Gold Humanism Honor Society Inducts New Students, Residents and Faculty Members

This year, 18 third-year medical students, six residents and three faculty members at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS).

The recognition serves as a highlight to their respective dedication toward uplifting humanism in health care. The GHHS reinforces and supports the human connection in medicine, which is essential for the health of patients and clinicians.

The U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix’s GHHS chapter, which was established in 2010, inducts the top 10-15% of the third-year medical school students who are identified by their peers as exemplars of humanism in medicine. 

Emrie Tomaiko-Clark and Ellie Pitcher, two fourth-year medical students and current members of the GHHS Class of 2026, served as hosts for the event.

“This ceremony exists to recognize and welcome students, residents and faculty who have been nominated by current College of Medicine – Phoenix medical students and faculty for their humanism in medicine,” Tomaiko-Clark said. “It also represents a passing of knowledge, compassion and the ‘light’ of humanism in medicine from one GHHS class to the next.”

Dean Fred E. Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, provided a welcome address that focused on the intersection of humanism and AI, emphasizing the need for clinicians to extend empathy to their patients amidst the growing integration of tech and chat bots in medicine.

Jimmie Parks Watkins, DDS, PhD, MD, an assistant clinical professor in the college’s Department of Anesthesiology, served as the keynote speaker for the induction ceremony. 

In front of the newly minted inductees, Dr. Watkins used his time to encourage the audience to continue advocating for compassionate patient-centered care throughout their careers.

“Please remain steadfast and resist those forces that would have you compromise those ideals,” Dr. Watkins said. “You will be happier and have a more fulfilling professional life if you do.”

As tradition, the new inductees were each called by name and presented with a GHHS pin that was secured to the lapel of their white coat. Each student also affixed a new colorful ribbon, binding them with those tied from the previous classes on a yucca staff.

The yucca stock staff is native to the Arizona desert landscape and symbolizes a serpent which is strongly associated with healing capabilities in Native American tradition.

Shakaib Rehman, MD, CSH, FACP, FACH, professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, GHHS Faculty Advisor, thanked the current GHHS class for their exemplary leadership, humanism and passion along with celebrating those in the room and those who organized the event.

“I’ve been honored to work with our students for a very long time, but this last batch are incredible leaders,” Dr. Rehman said. “All of our honor society members, every single one of them, have done such a great job in enhancing humanity.” 

Becky Salamanca, an inductee for the GHHS Class of 2027, was gracious to be inducted. It reminded her that she is making a positive impact.

“The essence of what I feel humanism in medicine is, is being able to step outside of yourself and be just another person in a room — witnessing another human being experience their life,” Salamanca said.

Robert Unger, another inductee of the GHHS Class of 2027, stated that it was a tremendous privilege to be included. “What humanism means to me is to continue to be there, to look someone in the eye, to be able to make contact with them and tell them that it is going to be okay,” he said.

Congratulations to the Following Student Inductees

• Tala Araghi.
• Sanjana Arun.
• Madison Billingsley.
• Spencer Bradshaw.
• Joaquin Cardozo.
• Nina Cherian.
• Susannah Cowley Rallison.
• Michelle Devlin.
• Tyler Krall.
• Taylor Lee.
• Adrienne Ly.
• Eujung Park.
• Anika Porwal.
• Arteen Rasti.
• Becky Salamanca.
• Liliana Tong.
• Robert Unger.
• Jed Whetten.

Faculty members Janet Maurer, MD, a clinical professor of Internal Medicine, in the Division of Pulmonary Clinical Series and director of the Pulmonary, Renal Acid-Base Block in Undergraduate Medical Education; Brandon Minzer, MD, an assistant clinical professor in the college’s Anesthesiology Clinical Series; and Paul Tran, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Phoenix Children’s and an assistant professor of Child Health were inducted into the GHHS for their work ethic, often acting as role models to medical students through displaying acts of humanism in medicine.

The six residents who were inducted into the GHHS were Prathima Harve, MD; Elizabeth Mangone, MD, MPH; Josephine Martin, DO; Ryan Toledo, MD; Charles Wen, MD, and Danielle Wenger, MD.

Photos from the Event