In The Empathy Collection, cardiologist shares intimate portraits of patients

In The Empathy Collection, cardiologist shares intimate portraits of patients

Dr. Howard Grill, a cardiologist from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has been photographing and interviewing patients to share their stories and help bring doctors and patients closer together. The series of portraits and audio has become The Empathy Collection, which is on display on his website and in the lobbies of two sites of Excela Health.

Excela Square at Latrobe is an outpatient facility affiliated with Excela Latrobe Hospital. The Empathy Collection is exhibited there with beautiful black and white photographs of several of Dr. Grill’s patients, with buttons below each portrait that can be pressed for a recording of the patient sharing a bit of his or her life story. The Excela Latrobe Hospital was honored by the Gold Foundation in 2018 with the ACGME and Gold Foundation DeWitt (Bud) C. Baldwin, Jr. Award. The annual award, which was given to just two hospitals in the nation in 2018, recognizes health institutions that are exceptional at fostering a respectful and humanistic environment for resident physicians and throughout the hospital system. Read more about the 2018 Bud Baldwin Award.

Dr. Grill shares more about The Empathy Collection here:

How did this project begin?

Mr. Gerard E., a portrait by Dr. Howard Grill

Mr. Gerard E., a portrait by Dr. Howard Grill

About 8 years ago, I had a patient who had been a blister gunner on a bomber in WWII. A blister gunner was the person who sat in the clear bubble under the bomber’s wings with a machine gun. This particular man was also an artist and had been chosen to design and paint the insignia on the side of the bomber. When he discovered that I had a strong interest in fine art photography, we developed a friendship and he brought in his original drawings of the insignia and told me stories about his time in WWII.

He enjoyed talking to me about his time during the war so much that at one point I asked him if he would allow me to record his stories and perhaps take his picture. I was worried that he would say no, but, in fact, he was pleased with the idea!

I ended up scheduling him for a 45-minute appointment (back then you could do that) so that we would have the time we needed after his clinical visit.  I was very intrigued with the resulting photographs and audio, and in the back of my mind I thought that it would make an interesting project. But it remained in the back of my mind until I changed jobs and joined a healthcare system that was a bit more community focused.

By the time I decided to restart the project, medicine had changed quite a bit and I was a hospital-employed physician. For that reason, I had to get permission from the hospital administration to ask patients if I could record and photograph them. I was pleasantly surprised when they thought that the project was a really good idea and allowed me to move ahead with it.

Listen to Dr. Grill interview Mr. Gerard E.


Audio Player

 

Why do you believe it is so important to hear the patient’s story?

Mrs. Audrey S., a portrait by Dr. Howard Grill

Mrs. Audrey S., a portrait by Dr. Howard Grill

I don’t think I have to tell you that medicine has changed over the last several years, the result being that physicians have less time available to spend with their patients. I believe the doctor-patient relationship has suffered because of this and that there are fewer and fewer doctors that truly know their patients as “people” with the same ups and downs, life experiences, and “stories” as we doctors have.

That’s really too bad because I think that one of the joys of being any type of healthcare professional is to know the people that you care for in a way that goes beyond what disease they have. Plus, I think that once that type of more personal relationship is established, the medical aspect of the relationship improves as well.  Patients are then more apt to trust their doctor and better express both their symptoms and the concerns that they have regarding their condition. That makes it that much easier to provide quality care and to address and allay patients’ fears and concerns.

 

Listen to Dr. Grill interview Mrs. Audrey S.:

Audio Player

 

What is your hope for presenting this art, for those who see your photos and hear the patient’s stories?

When I started the project, my goal was to bring doctors and patients closer by having them realize that they are very much the same — people with interesting life stories with the same fears and hopes even though they might be “sitting on opposite sides of the exam table.” The more I started to think about it, though, the more I thought that there may be more to it than that. After all, I think the more everyone realizes that we really all are more the same than we are different the better off we all will be.

Is there anything in particular you’ve been struck by, or have you had new insights as this project has evolved?

When I first started the project it was a bit difficult for me to ask patients if they would let me make a portrait of them and record their story. This was because I thought there would be hesitancy on their part and I didn’t want them to feel obligated to say yes. When I ask, I always explain to them that participation is totally and completely voluntary. I was quite surprised at how willing most people have been to participate in this project! At one point, I somehow forgot to put a memory card in my camera and didn’t recognize it until I had already asked the patient if I could photograph them. When I explained that I couldn’t take their photo, they actually volunteered to come back on their own time in order to participate. So I guess the answer is that I have been struck by how eager people are to tell their story and be recognized as more than just “a patient.”

Their eagerness was evident at the openings of the new outpatient facilities the hospital system I work for has built. In the lobbies of each of the facilities we hung five portraits with “sound bars,” so that people can listen to the audio. In each instance, we have invited the patients who are featured in the photos to participate in the opening. It has really been wonderful to see how proud and happy they are as others listen to their stories.

Has this changed the way you practice medicine at all?

I would say that it has made me more “tuned in” to my patients and perhaps more encouraging to them when it comes to expressing their health concerns. It has definitely increased my enjoyment of the practice of medicine.

What are your future plans for the project?

I would like to continue adding portraits and interviews while gaining a wider audience for the project among medical professionals, patients, and the community in general. As I continue to photograph and interview patients, I will be adding the portraits and audio to my website.

I would love to see other medical systems utilize the project in their training of medical professionals. In addition, it would be wonderful if other medical institutions were also able to use the portraits and audio as part of the décor for their medical facilities. There has been great interest with excellent patient and visitor feedback to the public art displays with audio available in the lobbies of our outpatient facilities. It has also generated a great deal of positive feeling within the local community.

Any group or hospital system can email me if they have an interest in or ideas about how to utilize the project. See and hear the entire project to date

What advice would you give new medical students about connecting with patients?

Introduce yourself to your patient respectfully and treat him or her with respect. When you ask a question, give the patient time to tell you what they want to say and don’t just hear — listen.

Ask them what their concerns are. They might not share their concerns with you unless they know that you want to know. Try to take some time to learn about your patients as people.

Enjoy the time with your patients; it’s one of the best aspects of working in healthcare.

Tribute to Dr. Arnold P. Gold, our beloved co-founder

Dr. Arnold P. Gold and Christopher, one of the thousands of patients he cared for with such skill and compassion.

With heavy hearts, the Board of Trustees and staff of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation  share that Dr. Arnold Perlman Gold, our beloved co-founder, passed away on January 23 in New York City. He was 92.

Dr. Gold was a world-renowned pediatric neurologist, a Professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a master diagnostician who became an international leader and advocate for humanism in healthcare.

Dr. Gold and his wife, Sandra, co-founded The Arnold P. Gold Foundation with an aim toward sustaining the human connection in medicine and ensuring all patients received compassionate care. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s programs, such as the White Coat Ceremony and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, are now found in nearly every medical school in the country.

Dr. Gold was born in New York City, New York, on August 8, 1925, the son of attorneys Rebecca and Michael Gold.  The younger sibling of Bernard and Thelma, Arnold was sent from his childhood home in Brooklyn to Galveston, Texas, to attend high school. He left his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Austin to enlist in the Navy during World War II as soon as he celebrated his 17th birthday. He served as a navy corpsman until the war ended when he returned to the University of Texas to finish his bachelor degree in 1947.

After completing a master’s degree at the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1949 and a medical degree from the University of Lausanne in 1954, Dr. Gold interned at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He went on to become the chief resident at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he worked with Dr. Albert Sabin on the first polio vaccine.  After a stint as the visiting chief resident at the Babies Hospital at the New York Presbyterian Columbia University Campus he returned to do a fellowship in the new discipline of Child Neurology.

Drs. Arnold and Sandra Gold founded The Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1988 to bring new focus to the essential human connection in healthcare.

Dr. Gold was a professor and clinician at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons for more than 50 years. A pioneer in the field of child neurology, Dr. Gold published more than 80 articles and numerous books. He treated tens of thousands of children and provided a model of skill, knowledge and compassion for hundreds of pediatric residents and thousands of medical students who trained with him.

“Arnold Gold was the quintessential clinician who cared for young patients and their families and trained budding physicians for more than two generations,” said Lee Goldman, MD, Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine at Columbia University and Chief Executive, Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

“Starting at Columbia in 1993, Arnold and the Gold Foundation created the White Coat Ceremony, which now welcomes medical students into the profession in nearly every American medical school and many schools throughout the world, to promote compassion and humanism in future doctors. He started by changing lives one at a time, but ultimately changed the entire medical profession,” said Dr. Goldman.

Dr. Gold was beloved by his patients, many of whom traveled across the globe to see him. The particular care that he and Sandra took with each patient and their family was legendary, and the relationships he created with patients lasted for decades and helped build The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.  “Arnold was a shining example of the humanism he espoused his entire life. Both as a person and as an exemplary clinician, he treated every patient, every colleague, every fellow human being with great compassion and empathy,” said Richard Sheerr, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Gold Foundation.

Dr. Gold was a professor and clinician at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons for more than 50 years.

In the 1970s and 1980s, as imaging, scans and other technological advances were introduced in hospitals, Dr. Gold became increasingly alarmed that students and clinicians were losing their connection to the patients themselves. He launched The Arnold P. Gold Foundation with Sandra in 1988, forever changing medical education and becoming a pioneer in fostering the human connection in healthcare.

Dr. Gold was named Practitioner of the Year at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1992. When presenting the award, Dr. Lewis P. Rowland, the chair of the Department of Neurology at the time, spoke of Dr. Gold’s remarkable impact:  “Arnold’s patients come before all else. He is legendary in his ability to make contact with — and to calm — the most anxious, recalcitrant, or distressed child. He is physician, friend, and advocate to the children and their families.” Dr. Rowland described Arnold as “a truly great teacher — at the bedside or in the lecture hall. Residents and medical students flock to him — not just because he is so stimulating but because he serves as such a role model.”

Dr. Gold was awarded the Columbia University College of Physician and Surgeons Distinguished Service Award in 1999. His many national awards included the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Child Neurology Society, the President’s Award from the AMA Foundation, and United Hospital Fund of New York’s Community Service Award. He received honorary doctorates from Sacred Heart University, New Jersey Medical School (Rutgers), and Mt. Sinai Medical School in NYC. In April, he will receive posthumously the 2018 Babies Hospital Distinguished Alumnus Award.

He was involved in numerous committees and community boards, including the Berrie Group Home for the Developmentally Disabled. Dr. Gold was on the Advisory Board of the Therapeutic Nursery at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, where there is a Sandra and Arnold Gold Wing. Dr. Gold was also a benefactor at The Jewish Home in Rockleigh and was involved with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities. He was on the Board of Advisors of the Community School in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Dr. Gold is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Dara Silver, Stephen and Michele Silver, Jeni Arnold, Amelia Gold and Brian Benson, and Maggie Gold Seelig and Jonathan Seelig; and 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved son Jeffrey Silver.

Richard I. Levin, MD, current President and CEO of the Gold Foundation, reflects “It was only in the last six years of his beautiful life that I came to know Arnold Gold. He and his wife, Sandra, who together founded The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, were a storied love match. Of all the impressions I’ve drawn from his talks at White Coat Ceremonies across the country, I will miss his chronicle of their continuing love story the most. And if there is one word that this icon of humanism, of patient care, of compassion and empathy, embodies above all else, it is ‘love.’ We mourn for him, but as we celebrate his unique life, we can all carry his legacy forward in love.”

See the statement from the Association of American Medical Colleges on Dr. Gold’s passing.

You may share your memories of Dr. Arnold Gold in several ways: when you donate (the form has a field for stories), at the bottom of this page (which will be posted publicly on this page), or by emailing info@gold-foundation.org. Thank you for joining us in honoring his extraordinary legacy.

GHHS rushes to aid chapter in Ponce, Puerto Rico

A few weeks after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, the Ponce Health Sciences University Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society reached out to us, desperate for assistance.

Ponce Health Sciences University and San Lucas Hospital are still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Donation efforts are concentrated in San Juan and the northern part of the island. The community these institutions serve is on the southern shore and accessibility is still limited.

The following are email reports we have received from two caring young doctors. Eduardo Lopez is a fourth-year medical student at Ponce Health Sciences University and president of the Ponce Gold Humanism Honor Society. His emails are infrequent, as wireless connectivity is still limited and unpredictable. Dr. Susana Vargas-Pinto is a fourth-year general surgery resident at SUNY Buffalo. She is a Ponce Health Sciences University graduate.

October 9th

“We made a preliminary assessment of the areas and communities most in need of help…. We have encountered multiple amputees with infected amputations, diabetics and bed-bound patients with ulcers, needs for food and water in these communities. Our plan is to gather as much help as we can find to clean the wounds, and provide some assistance to these people.”- Eduardo Lopez

October 10th

“Many students have been relocated since their apartments were affected by the hurricane. Students and residents are in need of basic supplies like water, personal hygiene products, food and snacks. The residents can’t afford to make long lines in the grocery stores to get what they need due to their working hours and some of the medical students have been bringing water and snacks for them to the hospital. The hospitals are running out of supplies: supplies for wound care, fluids, antibiotics and insulin are becoming scarce …  anything will help! –Susana Vargas-Pinto, MD

October 14th

“Thank you for your interest in helping the fellow Med students and residents in PR. I have not been successful in establishing contact with them again. Communication is still very inconsistent. Dr. Maria Valentin from San Lucas Hospital is the Program Director for Internal Medicine and is the one coordinating the visits to refuges and isolated communities.” –Susana Vargas-Pinto, MD

October 17th

Eduardo Lopez sent us the following request for specific supplies.

“Thank you for your promptly response. And thank you so much, on behalf of everyone in the island, for caring and responding. I am sorry I could not write sooner, but wi-fi is still hard to find. …The following are in very short supply:

  • Canned food
  • Bottled water
  • Water filters
  • Water purifying tablets
  • Rice
  • Gauze
  • Skin tape
  • Pads and diapers
  • Antiseptic solution
  • Pasta
  • Snacks
  • Plastic cups, plates, cutlery
  • Toiletries

I know the list is long, but whatever you can find.

Again, I am eternally grateful.”

October 31st

Dr. Susan Vargas-Pinto wrote us with an update:

“Mayo Clinic coordinated a national effort with many surgeons who were available to go to help operating and caring for patients and when they got there they were confronted with the reality of the great need for supplies, water and electricity to resume operations. That was also the type of help requested from the local physicians in San Juan. They returned to the U.S. mainland and left the supplies they had with them…. The best way to help is to send medical and non-medical supplies so the local providers could do their work….. I just wanted to share the experience with you because it reinforced the benefit of your effort to send supplies. Thank you for the time and effort you have put in to this. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help, I am at your disposition.”

We are encouraging our stateside medical students to spearhead relief drives around the country to collect toiletries, water, and non-perishable food and snacks for doctors, nurses, students and their patients. We brought these emails to the attention of AmeriCares; they are now working hard to provide medical supplies.

As power is restored, life will get easier for them. But the damage to roads and infrastructure makes transporting goods on the ground difficult. These supplies must arrive by air through Mercedita International Airport, which has only one runway.

If you would like to purchase and send the supplies yourself, please send them to:

Dr. Kenira Thompson- President Ponce Research Institute

c/o Eduardo Lopez GHHS 388 Calle Dr Luis F Salas Urb Ind Reparada 2

Ponce, PR 00716-2347

 

If you would like to support Gold Humanism Honor Society chapters and all our humanistic efforts, including this one, please donate HERE.

Zucker School of Medicine Celebrates the Class of 2025 During Eleventh Commencement Ceremony

Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup: A Focus on Kindness

The Gold Foundation is pleased to introduce Nora Jones, PhD, a Consulting Bioethicist and new editor of the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup.

Dr. Jones earned her PhD in anthropology from Temple University in 2002 and moved into the bioethics space first as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. She then moved back to Temple University to co-found and serve as the Director of the MA in Urban Bioethics program. She has given over 40 talks nationally and has over 30 publications; her scholarship focuses on embodiment theory, urban bioethics, critical social science, and the public understanding of science and medicine. She’s recently left academia and, in addition to her work with the Gold Foundation, has moved to the philanthropic space where she is supporting organizations that foster the capacity for health in the lives of children and their families and communities.

