Inspirations from the Field the Proverbial
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The Newsletter of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation A Public Foundation Dedicated to Fostering Humanism in Medicine Thanksgiving 1999 The Proverbial Inspirations from the field Last Straw! It was a proverbial “last straw” that brought us to Dr. Arnold Gold’s office, “TheWhite Coat–Just in 1995. A few days before our son an item of clothing!! Anthony was to become a first grader, he rushed towards me and the force of Yet we endow it with great his impact knocked me against a wall in symbolism and power. our house,driving my hand into the skin of my face,narrowly missing my eye. When I told my mother about this speech, she told me a story that she had This was only the latest in a number of never shared with me before. My physical “accidents” in which he hurt me, father was a patient in the hospital and for which he would later apologize. where I was a resident. She remembers Anthony had been discharged from two seeing me walking down the hall Members of the Mercer University School of Medicine, child-care centers by age four, not for towards my father’s room. I was dressed Class of 2003, recite the Oath of Geneva during the School’s aggression but for not listening to the August 8, 1999 White Coat Ceremony in Macon, Georgia. in my white coat with a group of distin- teacher and/or being uncooperative. His guished white-coat-clad attending qualities I look for in my physicians are behavior at home was even worse and physicians. She explained that seeing patience, sincerity and appreciation of my husband, Rick, and I couldn’t un- me in my white coat with my teachers life and who want to share that with their derstand what caused these outbursts. was a moment of true understanding – patients. While many medical situations She turned to my father and said, ‘Mau- are stressful, one should still be able to reen is really a doctor!’ I wonder if she sense, in their medical encounter, that realized I had also probably slept in the the physician is truly present with them white coat the night before on call!” and, above all, cares about them, not as Maureen A. Strafford, M.D. part of the bottom line but as a person. My husband is a faculty physician and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Tufts University, White Coat Ceremony works with students and residents daily. Keynote Speech, September 1999 I gave him my ‘Humanism in Medicine’ pin and he is honored to wear it.” “…I am… a member of my school’s Mary B.W. Fenton admissions committee and feel Assistant Dean, Saint Louis University extremely privileged to have been School of Medicine, June 1998 Anthony’s dad, Rick, Anthony, and his mom, Susan at home. invited to this meeting. The sympo- sium [‘Challenging the barriers to “We can’t thank you enough for your Although Anthony had graduated from sustaining humanism in medicine – support and assistance in making the kindergarten in May, and was expected Focus on the medical school selection Student Clinician Ceremony a reality. to enter first grade, his behavior since process’], made me realize that the The MSIII students have expressed to then had seriously deteriorated. Antho- me how meaningful the evening was, ny’s expulsion from summer day camp was a huge blow to him and to us. n and how honored they felt to have Expanding the something so impressive planned solely Dr. Laura Brent, our devoted psycholo- Commitment. 2 for them. In addition, the honored resi- gist, provided invaluable guidance in dents thanked us profusely for their helping us get through each week with n Program Updates . 4 awards. ‘It made my year,’ said one of this difficult young child. Extended the selected interns.” family gatherings, where frequently n Eleven Golden Years 6&7 Nuala Jennings Anthony was the only youngster pre- On behalf of the Committee for the third year sent, were the worst situations and his FEATURES students orientation, University of Chicago Pritzker behavior would often flare up. School of Medicine, June 1999 (continued on page 3) Expanding the Commitment responsible for the rapid expansion of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s programs. We are greatly encouraged by their collaboration and express our gratitude for their active interest, Since 1988, our organization and our programs have grown and advice and wisdom as we work together to develop effective and flourished. We now work cooperatively with deans and their useful tools to foster humanism in medicine. associates at more than 85% of American schools of medicine and osteopathy. Another group deserving credit for the success of our programs is you, our donors. Each dollar contributed to The Gold Foun- Two quotations continue to inspire The Arnold P. Gold Foun- dation furthers our mission. Our programs reach out to more dation staff and trustees. The first historic sentiment mirrors individuals in the health care professions than ever before. the philosophy