Gold Humanism Honor Society

Name: Jason Alexander

Undergrad/Major: Rutgers-New Brunswick/Biology

Prospective Field: Anesthesiology

"Humanism is dedicating yourself to the idea of service to others without any expectation of personal gain. While it is an idea, it means nothing without purposeful action. I have maintained it through the creation of many projects through The Healthcare Foundation Center for Humanism and Medicine. The main project I have pursued is All E.A.R.S. (Encouraging Active Reception and Self-Reflection) which is dedicated to medical students spending significant time with terminally ill patients in the hospital who otherwise would have no one else to accompany them in their last months."

Name: Mafudia Bangura

Undergrad/Major: George Mason University/Nursing

Prospective Field: Family Medicine

"Humanism to me means living a life of purpose and meaning. I am on earth for a reason and I am part of a greater community and plan. Humanism means not passing up opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of others. I have held on to my spiritual beliefs and practiced my religious faith. I cannot be compassionate and humanistic if I am spiritually destitute. I remind myself to count my blessings and not just my woes. I practice trying to view the world through the eyes of the people I meet so I can better understand and respond to them."

Name: Chinmoy Bhate

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Dermatology

"In my mind, the word humanism reflects a perspective or state of mind which emphasizes an acknowledgment and, ultimately, an understanding of another individual's essence - his/her goals, fears, personal history, interests, obstacles, and motivations. In considering these, the humanist's aim is to serve his/her fellow persons as best as possible in relevant settings. As a soon-to-be physician, it is in the context of service to others that the word humanism has its most profound meaning for me. I have been extremely fortunate to have had several mentors throughout medical school, many of whom are not health professionals. These teachers, some of whom are peers, have kept me grounded in reality amid the science of medicine. As they have shown me, the reality is that everyone suffers, and one does not have to be a doctor to ease the burdens of another. One just has to listen, and then try. In addition to obvious means of service, including participation in our student-run health clinic, I feel I have tried my best to be available to classmates and friends who might need to vent. And in doing so, I have both learned about their experiences and shared my own."

Name: Lata Cherath

Undergrad/Major: Microbiology

Prospective Field: Psychiatry

"Emotional gratification in medicine does not come from using cutting edge technology, more advanced testing methods or even possessing superior diagnostic skills. It comes from one's interactions with patients, sitting at the bedside, a touch on the arm, an understanding glance, and treating the patients as a fellow human being and not as "that guy with MS". To recognize that the patients are at their most vulnerable when they present themselves to us and treat the patient with humility, gentleness and compassion is to be a truly humanistic physician. In every encounter I have with a patient, I try to talk to the patient and find out a little more about them besides the litany of symptoms/complaints that they present with. I try to cast aside all my biases and judgments, acknowledge the patient's vulnerability, and treat the patient with the same respect, kindness and consideration that I would like to experience in my time of ill health and/or injury."

Name: Karl Coutinho

Undergrad/Major: New York University/Economics and Biology Double-Major

Prospective Field: Urology

"Humanism is the guiding principle behind how I approach every patient. I have maintained compassion and humanism by keeping a positive outlook and working to use my new skills to benefit those who are less fortunate."

Name: Anish Doshi

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Anesthesiology

"Humanism encompasses the art of compassion. It requires that you do unto others as you would want done to yourself. I have dived into my patients' lives, minds, and hearts. I lived in the slums Mumbai between my first and second year of medical school, in which I learned the art of compassion without the constant surroundings of materialism. Throughout my life, I have envisioned the hardships of my patients, family, friends, and classmates on a physical, mental and spiritual level and worked diligently to uplift spirits through the pure essence of humanism."

Name: Marisa Earley

Undergrad/Major: Gettysburg College/Biology

Prospective Field: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

"To me, humanism is never looking at a patient as a "problem" or a "complaint" but as a person. Remembering to treat everyone with the compassion, empathy, integrity, and sensitivity that they deserve is key; everyone has a story and you're only seeing a snapshot in their life when you meet them. I have maintained humanism throughout medical school by taking time to think about how I feel and why I feel that way when I interact with a patient. When I reflect on my interactions, look at the good and bad I've seen, it only reinforces the idea that everyone needs and deserves to be treated with empathy and understanding."

Name: Summer Elshenawy

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Pediatrics

"Humanism means considering every patient as an entire person; taking time to understand them in the context of who they are and where they come from. I have maintained humanism in medicine by working with people outside of a clinical setting, taking the time to learn things about patients beyond their medical conditions...and blowing bubbles."