Learn more: 8 Questions with Dr. Nora Jones.

As I write this, medical and nursing students are doing final edits on their submissions to the 2025 Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest. They were prompted to reflect on Dr. Gold’s statement that “Of all the tools in my medical bag, the most important of all is not in the bag itself — it’s my ears, to listen to the patient.”

In taking on the stewardship of the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup, I am struck by the symmetry of Dr. Gold’s imperative to listen and Jeffrey Silver’s legacy as “someone whose life was devoted to doing good for others,” someone who “often went out of his way to help family and friends.”

Smiling kind doctor with a young patient. Words say: JEFFREY SILVER HUMANISM IN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH ROUNDUP and A Focus on KindnessListening and helping are core to the Gold Foundation’s championing of humanism in healthcare, defined as clinically excellent care that is kind, safe, and trustworthy. Educators and clinicians have been teaching and writing about the broad umbrella of “medical humanities” for over 100 years, and scholarship broadly spans compassion, empathy, patient-centered outcomes, bedside manner, generosity, altruism, and benevolence, among many other varied terms. In these first few issues of the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup we’ll be honing in on the Gold Foundation’s centering of kind, safe, and trustworthy as necessary features of clinically excellent care; we’ll start with kindness.

Scholarship on kindness is limited, with a rise in the first two decades of the 21st century and a period of accelerated growth sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. If it is true that we pay more attention to things when we feel they are lacking (psychologists will recognize this as the scarcity principle or attention restoration theory while social scientists will recognize the deficit model), the rise in studies is an indicator in itself of the need for explicitly naming “kindness.”

Dr. William G. Pickering wrote about this need in his 1997 Journal of Medical Ethics article, “Kindness, prescribed and natural, in medicine.” His abstract is too clear and beautifully written to paraphrase:

“To omit the word kindness in medical practice and journals, in favour of fashionable notions such as “care” and “skills”, is not in patients’ interests. Health professionals may come to the view that natural kindness (the same as that found in the world outside medicine), because it is absent by name in medical skills courses’ or other official edicts, is somehow unscientific and unworthy of their attention. As lay-people know, it is an essential adjunct to all medical management, sometimes the only one required, and by no means always a time-taking matter. And so its use by name in journals, and its actual use in practice, is here recommended. It is a supreme medical ally.”

I take Dr. Pickering’s words to heart and in the first Research Roundup am sharing 4 recent articles that specifically name and explore kindness — its role in the healthcare context broadly, how it promotes wellness, and how the presence and absence of kindness in educational spaces influences future clinicians.

The Gold Foundation looks forward to adding this year’s Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare essay contest winners’ reflections to the collection, and I look forward to featuring the work of these young humanism leaders in the near future.

This roundup emphasizes the critical importance of kindness as a fundamental component of humanism in healthcare, reminding us that technical skills are most powerful when paired with genuine human connection. Four publications are presented and the reader will come away knowing what each article is about, why the research is important, and what the article may mean for them directly. (1070 words, ~5 minute read)

This first article is a good entry point for the literature on kindness in healthcare:

Kindness: Poor cousin or equal kin to Compassion and Empathy in the Healthcare Literature? A Scoping Review. Macklin, N., Wilkinson-Meyers, L., & Dowell, A. (2024). BMJ leader, 8(4). Free full text

What: This analysis of 42 studies found that the terms empathy, compassion, and kindness, while often conflated, represent distinct concepts along a stimulus-response-action continuum. Kindness is action-based, can be both reactive and proactive, involves recognizing shared humanity, is given without obligation, and is motivated by a desire to help others flourish—not just in response to suffering. The authors argue that kindness deserves equal importance to compassion and empathy, rather than being treated as a “poor cousin” or secondary concept.

So What: Lack of consensus on these definitions has impeded research and implementation of humanistic care. By distinguishing kindness from compassion (responds to suffering) and empathy (internal process), healthcare professionals can better appreciate each concept’s unique contribution to care quality.

Now What: Healthcare leaders, educators, and practitioners should recognize kindness as a primary concept rather than subordinating it to compassion or empathy. This clarification provides a foundation for developing more precise measurements, educational approaches, and implementation strategies that recognize all three concepts’ distinct roles. Organizations can use the proposed stimulus-response-action continuum model to build frameworks that intentionally cultivate kindness alongside compassion and empathy, addressing different emotional contexts, and fostering a more humanistic healthcare environment

With the definition provided by Nicki Macklin and colleagues, the next step is to be able to measure kindness. Dr. Austin Hake and Dr. Stephen Post’s article provides an example of one team working to do just that.

Kindness: Definitions and a pilot study for the development of a kindness scale in healthcare. Hake AB, Post SG (2023). PLoS ONE 18(7): e0288766. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. Free full text

What: This study defines kindness as recipient-perceived beneficial action and distinguishes between “Everyday Kindness” (routine actions) and “Informed Kindness” (personalized attention). Surveying 45 outpatients, researchers found simple behaviors like smiling, making eye contact, and showing genuine interest strongly correlate with perceived physician kindness.

So What: This matters because despite the complexity of teaching empathy and compassion, kindness emerges as a more accessible and implementable approach to improving patient care, with potential implications for patient trust, satisfaction, and potentially even health outcomes.

Now What: For medical educators and administrators, a takeaway is to consider integrating kindness-focused training that emphasizes practical, low-effort behaviors: encouraging physicians to greet patients warmly, listen attentively, ask personal questions, and demonstrate genuine interest. These small actions can be more readily taught and implemented than concepts like empathy which may contribute to provider burnout. Simpler acts of kindness potentially may lead to improved patient experiences and potentially better health engagement.

If it is true that we pay more attention to things when we feel they are lacking, Dr. Angela Greco and colleagues’ scoping review speaks to the idea that many of us are feeling the need for more kindness.

What’s the role of kindness in the healthcare context? A scoping review. Greco, A., González-Ortiz, L.G., Gabutti, L. et al. BMC Health Serv Res 25, 207 (2025). Free full text

What: This review analyzes 19 studies on healthcare kindness across four categories: organizational culture, burnout reduction, staff education, and patient communication. Defining kindness as action-based behavior demonstrating generosity beyond clinical competence, the authors found kindness initiatives create “prosocial contagion” where individuals pass kindness forward, improving outcomes for both patients and providers.

So What: Despite being fundamental to patient-centered care, kindness remains underdeveloped as a distinct concept in healthcare research compared to compassion and humanized care. Evidence shows kindness-centered practices improve staff well-being, reduce burnout, enhance communication, and improve patient experience, with transformative potential for healthcare quality.

Now What: Healthcare leaders should consider implementing specific kindness-focused initiatives such as empathy training programs, recognition systems for kind acts, psychological safety protocols, and flexible work policies. Organizations should prioritize kindness-centered leadership to create cultures where staff feel valued and understood, which improves retention, reduces burnout, and enhances patient outcomes. Future research should develop indicators to measure kindness-related performance across organizational culture, staff well-being, education, and patient experience to compare healthcare organizations that promote kindness against those that don’t.

And finally, the last article highlighted here is not about kindness per se, but provides important insights into the detrimental effects of unkindness.

Being kind in unkind spaces: a qualitative examination of how medical educators and first year medical students perceive empathy training. Harvey, S. D., & Stacey, C. L. (2024). Frontiers in Sociology, 8, 1272357 Free full text

What: This qualitative study examines disconnects between how medical educators and students perceive empathy training. Interviewing 23 students and 9 educators, researchers found both groups value emotional intelligence but differ in their assessment. Students believe their authentic empathy gets undermined by “robotic” standardized training, while educators favor a “fake it till you make it” approach. Both agree the overwhelming biomedical curriculum creates an “unkind space” challenging empathy development.

So What: Current empathy training creates “empathic dissonance” when students perform inauthentic scripted statements, potentially affecting their professional identity and patient relationships. Medical education sends mixed messages — emphasizing empathy while prioritizing biomedical knowledge — making genuine kindness difficult despite good intentions.

Now What: Medical schools should redesign empathy training to build upon students’ existing emotional intelligence rather than imposing standardized approaches. Addressing “unkind spaces” requires examining curriculum priorities and institutional culture to better support empathy development, including integrating emotional intelligence into biomedical coursework rather than treating it as a separate component.

We’d love to hear from you! Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future Research Roundups to njones@gold-foundation.org.

Forged by tragedy, driven to heal: CMSRU’s Mitchell McDaniels answers the lifelong call to medicine

8 Questions with Dr. Nora Jones

“8 Questions” is a Gold Foundation series spotlighting members of the Gold community – doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals of all kinds, students, corporate and hospital leaders, patients, family members, Trustees, staff members, and supporters.

Photo of Dr. Nora Jones

Dr. Nora Jones

The Gold Foundation is delighted to introduce Dr. Nora Jones, Consulting Bioethicist, who will be editing the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup. She earned her PhD in anthropology from Temple University and moved into the bioethics space first as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. She then moved back to Temple University to co-found and serve as the Director of the MA in Urban Bioethics program.

Dr. Jones has given over 40 talks nationally and has over 30 publications; her scholarship focuses on embodiment theory, urban bioethics, critical social science, and the public understanding of science and medicine. She’s recently left academia and has moved to the philanthropic space where she is supporting organizations that foster the capacity for health in the lives of children and their families and communities. 

Tell us about you. What drew you to work in healthcare?  

I was drawn into the healthcare space because I think there is great power in blending biomedical and social sciences. I’ve had the privilege of sharing some of the anthropological toolbox with hundreds of current and future clinicians; coupled with their excellent clinical training, they are using that toolbox to help foster greater capacity for health with their patients and in their communities. 

Why does humanism in healthcare matter to you?  

No matter how you look at it, humanism in healthcare matters: practicing clinically excellent medicine that is also kind, trustworthy, and safe leads to healthier patients, more satisfied clinicians, and more efficient systems. The ROI of humanism is vast.  

What are you most excited about in your new role at the Gold Foundation? 

I’m most excited about being able to connect with all the wonderful staff and members of the Gold Foundation! I’m eager to learn with and from the collective.  

What do you hope to bring to the Gold community through the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup?

I hope that the Research Roundup will be a conversation starter. In my role as a Consulting Bioethicist I am aiming to bring that interdisciplinary worldview to the Roundups to build bridges and highlight connections. I hope that by using a new “What? So What? Now What?” format, readers will come away not only with more knowledge about something and why that thing is important, but with ideas about how they can apply that knowledge in practical and pragmatic ways.   

What themes would you like to tackle in future issues of Research Roundup? 

My first three Research Roundups will be focused on the pillars of Gold’s model of humanistic care: kindness, safety, and trust. After that, I’m interested in exploring more the relationship of humanism and bioethics and other themes that can help clinicians practice humanism. I’m also hopeful that readers will suggest topics of interest as well!

Editor’s Note: Read past issues of the Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup and sign up to receive an email each time a new issue is released.

What 3 books would you recommend to a student who is passionate about humanism in healthcare?

Arthur Frank’s The Wounded Storyteller is 30 years old this year but remains to me one of the most powerful books on the power of narrative ethics. Narrative ethics builds upon narrative medicine by focusing on the moral act of listening. Byron Good’s Medicine, Rationality, and Experience is another classic. Ann Jurečič’s Illness as Narrative is also quite good. The unifying theme is storytelling — as a means to come to know and make sense of the world and each other.  

What is your happy place? 

Hiking the Brandywine Valley! 

What is one thing that the Gold community might be surprised to learn about you? 

I did my dissertation research at the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in the late 1990s, and in 2022 I was honored to be named a Fellow of the College – I think it’s a lovely 360 on my career!  

Thank you, Dr. Jones! Read more interviews in the “8 Questions” series.

Sign up to receive an email alert when future Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundups are published.

Gold Foundation wins Medallia’s Solution Innovation Partner Award

In recognition of its innovative contributions to building trust in healthcare, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation was presented Medallia’s first-ever Solution Innovation Partner Award at the Medallia Experience Conference in Las Vegas on March 24, 2025.

Purple badge that says "Medallia Partner Award" and "Solution Innovation Partner 2024"The Gold Foundation collaborated with Medallia to create the Medallia Gold Humanism Trust Tool, which measures six actions that have been identified by patients as signs of a humanistic healthcare encounter. The tool is accessible via the Medallia platform, allowing health systems and other patient care facilities to measure humanism and offer actionable feedback to increase trust and connection with patients.

“We are thrilled to be honored by Medallia for our innovation,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the nonprofit Gold Foundation. “Practical innovations to support humanism is one of the three pillars of our strategy, helping to bring humanistic care to more people. We are proud to partner with Medallia to develop the trust tool, and we look forward to more innovative collaborations to come.”

The Medallia Gold Humanism Trust Tool is currently in use across a major health system’s primary care and family medicine services, which reaches 1.5 million patients each year. Any Medallia healthcare client can add the trust tool to its enterprise platform.

In announcing the award at the conference, Medallia Senior Vice President of Global Alliances Eric Din said, “Innovation is at the heart of what we do at Medallia, and the Solution Innovation Partner Award goes to the partner that has delivered the most impactful solution innovation on the Medallia platform. Their forward-thinking approach in the healthcare space has strengthened trust for patients and providers and pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with Medallia.”

The award was presented March 24 at the Medallia Experience Conference in Las Vegas. Pictured from left: Medallia Global VP of Strategic Alliances Ellie Soleymani; Gold Chief Innovation Officer and SVP Elizabeth Cleek, Psy.D.; Gold President and CEO Kathleen Reeves, MD, FAAP; Medallia SVP of Global Alliances Eric Din; and Medallia Senior Director of Alliances Kevin White.

“The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, in collaboration with Medallia, has co-developed a validated trust measurement tool specifically designed for the healthcare industry,” continued Mr. Din. “This tool serves as a groundbreaking innovation on the Medallia platform, driving both patient and provider experience transformation while addressing one of the most critical challenges in healthcare today: trust.”

Medallia is the pioneer and market leader in customer, employee, citizen, and patient experience. In 2022, Medallia joined the Gold Foundation’s Gold Corporate Council, a group of leading healthcare companies that commit to humanistic policies and processes and to elevating humanism in healthcare throughout the industry.

Learn more about the Medallia Gold Humanism Trust Tool. If you are interested in using the trust tool or joining the Gold Corporate Council, please reach out to Judith Friedland at jfriedland@goldfoundation.org.

The Gold Foundation to honor four visionary leaders with the 2025 National Humanism in Medicine Medal

Are you looking for tickets or sponsorship information? Find all that and more at the 2025 Gold Standard Gala website.

he Arnold P. Gold Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 National Humanism in Medicine Medal: physician-scientist and leader of the groundbreaking International Human Genome Project Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD; patient experience and health equity innovator Dwight W. McBee, MBA, BSN, RN, CPXP; trailblazing nurse and compassionate care policy advocate Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN; and champion of human-centered healthcare and chair of the Board of Trustees of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Richard Sheerr.

Dr. Collins, Mr. McBee, Dr. Reinhard, and Mr. Sheerr will be presented their medals at the Gold Foundation’s Gold Standard Gala on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the beautiful Guastavino’s in New York City. These outstanding honorees have placed the mission of humanism at the center of their lives and work. They have made profound contributions across patient experience, nursing, medical research, healthcare policy, teaching, and strategic organizational leadership, and they have bettered the lives of countless patients, family members, and caregivers.

“This year’s four medal recipients have helped advance kind, safe, trustworthy care in inspiring ways,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “By dedicating themselves to the people in front of them — patients, healthcare team members, caregivers, families — these honorees have shaped direct patient care as well as the broader healthcare ecosystem of research, policy, and culture. We are excited to be honoring each of them.”