and concern The Foundation especially thanks our new Golden Circle for the patient that we at members, contributors who give an additional $25,000 or The Gold Foundation seek more in any given year, and we look forward to welcoming to foster: new members. “One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in human- Our varied programs now address all levels of medical educa- ity, for the secret of the care of the tion from pre-medical students through the residency years. patient is in caring for the And through the Humanism in Medicine web site we are ex- patient.” panding our network internationally to all who are interested Francis W. Peabody, M.D. in this subject. The other quote is by the great anthropologist Margaret Mead: Proudly, we announce that the Robert Wood Johnson Founda- tion,America’s largest health care philanthropy,has awarded us “Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change a new grant in 1999. It will support research and consideration the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” of a national humanism honor society which will help to iden- 1999 marked the beginning of an exciting new decade for The tify and recognize those medical students who demonstrate Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Our strategic plan emphasizes outstanding qualities associated with humanism in medicine, humanism in medical education, focusing on improving the as well as excellence in scientific achievement. residency experience for young doctors, and promotes replicable models of caring We are also encouraged by the following message to us from Reed Tuckson, M.D., hospital communities so that humanistic © practitioners will have receptive environ- Senior Vice President for Professional Published at Standards at the AMA. He suggested we ments in which to work. 260 Lincoln Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631 (201) 567-4931 · FAX (201) 567-4522 tell students that: A featured lecture at the national meeting email: [email protected] of the Association of American Medical website: www.humanism-in-medicine.org “...this is still the finest profession, but our Colleges (AAMC) in Washington, D.C. on values are being threatened every day. Do not Official Publication of be dismayed and stay the course. The physician- October 24 was devoted to “Humanism The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Inc. and Medicine.” This first annual Arnold P. patient relationship is the context around Officers which these values are expressed.” Gold Foundation lecture, titled “The Arnold P. Gold, M.D., President Intersection of Science and the Soul,” was Sandra O. Gold, Ed.D., Executive Vice President We believe the mission of fostering delivered by the distinguished writer Norman Seiden, Vice President humanism in medicine has captured the and physician, Jerome Groopman, M.D., Myron Rosner, Esq., Secretary Jeffrey L. Saltzer, C.P.A., Treasurer attention of the nation – let’s keep the Recanati Professor of Immunology at spotlight on and help our young doctors Harvard Medical School and Chief of Board of Trustees stay the course. Experimental Medicine at Beth Israel Elaine Adler Robert B. Mellins,M.D. Jeni S. Arnold John H. Peace May you and yours have a very healthy Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Herman Aronson William J. Peace, Ph.D. His inspiring address celebrated a series Brian E. Benson David E. Rogers, M.D.* and happy holiday season, of articles published this year by the Angelica Berrie Leonard Rubin DavidV.Habif,Jr., M.D. Mark Seiden prestigious journal Academic Medicine. Charles Klatskin SamuelC.Silverstein,M.D. We thank the Healthcare Foundation of Linda D. Lewis, M.D. Norma E. Wagoner, Ph.D. New Jersey for underwriting this lecture William J. Lippman Barry Waldorf, Esq. Arnold and Sandra Gold Ira H. Lustgarten,Esq.* Daniel T. Williams,M.D. and reception. *deceased It is clear from the overflow audience at Leadership Cabinet Dr. Groopman’s lecture that our message Robert Berkowitz Brett Harris, Esq. Holiday Gifts –that humanism in medicine must be The perfect Christmas reemphasized at all levels in health care– Professional Advisory Council Rita Charon, M.D., Ph.D. John Stone, M.D. or Chanukah present for that is resonating throughout the health hard-to-choose-a-gift-for-person. professions. Victoria B. White, M.A. Make a contribution to This attention is due, in large part, to the Director of Programs The Arnold P. Gold Foundation special group of medical school deans who Rebecca A. Sullivan, M.A. in their honor, and we will have championed humanism and imple- Research Consultant acknowledge it with a beautifully Arlene Gould, M.A.T. designed greeting card. mented our programs. Their enthusiastic DOC Editor cooperation and involvement is ultimately 2 Where the Foundation Money Goes $ Student and faculty initiated projects, such as Ethics Night programs and lectures on varied subjects at several medical More than $675,000 in grants awarded in 1999 for: schools.