During a virtual ceremony held Aug. 25, NEOMED welcomed six new members to its Virtuous Healer Honor Society (VHHS). The organization recognizes College of Medicine students, residents and faculty who exemplify the attributes of the virtuous healer, including:
- Altruism
- Compassion
- Curiosity
- Generosity
- Humility
- Justice
- Moral Imagination
Among the inductees is fourth-year College of Medicine student Geetika Srivastava. Following the ceremony, Geetika took a moment to discuss what being inducted to the VHHS means to her:
“Induction into the VHHS means a great deal to me and to the other inductees, as I believe it signifies that we are the product of what NEOMED ultimately wishes for us to become at the end of our medical education – compassionate providers who are advocates for our patients and the communities we wish to serve. Being a part of this society is a great honor because it recognizes that patient care goes beyond the science of medicine – that to be a virtuous healer, you have to go beyond your medical education and training. Each of the inductees demonstrates this in very inspiring ways – dedication to research, to community service, advocacy work and teaching future generations, just to name a few.
“The society benefits me in this way: It provides me role models in compassion, altruism and holistic care. It reminds me to never let go of my passions outside of medicine. Finally, it encourages me to ask questions and always learn, to go beyond the basics of medicine.”