Creighton University

The Creighton University School of Medicine GHHS Chapter was established in 2004 with the support of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Inspiration for the GHHS began in the late 1990s, when medical educators and residency program directors expressed the need for a mechanism to identify applicants for internships and residencies who have both outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills. Thanks to a series of grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, deans, medical educators, and experts in assessment were convened to explore and research the viability of a honor society to promote humanistic values and behaviors and transform the culture of medicine. At the end of the exploration, pilot chapters were begun at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Currently, over 60 schools of medicine have GHHS chapters.

To learn more about GHHS, visit the Gold Foundation GHHS Site.  To watch a GHHS video, click here...
Father Schlegel S.J.  and Arnold P. Gold M.D. 

The mission of the Gold Humanism Honor Society established at the Creighton University School of Medicine is to promote humanism, humane conduct, and professionalism throughout the continuum of physician training from the first day in medical school until retirement from medical practice. Humanism is a core principle of the Ignatian philosophy at the foundation of the Creighton University mission. Humanism embodies the individual’s sensitivity, respect, and empathy for all, while recognizing the needs and autonomy of each person. In accordance with its mission, the Creighton University Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society will recognize those medical students, resident physicians, and faculty members, who exemplify the qualities of the humanistic healer. Gold Humanism Honor Society members manifest:

• Integrity, pursuit of truth, and sound moral reasoning that engenders the trust and confidence of others
• Ability to learn from life experiences and commitment to self-evaluation, seeking and accepting criticism to improve performance
• Promotion of justice and respect for others and for the inalienable worth of each individual, regardless of social, ethnic, religious, or cultural background or station of life
• Compassion, empathy, and altruism including supportive advocacy for others, with special emphasis on care for the poor
• Concern for the general welfare of the community and the society as a whole
• Ability to maintain compassion, concern, respect, integrity, and commitment to humanistic goals despite adversity

The Executive Committee is made up of faculty who have been inducted in an administrative capacity and/or as a result of having been selected as a winner of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (which is sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation).  Winners of the Tow Award are automatically inducted into the GHHS Chapter at the subsequent annual induction banquet.

• PaulaJo Malin, M.D., Chapter President
• Michael G. Kavan, Ph.D., Faculty Advisor
• Roger Brumback, M.D.
• Alfred D. Fleming, M.D.
• Mark Goodman, M.D.
• Thomas Hansen, M.D.
• Bruce Houghton, M.D.
• Anna Maio, M.D.
• James Manion, M.D.
• Dan Schuller, M.D.
• Frederick Youngblood, M.D.
• Annie Cook, M.D.
• Zack DePew, M.D.
• Curtis Selser, M.D.
• Kyle Ulveling, M.D.

Students are nominated by their peers and the School of Medicine faculty.  Afterward, a committee meets to make the final selections.  Usually 12-15 students are inducted from each senior class.

• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation sponsors both the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award and the Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award.  To learn more, go to descriptions of the awards and past winners.

As a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, I pledge to:

1. Model, encourage, and sustain the values of humanism and professionalism 
2. Enjoy a shared vision of a balance between science and humanism
3. Lead, mentor, and inspire colleagues to promote humanism at all levels of healthcare
4. Advocate for humanism in medicine—on campus, in practice, personally, locally, and nationally
5. Nurture fellowship in membership
6. With humility, reach out to and support those bowed down by barriers to humanism in medicine
7. Be a force for better healthcare for all