Selecting Students, Residents and Faculty to Become GHHS Chapter Members
The Society recommends that medical students be selected for membership in their third year as soon as peers and clerkship directors have had ample time to observe clinical practice. Student selection should be completed in time for new GHHS members to bond as a group and to design their projects before year's end. The inclusion of this honor should be in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), otherwise known as the dean's letter. Selected students should be humanistic exemplars (see selection process below) for the entire student body and should range from 10-15% of the class.
The most common selection process includes: nominations from student peers based on personal observation and a validated and reliable peer nomination process (or a variation) developed by Dr. Wayne McCormack at the University of Florida. The McCormack survey asks students to identify three individuals in their class who most closely fit the six statements that include characteristics related to humanism (integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, respect and empathy). From an initial group of nominees consisting of 20-25% of the class, a selection committee, often composed of faculty, administrators, GHHS member students and residents, gathers further information, including academic eligibility, program director evaluations, and an additional essay/interview or indication of the nominee's willingness and qualifications to serve if selected. The committee makes the final decision.
Chapters may induct into the GHHS two faculty members and up to six residents chosen by third year students. If your school bestows the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the award should be given to one of the GHHS students selected and one of the two faculty members selected to GHHS. If your school conducts the Student Clinician's Ceremony, all of the six resident recipients of the Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award are automatically members of GHHS.
Inducting GHHS Members - ViVV View video of the July 2011 GHHS induction ceremony at Des Moines Univesity College of Osteopathic Medicine
View Des Moines University College of Medicine's video of their July 2011 GHHS induction
Students selected to the GHHS should be recognized in a formal induction ceremony. Some schools begin with an informal recognition or a dinner with invited family and friends soon after the selection where honorees are individually recognized by the dean or president of the university. Formal recognition should take place when other student honors and awards are bestowed, demonstrating the significance of the selection to GHHS. In addition, schools are expected to acknowledge student membership in the GHHS at the graduation ceremonies.
GHHS members are awarded a certificate and a specially designed GHHS lapel pin by the Society. Each new chapter is awarded a one-time grant of up to $2,000 to help with the costs associated with an initial induction ceremony.
Building and Sustaining a GHHS Chapter
After the selection of the candidates, the chapter advisor enters the names and contact information in the GHHS directory and provides the names for publications on websites, in newsletters and to the GHHS national office. Complete this form along with the inductee spreadsheet and return the information to Harriet Turner at least three weeks prior to the induction ceremony. New GHHS members meet soon after selection in order to bond and to determine the activities that the group would like to pursue during their final year. Separate funding ranging from $500-$1500 is available for such activities; see Grants. See Chapter Actvities for ideas. Chapter creativity is strongly encouraged and welcomed.