Michael J. Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health and one of healthcare’s most influential executives, will serve as the event’s honorary chair. The emcee of this year’s gala will be Gold Trustee Dr. Kimberly Manning, a national voice of humanism who is a Professor at Emory School of Medicine and a general internist at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

All supporters of humanism in healthcare are invited to join this special celebration and help advance the Gold Foundation’s mission.

The 2025 honorees are:

Dr. Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist whose career exemplifies the intersection of scientific excellence and humanistic values. He served as the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and director of the National Institutes of Health, in addition to leading his own research laboratory to landmark discoveries.

As director of the National Human Genome Research Institute from 1993 to 2008, Dr. Collins led the International Human Genome Project to a successful finished sequence of the human DNA “instruction book.” This achievement revolutionized modern medicine, ushering in the era of genomic medicine and personalized healthcare. Genomic information now enables physicians to classify tumors based on their genetic mutations, leading to precisely targeted therapies for each individual. Physicians are now also able to treat rare genetic disorders with breakthrough gene therapies for such conditions as inherited retinal diseases, sickle cell anemia, and certain forms of muscular dystrophy. In everyday medicine, genetic insights now guide the prevention and treatment of common conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and various cancers.

Dwight W. McBee, MBA, BSN, RN, CPXP, built on his 20-plus years of experience as an ICU nurse to develop innovative approaches to patient care. Currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, the largest academic healthcare system in New Jersey, Mr. McBee works tirelessly to advance the human connection in healthcare.

Mr. McBee began his career as an ICU nurse at Paul Kimball Medical Center, now known as Monmouth Medical Center South, a RWJBarnabas Health facility in New Jersey. He later worked at AtlantiCare Health System, where he developed the “Starfish Experience” curriculum, which focused on building trust with patients. He has held numerous leadership positions, including as Executive Vice President, Clinical Health Equity, and Chief Experience Officer at Jefferson Health and as Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Temple University Health System. Mr. McBee also held the position of Corporate Director of Customer Experience at AtlantiCare Health System.

Dr. Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, has championed humanistic care as a clinician, educator, researcher, and policymaker. She is a passionate advocate for patients and family caregivers, and she continuously urges nurses to impact healthcare from the bedside to national policy.

Dr. Reinhard serves as Chief Strategist Emeritus at AARP’s Center to Champion Nursing in America and as Visiting Professor at the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators at UC Davis. She is the incoming Chair of the RWJBarnabas Health Board of Trustees and has held distinguished leadership roles at AARP’s Public Policy Institute, Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, the New Jersey Department of Health, the National Academy for State Health Policy, the National Alliance for Caregiving, and the American Academy of Nursing, to name a few.

Richard C. Sheerr has served as the Board Chair of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation since 2016, bringing visionary leadership that has significantly advanced the foundation’s mission of compassionate, patient-centered care. As President of Willings Advisors LLC and former leader of The Wagman Primus Group, Mr. Sheerr has generously shared his business acumen with the Gold Foundation.

Along with serving as Chair of the Gold Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Sheerr has held distinguished leadership positions in various healthcare institutions, including Chairman of the Board at Einstein Healthcare Network and Board Chair of the then independent Moss Rehabilitation Hospital. In addition, he served on the Board of Jefferson. In each role, he has been a strong advocate for humanism in healthcare, understanding that the human connection benefits patients, clinicians, and the business, as supported by scientific evidence.

Sponsorships and tickets are available now on the Gold Standard Gala website, along with more information about the honorees and the event. For questions or additional ways to support, please reach out to Pia Pyne Miller at pmiller@gold-foundation.org.

The Gold Standard Gala is the Gold Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. This event helps fund our programs and events that support the essential connection between patients and clinicians. We hope you’ll join us for this special evening on June 3, 2025, in New York City.

Gold Foundation, AACN announce the 2024 Interprofessional Humanism in Healthcare Award winners

Dr. Robert Pitts and Charles Yee are recognized for their model physician-nurse partnership focused on providing compassionate care to underserved communities in New York City

WASHINGTON, DC, December 18, 2024 – The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) are pleased to announce the 2024 winners of the AACN-Gold Interprofessional Humanism in Healthcare Award, which recognizes high-impact collaborations between nurses and physicians. This year’s recipients – Robert Pitts, MD and Charles Yee, BSN, AMB-BC – were selected as champions for compassionate care for the wide array of services provided to LGBTQIA+ patients through The Pride Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Bellevue. This distinguished honor will be presented at the 2025 Gold Humanism Summit, which will be held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 17-20.

“We are thrilled to be joining AACN in celebrating Dr. Pitts and Mr. Yee in this special award,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, MD, FAAP, Gold Foundation President and CEO. “The human connection is essential to the best care — both the connection with patients and the connection with healthcare colleagues. A doctor-nurse partnership built on trust and respect creates healing relationships for everyone.”

Launched in 2023, this annual award is presented by the Gold Foundation and AACN to shine a spotlight on the need to foster care that places the interests, values, and dignity of all people at the core of every healthcare interaction. The award underscores the importance of physician-nurse collaboration to achieving optimal care outcomes and higher levels of patient satisfaction. This distinctive honor, which was awarded following a national call for nominations and a competitive selection process, highlights best practices for nursing and medical students to follow as they commence their careers and establish their own interprofessional collaborations.

“When nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers work together to build caring and collaborative relationships with patients, studies reveal a connection to smart healthcare decisions, better patient adherence with treatment plans, and less costly healthcare outcomes,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “We applaud this year’s award recipients for their unwavering commitment to providing compassionate care, which is helping to ensure that underserved communities throughout New York City stay healthy and thriving.”

Meet the 2024 Interprofessional Humanism in Healthcare Award recipients

Dr. Robert Pitts and Mr. Charles Yee are being recognized for their collaborative approach to humanistic care, creating a clinic environment of trust and respect for underserved New Yorkers. About one quarter of the Pride Health Center’s patients have experienced food insecurity in the last 30 days, and one quarter report being unable to pay rent in the last 3 months. Together, Dr. Pitts and Mr. Yee collaborate with a network of NYC clinics and community-based organizations to provide a wide array of critically needed services to combat healthcare disparities and socioeconomic inequities.

Having earned his MD at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Robert Pitts is the Medical Director and Co-Founder of The Pride Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, which serves the physical and mental health needs of all patients with dignity and respect. He is on the faculty of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation. Dr. Pitts serves as a member of the Pride Council for Health + Hospitals, ensuring that comprehensive healthcare services are available to all those living in New York City. He is a proponent of equitable access to healthcare, including HIV treatment and prevention. He is the principal investigator for multiple research initiatives studying efficacy, safety, and implementation of HIV long-acting antiretrovirals among hard-to-reach populations.

“This award and recognition motivate me to continue the important work and services we are providing to the most vulnerable populations of New York City,” said Dr. Pitts. “I’m a firm believer that everyone should have access to comprehensive healthcare regardless of where they are from or the ability to pay. I’m honored to work at Bellevue/NYU and give back to communities that are most in need of gender-affirming services.”

Charles Yee is a registered nurse at The Pride Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Born and raised in New York City, he completed his initial preparation as a nurse at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and his baccalaureate degree in nursing from the City University of New York. He is certified in Ambulatory Care Nursing and aspires to become a nurse practitioner in the future. Having practiced in community clinics serving patients with low socioeconomic status, unhoused individuals, and substance users, he learned first-hand the importance of HIV prevention and treatment and the health inequities faced by LGBTQIA+ people. Both Mr. Yee and Dr. Pitts model compassion and empathy for patients, each other, and the entire Pride Health Center team.

“I believe that everyone should have the opportunity and right to live a healthy life and have access to healthcare,” said Yee. “It is an honor to receive this award along with one of my favorite physicians, Dr. Pitts.”

Learn more about the AACN-Gold Interprofessional Humanism in Healthcare Award.

About the partnering organizations

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research and practice.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is the leading national nonprofit organization that champions humanism in healthcare. We empower experts, learners, and leaders to together create systems and cultures that support kind, safe, trustworthy care for all. The Gold Foundation is home of the White Coat Ceremony, Gold Humanism Honor Society, the Gold Humanism Summit, and more programs and tools that create and sustain the human connection in healthcare

Gold, JPX announce special humanism collection and open call for submissions

 Submit research, patient reflections and industry insights to “The Intersection of Humanism in Healthcare and Patient Experience”

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, in collaboration with the Journal of Patient Experience, is pleased to announce a forthcoming special collection focused on humanism and patient experience in healthcare, exploring the intersections and divergences between these two important realms.

“The Intersection of Humanism in Healthcare and Patient Experience” will be a yearlong special collection published on the journal’s website. Submissions, which are open now, will be published on a rolling basis upon acceptance. Gold Foundation President and CEO Kathleen Reeves, MD, will be the Guest Editor.

“I am grateful for the chance to collaborate with the Gold Foundation,” said Laura Cooley, PhD, Editor in Chief, Journal of Patient Experience (JPX). “Humanism in healthcare goes beyond being an aspiration; it is a critical element that influences every facet of the patient experience. It represents the empathy, respect, and understanding that transform patient care from a simple exchange to a profoundly healing connection. Advancing research in this field is essential to reveal the significant effects that compassionate, human-centered care has on patient outcomes, clinician well-being, and overall healthcare success. Together, we can make significant strides to ensure that the human element remains central to healthcare.”

Successful submissions will investigate or illuminate specific policies, initiatives, or tools that make healthcare more humanistic and yield a clear impact on patients and patient experience, clinicians, and/or the institution.

“We are excited to be working with the Journal of Patient Experience to showcase the important work underway that improves care through humanism,” said Dr. Reeves. “Evidence has shown again and again how powerful the human connection in healthcare can be —for patient experience, outcomes, and for clinician well-being. We look forward to learning about your interventions, projects, and reflections, all of which will help amplify humanism and make care more trustworthy, safe, and kind.”

Learn more about this special collection. 

Definitions to know

Patient experience has been defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as “…a range of interactions that patients have with the healthcare system, including their care from health plans, and from doctors, nurses, and staff in hospitals, physician practices, and other healthcare facilities. As an integral component of healthcare quality, patient experience includes several aspects of healthcare delivery that patients value highly when they seek and receive care, such as getting timely appointments, easy access to information, and good communication…”

Humanism in healthcare has been championed by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation for more than 30 years, and emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. Humanism focuses on clinically excellent care that is kind, safe, and trustworthy.  At its core, humanistic healthcare is grounded in a deep respect for patients’ values, beliefs, and preferences and benefits both clinicians and patients. Illness and healing are deeply personal experiences; humanism in healthcare acknowledges this and emphasizes the importance of grounding care in an environment in which the patient is seen as a true partner with the clinician in the care plan. Patients experience better health and healthcare professionals experience less burnout when humanism is central to care.

About Us

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is the leading national nonprofit that champions humanism in healthcare. Founded in 1988, the Gold Foundation’s vision is that healthcare will be dramatically improved by placing the interests, values and dignity of all people at the core of teaching and practice. Research shows that kind, safe, trustworthy care benefits both patients and clinicians. The Gold Foundation is the home of the White Coat Ceremony, the Gold Humanism Honor Society, Tell Me More® communication tool and many other programs.

The Journal of Patient Experience is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal. JPX is indexed with PubMed Central (PMC), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), ProQuest, and Scopus. We hold an impact factor designated by Clarivate Analytics. The Journal does not publish articles focused primarily on clinical outcomes. All submissions must align with the mission to transform health and care experiences through actionable insights.

Article types

  • Research Article submissions are typically characterized by a systematic investigation into specific aspects of patient experience, aiming to contribute new knowledge or validate existing theories. This article type must present original research conducted by the author(s) demonstrating innovative outcomes, processes, or applications to enhance patient care experiences, engagement, and satisfaction. Research methods may include qualitative, quantitative, and experimental studies, provided they adhere to high academic standards in methodology and data analysis.
  • Patient Perspectives articles amplify the voices of those who experience the health and care system firsthand, contributing to a deeper understanding of patient needs, challenges, and outcomes. Submitting authors must identify in roles including (though not limited to): Patients who have directly experienced health and care services and/or Caregivers who have supported a patient through their healthcare journey and/or Relatives who have been involved in a patient’s care and/or Consumers of health and care products or services. Perspectives should be supported by relevant research, data, or literature that provides context and enhances the credibility of the insights shared. While clinicians, professionals, researchers, and other experts are invited, perspective must represent the lens of the “patient”.
  • Industry Insights articles are authored by professionals, clinicians, researchers, and other experts working within the health and care industry. Insights include expert perspectives, experiences, and observations on current trends, challenges, and innovations. Articles should be supported by relevant research, data, or literature that provides context and enhances the credibility of the insights shared. Authors reference a range of existing literature, including peer-reviewed studies, meta-analyses, and relevant industry reports, to enhance the validity and reliability of their perspectives. This article type provides a bridge between academic research and practical application, offering valuable contributions to ongoing discussions within the health and care sector.
  • Research Brief articles present original research that may not be suitable for a full-length “Research Article” type. This article type provides space to present preliminary findings, such as pilot studies or projects with smaller sample sizes. The brief should address an important patient experience issue and clearly outline the implications of methodological limitations. Briefs often demonstrate early trending outcomes, processes, or applications that may enhance patient care experiences, engagement, and satisfaction.

Submission Information

Article Processing Charge (APC): There is no charge for submitting a manuscript. If, after peer review, your manuscript is accepted for publication, a one-time article processing charge (APC) is payable to cover the cost of publishing, paid by the funder, institution, or author. There is no charge for a Patient Perspective article type. Click here for more information.

Articles accepted for this special collection receive a 50% APC discount.

Authors may contact the editorial team to discuss special circumstances that may prohibit publication. Authors may be eligible for discounts to their APC via open access agreements that Sage has with participating institutions. Your article may be eligible for a full or partial waiver due to our participation in initiatives to increase accessibility to publication across the international academic community.

Questions?

Contact:

Committed to Compassionate Care: Dr. Rebecca Rosen reflects on her medical career why

Rebecca Rosen, M.D., clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, received the Leonard Tow Gold Humanism in Medicine Award presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup – November-December 2024

The Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup features summaries of recently published studies on humanism in healthcare. To receive email notification of new studies once per month, enter your information here and select “Jeffrey Silver Research Roundup” from the checkboxes at the bottom. See previous posts in this series.

 A pilot interprofessional education curriculum for optimizing mental health in chronic pain treatment and understanding interprofessional practice Perzhinsky J, Schachman KA, Cheng CI, Nagia S, Noveloso B, Sawyer T, Lepisto BL, Sukhera J, Cleek EN, Chisolm MS. Cureus. 2024 Aug 20;16(8):e67292. doi: 10.7759/cureus.67292. PMID: 39165626; PMCID: PMC11334385. Free full text The development of this IPE curriculum was supported with a Picker Gold GME Challenge Grant awarded to Dr. Juliette Perzhinsky. Dr. Perzhinsky, Dr. Javeed Sukhera, and Dr. Margaret Chisolm have been Gold Foundation grantees and Gold Humanism Scholars at the Harvard Macy Institute. Dr. Elizabeth Cleek is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Programs, of the Gold Foundation.
The late 1990s marked the beginning of the opioid epidemic, characterized by increased opioid prescribing by clinicians and resulting in a sharp rise in opioid-related fatalities. This escalation in opioid use and the related complications from chronic pain and comorbid mental health conditions have underscored the need for enhanced training in safe opioid prescribing and addiction recognition within graduate medical education (GME). Despite the critical nature of this training, the implementation of such education varies significantly among clinical training programs, often leaving clinicians underprepared. Dr. Juliette Perzhinsky and colleagues conducted a prospective observational study of a pilot interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum aimed at improving the handling of chronic pain and mental health conditions. This curriculum was designed to enhance trainee self-efficacy in managing these issues and encourage a team-based approach. Twenty-five trainees, including resident physicians, family nurse practitioners, and physician assistant students, took part in five interactive IPE sessions. Their  self-efficacy in chronic pain and mental health management was assessed using a bespoke tool, and their attitudes toward interprofessional practice were evaluated using the Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams scale. The results indicated that, although the curriculum did not alter attitudes towards interprofessional practice, it effectively improved self-efficacy in managing chronic pain and mental health conditions, particularly among non-physician trainees. Dr. Perzhinsky and colleagues concluded that while the pilot IPE curriculum shows promise in enhancing self-efficacy for managing complex care needs, further work is needed to address attitudinal changes towards interprofessional collaboration and to expand the curriculum’s reach and impact.

