process becomes equally variable. At some schools, nominated students are asked to interview for a position, while others will do classwide elections. Naturally, the classwide elections have amassed criticism, as many medical students view these elections as popularity contests.
If you want to know your school’s specific policy, we encourage you to ask your student affairs office for the most up-to-date information.
What If You Don’t Get GHHS?
Because many schools limit the number of admitted students to 15% of the total class size, many students will ultimately not be admitted into this prestigious honors society. However, you should not be overly worried if you do not get this recognition.
1 | Residency Applications Are Holistic
GHHS status is only one component of your residency application. Residency programs evaluate candidates based on many different factors, including clinical performance, letters of recommendations, personal statement, research experiences, and more.
Residency applications are more holistic than GHHS, so much more goes into predicting if you would be a good doctor than whether or not you were deemed to be in your class’s top 15% of students who demonstrated humanitarian values. You can more than make up this ground by having a stellar personal statement and giving excellent residency interview answers.
2 | Alternative Recognizations and Opportunities
There are other honor medical societies and awards you can apply for, like AOA. Earning this status would be equally or more impactful.
Another opportunity to consider is pursuing a second graduate degree. Earning a second graduate degree, like an MBA or MPH, can also separate you from your peers.
You can also become a founder of a club on campus, attend conferences, participate in national workshops, and build connections. Building your research experience and publications is a soft component most admissions committees take seriously.
The Med School Insiders Ultimate Premed & Medical Student Research Course takes a deep dive into the world of research to help you differentiate your application from other candidates. Created by doctors with over 60 publications each, we’ll show you how it’s done step by step!
3 | Development of Humanistic Qualities without Formal Recognition
Commitment to humanistic values, such as respect, compassion, and empathy, occurs daily through interactions with patients. Even if you do not earn formal recognition for these traits, developing these skills will help you throughout your career and still give you a leg up on peers who have not intentionally cultivated these qualities.
Success in Residency and Beyond
The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a prestigious organization dedicated to honoring medical students, residents, and faculty who exemplify compassion, empathy, and humanistic patient care. Membership in GHHS is a testament to one’s commitment to the core values of medicine and offers numerous benefits, including enhanced residency applications, networking opportunities, and a lifelong affiliation with a community dedicated to humanism in healthcare.
Medical students aspiring to earn GHHS status should proactively demonstrate humanistic qualities in their daily interactions, engage in patient-centered care, take on leadership roles, and participate in community service. Seek opportunities to reflect on your practice, develop your communication skills, and build strong relationships with peers and mentors who can support your nomination.
By embodying the principles of compassion, empathy, and respect, you can make a profound impact on your patients’ lives and set the foundation for a fulfilling career in medicine.
Residency Application Editing
Whether or not you earn GHHS, Med School Insiders can help you prepare a residency application that will get you noticed by your top choice programs. We offer industry leading application editing, tutoring, and mock interviews tailored to your specific needs. Access our Residency Admissions Consulting Services today.
We also offer a number of online resources, including guides on the entire residency application process, how to choose a specialty, how to successfully interview, and more.
