A tremendous wellspring of humanism, altruism and innovation resides within our nation’s medical schools and teaching hospitals. The Gold Foundation taps into these exceptional resources by supporting inventive ideas to promote more compassionate medical care and caregivers. Our foundation receives and supports a number of unsolicited proposals from students, residents and faculty to develop and support projects related to humanism in medicine. The Gold Foundation also provides grant funding to numerous Foundation-sponsored programs. what we fund
Following is a list of recently funded faculty-, resident-, and student-initiated projects.
Faculty-initiated projects
Tulane School of Medicine Values in Medicine Supporting educational activities that help students, educators, healthcare professionals and administrators focus medical education on the physician-patient-community relationship.
Institute of Medicine and Humanities (a joint program of the Univ. of Montana and St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center) Promoting Humanism in Undergraduate Medical Education through Transnational Competence: An Intensive Workshop Medical educators from five medical schools across the nation will develop a curriculum focused on preparing physicians to care appropriately and effectively for patients from varied national, ethnic, and subcultural backgrounds.
Drexel University College of Medicine Developing Culturally Competent Physicians A role model faculty mentor brings pediatric residents into the community to partner with local organizations and agencies to improve the health and well-being of people in this largely Latino neighborhood.
Wright State School of Medicine Medical Education Video Project A series of videos, based on a PBS documentary, which examines the effects of childhood cancer on five families. To be used in palliative and death and dying curricula to study doctor-patient-family relationships and the role of caregivers.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Arts in Medicine Program Bringing the healing touch of art to sick children in clinics and hospitals. Also involves medical students using self-portraiture to depict how they would like their patients to see them as physicians.
Stony Brook University School of Medicine Residents as Role Model Teachers Employing role-model residents to teach a course on humanism to preclinical students.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Medical Student Professionalism Retreats Workshops analyzing research on assessing professionalism development in medical students.
Albert Einstein School of Medicine Medical Spanish Teaching students to communicate with their Spanish-speaking patients and to become more culturally aware.
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Talking Medicine Providing a safe forum for doctors-in-training to discuss difficult issues, both ethical and personal, and to reflect upon becoming a doctor.
University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine Journal Project To promote self-reflection among incoming medical students through writing.
Washington University School of Medicine Developing Effective Strategies for Teaching Human Values to Surgeons in Training Teaching and mentoring surgical residents on ethical and moral challenges, and on the practice of humanism in medicine. Topics will include: informed consent; end of life care; rationing medical resources and access to health care; and delivery of quality medical care and the need for cost containment.
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson
Transition Ceremony for New Second Year Students Marking the new phase of medical education when the students begin their initial patient encounters. Communications skills are stressed in the understanding of the doctor-patient relationship.
University of South Carolina Increasing Humanism in Medicine through Brief Clinical Life Review Use of an innovative “life review” interview method to help teach 3rd year students about understanding the whole patient. The LISTEN method steps include, L: learn from open-ended questions, I: integrate using a diagram or visual, S: summarize for accuracy and completeness, T: talk about omissions and meaning, E: empathize by validating, and N: negotiate recommendations.
Resident-Initiated Projects
Hospice and Palliative Care Center Letters of Condolence Studying the effects of condolence letters on both resident physician who has written the letter and the deceased patient's family.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Residents as Teachers: Skills Building Program Providing important teaching and communication skills to residents who have mastered a great deal of scientific and technological information which they are well-prepared to pass on to their medical students, but little of the critical skills necessary for effective education.
Student Initiated Projects
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Literary Journal A journal for medical students to share poems, creative writing and short essays which promote self-reflection and a focus on becoming a physician.
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Breaking the Mold: New Visions for Family Career and the Female Physician A student organized conference to address issues related to gender and women physicians.
Emory University School of Medicine Candlelight Vigil for Uninsured Georgians A group of medical students from in and around the Atlanta, Georgia region raising awareness of and advocating for those in their state who do not have access to adequate healthcare.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Share the Health A student run health fair designed to encourage the medically underserved to become active participants in their own health care by teaching them about community health resources and strategies for disease prevention.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Humanism in Medicine Interest Group Dinner and panel discussions for students interested in humanism and the practice of medicine. Topics included: Religion and Medicine, and Cultural Diversity.
Albany Medical College Prescribing Books for Kids Bringing medical students into Albany's inner city clinics to read books to pediatric patients while helping students learn about a culturally and economically diverse patient population and encouraging young people to read.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Cultura Photo-mentoring Medical students mentor neighborhood youth through the use of photography while also gaining insight into the lives of these inner city kids. A photography exhibit concludes each year's program.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons Cultura Spanish lunch series Student-led lunch series to teach peers to communicate with their Spanish-speaking patients and to become more culturally aware.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons 2002 Match Day Reception Developed by students to provide support for each other and to help quell anxiety on Match Day.
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School High School Mentorship Program A mentorship program to provide guidance and support to young high school women with socioeconomically disadvantaged background who are interested in medicine or other related health care fields.
Howard University College of Medicine Long White Coat Ceremony To provide support to students on Match Day and encouragement as they enter residency, by revisiting the oath taken at the White Coat Ceremony, and by hearing an inspiring keynote speech focused on the humanistic practice of medicine.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
Class Day Project Celebrating the graduating class with a small gift to each student reminding them of the humanistic practice of medicine.
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Community Health Issues Lecture Series Exploring topics in community health issues, including HIV, eating disorders and domestic violence.
