Perspective from the Virtuous Healer Honor Society: Meet Shashank Raghavachari

As the nomination cycle for the Virtuous Healer Honor Society comes to a close, current members shared their reflections on being involved in VHHS.

Get to know VHHS Student Member, Shashank Raghavachari (M4)!

What is the Virtuous Healer Honor Society?

VHHS is NEOMED’s homegrown Honor Society that strives to recognize those medical students in each class who emulate what it means to be a compassion-led, human-focused healthcare provider and learner. Members are nominated by their classmates and faculty members who can speak to their attributes and efforts to consistently better themselves as they make their way through their medical journey. Chosen members demonstrate the following traits: altruism, compassion, curiosity, generosity, humility, justice and moral imagination.

How did you hear about VHHS?

I came to learn about VHHS from the stories of prior inductees featured on The Pulse and NEOMED’s social media. I knew that I wanted to join the legacy of those role model students and strive to embody the qualities valued by the organization to become a better leader and future physician.

 What is your favorite part about being a VHHS member?

It’s perhaps cliché, but truly the people are what make this organization what it is. To be recognized as a compassionate, contributing member of my class along with these friends/future colleagues of mine is truly such an honor. This group is made up of students with such unique backgrounds and that makes it a collaborative environment where the shared space lends itself to diversity of thought. Already there are so many ideas in the works for how we hope to contribute to the campus culture and our local communities, and it has been fun working with everyone so far.

How does being a VHHS member help you as a student?

I truly believe that being selected for this organization motivates me to keep showing up for my patients, my close ones and myself. The way I approach each patient encounter and interaction with those around me comes from trying my best to live up to the values for which I was chosen, the values that the program emphasizes. There is nothing more important in my opinion than self-reflection and giving back to the communities that brought me to this point in my journey. In short, it makes me want to keep becoming the best version of myself. 

How can students join VHHS?

Students who feel that they exemplify the values of the organization can reach out to faculty members who they feel know them well and can attest to their contributions as a healer. Those who are nominated by their classmates and faculty members will receive instructions to fill out an application to highlight their community service experiences which includes a reflective essay to showcase how they believe their attributes fit with the mission of VHHS. Selection is done by a blinded vote of VHHS inductees and advisors. Be sure to also nominate those fellow students who you believe are role models in their own rights for their class and communities!