Gold Humanism Honor Society Cultivates the Compassionate Physicians of Tomorrow
At LSU Health New Orleans, medical students are learning that exceptional healthcare is built not only on clinical expertise, but also on compassion, empathy, and human connection. Through the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), students are developing the qualities that patients and families remember most during moments of vulnerability — kindness, understanding, and genuine care.
Supported by philanthropic generosity through the LSU Health Foundation, the LSU Health New Orleans GHHS chapter is helping shape future physicians into compassionate leaders who will carry these values into hospitals, clinics, and communities for decades to come.
LSU Health New Orleans joins more than 100 medical schools nationwide in supporting the mission of the Gold Humanism Honor Society: to recognize, support, and promote humanism and professionalism in medicine. Nationally, GHHS honors student-doctors who are viewed by their peers as the kind of physician they would trust to care for their own parent or child — a true “Doctor’s Doctor.”
Throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, LSU Health New Orleans’ GHHS chapter transformed that mission into meaningful action through initiatives that comforted patients, supported healthcare workers, encouraged wellness, and reminded students why they chose medicine in the first place.
The year began in September with chapter members helping coordinate the White Coat Ceremony for first-year medical students, welcoming the next generation of physicians into a profession grounded in service and compassion. During the fall semester, students also partnered with the New Orleans VA Medical Center to host Stand Down for Veterans Day and launched an ongoing initiative creating handmade comfort cards for patients with cancer — small but deeply meaningful reminders that patients are not alone in their journey.
In January, students began compiling creative works from the School of Medicine Class of 2026 to create a medical school time capsule, preserving reflections and personal experiences from one of the most formative periods of their lives.
February brought two impactful outreach events at University Medical Center: Patient Solidarity Day and Resident Appreciation Day. Through handwritten notes, tissue paper flowers, and sweet treats, GHHS members offered encouragement to patients and gratitude to residents working tirelessly on the front lines of care.
The chapter’s spring programming focused on emotional wellness, resilience, and the human side of medicine — areas increasingly recognized as essential in today’s healthcare environment. In March, students gathered for Wellness Night, creating flower bouquets and sharing conversation and community during the demanding pace of medical training.
In April, GHHS hosted Courage in Medicine, a narrative medicine workshop led by LSUHSC alumna Dr. Anjali Dhurandhar, Class of 1997, and Dr. Eve Makoff, co-editors of Narrative Medicine: A Guidebook to Transforming Hearts and Minds. The workshop encouraged students to reflect on the emotional experiences that shape physicians and patients alike.
In May, students participated in a Vicarious Trauma Workshop led by Dr. Adele Williams, pediatric surgeon at Manning Family Children’s Hospital, focusing on processing grief, trauma, and emotionally difficult workplace experiences that healthcare professionals often encounter throughout their careers.
The academic year concluded with the 2026 GHHS Induction Ceremony, welcoming new faculty members, residents, and members of the Class of 2027 into the society and recognizing individuals who exemplify humanism in medicine. The chapter also celebrated the winner of its annual essay contest, honoring the power of reflection and storytelling in healthcare.
Behind every event, workshop, and patient outreach effort is the support of donors who believe compassionate care matters.
Philanthropic support allows these future physicians to create meaningful experiences for patients, foster emotional resilience among healthcare providers, and build a culture of empathy within medical education. Investments in organizations like GHHS help ensure that tomorrow’s physicians are not only highly trained clinicians, but also healers who listen, comfort, and advocate for their patients during life’s most difficult moments.
For many students, this support makes these initiatives possible.
“As we close this academic year, I would like to convey our immense gratitude to the LSU Health Foundation for all they do in support of student groups but, in particular, the Gold Humanism Honor Society for the class of 2026! We could not have pulled off all these events without your support.”
— Kati Young, MD Candidate, Class of 2026
As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for compassionate, patient-centered physicians has never been greater. Through the generosity of donors and supporters, the Gold Humanism Honor Society at LSU Health New Orleans is helping cultivate physicians who will not only treat disease but care deeply for the people behind it.