Tell Me More® as a tool for provider connectedness with hospitalized patients: A mixed-methods study Belin B, Aron I, Bhagat S, Fornari A, Ahuja TK. J Patient Exp. 2024 Aug 16;11:23743735241272167. doi: 10.1177/23743735241272167. PMID: 39157763; PMCID: PMC11329894. Free full text Dr. Alice Fornari has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Compassion fatigue and burnout have escalated among healthcare team members since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by prolonged stress and inadequate resources, which compromise patient care and clinician well-being. Bryana Belin and colleagues investigated the impact of the Tell Me More® (TMM) program, a Gold Foundation communications tool designed to enhance patient-clinician interactions, on compassion fatigue and burnout. The mixed-methods study consisted of surveys distributed to healthcare professionals (n=72) before and after implementing TMM on a hospital floor, complemented by post-intervention semi-structured interviews. The surveys aimed to assess changes in clinician-patient connection, while the interviews explored deeper impacts on clinician attitudes and patient interactions. Results revealed that three out of eight survey items showed significant improvements post-TMM implementation. These included (1) I know my patients very well, (2) my patients know me very well, and (3) I remember my patient very well when I see them. Similarly, the interviews highlighted four major themes: (1) increased connectedness to patients, (2) better differentiation between a person and their illness, (3) improved communication with patients’ support networks, and (4) enhanced engagement with non-verbal patients. These findings suggest that TMM fosters a deeper, more empathetic connection between staff and patients, potentially mitigating feelings of burnout and compassion fatigue. The authors concluded by endorsing TMM as an effective tool for strengthening relationships between healthcare professionals and patients in hospital settings. By promoting a humanistic approach to care, TMM appears to alleviate some of the emotional and psychological strains on clinicians, pointing to its potential for broader application in addressing compassion fatigue and burnout.

 The relationships between trust beliefs in physicians by children with asthma, those by their mothers and the children’s medical health Petrocchi S, Rotenberg KJ. Child Care Health Dev. 2024 Nov;50(6):e13334. doi: 10.1111/cch.13334. PMID: 39359205.
Interpersonal trust between physicians and patients is a vital aspect of humanistic healthcare, but it has not yet been fully explored despite its known implications for healthcare outcomes. To investigate this, Drs. Serena Petrocchi and Ken J. Rotenberg used existing data from a previous study to understand how trust in physicians affects children’s health outcomes in asthma cases. This re-analysis involved a two-sample design where the trust beliefs of children with asthma and their mothers in their physicians were examined in relation to the children’s health. Results from this re-analysis indicated significant relationships between the children’s trust in physicians and their quality of life, which increased over time. While both high and low extremes of trust were linked to poorer health outcomes, a moderate level of trust seemed beneficial. Relationships were also consistent between children’s trust in physicians and their adherence to medical regimes, suggesting that trust directly influences treatment compliance. In their conclusion, the authors emphasized the complex nature of trust in healthcare settings. They suggest that a balanced level of trust in physicians is crucial for optimal health outcomes in children with asthma, pointing to the need for healthcare professionals to foster and maintain trust to improve both adherence to treatments and overall quality of life.

“Doctor ChatGPT, can you help me?” The patient’s perspective: cross-sectional study Armbruster J, Bussmann F, Rothhaas C, Titze N, Grützner PA, Freischmidt H. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Oct 1;26:e58831. doi: 10.2196/58831. PMID: 39352738. Free full text
Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have increasingly influenced various domains, including healthcare, by providing solutions to complex tasks and easy access to information. Despite their utility in translating texts, summarizing, and answering questions, their integration in healthcare raises concerns about their accuracy and the potential for harm due to errors in medical context interpretation by patients. Drs. Jonas Armbruster and colleagues investigated these issues through a cross-sectional study comparing patient and expert responses to health-related queries handled by ChatGPT. While several other studies have examined physicians’ assessment of ChatGPT answers, this is the first one study, to the authors’ knowledge, to examine feedback by both patients and physicians. In this study, researchers took 100 real patient questions in five fields (traumatology, general surgery, ENT, pediatrics, internal medicine) that were answered by both a web-based expert panel and ChatGPT. Patients and medical specialists in the relevant field were asked to rate the answers (while not knowing who or what provided them) on a scale of 1 to 5 for both empathy and usefulness. In addition, the medical specialists were asked to assess “Was the response professionally correct?” and “Does the answer contain potentially harmful advice?” Answers by ChatGPT garnered significantly higher scores by both physicians and patients, in every category, with the biggest difference found in empathy ratings (4.49 mean for ChatGPT vs. 3.07 for the panel of human experts.) Physicians also scored ChatGPT’s answers higher for correctness and found fewer incidences of potentially harmful advice. Researchers noted with alarm there was no difference in patient ratings of empathy and usefulness between answers found to be potentially harmful and unharmful. They concluded that patients could not tell the difference and thus recommended that ChatGPT only be used as a supplemental tool for patient information in conjunction with healthcare professionals.

Sense of belonging among medical students, residents, and fellows: Associations with burnout, recruitment, retention, and learning environment Leep Hunderfund AN, Saberzadeh Ardestani B, Laughlin-Tommaso SK, Jordan BL, Melson VA, Montenegro MM, Brushaber DE, West CP, Dyrbye LN. Acad Med. 2024 Sep 30. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005892. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39348173. Dr. Colin P. West and Dr. Liselotte Dyrbye have been Gold Foundation grantees.
A sense of belonging significantly influences meaning, identity, and life satisfaction and poses important questions about inclusion and value in social settings. Dr. Andrea N. Leep Hunderfund and colleagues conducted a survey exploring how a sense of belonging affects medical students, residents, and fellows across different social contexts and its association with burnout and recruitment retention indicators. The study surveyed 2,257 medical trainees at a large U.S. academic health center, assessing their sense of belonging within their school or program, the organization, and the surrounding community, alongside burnout and their likelihood to recommend or stay with the organization. Among the 1,261 who responded (56%), participants’ results showed that a strong sense of belonging was most felt within the school or program context, closely followed by the organization, and was significantly associated with reduced burnout and increased organizational loyalty. Furthermore, strong belongingness correlated with lower odds of burnout and higher likelihoods of recommending the organization and accepting job offers. The authors concluded by highlighting that belongingness not only varies by context but is also a crucial factor linked to both personal well-being and professional decisions among medical learners, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to enhance this feeling in educational settings.

Exploring the implicit meanings of ‘cultural diversity’: a critical conceptual analysis of commonly used approaches in medical education Zanting A, Frambach JM, Meershoek A, Krumeich A. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2024 Sep 14. doi: 10.1007/s10459-024-10371-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39276258. Dr. Janneke Frambach has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Medical education increasingly focuses on preparing students to handle cultural diversity in healthcare settings by enhancing awareness and competency, although the application of these concepts varies and sometimes leads to unintended negative effects such as polarization and stigmatization. Albertine Zanting and colleagues conducted an analysis of 52 articles to explore how cultural diversity is conceptualized within medical education and its implications for educational practice and healthcare delivery. Their study revealed four distinct conceptualizations of cultural diversity as (1) a fixed patient characteristic, (2) multiple fixed characteristics, (3) a dynamic outcome impacting social interactions, and (4) as power dynamics. Each conceptualization carries different assumptions and implications for how medical education is delivered and how doctors interact with a diverse patient population. The study highlights the complexities and inherent biases that can influence educational outcomes and patient care, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of cultural concepts in medical training. The authors suggest that embracing these diverse conceptualizations can enhance the relevance and effectiveness of medical education in addressing the varied needs of a diverse patient population, encouraging educators to integrate comprehensive cultural perspectives and reflective practices into the curriculum.

Investigating feelings of imposterism in first-year medical student narratives Kruskie ME, Frankel RM, Isaacson JH, Mehta N, Byram JN. Med Educ. 2024 Sep 15. doi: 10.1111/medu.15533. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39279321. Dr. Richard Frankel and Dr. Harry Isaacson have been Gold Foundation grantees.
Imposter phenomenon (IP) in medical education has been identified as a significant factor affecting students’ psychological wellness and career outcomes, particularly as they struggle with feelings of inauthenticity and self-doubt regarding their accomplishments and belonging in the medical field. Imposter phenomenon is associated with emotional exhaustion and burnout and can impact the delivery of humanistic patient care. Megan Kruskie and colleagues undertook a qualitative analysis of 233 reflective essays from medical students, utilizing social identity theory to investigate how IP is experienced and articulated within the student population. Their analysis revealed that 52% of the essays showed signs of IP, with major themes related to students comparing themselves to idealized versions of medical students and physicians, and expressing concerns about how they are perceived by others. This led to doubts about their fit and legitimacy in the medical profession. This widespread occurrence suggests that IP is a prevalent issue among first-year medical students regardless of background or institution. In their conclusion, the authors recommended that medical education programs incorporate more opportunities for reflective journaling and sharing personal stories to normalize imposter feelings and support professional identity formation, thereby helping students navigate their self-doubt more constructively.

To speak or not to speak: Factors influencing medical students’ speech and silence in the operating room Brommelsiek M, Javid K, Said T, Sutkin G. Am J Surg. 2024 Sep 18;238:115976. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.115976. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39332105. Dr. Margaret Brommelsiek has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Medical students often find the operating room (OR) environment intimidating, which can impact their willingness to speak up during surgical clerkships. Dr. Margaret Brommelsiek and colleagues explored this dynamic using constructivist grounded theory to analyze 37 interviews focusing on the influences that either encourage or discourage medical students from voicing their thoughts in the OR. Their qualitative analysis revealed that students’ decisions to speak or remain silent hinge on their perception of the OR as a safe learning environment. The study identified that (1) more robust preparation, (2) heightened awareness of critical moments, and (3) informal communication with team members are pivotal in encouraging students to speak up. Dr. Brommelsiek and her team concluded that fostering interpersonal relationships, understanding the mood within the OR, and involving students in case-related tasks are crucial for enhancing students’ psychological safety and assimilation into the surgical team, thereby improving their educational experience in the OR.

Taking the next step: How student reflective essays about difficult clinical encounters demonstrate professional identity formation Freeman N, Shapiro J, Paguio M, Lorkalantari Y, Nguyen A. Clin Teach. 2024 Aug 14:e13795. doi: 10.1111/tct.13795. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39140290. Johanna Shapiro has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Medical students encounter significant emotional and behavioral challenges during difficult clinical interactions, which play a crucial role in their professional development and psychological well-being. Nicholas Freeman and colleagues conducted thematic analysis using  reflective essays from a cohort of medical students at different stages of their education to understand changes in how students perceive difficult clinical encounters and their professional identity formation (PIF). The study involved 69 students who provided reflective essays in their third and fourth years, analyzed to trace changes in their views and reactions to challenging patient care situations. They found that medical students’ perceptions of themselves, patients, and preceptors evolved significantly from their third to fourth year. Students reported increased empathy, patient-centeredness, and ownership of patient care in their fourth year, indicating growth in professional attributes and compassion. However, students also experienced persistent negative emotions following these encounters, suggesting that while professional development occurs, emotional challenges remain. The researchers concluded that medical education should not only foster professional growth but also provide support to address the emotional residues from difficult clinical encounters. This support could enhance students’ overall well-being and readiness to handle the complexities of patient interactions in their future careers.

Self-compassion for healthcare communities: exploring the effects of a synchronous online continuing medical education program on physician burnout Gardiner P, Pérez-Aranda A, Bell N, Clark DR, Schuman-Olivier Z, Lin EH. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2024 Sep 24. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000574. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39311747. Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Physician burnout is a widespread issue that may be at least partially mitigated by self-compassion training. To investigate this potential role of self-compassion training, Dr. Paula Gardiner and colleagues conducted a prospective observational study of a synchronous online continuing medical education program, Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC). The SCHC program was delivered over six 1-hour weekly sessions via Zoom, focusing on fostering self-compassion and well-being among physicians. The study’s findings, based on responses from 48 physicians who completed both pre- and post-program surveys from a total of 116 attendees, demonstrated significant reductions in burnout levels and improvements in compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, self-compassion, resilience activation, and job satisfaction. Qualitative feedback from 91 participants revealed a high satisfaction rate with the program, highlighting the benefits of learning self-compassion and the value of connecting with peers facing similar challenges. Dr. Gardiner and colleagues concluded that while the SCHC program effectively reduces burnout and enhances various aspects of physicians’ professional quality of life, addressing physician burnout comprehensively will also require systemic changes in healthcare delivery.

The impact of transitional shock on newer nurses in a contemporary healthcare environment Holtz H, McQueen A, Weissinger G, Alderfer M, Swavely D, Sledge JA, Yu L, Pohlman M, Adil T, Mugoya R, Minchhoff R, Rushton C. J Nurs Adm. 2024 Sep 1;54(9):507-513. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001468. PMID: 39162421. Dr. Cynda Rushton has been a Gold Foundation grantee.
Transitioning from a nursing student to an independently practicing nurse presents significant challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges have had several negative impacts, such as increased stress, poor well-being, and turnover among new nurses. Dr. Heidi Holtz and colleagues conducted a qualitative study to explore the perceptions and expectations of newer nurses regarding their work environments, professional satisfaction, and the factors influencing their decisions to potentially leave their positions. Using purposive sampling, the investigators identified 15 nurses and conducted semistructured interviews with them. Data were analyzed using content analytic techniques within the framework of Transitional Shock Theory. The analysis revealed four main themes: (1) confronting the reality of the nursing profession, (2) feelings of betrayal and mistrust within the workplace, (3) the importance of relational integrity, and (4) the enablers of clinical competence that support professional growth and confidence. According to the authors, understanding these themes is crucial for nurse leaders to develop effective organizational supports. These supports are essential not only for smoothing the transition of newer nurses during typical periods but also for providing additional resources during times of heightened stress, such as a global health crisis.

Peer support provider and recipients’ perspectives on compassion in virtual peer support stroke programs: “You can’t really be supportive without compassion” Singh H, Nelson MLA, Premnazeer M, Haghayegh AT, Munce S, Sperling C, Steele Gray C. PLoS One. 2024 Oct 4;19(10):e0309148. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309148. PMID: 39365791. Free full text
Peer support stroke programs, crucial for addressing the emotional, social, and psychological needs of stroke survivors, have increasingly moved online since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Dr. Hardeep Singh and colleagues conducted a qualitative descriptive study to investigate compassion in virtual peer support stroke programs, a component essential for fostering meaningful interactions but possibly compromised in virtual settings. This study involved interviews with 24 participants (6 peer support providers,16 peer support recipients, and 2 who were in both roles), analyzed using a hybrid thematic analysis framed by Sinclair & colleagues’ model of compassion. Findings highlighted that participants universally valued compassion, which they associated with the virtues of facilitators, such as genuineness, passion, and empathy. Effective communication and relational space within the program also emerged as critical for fostering compassion. Facilitators of compassion included attentive listening and understanding of the recipients’ needs related to stroke, while barriers were identified as the absence of genuineness, passion, and empathy among facilitators. The authors concluded that understanding the facilitators and barriers to compassion in virtual peer support settings can guide enhancements to program quality. Recommendations for program improvements include integrating strategies that promote genuine, empathetic engagement and understanding between providers and recipients, ensuring that virtual peer support stroke programs effectively replicate the compassionate interactions found in face-to-face settings.