Name: Nadin Exantus

Undergrad/Major: Fairleigh Dickinson/Biology

Prospective Field: Anesthesiology

"To me, Humanism in Medicine means providing the appropriate treatment to your patient while at the same time caring for them as you would your closest family member. This is done by being empathetic, patient, and compassionate, the very philosophy of the GHHS. As a member of the GHHS, I will communicate, respect and strive for that emotional connection with my patients. It makes a truly complete recovery - both emotional and physical healing."

Name: Kathleen Fane

Undergrad/Major: University of Vermont/Biological Sciences
Prospective Field: Emergency Medicine

"To me, humanism means never forgetting that the person you are treating is someone's daughter, sister, mother, son, brother, etc...That this person needs to be treated with as much respect and caring as I would want my loved ones to be treated with. I think that for me I have always reminded myself to take a step back, a deep breath and remember why I wanted to be a doctor, because I like and care for people. By taking that time and reminding myself of that fact I am able to walk into tough situations and treat people with respect and caring even when they aren't respectful to me."

Name: Jennifer Gillen

Undergrad/Major: St. Peter's College/Biology

Prospective Field: Pediatrics

"Humanism is an ironic concept because usually being "human" is seen as a weakness or flaw. In medicine, it is our greatest strength. Being human is what allows us to connect to our patients and truly take care of them as opposed to just treating them. Remembering that we are trying to work on the same side, and for the same goals, as our patients has helped me to stay connected to them as people."

Name: Martin Gross

Undergrad/Major: Seton Hall University/Psychology

Prospective Field: Urology

"Humanism means going above and beyond the oath that I swore at the beginning of medical school. I have maintained compassion throughout medical school by using humor to keep my patients and myself happy and light-hearted."

Name: Ludmilla Gustave

Undergrad/Major: New York University/Sociology Major/Africana Studies Minor

Prospective Field: Emergency Medicine

"To me, humanism is remembering to treat patients as whole beings instead of symptoms or diseases. I've tried to maintain this by treating people how I would want to be treated or how I would want a family member to be treated. Also, by remembering that each patient comes to us with fears and worries and it's our responsibility to address those concerns as best as possible."

Name: Edward Hahn

Undergrad/Major: St. Peter's College/Biochemistry & Chemistry Double-Major
Prospective Field: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

"In medicine, it is very easy to become immersed and mesmerized by the beautifully complex science. However, as physicians, we must never lose sight that our patients are people, and someone's precious mother, father, child, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister. This is the humanism in medicine that I vow to always uphold. I make a concerted effort to always listen and respond to patient's concerns and needs. I convey these concerns as an advocate for the patient in this complex and multifaceted healthcare system."

Name: Alice Hon

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

"Humanism involves working with people to help improve lives, leaving the world a better place. Throughout medical school, I have spent time teaching and working with the local Newark community though the Student Family Health Care Center, providing free medical services, and Students Teaching Aids to Students, increasing knowledge and mentoring children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDs. I volunteer at local health fairs and fundraising events."

Name: Abigail Huang

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Ophthalmology

"To me, humanism means treating others the way you would like to be treated. It means taking the time to listen to a patient's concerns and finding out what has meaning for him/her. Humanism in medicine is having the desire to look beyond lab values and radiographs and to see and talk to the patient as a person, the same way you would when meeting people in any other context. I try to spend an extra few moments during each patient encounter asking personalized questions like "How do you like your job?" or "How is your family?". This way, the name on the chart becomes an individual in my mind and I feel more enthusiasm, compassion, and energy to help in any capacity the patient may need."

Name: Mary Kelleher

Undergrad/Major: Princeton/Comparative Literature

Prospective Field: Psychiatry

"Humanism means kindness, with patients treated like family members or friends. I have maintained humanism in medicine through the example set by our doctors, patients, fellow students and my family."

Name: Ambert Louis

Undergrad/Major: Georgetown University/Biology

Prospective Field: Emergency Medicine

"Humanism is remembering that those individuals of the communities we serve are more than patients; they are parents, siblings, children, grandparents, cousins, and friends. Humanism is remembering this, and treating them as we would our family and friends. I have maintained compassion by keeping close family, friends, and colleagues who ground me and teach me, and by drawing from my mentors and teachers who have continually set the right example."

