Dr. Henry Harrison Wilson, Jr. Everyday Humanism in Medicine Award
What: An award to recognize everyday acts of humanism in the clinical setting. Students will submit brief stories of residents, fellows, and attendings acting in a manner that exemplifies medical humanism and compassion. For example: noticing someone suffering and doing something in the moment or debriefing with team members after a discriminatory remark or a traumatic event is experienced; not just being kind to everyone during rounds nor just bringing donuts.
When: All year long! There is no deadline! Students should nominate residents, fellows, or attendings after seeing an everyday interaction that exhibits compassion and humanism. This act does not need to go “above and beyond;” rather, this award seeks to recognize the little moments of kindness that often go unnoticed but that are nevertheless meaningful.
Why: To appreciate and applaud positive examples of humanism and to cultivate a culture where students, residents, fellows, and attendings exhibit compassion in our day-to-day interactions.
Then what happens? Nominations are reviewed after the grading period in which they are submitted closes. The nominations are reviewed by the Medical Student Advocacy Committee. When individuals receive enough qualifying nominations (at this point, nominations are required from two different students about two different events), the physicians nominated will be issued an award during a brief presentation during their departmental grand rounds. Also, names of award recipients along with the anecdotes submitted about them will be posted below. Names of nominators are not made public.
Who is Dr. Henry Harrison Wilson Jr.? Dr. Henry Harrison Wilson, Jr. was a plastics and reconstructive surgeon who graduated from UVA School of Medicine in 1949. He was well known for being an advocate for humanism and compassion in medicine. Dr. Wilson died on May 7th, 2016; his family has established this fund to promote compassion and humanism in physicians to honor his memory.