The encounter of two worlds: Divided narratives of decision-making on cancer treatment between physicians and patients Lu W, Wong DSW. Health Expect. 2024 Oct;27(5):e70029. doi: 10.1111/hex.70029. PMID: 39358983; PMCID: PMC11447199. Free full text
Different understandings of illness and treatment among physicians and patients can create divided narratives, which can complicate treatment decision-making and create communication challenges. Drs. Weiwei Lu and Dennis Sing Wing Wong explored these divided narratives in cancer treatment decision-making, emphasizing the distinct perspectives shaped by the scientific world of medicine and the lifeworld of patients. The study employed a qualitative research design using unstructured interviews with 32 cancer patients and 16 physicians in two hospitals in Hong Kong, China. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods to extract themes and insights about the meaning-making processes of both groups regarding cancer treatment. Results indicated that both physicians and patients focused on similar goals, such as decision pools, treatment goals, identity practices, and preferred identities, and similar obstacles, including pain and trust, communication gaps, financial issues, and complex family, in treatment decision-making. However, significant differences emerged in the meanings attached to these common elements, influenced by their respective worlds. Overall, physicians tended to adopt a more rational decision-making approach, focusing on clinical aspects, while patients favored a relational approach, emphasizing personal and emotional factors. Drs. Lu and Wong concluded by highlighting that understanding these narrative differences is crucial for improving communication and achieving mutual agreement in cancer treatment. They advocate for narrative integration in the clinical setting to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and patient experience, thereby enhancing decision-making processes and patient satisfaction.

 “Praise in public; criticize in private”: unwritable assessment comments and the performance information that resists being written Gingerich A, Lingard L, Sebok-Syer SS, Watling CJ, Ginsburg S. Acad Med. 2024 Aug 8. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005839. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39137257. Dr. Lorelei Lingard and Dr. Christopher Watling have been Gold Foundation grantees.
Challenges in written comments for assessments often lead to important performance-related information remaining undocumented, posing a risk to the accuracy of formal evaluations in medical education. Dr. Andrea Gingerich and colleagues conducted a qualitative study using constructivist grounded theory to explore why some performance information resists being captured in written comments, despite the importance of such documentation for informing assessment decisions. The study utilized two sequential data collection methods, involving surveys and interviews with fifty supervisors who provided examples of assessment information they struggled to express in writing. The analysis revealed that not all performance-relevant information was easily writable; it often required extensive explanation, was more suitably discussed verbally, or involved sensitive information that could jeopardize trust or the learner-supervisor relationship if disclosed in written form. The authors concluded that the difficulty that supervisors experience in documenting certain types of feedback calls for a reconsideration of how performance information is requested and recorded. While support can be provided to improve the quality of written comments, recognizing the inherent limitations of written documentation could lead to more effective and compassionate assessment strategies in medical education.

Curriculum innovations: Enhancing skills in serious illness communication in neurology residents using simulation: A pilot study Osgood M, Silver B, Reidy J, Nagpal V. Neurol Educ. 2024 Aug 6;3(3):e200140. doi: 10.1212/NE9.0000000000200140. PMID: 39359652; PMCID: PMC11419305. Free full text Dr. Jennifer Reidy has been a Gold Humanism Scholar at the Harvard Macy Institute.
Neurologic diseases pose severe challenges to patients and caregivers, often leading to increased morbidity and decreased quality of life, making palliative care a critical aspect of neurology training. Dr. Marcey Osgood and colleagues implemented and evaluated a novel curriculum to enhance the training of neurology residents in conducting late-stage goals of care (GOC) conversations, especially for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The curriculum, integrating a didactic session with interactive simulations and debriefings (totaling 3 hours), was designed to improve residents’ confidence and ability in handling complex palliative care discussions. The program aimed to teach 30 neurology residents about delivering difficult news, discussing prognosis, navigating treatment options, and handling end-of-life care discussions. Initially, over half of the residents reported feeling confident in conducting GOC discussions. Results from post-training evaluations showed significant improvements: more than 90% of residents surveyed found the training relevant and helpful, and there was notable progress in their comfort with delivering prognosis, discussing hospice care, and initiating early GOC conversations. Faculty feedback highlighted areas for further improvement, including dealing with patient emotions and using silence effectively. According to the authors, the integration of structured didactic and practical simulation-based training can significantly enhance neurology residents’ skills and confidence in managing palliative care discussions, advocating for ongoing reinforcement and reassessment of these vital communication skills.

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Laughs, lessons, and tissues during Dr. Kimberly Manning’s memorable 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Lecture at the AAMC

At the 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture, a beloved annual session at the AAMC (Association of American Medial Colleges) Annual Meeting, speaker Dr. Kimberly Manning had the packed room in stitches with laughter and then, moments later, wishing they had packed extra tissues, as tears flowed fast from her vivid stories chronicling real human moments in healthcare.

Dr. Kimberly Manning at the podium

Dr Kimberly Manning delivered the 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture at the AAMC in Atlanta.

In her talk titled “Wisdom at the Bedside,” in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, Dr. Manning shared heartfelt stories and lessons she learned from patients — all steeped in being present and connected.

“If you ask anybody,” she said, “the most junior student to the most senior faculty member anywhere, what’s your richest teachable moment? Where did you get the most wisdom? Where did you grow the most? What’s the thing that changed you as a doctor, as a future doctor?”

“It was something at the bedside with the patient,” Dr. Manning emphasized. “It wasn’t something you read in a paper. It wasn’t something that you got off of an algorithm. It wasn’t something that you typed into Copilot that spit back some information to you in two seconds. It was something with a human being. And that is really what humanism does, and that is something that cannot be replicated.”

Dr. Jordan J. Cohen and Dr. Kimberly Manning in Atlanta at the 2024 AAMC Annual Meeting

Her stories spanned a patient who was a chatterbox about his pup Jojo to a patient who knew how make a proper banana pudding. Each unique person and their personality came to life with Dr. Manning’s inimitable storytelling. And each person provided offered a lesson, too, for care and connection then and in the future.

Dr. Manning is a Professor at Emory University School of Medicine, an internist/hospitalist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and a Gold Trustee. She also serves Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine, co-hosts The Human Doctor Podcast with Dr. Ashley McMullen, and has a following of more than 100k fans on Twitter/X as gradydoctor. Her work has been published in The Lancet, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, Academic Medicine, and many other outlets.

A few Dr. Manning’s “Take Home Messages” from her 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Lecture:

  • There is always an occasion for humanism
  • Three minutes is a little but it can mean a lot.
  • Soak up wisdom at the bedside.
  • Be brave.
  • Then help somebody else be brave.
  • And do for yourself what you’d have others do.
  • Show up with your full presence and heart.

The lecture, jointly hosted by the Gold Foundation and the AAMC, is named after Dr. Jordan J. Cohen, who was the President and CEO of AAMC for many years, served as the Board Chair of the Gold Foundation, and is now a Gold Trustee. He is also a mentor and hero of Dr. Manning. He was in the audience, which Dr. Manning said meant so much to her.

Her talk ended with a standing ovation, and then Dr. Cohen kicked off the Q&A. But first, he addressed Dr. Manning: “One of the greatest joys of a mentor is when a mentee becomes a mentor. And you have become my mentor.”

Read the AAMC News’ story of Dr. Manning’s talk: “It is always a good idea to go and be with a patient.”

Gold Foundation spotlights humanism at 2024 AAMC Annual Meeting in Atlanta

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation illuminated the importance of humanism in healthcare at the 2024 Learn Serve Lead in Atlanta, the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), with dynamic sessions, several awards, and more.

Gold President and CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves, Gold Co-Founder Dr. Sandra Gold, and multiple Gold staff and Board members were fixtures throughout the conference, making new friends and greeting long-time supporters.

Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award Luncheon features Dr. Caroline Harada and her view of humanism as a clinician and a family caregiver

Dr. Caroline Harada speaking in Atlanta at the AAMC Annual Meeting.

The humanism festivities kicked off on Friday, Nov. 8, with a special Organization of Student Representatives luncheon to honor the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award recipient, Dr. Caroline Harada. This honor is presented each year to a faculty member who exemplifies humanism in their teaching and care of patients.

Dr. Harada is Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Director of Project Advancing Health Equity through Alabama’s Doctors (AHEAD), the longitudinal health equity curriculum at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine (UAB Heersink SOM). She is a geriatrician and Founder and Director of the school’s office of service learning.

In a deeply personal talk, she shared her experience as the news of her national award emerged. Her view as a clinician witnessing the power of the human connection, the joy of student mentorship, and the heartfelt acknowledgment of her peers was juxtaposed with her view as a caregiver, navigating the challenging health system for a loved one. The comparison revealed how difficult and broken the system can be, even with the best care and the best of intentions.

As her loved one’s condition resolved, Dr. Harada’s world realigned, leaving her with renewed commitment to humanistic care — providing it to patients, and teaching and mentoring students to do the same.

Dr. Harada ended her talk with hope: “The reason I feel hopeful is all of you students. I choose to spend my non-clinical work with you because each of you has so much potential and so much goodness. People don’t come to med school if they don’t want to help people. I see confirmation of this from our students every day.”

Learn more about Dr. Harada and her award.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award at the AAMC. Deadline: March 30. Learn more and submit a nomination.

Dr. Kimberly Manning delivers a heartfelt 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture

Dr. Jordan J. Cohen and Dr. Kimberly Manning, two extraordinary Gold Trustees

At the annual Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture, a signature session from AAMC and the Gold Foundation, Dr. Kimberly Manning had the overflowing room roaring with laughter and tearing up from her stories about the human connection in healthcare. She shared heartfelt stories and lessons she has learned from patients and colleagues alike — all about being present and connected.

“Don’t run up here and check on me if I begin to cry,” she warned at the start. “This is on brand, y’all. Humanism and the kindness of our patients and what they teach us, and this immense privilege that we have to care for human beings— it’s sometimes something to cry about. And we have to normalize emotions other than anger, dark humor, sarcasm. I think that crying can be a really beautiful and cleansing thing.”

It was not long before nearly everyone in the room was fishing around in their pockets for tissues, as she shared vivid stories of human moments with her patients. Her takeaways included: “There is always an occasion for humanism” and “Three minutes is a little but it can mean a lot.”

Dr. Manning is a Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine at Emory University, an internist/hospitalist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and a Gold Trustee.

The lecture is named after Dr. Jordan J. Cohen, who was the President and CEO of AAMC for many years, served as the Board Chair of the Gold Foundation, and is now a Gold Trustee. He is also a mentor and hero of Dr. Manning, and he was in the audience, too.

Read a longer story about Dr. Manning’s talk.

“Humanism in the Community” workshop features two case studies of community-engaged education

Gold CEO Dr. Reeves, standing behind the workshop speakers: From left, Cierra Walker; Kimberly Birdsall; Dr. Radhika Jain; Dr. Carmela Rocchetti; and Kaytlin Reedy-Rogier.

Later on Sunday, the Gold Humanism Honor Society hosted a workshop on “Humanism in the Community: From Community Service to Service Learning,” showcasing examples of community-engaged projects at two different medical schools: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Both are members of the Gold Partners Council.

Speakers included:

Kathleen Reeves, MD – President and CEO, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

Radhika Jain, MD – Co-Director of Health Equity and Justice, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis

Kaytlin Reedy-Rogier, MSW – Co-Director of Health Equity and Justice, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis

Ciearra “CJ” Walker, MPH – President and CEO, St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition

Kimberly Birdsall, MPH – Executive Director, Health Coalition of Passaic County

Miriam Hoffman, MD – Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

Carmela Rocchetti, MD – Assistant Dean of Community Engaged Medical Education, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

The Community Health Worker Coalition began collaborating with Washington University through the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. Community Health Workers are trusted community members who are trained in health education and can help patients access care. When this partnership began, Ms. Walker explained, “we were very, very clear that our highest asset is the respect and trust that we hold to community.” They spent several years engaging more than 3,000 students and more than 300 faculty and clinicians to build toward a meaningful service-learning relationship.

As a new school, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine had the opportunity to design the longitudinal curriculum from the beginning to be integrated with the community. Pairs of students are matched with families for the entire four years of training. Students are immersed in the communities to understand both the local assets and the challenges, and then develop partnerships and programs to address specific needs.

Just as Dr. Manning had said a few hours earlier, the human connection is really the goal of community-engaged medical education. Dr. Rocchetti explained: “The interactions must be meaningful. It’s not a one-off, one-time community service. There’s an interdependence between the school and the community, and the community and the leaners work together to solve problems in the community.”

Connecting human-to-human in the Exhibit Hall

And there was even more beyond the sessions! For the first year, the Gold Foundation hosted a booth in the Exhibit Hall, a great spot to meet Gold Humanism Honor Society members and other advocates of humanism. So many people shared beautiful stories of how they had first became connected with the Gold Foundation — or how they would love to get involved now.

Series of 3 photos of the Gold exhibit booth. First one has three smiling people: Dr. Sandra Gold in her red hat, GHHS AVP Louisa Tvito, and Gold Trustee Dr. Trish Sexton; then a GHHS member is signing a poster at the booth; then Gold COO Dr. Elizabeth Cleek is with Journal of Patient Experience Editor Dr. Laura Cooley

As Dr. Reeves said, “Medicine is about stories. They are not the soft side of medicine. They are actually what medicine is. They are the narrative. And when medicine works, when the stories are engaged and complete and filled with connection, what we have is superb healthcare.”

We’ll be back at Learn Serve Lead in 2025 — see you in San Antonio!

Raise the Line Podcast: Humanism Improves Healthcare for Providers and Patients

Gold Foundation President and CEO Dr. Reeves was on the Raise the Line podcast by Osmosis. “Humanism in healthcare is the vehicle to allow science to make an impact, and it is what is needed to change a broken healthcare system,” she shared with host Caleb Furnas.

Dr. Elizabeth Gaufberg named the 2024 Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Humanism in Healthcare Award recipient

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is proud to announce that the 2024 Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Humanism in Healthcare Award is presented to Dr. Elizabeth Gaufberg. A consummate educator and transformative leader, Dr. Gaufberg has devoted her career to guiding a generation of healthcare students, resident physicians, and faculty on their path to becoming humanistic clinicians. Her unwavering commitment to putting human connection at the heart of healthcare education and practice has enriched countless lives and transformed the culture of healthcare locally, nationally, and internationally.

Dr. Elizabeth Gaufberg headshot

Dr. Elizabeth Gaufberg

An Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Gaufberg has been a member of the medical staff at the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) for three decades. She was drawn to CHA for its commitment to health equity and the provision of excellent, compassionate care for underserved patients and communities. At CHA, Dr. Gaufberg completed residencies in both medicine and psychiatry, cared for marginalized patients with combined medical and psychiatric illness, and currently directs the CHA Center for Professional and Academic Development.

Over time she discovered her professional calling in educational innovation and leadership. She has taught and mentored countless healthcare professionals at all levels of training and practice. Her academic focus has been on the relational and cultural aspects of medicine, including patient-centered communication, and the hidden cultural forces that impact professional identity formation.

“Dr. Gaufberg has made an extraordinary impact on healthcare through her deep empathy and nuanced understanding of human perspectives,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “Through her teaching and mentorship of medical students and resident physicians, and her ability to tap art and creative expression to increase human connection, she has changed our world for the better – just as Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz did. We are honored to be celebrating Dr. Gaufberg.”

The Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Award for Humanism in Healthcare honors a woman who exemplifies humanism and has advanced health equity and kind, safe, trustworthy healthcare through her scholarship, advocacy, and leadership. Through this annual award, the Gold Foundation honors the spirit of Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz, who was inspired by her son to create change for children with disabilities. This honor was established in 2014 through a generous gift from Dr. Ronald Arky, Daniel D. Federman Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at the Harvard Medical School.

“Truly, I’m blown away by this honor. Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz is one of my heroes, an exemplar of courage and perseverance,” said Dr. Gaufberg. “I have been awed by past awardees’ vision and on-the-ground advocacy for inclusive, humanistic healthcare, and am humbled to join their ranks.”

 

The Path That Led to Humanism in Healthcare

Prior to residency training in medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Gaufberg studied both philosophy and public health, motivated by deep recognition that multiple lenses are required to understand the personal and social determinants of health and illness

Dr. Gaufberg’s journey with the Gold Foundation began in 2007 when she received a grant to develop a creative arts curriculum for medical students to learn to empathically navigate common professional boundary challenges. That work led to additional engagement  in the Gold Foundation’s Residency Ritual Oath Project in which new residents crafted a collective oath that they recited to their new community at an inaugural ceremony.

