The Gold Heart of Humanism

By Office of the President | Feb 11, 2025

On January 14, we celebrated our newest inductees into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). This recognition goes beyond academic excellence to honor those who lead with compassion, integrity, and respect. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, sponsors this recognition event that goes beyond skill, embodying the true essence of medicine: compassionate, patient-centered care.

This honor holds a special meaning for me. As a founding member of the Foundation, a longtime Board member, and the current Board Secretary, I have seen firsthand how humanism transforms patient care and the careers of those who embrace it. Medicine is more than science and data—it’s about the human connection, listening, comforting, and healing.

The Gold Humanism Honor Society was born from kitchen-table conversations between Dr. Arnold Gold, a respected pediatric neurologist, and Sandra, his wife, about the changing nature of medical training. Dr. Gold feared that as young doctors focused on technology and clinical expertise, they risked losing the human connection essential to exceptional care. Those discussions led to the creation of GHHS, ensuring that compassionate, patient-centered medicine remains recognized, fostered, and celebrated.

This honor speaks volumes about the kind of physicians recognized—those who exemplify kindness, respect for patients, and a deep commitment to humanistic care. Nominated by their peers, these individuals are dedicated to medical excellence and the compassion that defines truly exceptional healthcare. This recognition is a distinction to be carried with pride, inspiring continued growth, leadership, and meaningful professional contributions.

We also proudly recognize our faculty inductees, whose leadership and dedication to humanistic medicine set the highest standard for our students:

• Carla Boutin-Foster, M.D., MSc – Associate Dean of Diversity Research and Education, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity
• Hannah Brooks, M.D., MS – Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Primary Care Clerkship Director
• Pascal James Imperato, M.D., MPH&TM, MACP – Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer
• Isabel McFarland, M.D., FACP – Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Medicine Clerkship Director, and this year’s recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, GHHS’s highest honor

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this special evening possible, including Jeffrey Putman, Ed.D., Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs, and his team for their work in organizing a great event.

And lastly, I extend congratulations to our new student inductees—the future of humanistic medicine:

To each of you, thank you for embodying the very best of what we aspire to be. May you carry this honor with pride and serve as a reminder to always lead with humanity in all you do.

Tags: Awards, Honors