Gold Humanism Honor Society Chapter Meets High Standards

Published June 17, 2020

story by dirk hoffman

The University at Buffalo’s Richard Sarkin Medical Emeritus Faculty Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) has met the high standard of engagement with the mission of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

“Particularly in these trying times of increased divisiveness, it is a comfort to know that the future doctors we are training care deeply about compassion, equality and humanity. ”
UB’s GHHS chapter co-adviser
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The society is a program of the Gold Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that strives to elevate the values of humanism and professionalism in medicine worldwide.

All honorees — encompassing medical trainees and physician-teachers at various stages of their careers — exemplify excellence, compassion and dedication to the medical profession.

Founded in 2005, the UB chapter is one of only 14 graduate medical education sections nationally affiliated with the society.

Chapters Surveyed on Events, Activities and Programs

The accomplishment was achieved based on the results of the triennial GHHS chapter check-in survey.

The questionnaire sent to 160 GHHS chapter advisers identified events, activities and programs designed or conducted at least in part by GHHS medical students that:

  • increase engagement and empathy with the diverse patient community they serve
  • encourage clinician resilience and team building
  • teach advocacy and leadership skills so critical for today’s clinicians
  • highlight the importance of compassionate care at all levels in the health care workplace

Students Drove Achievement, According to Co-Adviser

The accomplishment was fully student driven, according to Sergio Hernandez, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, who is the GHHS chapter co-adviser with David A. Milling, MD, senior associate dean for student and academic affairs.

“I think it is a wonderful accomplishment which reflects the quality of students accepted into the Jacob School,” Hernandez says. “Particularly in these trying times of increased divisiveness, it is a comfort to know that the future doctors we are training care deeply about compassion, equality and humanity.”  

UB’s GHHS chapter is named in memory of Richard T. Sarkin, MD, EdM ’98, who founded the chapter and was an associate professor of clinical pediatrics known for his teaching expertise and passion.