Her significant contributions were further recognized when she was awarded a Gold Foundation Professorship, which supported her research on the Harvard Medical School Cambridge Integrated Clerkship, a world-renowned longitudinal relational model of medical education. Dr. Gaufberg led the integration of reflective practice and social sciences into the curriculum.

Dr. Gaufberg then joined the Gold Foundation staff in 2012 to establish the Arnold P. Gold Research Institute. As the Jean and Harvey Picker Founding Director, she spearheaded efforts to spark research focused on the value of compassionate care, to disseminate findings showing its impact, and to cultivate a vibrant community of over 400 educators, researchers and advocates.

Teams from across the United States and Canada received seed funding to engage in the Mapping the Landscape (MTL) Initiative, which allowed them to investigate a topic of interest with a comprehensive literature review, and use that as a foundation to design further research or curricular interventions. The works were presented creatively and passionately at a vibrant MTL symposium, and many projects led to impactful scholarship.

In addition, three programs that received start-up grants from the Gold Foundation are still active at the Cambridge Health Alliance: the CHA-Gold Innovation Fellowship, the CEO-CLER small grants program to empower trainees to become change agents in the clinical learning environment, and the CHA Center for Mindfulness and Compassion.  

 

Integrating Arts & Humanities into Medicine

Early in her career journey, Dr. Gaufberg recognized the power of the arts and humanities to catalyze meaningful conversation and augment the teaching of the core skills of doctoring, including close looking, awareness of biases, cultivation of empathy, clear communication, and teamwork.

Dr. Gaufberg co-founded — and continues to co-direct — the Harvard Macy Institute Art Museum-Based Health Professions Education Fellowship, an international and interprofessional initiative that helps educators hone skills to use the rich museum environment in curriculum development and teaching.

Additionally, as a senior consultant for the Association of American Medical Colleges’ FRAHME (Fundamental Role of the Arts and Humanities in Medical Education) Initiative, she had a leading role in the AAMC’s multi-faceted efforts to integrate the arts and humanities in medical schools across the nation.

 

Celebrating Great Impact and Contributions

“The Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Award is not just a recognition of my individual journey,” said Dr. Gaufberg. “I have been blessed to walk this journey with so many inspirational and loving role models — Sandra and Arnold Gold, Ron Arky, and my colleagues at the Cambridge Health Alliance among them.”

Under the leadership of President and CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves, the Gold Foundation’s work is evolving to further its focus on creating practical solutions for humanistic care, benefiting both patients and clinicians. In past years, the Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Award has been open to nominations. In line with this pivotal moment in the Gold Foundation’s evolution under Dr. Reeves and the aim of the Hurwitz Award, the Gold Foundation team, with the support of Dr. Arky, designated this year’s honor to an inspiring woman leader who embodies the spirit of this award and has directly helped move the mission of the Gold Foundation forward. The award will return to an open nomination period in 2025.

Dr. Gaufberg and the Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Humanism in Healthcare Award will be featured at the 2025 Gold Humanism Summit, which will be held in Baltimore in September.

2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award is presented to Dr. Caroline Harada

This profile of the 2024 recipient was originally posted on the AAMC website.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is proud to join with the Association of American Medical Colleges to honor Dr. Harada with the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award. Dr. Harada was celebrated at the 2024 AAMC Awards Recognition Event and will speak at a luncheon at Learn Serve Lead.

Improving equity in health care is a humanistic pursuit and a pressing concern for many practitioners and educators. This important issue has long been a focal point for Caroline Harada, MD, associate dean for strategic initiatives and director of Project Advancing Health Equity through Alabama’s Doctors (AHEAD), the longitudinal health equity curriculum at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine (UAB Heersink SOM).

Dr. Caroline Harada

Dr. Caroline Harada

A geriatrician by training, Dr. Harada served as the school’s geriatrics fellowship director before transitioning in 2015 to undergraduate medical education to serve as assistant dean for Community-Engaged Scholarship. In that role, she was responsible for reinventing and rebuilding the school’s Learning Communities program, which aims to develop students’ professional identities. Under her leadership, the program grew to include 11 faculty members and 70-80 house staff mentors, who teach 38 unique learning sessions for students throughout the four years of medical school, becoming one of the defining experiences for medical students at UAB Heersink SOM.

Dr. Harada also founded and directs the school’s office of service learning, which provides curricular and extracurricular service-learning experiences for medical students. She has grown that program from a single, service-learning activity to 11 unique opportunities embedded within the curriculum, and she oversees 17 student-led service organizations and a student-run free clinic. All students enrolled at UAB Heersink SOM participate in service learning.

In 2015, Dr. Harada helped found the Alabama chapter of the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, which offers fellowships to graduate students in Alabama, to complete mentored projects to improve health in their communities. A year later, she founded the Health Equity Scholar Program for medical students planning to address health equity in their practice.

In 2019, Dr. Harada became director of Patient, Doctor, and Society, the first, foundational course that medical students take at UAB Heersink SOM. Under Dr. Harada’s directorship, this course has gone from being the worst-rated preclinical course to one of the highest rated. She has earned four “best educator” awards for her teaching in that course.

More recently, under her oversight of Project AHEAD, Dr. Harada has developed new curricular content for eight preclinical courses, a lunch-and-learn lecture series, and a new health equity grand rounds series for students.

In 2018, Dr. Harada received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the UAB Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Service Learning in 2020.

Dr. Harada earned a BS in biology from Brown University and an MD from Yale School of Medicine. She also completed an internal medicine residency and a geriatrics fellowship at the University of Chicago.

Learn more about the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award at the AAMC.

AAMC honors past Gold President and CEO Dr. Richard Levin with 2024 Special Recognition Award

The AAMC Board of Directors has presented Dr. Levin with a Special Recognition Award for his collaborative partnership with the AAMC to help further advance humanism in medicine.

Dr. Levin will be celebrated at the 2024 AAMC Awards Recognition Event on October 30. Register for the free virtual event here

This announcement was first published on the AAMC website.

Ensuring that patients remain at the center of all care interactions is a fundamental aspect of humanism in medicine, and Richard I. Levin, MD, has dedicated much of his career in academic medicine to furthering that noble aim, especially during the last decade while leading the Arnold P. Gold Foundation as president and CEO.

Dr. Richard Levin headshot

Dr. Richard Levin

Dr. Levin joined the Gold Foundation in 2012, which champions humanism in health care, and served until his retirement on June 30, 2023. During his tenure, he expanded the organization from its roots in medical schools to embrace a wider spectrum of relationship-centered care across the various health professions. The Gold Foundation now reaches nurses and nursing schools, as well as physicians in practice, researchers, and global health care companies through the Gold Corporate Council.

Under his transformative leadership, Dr. Levin deepened the Gold Foundation’s long-standing partnership with the AAMC. That partnership is most vivid at Learn Serve Lead: The AAMC Annual Meeting, which hosts the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award Lecture, the Gold Humanism Honor Society Workshop, the Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture, and previously, the Vilcek-Gold Lecture, which honored immigrant leaders in healthcare. Academic Medicine, journal of the AAMC, partners with the Gold Foundation on the now 25-year-old Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest. In short, by uniquely leveraging his international standing in medical education, Dr. Levin provided his thought leadership to advance the necessity for human connection in medicine.

Dr. Levin earned a BS with honors from Yale University in 1970 and graduated from the NYU School of Medicine in 1974 (now the NYU Grossman School of Medicine), where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed a cardiology fellowship at NYU and a postdoc in vascular biology at the Specialized Center for Research in Thrombosis at Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medicine).

In 1983, Dr. Levin launched his academic career at NYU School of Medicine, simultaneously caring for patients, conducting research, and teaching the next generations to better help those patients. There, he founded the Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research to foster novel, interdisciplinary research in basic, translational, and clinical cardiovascular sciences. He served as vice dean for education, faculty, and academic affairs, and as professor of medicine. Later, he served as dean of the faculty of medicine and vice principal for health affairs at McGill Faculty of Medicine. He is also a noted health affairs advocate, having served two terms as president of the New York City affiliate of the American Heart Association. He is the recipient of many honors, including Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Doctor of Science honoris causa from Wake Forest University.

Learn more about all the 2024 AAMC Award winners, including the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award recipient, Dr. Caroline Harada.

Dr. Kimberly Manning to present the 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture at the AAMC Annual Meeting

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is delighted to announce that Kimberly D. Manning, MD, a national leader in humanism and health equity, Emory Professor, and Gold Trustee, will be presenting the 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture at the AAMC Annual Meeting on November 10 in Atlanta. The annual lecture is jointly hosted by the Gold Foundation and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at the Learn Serve Lead conference.

Dr. Kimberly ManningDr. Manning’s lecture, titled “Wisdom at the Bedside,” will offer a narrative journey of lessons gained through listening and reflecting. Our most powerful teachable moments, she observes, happen not through lectures, articles, test preparation, or textbooks — but simply through listening. Whether we are listening to a patient, a person who steps onto the elevator, a worried loved one, a peer, or even children giggling on a playground, there is much to learn when we open ourselves to hearing from others.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Manning will be sharing her keen wisdom and unforgettable stories at this year’s Jordan J. Cohen Lecture at the AAMC Annual Meeting,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “Her observations about the human connection in healthcare both enlighten and inspire us. We’re grateful to the AAMC for this long-time collaboration that elevates leading voices of humanism.”

Dr. Manning is a general internist/hospitalist in the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair of RYSE (DEI) initiatives. Her clinical work is at Grady Memorial Hospital, where she has been for over two decades.

Dr. Manning is a luminary in medicine, sharing heartfelt stories on Twitter/X as @gradydoctor with 100,000+ followers, giving Grand Rounds and keynote talks across the country, and publishing her insights in JAMA, The Lancet, and many other journals and media outlets. She is known for her innovative and mission-driven approach to medical education and has been recognized nationally for her mentorship, teaching, and public speaking. She co-hosts The Human Doctor podcast.

She is a proud alumnus of two historically Black colleges—Tuskegee University and Meharry Medical College. She completed training in combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve/MetroHealth and served as chief resident.

Dr, Manning has been a Trustee of the Gold Foundation since 2020 and counts Dr. Jordan J. Cohen — a fellow Gold Trustee and Chair Emeritus, as well as President Emeritus of the AAMC — as one of her heroes. The namesake of this prestigious annual lecture, Dr. Cohen is an icon of medicine who led the AAMC from 1994 to 2006.

The 2024 Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture will be held 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. The Gold Foundation will also be hosting a Gold Humanism Honor Society workshop on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., “Humanism in Community — Moving from Community Service to Service Learning.”

To learn more and register for Learn Serve Lead, visit the conference website.

Q&A with Gold President & CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves

This Q&A was originally published in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Syllabus newsletter. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is proud to be a close partner of AACN.

Kathleen Reeves, MD, is the President and CEO of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. She previously served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Urban Health and Population Science, Director of the Center for Urban Bioethics, and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. A distinguished champion for humanism in health care, Dr. Reeves is committed to working with leaders across disciplines to elevate the patient-clinician relationship and achieve the Gold Foundation’s mission to advance compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent care. As Dr. Reeves finishes her remarkable first year as the head of the Gold Foundation, AACN posed ten questions to this healthcare luminary with a special emphasis on the role academic nursing can play in infusing humanism into patient care.

How did your career in health care prepare you to champion the mission of the Gold Foundation

Connecting with people on a personal, human level has always been important to me. It’s why I became a pediatrician. I spent most of my career in North Philadelphia at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. I worked in medical education as well as with the local community on population health research. Over that time, I had an opportunity to learn from the very best teachers I have ever encountered — patients and students — and they helped me develop my outlook on what needs to be prioritized in healthcare. First, no matter how amazing the science behind healthcare is, optimal health doesn’t happen unless people experience care that trustworthy, safe, and kind. We see this everyday especially in distressed communities like North Philadelphia. The pandemic made it even more obvious. We can have the most amazing vaccine that protects us from what can be a deadly infection, but it has no real value for people who don’t feel safe or can’t trust healthcare professionals enough to receive it. I did not witness a great degree of vaccine hesitancy; what I saw was a clear lack of trust.

The people of North Philadelphia showed me how trust, safety, and kindness in healthcare doesn’t just happen — it requires intentionality, knowledge, skill, and hard work. An innate sense of caring for other people is essential for any student coming into the healthcare landscape, but that alone is not enough. The skills and knowledge needed to engender trust and compassion can, and must, be taught. I was first drawn to the Gold Foundation years ago because of its mission of humanism in healthcare for all, a mission I deeply believe in. I became a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and served as the founding advisor at the chapter at Lewis Katz School of Medicine. I knew the ethos of the nonprofit and appreciated its values. This position felt like an opportunity to take the work I was already doing around connection and compassion, bring it to a national level, and make a bigger difference. In many ways, it felt like coming home.

In your first year as President and CEO, did anything surprise you?

I have known about the Gold Foundation and its movement of humanism in healthcare for years, but I was surprised to really experience the vast community and enthusiastic partners across the nation — including our wonderful partners in nursing at AACN. I have been so energized by the sense of community around the importance of humanism in medicine. The stakeholders who are committed to making healthcare more human-centered are amazing researchers, nurses, doctors, administrators, students, leaders, and educators. And the number of committed stakeholders is large. We are very well positioned in healthcare to bring great change.

How do you define humanism in healthcare?

Humanism in healthcare has three components: trust, safety, and kindness. People often experience healthcare when they are in their most vulnerable moments. Healthcare can be hard to understand. The collision of these facts requires trust to move past the vulnerability. Science is not something that we can trust. We can only trust people. Science is often complex and, by definition, it is ever-changing. We must trust the people who are using science to help alleviate suffering. Healing also requires safety. Suffering and poor health are scary. Fear and the physiologic changes that go along with it prevent health. Any human-centered healthcare requires a feeling of safety. And finally, humanistic clinicians must be driven by kindness, by a sense of caring for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves.

Why is compassion a catalyst for healing?

Compassion is what motivates us as humans to care about each other. Patients know when the nurse or other healthcare professional in front of them is motivated by compassion, and this creates trust and safety, encouraging patients to fully participate in their care. Healthcare professionals also know when they are well enough to experience compassion. Caring about others is hard work. We must be healthy ourselves if we ever hope to truly share a compassionate space with patients.

What does the science show about the connection between humanistic care and positive patient outcomes?

Humanism in healthcare is supported by a wealth of evidence proving its positive impact on patient outcomes. Research consistently shows that when healthcare professionals practice humanism, patients feel safer, trust more fully, share higher levels of satisfaction, have better treatment adherence, and experience improved clinical outcomes. Studies have shown that when patients feel like their healthcare professional really cares about them, patients experience less anxiety and more trust, and feel empowered to positively impact their health. This therapeutic alliance is crucial for effective healthcare delivery. We also know through research that healthcare spaces that are seen as compassionate and humanistic contribute to a more supportive and collaborative healthcare environment. This leads to a better functioning, interprofessional healthcare team that is able to provide more effective care. When nurses and other healthcare professionals prioritize humancentered care, a more holistic approach to disease is realized.

Why is it important to strengthen the connection between medicine and nursing?

One of my favorite authors, who is a pediatrician and ethicist, once referred to healthcare as an orchestra in which each discipline plays a different instrument and the patient serves as the conductor. The music doesn’t happen unless the strings play well with the brass and the drums coordinate with the woodwinds. No matter how much technology advances and how integral artificial intelligence becomes to healthcare, nothing will replace how the people who are the nurses and doctors and the other healthcare professionals interact with the people who are the patients. For the music of healthcare to happen, healthcare professionals must work together like an orchestra, each realizing the other brings an equal and important sound to the story.

What are some of the Gold Foundation’s major programs?

