Integrity. Excellence. Compassion. Altruism. Respect. Empathy.

These six attributes, as laid out by the Gold Humanism Honor Society of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, are the qualities demonstrated by this prestigious group’s members.

Six students and a faculty member from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine were inducted into the national society earlier this year. The common thread was that each inductee displayed a caring mindset in which human interests, values, and dignity predominated.

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is a member of the Arnold P. Gold Foundati

“This commitment is to convey to the medical profession and the public the importance of keeping the care in health care,” said Dr. Cynda Johnson, dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “The values of the foundation are very much in line with our own mission and values.”

Sanghee Suh, one of the school’s recent inductees, is known for her quiet, yet confident demeanor and her dedication to patient-centered care.

“Sanghee, in her unassuming way, has come to epitomize compassion in the care of her patients,” said Dr. Aubrey Knight, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine associate dean for student affairs and newly elected member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society’s advisory council. “In fact, what distinguished each of our six inductees was their combination of a dedication to health-focused advocacy, a recognition of the power of community service, a commitment to personal excellence, and an empathic heart.”

Gold Humanism Honor Society members are role models for humanistic care in their communities. Six student inductees, selected from the school’s fourth-year students, will be named each year.

In addition to Suh, the six inductees, all members of the Class of 2015, were Kanwarpal Bakshi, Scott Dart, Lindsey DeGeorge, Megan Donohue, and Rohini Mehta. Also inducted was Dr. Tananchai Lucktong, an associate professor of surgery and the 2013 recipient of the school’s Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

On hand for the induction was Dr. Lynn White, the national director of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Guest speaker was Dr. Faith Pasley, medical director of the Free Clinic for the Homeless of the Roanoke Rescue Mission.

Six members of the school’s charter class were the first Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students to be inducted into the society last spring. They were Robert Brown, Jonathon Freezer, James Joyner, Matthew Levine, Brian Pitts, and Christopher Vieau. These graduates are now in residencies in Baltimore, Md.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Danville, Pa.

In addition to the local chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine sponsors the White Coat Ceremony and the Student Clinician’s Ceremony, both Gold Foundation programs.

Written by Catherine Doss