Name: Dhanashri Miskin

Undergrad/Major: New York University/Psychology Major/Biology & Chemistry Double-Minor

Prospective Field: Neurology

"To me, humanism in medicine means putting the patient first - studying each day, not for the purposes of attaining a better grade, but with the hope that any knowledge gained will one day enable me to better treat a patient or save a person's life. I've been able to maintain a sense of compassion for others due to the unconditional love and support of my family and friends who have helped keep me grounded and positive at all times."

Name: Shriji Patel

Undergrad/Major: Columbia University/Neuroscience & Behavior
Prospective Field: Ophthalmology

"Humanism is everything, and I have maintained it in medicine by taking things one day at a time."

Name: Paragi Rana

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Anesthesiology

"Humanism in medicine involves balancing the pursuit of medical gain with the beliefs, goals, and conscience of the patient. I believe that it speaks to the attitude that the primary concern of humanity is humanity, and that it is our responsibility to make the lives of the people we come in contact with better in the here and now. I have been involved in outreach and education activities to maintain a connection with the community at large, and I have been careful to maintain the attitude that the patient's goals should be held in the highest regard."

Name: Nakul Raykar

Undergrad/Major: Rutgers-New Brunswick/Materials Engineering

Prospective Field: General Surgery

"To me, humanism means constantly assessing one's own lack of perfect compassion and empathy and trying to change for the better. I have maintained humanism by trying to surround myself with compassionate and humanistic individuals."

Name: William Rossy

Undergrad/Major: Boston College/Biology
Prospective Field: Orthopedic Surgery

"Humanism is an outlook focused on fostering the human condition. It is the idea that there is goodness in each individual and it is our responsibility, as physicians, to seek this goodness out. Throughout medical school, I have participated in health fairs aimed to serve the underprivileged Hispanic population. Through my work at these health fairs and my involvement in many student organizations, I have had the privilege of acting as an advocate for a diverse patient population."

Name: Nimit Saraiya

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology
Prospective Field: Internal Medicine

"To me, humanism is the act of doing something, anything, to help another human being. It can be as simple as holding the door for someone, or it can be as complex as organizing a charitable event to help raise money for a good cause. There is such a wide range of things we can do on a daily basis to help promote humanism, but I think at the end of the day, as long as it is something that has brought a smile to another person's face and it has made his/her life a little easier, then you have truly done something humanistic. I have tried to maintain compassion and humanism throughout medical school by being involved in a number of our school organizations that help our fellow colleagues and the greater Newark population. Working in health fairs, our SFHCC clinic, and at other on-campus events, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve our general community. Also, being fortunate enough to initiate AMSA's Books to Albania project last year with the help of fellow student, Karl Coutinho, I have been involved with sending many of our medical school books abroad to physicians who are especially in need for newer medical literature."

Name: Sidharth Sharma

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Psychiatry

"Humanism means respecting the importance of human dignity, concerns, and capabilities. I have maintained it by remembering that I am a man; nothing more, nothing less; and, I treat others the way that I would want to be treated."

Name: Kathleen Sullivan

Undergrad/Major: University of Pennsylvania/Biology
Prospective Field: Obstetrics & Gynecology

"Humanism is the ability to build a trusting relationship with another individual through compassion and empathy. It is recognizing a person's emotions (fear, worry, happiness) and making it a priority to address them. Humanism is always making the time to listen. I try to treat everyone as I would treat a close friend or family member."

Name: Kobina Wilmot

Undergrad/Major: The College of New Jersey/Biology

Prospective Field: Internal Medicine-Cardiology

"Humanism is having empathy, compassion and understanding for all your fellow human beings, treating them with the proper respect and dignity they deserve; furthermore, treating each person as a unique individual, listening and caring about their unique story and concerns. Finally, having an altruistic attitude, giving of yourself without expecting anything in return. I have maintained compassion towards the patients I have encountered by giving each and every one of them my undivided attention and concern. Also, by being involved in organizations like PINACLE helping empower Newark residents to help educate them and their own community on health issues."

Name: Jason Zucker

Undergrad/Major: Economics/Carnegie Mellon

Prospective Field: Combined Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

"Humanism is learning about people and their problems, trying to understand their issues, and offering them any help that you can. Throughout medical school, I feel I have maintained my humanism by always taking the extra time to get to know my patients, learning more about them beyond just their medical issues, and trying to help them in all aspects of their life in ways that I can."

Name: Ronald Zviti

Undergrad/Major: Brandeis University/Biology

Prospective Field: Pediatrics

"For me, humanism represents all of the thoughts, emotions, and feelings we experience daily that are not included in the medical chart. I have maintained my humanistic spirit through self-reflection and sharing of experiences with amazing, supportive classmates."