The Gold Foundation’s most well-known program is the White Coat Ceremony, an iconic rite of passage for students that centers on an oath to humanistic patient care. Our Co-Founder and namesake, Dr. Arnold P. Gold, envisioned the ritual as a way of emphasizing the importance of the human connection to students early in their training. The first ceremony of humanism supported by the Gold Foundation began in 1993 for medical schools, and in 2014, the Gold Foundation and AACN launched a partnership to bring the ceremony to nursing schools. Today, hundreds of nursing schools hold White Coat Ceremonies, though they may call them by different names, such as Nursing Oath Ceremonies, and adapt the event for their school’s unique identity. The Gold Foundation supports, in total across nursing, medical, and other healthcare profession schools, more than 50,000 students participating each year in a memorable ceremony focused on humanism. We provide free pins that feature the Gold mobius loop, a symbol of the bond between a clinician and a patient, and other materials. Learn more on our White Coat Ceremony webpage.

Here are a few other Gold programs:

  • Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest, an annual contest for nursing and medical students that prompts them to reflect on a healthcare experience where humanism was at the center. The winning essays are published in the Journal of Professional Nursing, AACN’s journal, and Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). We very much appreciate AACN’s support of the essay contest and collaboration in expanding this program to nursing students.
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society, which is an honor society based in medical schools and focused on humanism. More than 48,000 physicians and medical students are members, including the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and more than 180 chapters hold activities to support humanism.
  • Tell Me More®, a communications tool to help the healthcare team get to know a patient beyond their diagnosis.
  • Gold Humanism Summit, our annual conference, which will next be held in Baltimore, Sept. 17-20, 2025. We would love for nurses, educators, and nursing students to join us! Our call for abstracts is open now.

What teaching resources does the Gold Foundation provide to help educators prepare compassionate caregivers?

We offer many resources for educators, and we plan to grow this area tremendously in the years to come. In partnership with NextGenU.org, we offer two online courses: Humanism in Health and Healthcare and Dismantling Structural Racism to Advance Health Equity. These courses are completely free and available to nurses, nursing students, and all healthcare team members around the world.

Our Gold Resource Library offers a wide variety of resources designed to help foster the human connection in healthcare. It features both Gold Foundation resources and materials from our partners or other organizations.

And our Gold Humanism Summit is always packed with practical takeaways for educators — as well as a wonderful opportunity to connect with an amazing community of people who care about humanism in healthcare.

How can nurses and nurse educators help advance the mission of the Gold Foundation?

We would love to have more nurses and nurse educators collaborating with us to advance humanism in healthcare for all. Here are a few ways you can join our work:

  • Attend our Gold Humanism Summit on Sept. 17-20, 2025 and/or apply to be involved as a speaker, poster presenter, or artwork exhibitor. Our call for abstracts is open now.
  • Sign up for our monthly News & Notes newsletter for the latest updates.
  • Speak up at your institution about the importance of humanism in healthcare, how it helps support patient, clinician, and even organizational health.
  • Encourage your institution to join the Gold Partners Council, a group of leading hospitals and medical schools that support the mission of humanism in healthcare for all.
  • Reach out to me at kreeves@goldfoundation.org to share your interest in getting involved. We will be looking for collaborators in creating new courses and many other projects in the years to come. I’d love to hear from you.

What do you see on the horizon for Gold Foundation in the next 10 years?

I am so excited for the future of the Gold Foundation and the movement of humanism in healthcare. We are currently in the process of creating our next Strategic Plan for the Gold Foundation, which will focus on three areas: Humanistic Innovations, Education (especially continuing and interprofessional education), and Community. Humanistic Innovations is all about supporting humanism for patients and clinicians in direct, evidence-based ways. For example, our newest program, Gold Human-Centered Spaces, will transform a clinical site by evaluating multiple aspects, from policies to the environment, and making them more humanistic. Trauma-informed experts will be on site to support the healthcare staff and patients, and the Gold Foundation will measure key metrics before and after the transformation.

We believe that a more humanistic space will result in greater patient satisfaction, increased kept-appointment rates, higher clinician well-being, and even savings for the healthcare institution. Finally, all of our goals for a more humanistic healthcare system depend on partnerships and drawing more attention to our mission at a national level. We are deeply appreciative of the AACN’s collaboration and the great compassion nurses show every day in their care of patients. Together, we can create a future healthcare system that is more humanistic and supportive for both patients and healthcare professionals.

This Q&A was originally published in AACN’s July 2024 Syllabus newsletter.

Q&A with Dr. Kathleen Reeves in AACN’s “Inside Syllabus” newsletter

In a new Q&A, Gold President and CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves shares how compassion can be a catalyst for healing, what science shows about the connection between humanistic care and positive patient outcomes, and what’s next for the Gold Foundation.

Improve Healthcare Facilities By Creating Human-Centered Spaces

Gold President and CEO Dr. Kathleen Reeves recently was invited to write an article for the Facility Executive Magazine sharing how lessons from trauma-informed care in schools can be applied to healthcare institutions, and particularly how the space itself affects the human interaction within. This article also shares the facility aspect of her vision for Gold Human-Centered Spaces: clinical sites that have been through an assessment to become more humanistic, from the policies to the physical space itself.

13 medical students named 2024 Gold Student Summer Fellows

Gold Foundation selects 7 summer projects designed to support humanistic care in underserved communities

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is delighted to announce that 13 medical students have been selected as 2024 Gold Student Summer Fellows. They will be spearheading summer projects that amplify humanistic healthcare and help address health inequities through service and research projects that involve direct interaction with patients and community members.

This year’s projects touch upon a vast array of topics, including:

  • Expanding health literacy by establishing a strong partnership between Penn State College of Medicine and volunteers at Mid-State Literacy Council, a program located in State College, PA, that serves adult basic literacy and English language learners
  • Developing and evaluating a training program for emotional resilience for care partners of people who are living with dementia and who are experiencing significant mental and physical health challenges
  • Establishing and disseminating resources to enhance mental healthcare available to patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, an inflammatory skin disease with a higher prevalence in historically underserved populations
  • Addressing the need for increased health literacy to improve access to reproductive healthcare and increase utilization of women’s health services through the EmpowHER Bracelet Workshops
  • Tackling barriers to healthcare services and resources faced by migrant farm workers in Hammonton, New Jersey
  • Developing strategies to support people experiencing homelessness in North Carolina with ongoing care that addresses their evolving needs
  • Supporting justice-involved adolescent males ages 15-17 in an exploration of possible healthcare careers during a weeklong collaboration between Educators for Education (E4E) and Drexel University’s College of Medicine

The Gold Foundation offers Gold Student Summer Fellowships annually to provide opportunities for medical students to deepen their understanding of health inequities, to advance culturally responsive care, and to direct attention toward community health needs. These research and service projects train students to become discerning and human-centered physicians while also answering the call for public health initiatives in underserved populations. The Gold Foundation is grateful to the Mellam Family Foundation for its support of this program.

“Gold Student Summer Fellowships offer medical students the opportunity to explore healthcare beyond the hospital walls,” said Elizabeth Cleek, PsyD, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of the Gold Foundation. “This year, we are delighted to fund seven excellent, student-designed projects that foster human-centered care and incorporate the essential voices of patients and community members.  Each project will not only make a tangible difference, but will inform the ways in which Summer Fellows will impact healthcare for the better as they move forward in their careers.”

The 13 Gold Student Summer Fellows this year hail from seven medical schools:

Molly Stegman, M2
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

Building Health Literacy Bridges: Enhancing English Language Learner Programming with Healthcare Collaboration

This service project, led by medical student Molly Stegman, will focus on limited health literacy, which is defined as an individual’s difficulty in finding, understanding, and using information and services to inform health-related decisions. Limited health literacy poses a major public health concern as it restricts a patient’s self-care practices while increasing their risk of hospitalizations, greater use of emergency care, and poorer health status. Certain populations are at an increased risk for low levels of health literacy, including refugee, immigrant, and non-English speaking patient populations.  Ms. Stegman’s project will seek to establish a strong partnership between Penn State College of Medicine and Mid-State Literacy Council, a program in State College, Pennsylvania that serves adult basic literacy and English language learners. Ms. Stegman will utilize her experiences as a medical student and former English Language Learner instructor to build a health literacy curriculum for instructors.

Delaney Metcalf, M3
Augusta University, Medical College of Georgia

Emotional Resilience Training to Support Care Partners of Patients Living with Dementia

This research project, led by medical student Delaney Metcalf, will address the significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and physical health struggles reported by care partners of people living with dementia as compared to non-caregivers. To address these issues, Ms. Metcalf will design and implement a training program for emotional resilience, composed of three sessions, at a monthly local care partner support group. The program will combine both emotional regulation techniques and heart-focused breathing for care partners of people living with dementia. Often viewed as the “invisible patient,” care partners bear significant mental and physical health challenges that often go unnoticed by physicians.

Peter Dimitrion, M3
Wayne State University School of Medicine

Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Medical student Peter Dimitrion is leading a service project that will address the need for more effective mental healthcare for patients diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin disease with a prevalence of 1%-4% nationally and globally. Patients with HS experience significant impacts on their quality of life and have high rates of psychosocial comorbidities. The prevalence of HS is higher in patients from historically underserved populations, including those who are African American and Hispanic/Latino, and has a strong female bias. Patients with HS reporting higher rates of mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide, and in a global survey study, patients identified mental healthcare as a significant unmet need. Mr. Dimitrion will seek to address the importance of more effective mental healthcare for patients with HS by better defining patient needs, developing resources for patients and mental healthcare specialists, and connecting patients with specialists who have been trained with key resources.

Annesha Datta, M1, and Neha Maddali, M1
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

EmpowHER Bracelet Workshop: Increasing Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy to Advance Women’s Health

This service project, led by medical students Annesha Datta and Neha Maddali, will address the need for expanded health literacy to improve access to reproductive healthcare and women’s health services in New Jersey. Low health literacy rates are associated with poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. This barrier can often exacerbate existing disparities in SRH care. In response, the fellows will implement the EmpowHER Bracelet Workshops, developed in collaboration with the Cyclo 360 Family Planning Center, which serves a traditionally underserved population, at risk for poor health outcomes. The workshops will pair an engaging bracelet-making activity with women’s health education in a non-stigmatized environment that supports questions about sexual health. The bracelets feature a color-coded bead system that non-invasively tracks menstrual and fertility cycles. Participants who are interested in seeking longitudinal reproductive care will be referred to Cyclo 360, which provides low or no cost SRH services.


Mahhum Naqvi, M4, Justin Stout, M4, Colton Spencer, M4, and Bijan Roghanchi, M4
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Health Screening Event for Migrant Farm Workers Facing Barriers to Healthcare

Medical students Mahhum Naqvi, Justin Stout, Colton Spencer, and Bijan Roghanchi are spearheading a service project to address barriers faced by migrant farm workers in Hammonton, New Jersey, in accessing healthcare services and resources. The students will organize health screening events at various local farms. Through a needs assessment, research, strategizing, and collaboration with stakeholders, they plan to create a sustainable model for connecting migrant farm workers and their families with healthcare resources, while also screening for chronic health conditions.

Anahita Gupta, M1, and Esther Lee, M1
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Improving Care Coordination for Patients Experiencing Homelessness at UNC Health

Medical students Anahita Gupta and Esther Lee will be addressing the unique challenges of accessing the healthcare system for people experiencing homelessness. Often, a more cohesive system for coordinating care for people who are homeless following hospitalization is needed to ensure follow-up care and supportive community resources. The goal of this project is to enhance care coordination for patients at UNC Health who are experiencing homelessness by addressing gaps in communication. In partnership with the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, a North Carolina-based coalition of service providers, local governments, and community members, this project will propose strategies to link patients who are homeless with community-based case managers while patients are still in the hospital. The project will foster a patient-centered approach and direct engagement through interviews with people who are experiencing homelessness.


Doger Norceide, M1, and Vikki Rueda, M1
Drexel University College of Medicine

Career Development and Health Awareness Program

Led by medical students Doger Norceide and Vikki Rueda, this service project aims to provide adolescent males with a week-long immersion in career development and exposure to healthcare careers as part of a justice diversion program. The goal is to educate participants on the health disparities present in their communities while also equipping them with the early framework necessary to make a positive impact and advance their career development. This initiative will be a collaborative effort between Educators for Education (E4E) and Drexel University’s College of Medicine. E4E is an organization dedicated to serving communities by offering educational services, professional development/training, advocacy and social support.

Learn more about Gold Student Summer Fellowships. If you are interested in supporting or endowing a fellowship, please reach out to Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer Pia Pyne Miller at pmiller@gold-foundation.org.

Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup – May-June 2024

The Jeffrey Silver Humanism in Healthcare Research Roundup features summaries of recently published studies on humanism in healthcare. To receive email notification of new studies once per month, enter your information here and select “Jeffrey Silver Research Roundup” from the checkboxes at the bottom. See previous posts in this series.

Physician perspectives on internet-informed patients: systematic review Lu Q, Schulz PJ. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Jun 6;26:e47620. doi: 10.2196/47620. PMID: 38842920. Free full text
The internet serves as a pivotal source of health information, significantly influencing patient behavior and interaction dynamics within the healthcare setting. To explore these dynamics further, Qianfeng Lu and Dr. Peter Johannes Schulz conducted a systematic review to explore physicians’ perceptions of patients’ internet health information-seeking behavior, their communication strategies, and the challenges they face with internet-informed patients. They identified 22 articles that seem to indicate that physicians have mixed views on patient internet use, ranging from positive to negative. Physicians tended to adopt one of two communicative strategies, either (1) participative — engaging with internet-informed patients constructively and (2) defensive — discouraging reliance on potentially unreliable online information. Challenges found in the literature included time constraints in consultations and a lack of training on guiding patients toward credible online health resources. The authors concluded by advocating for “a medical teaching curriculum that introduces reliable internet sites to physicians for patient reference” to better prepare physicians for handling internet-informed patients.

Impact of heartfulness meditation practice compared to the gratitude practices on wellbeing and work engagement among healthcare professionals: Randomized trial Desai K, O’Malley P, Van Culin E. PLoS One. 2024 Jun 7;19(6):e0304093. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304093. PMID: 38848338. Free full text
Stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue remain significant issues among healthcare team members. Mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, have shown some promise in helping to address this problem, yet there is little data comparing different approaches and their effects on well-being, job satisfaction, teamwork, absenteeism, and collaboration. To help answer this, Dr. Kunal Desai and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a form of meditation termed Heartfulness meditation with gratitude practice on mental well-being among healthcare team members. The study utilized the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 to measure Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale to assess work-related vigor, dedication, and absorption. The trial involved 81 participants; half were nurses. They were randomly assigned to either a six-week trainer-guided virtual Heartfulness meditation program (n=55) or self-guided gratitude practice via podcasts (n=26). Results indicated a significant improvement in burnout and secondary traumatic stress among participants in the Heartfulness group, with a notable increase in vigor. Additionally, qualitative feedback highlighted enhanced sleep and reduced stress reactivity in the Heartfulness group, while those in the gratitude group reported uplifted moods and positive family interactions. The authors concluded by recommending further research through larger randomized trials to better characterize the efficacy of these practices in enhancing the well-being of healthcare team members.

‘Role model moments’ and ‘troll model moments’ in surgical residency: How do they influence professional identity formation? Bransen J, Poeze M, Mak-van der Vossen MC, Könings KD, van Mook WNKA. Perspect Med Educ. 2024 May 20;13(1):313-323. doi: 10.5334/pme.1262. PMID: 38800716; PMCID: PMC11122703. Free full text
Professional identity formation (PIF) in medical residency is a crucial learning process in which resident physicians internalize the professional standards and values of their community. To explore how role modeling influences PIF among surgical residents, Dr. Jeroen Bransen and colleagues conducted a qualitative study of 14 surgical residents and analyzed the data using a grounded theory approach. They found that role model behavior significantly impacts residents through specific, context-dependent “role model moments.” These moments are characterized by residents feeling inspired, involved, and a strong identification with the role model, leading to positive emulation. Conversely, negative “troll model moments,” dominated by adverse reactions to role model behaviors, prompt residents to reject certain behaviors. Through these experiences, residents learn to negotiate their values, strengthen desired attributes, and make individual choices critical to their professional development. The authors advocate for a shift in perspective, from simply “learning from role models” to “learning from role model moments.” This nuanced approach emphasizes the importance of recognizing both positive and negative modeling influences, facilitating better professional identity development by aligning these experiences with residents’ contextual factors and individual needs.

Statement of partnership and humility: A structural intervention to improve equity and justice in medical education Benoit LJ, Alves-Bradford JM, Amiel J, Gordon RJ, Lypson ML, Pohl DJ, Cunningham H. Acad Med. 2024 May 20. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005770. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38768295. Dr. Jonathan Amiel has been a Gold Humanism Scholar at the Harvard Macy Institute, a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society Advisory Council, and a National Humanism in Medicine Medalist.
Medical education innovations are essential to counteract the perpetuation of racial and other biases that contribute to significant health disparities. Dr. Laura J. Benoit and colleagues have responded to this urgent need with a “systematic, resource-negligible approach” aimed at improving anti-bias education in medical schools. Recognizing that systemic racism and biases are often unknowingly passed down through medical education, Dr. Benoit and her team developed and implemented a Statement of Partnership and Humility (SPH) disclosure slide. This slide is presented at the beginning of each preclinical lecture, encouraging faculty to acknowledge potential biases in their teaching materials and to openly invite student feedback. The SPH slide initiative is part of a broader effort to create a safe, inclusive, and nonjudgmental educational environment where both students and faculty can engage in meaningful discussions about biases without fear of retaliation. Initial results indicate that the SPH slide not only raises faculty awareness about biases but also significantly reduces faculty anxiety regarding student feedback, thereby increasing student involvement and fostering a healthier learning atmosphere. The authors concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing to evaluate the impact of the SPH slide through both qualitative and quantitative research to assess its effectiveness in promoting psychological safety and openness to feedback.

Impact of a virtual coaching program for women physicians on burnout, fulfillment, and self-valuation Smith S, Goldhaber N, Maysent K, Lang U, Daniel M, Longhurst C. BMC Psychol. 2024 Jun 5;12(1):331. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01763-0. PMID: 38840137; PMCID: PMC11155151. Free full text
Burnout among physicians remains a major workforce challenge and has been associated with medical errors, self-reported suboptimal patient care, reduced professional work effort, self-reported unprofessional behaviors, and lower productivity. Coaching has been posited as an intervention to help with burnout but most programs have been institutional with coaches not being physicians. To evaluate how a virtual coaching program tailored for female physicians impacts burnout, Dr. Sunny Smith and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study of a coaching program that included a combination of individual, small group, and large group sessions over eight weeks. They found that there were significant improvements in the well-being of the 201 participants: Burnout rates decreased from 77.1% to 33.3%, professional fulfillment increased from 27.4% to 68.2%, and self-valuation, which measures self-compassion, improved markedly. The changes observed had large to very large effect sizes, indicating substantial clinical relevance. The authors concluded by emphasizing the potential of virtual coaching programs led by physician coaches to significantly alleviate burnout, enhance professional fulfillment, and foster self-compassion among physicians. Such non-institution-based coaching, accessible to physicians irrespective of geographic or workplace boundaries, offers a scalable and impactful strategy for addressing critical wellness issues in the medical profession.

Physicians’ attention to patients’ communication cues can improve patient satisfaction with care and perception of physicians’ empathy Campos CFC, Olivo CR, Martins MA, Tempski PZ. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2024 May 3;79:100377. doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100377. PMID: 38703716; PMCID: PMC11087704. Free full text
High-quality physician-patient communication is crucial for achieving patient satisfaction and enhancing perceptions of physician empathy, which in turn can lead to stronger relationships, more accurate diagnoses, and increased patient adherence. Yet the relationship between patient satisfaction and perceived empathy is not well characterized. To identify which specific communication skills influence patient satisfaction and perceived empathy in medical interactions, Dr. Carlos Frederico Confort Camposa and colleagues conducted an explorative, cross-sectional survey-based study using video recordings of 10 consultations between second-year internal medicine residents and their patients. The research team classified observed behaviors into 23 verbal and 6 nonverbal communications, and correlated them with patient ratings of care satisfaction and perceived empathy. Results indicated that negative communication behaviors such as expressions of disapproval, interruptions, and content questions from patients were inversely related to patient satisfaction and perceived empathy. In contrast, positive behaviors like patient affective expressions and physician advice or suggestions correlated positively with these outcomes. While small and observational in nature, the authors concluded by emphasizing that training physicians to recognize and respond appropriately to patient communication cues could foster more satisfactory and empathetic therapeutic relationships.

Curricular reform in serious illness communication and palliative care: Using medical students’ voices to guide change Reidy JA, Brizzi K, Chan SH, Day H, Epstein SK, Fischer M, Garg PS, Gosline A, Jaramillo C, Livne E, Mitchell S, Morgan S, Olmsted MW, Stebbins P, Stumpf I, Vesel T, Yeh IM, Young ME, Goldman RE. Acad Med. 2024 May 1;99(5):550-557. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005647. Epub 2024 Jan 29. PMID: 38277443.  Dr. Jennifer A. Reidy has been a Gold Humanism Scholar at the Harvard Macy Institute, and Molly W. Olmsted was formerly an intern of the Gold Foundation.
The integration of palliative care into U.S. medical school curricula has been increasing, but the content and timing vary widely, often leaving students feeling unprepared to manage serious illnesses effectively. Dr. Jennifer Reidy and colleagues explored this issue through a multicenter, qualitative study using a phenomenological approach and an immersion/crystallization qualitative data analysis to gather students’ views at two medical schools with strong palliative care programs. Their method involved conducting eight focus groups with a total of 50 medical students across four schools to understand their educational experiences and perspectives on serious illness communication (SIC) and palliative care. The results highlighted six key themes: (1) acquiring skills in SIC and palliative care collaboration is essential for all physicians, (2) training in SIC skills and palliative care should be required in medical school, (3) learning SIC skills by practicing with frameworks is preferred, (4) palliative care specialists are experts but a scarce resource, (5) luck plays a role in observing good role models and participating in family meetings, and (6) regular practice in debriefing difficult, emotional situations is desired. Based on this feedback from students, the authors concluded by recommending significant curricular reforms to ensure all medical students receive comprehensive training in palliative care and serious illness communication and suggest that these reforms could serve as a national model for other medical schools.

New insights into physician burnout and turnover intent: a validated measure of physician fortitude Weinzimmer L, Hippler S. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Jun 18;24(1):748. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11186-7. PMID: 38890733; PMCID: PMC11186125. Free full text
Physician burnout continues to be a critical issue, exacerbated by increasing demands in healthcare and resulting in significant professional and financial consequences, including turnover.  Yet there is little understanding of how burnout contributes to turnover. To help explore this further, Dr. Laurence Weinzimmer and Dr. Stephen Hippler introduced and validated the concept of physician fortitude, “an interpersonal attitudinal attribute that enables one to succeed under repeated pressure and stress.” To investigate and validate this concept, they conducted a survey and employed exploratory factor analysis on a sample of 909 physicians, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), and healthcare leaders to create a 12-item fortitude scale. A second sample of 212 participants further tested the scale for reliability and validity by comparing this scale to other scales for turnover intent, grit, hardiness, resilience, and mental toughness, as well as the three subdimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal achievement).  Through complex psychometric and statistical analysis, they demonstrated that fortitude significantly correlates with reduced levels of all three subdimensions of burnout as well as lower turnover intent. Notably, the fortitude measure explained more variance in these outcomes than other common measures, such as grit, hardiness, mental toughness, and resilience, indicating its unique contribution to understanding physician burnout and retention. The authors concluded by highlighting the effectiveness of the newly developed fortitude scale in capturing a broader range of adaptive responses to stress than previous measures. This opens new avenues for developing targeted interventions to enhance physician resilience and reduce burnout and suggests the potential for broad application across various healthcare settings.

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Dr. Sandra Gold tells the story of how The Arnold P. Gold Foundation began

Gold Foundation Co-Founder and Trustee Dr. Sandra Gold tells the story — in her husband Arnold’s words from years ago — about how this nonprofit organization devoted to humanism in healthcare first began.

As she shared his words, the audience was transported back to a time when Arnold realized that his students were focused on test results, but not paying enough attention to their patients as human beings.

At the time, Arnold wondered, “What could one person do to stop the tide of this change in behavior toward patients? I was on service. I had a busy practice. I was in the process of writing chapters in two textbooks, and I was teaching every day.”

Arnold was passionate about the need for the human connection. Inspired by the philanthropic work of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, he decided to start a foundation to sustain and restore humanism in healthcare.

The legacy of that choice is still felt in the lives of countless patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

This special video recording was taken at the Gold Foundation’s 2024 Gala in NYC.

Announcing the winners of the 2024 Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is pleased to announce the six winning essays of the 2024 Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest: the top three by medical students and the top three by nursing students.

First place for medical students is awarded to Caterina Florissi of Harvard Medical School, and first place for nursing students is awarded to Hailey Sommerfeld of the University of Utah College of Nursing.

Second place is awarded to Noor Ahmed of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Megan McDowell of Brenau University’s nursing program, and third place goes to Danielle Collins of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Erin Bowdish of The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University.

“This year’s winning essays poignantly convey the experiences of nurses and physicians in training,” said Elizabeth Cleek, PsyD, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of the Gold Foundation. “Each essay tells a unique story, yet they speak to a common truth: We are all better off when compassion is central in healthcare.”

The Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest — which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year — encourages medical and nursing students to reflect on an experience in which they or a team member worked to ensure humanistic care.

This year, the essay contest prompt was a quote from Sir William Osler, whose writings about the practice of medicine have influenced clinicians for over a century: “The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head.”

That spirit resonates in this year’s winning essays. Some pieces allow readers a glimpse of what it means to care for vulnerable patients – a small child with cancer, mothers and babies in the NICU, a man working toward recovery and a life where dreams can come true. Others tell personal stories of loss and resilience. Each essay highlights what it means to keep humanism at the heart of healthcare.

“In my time as a medical student, I have felt deeply grateful to the patients I’ve cared for,” said Ms. Florissi, the first-place medical student winner. “They’ve allowed me to learn both from and alongside them, and I am committed to giving back to those who, in sharing their stories, have in turn shaped my own.”

Ms. Sommerfeld, the first-place nursing student winner, shared, “When you care for people from different backgrounds and situations, there is something that opens you up to learning from them and discovering and seeing the world from other points of view. Working in healthcare offers the unique opportunity to deeply connect with people and feel genuine human connection.”

Each year, the winning essays are chosen by an expert panel that includes healthcare professionals, writers/journalists, and educators. Nearly 500 entries were submitted this year from students at over 80 nursing schools and over 100 medical schools. 2024 marks the seventh year that the contest has included nursing students.

The six essays will be published in two esteemed journals, Academic Medicine, across the October, November, and December issues, and Journal of Professional Nursing, in the September/October, November/December, and January/February issues. Academic Medicine is published by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and Journal of Professional Nursing is published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Both organizations are key supporters of the annual essay contest and partners of the Gold Foundation.

The essay contest is named in memory of Hope Babette Tang, MD, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and the Pediatric Medical Director of the hospital’s HIV clinic until her death in 1998 at age 36. Dr. Tang’s patients were often facing numerous obstacles on top of their devastating medical challenges, which made healing even more difficult. Her mantra in caring for her patients was “Whatever it takes.” Her approach meant she saw the person in front of her, not just their medical situation. Many of her acts of caring only came to be known after her death. She treated the whole patient, a hallmark of humanistic care.

The Gold Foundation congratulates all of this year’s winners and honorable mentions:

2024 Medical/Nursing Student Winners

First Place

“A Drop of a Person”
Caterina Florissi
Harvard Medical School

Caterina Florissi is a rising fourth-year student at Harvard Medical School. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2018, she spent three years studying the lived experience of illness, both as a researcher surveying individuals with diabetes and as a life story writer for those with dementia.

 

“Baby J’s Song”
Hailey Sommerfeld
University of Utah College of Nursing

Hailey Sommerfeld is in her final year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Midwifery program at the University of Utah. She is a passionate advocate for reproductive rights and hopes to dedicate her career to supporting pregnant individuals whose unique situations may make pregnancy emotionally trying, including those with substance use and mental health disorders, gender diverse individuals, adolescents, and survivors of violence. Her goal is to ensure they have a voice in their care and receive the compassionate, individualized support they need during their pregnancies. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and daughter, and enjoys spending time in the mountains, playing rugby, reading thrillers, and learning new hobbies.

 

Second Place

“Apartment 5 on Dolphin Drive”
Noor Ahmed
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Noor Ahmed is a second-year medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Previously, she served as a homeless outreach worker in the San Francisco Bay Area. She plans to return to the field as a street psychiatrist. In continuation of her passion for health and social equity, Ms. Ahmed currently serves as a research intern at the Emergency Medicine x Social Determinants of Health Lab at NYU Langone Health. She lives in Pittsburgh with her senior cat (and best friend) Peri.

 

“The Cat”
Megan McDowell
Brenau University’s nursing program

Megan McDowell is a Doctor of Nursing Practice student enrolled at Brenau University, where she also teaches as an Assistant Professor. Megan worked in Critical Care for 17 years and has now transitioned to the Cardiac Stress Lab. She has been passionate about nursing education and teaching for over a decade, helping students apply theory in the clinical setting. Her doctoral project will focus on educating healthcare workers about human trafficking and using an evidence-based tool to help identify these victims. She enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and spunky Shih Tzu, Teddy Murphy.

 

Third Place

 “A Place for Grief”
Danielle Collins
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Danielle Collins is a first-year medical student at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She attended Yale University as a QuestBridge Scholar, where she received a Bachelor of Science for the dual majors of Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. At Yale, Danielle was a leader of Students Unite Now, where she advocated for enhanced financial aid and mental health resources for students. Her academic journey also included significant research in ovarian cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. After university, Danielle worked at Boston Children’s Hospital in pediatric cardiology. Now at Hopkins, Danielle is Advocacy Chair of the Student National Medical Student Organization. Her passion for medicine is matched by her love for reading, which fuels continuous growth and joy.

 

“A Quiet Place”
Erin Bowdish
The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University

Erin Bowdish is a final year nursing student with a special interest in pediatrics. Nursing is a second career for her and she formerly worked in elementary education. During school, she volunteered as a class representative, advocating for peers and collaborating with faculty to enhance the student experience. She is also a Board Member for a local food recovery organization where she identifies and advocates for special populations most in need of food security and necessary goods. She is a California native and lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three children.

Honorable mentions:

Jessica Atkinson, University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Nursing, “Safeguarding Souls”

Jordyn Bailey, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, “Self-love: A Universal Healer”

Briana Barns, Albany Medical College, “The Checklist”

Sundi Brown, University of Utah College of Nursing, “The Start”

Michael Farid, Weill Cornell Medicine Medical College, “The Attending Who Cuts Hair”

Vanessa Gilbert, Georgia College and State University School of Nursing, “Nurturing Hearts”

Ceili Hamill, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, “GirlofDebra”

Emeline Hood, Penn State College of Medicine, “The Prom”

Jessica Moore, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, “Room 402”

Rachael Muggleton, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, “Curiouser and Curiouser!”

Ego Ofoegbu, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, “Threads of Understanding”

2024 Gold Gala Photo Gallery

On June 10, 2024, the Gold Foundation celebrated humanism in healthcare and three visionary honorees at its Annual Gala in New York City: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who was introduced by Dr. Chelsea Clinton; Dr. Afaf Meleis, who was introduced by Dr. Arthur Rubenstein, and Michael Dowling, who was introduced by Dr. Lawrence Smith. The ceremony was emceed by Gold Trustee Dr. Kimberly Manning.

Thank you to our sponsors who made this year’s Annual Gala possible and are helping to fuel our mission for the future!

 

Learn more about our 2024 honorees in these profiles: