Perspective from Vissy Elad: Meet the Virtuous Healer Honor Society

The Virtuous Healers Honor Society will welcome new members in a ceremony on March 13. As the program approaches, current members share their perspectives with The Pulse. Meet Vissy Elad (M4).

What is the Virtuous Healer Honor Society?

The VHHS Chapter at NEOMED is an honor society that focuses on the human aspect of medicine. This organization recognizes students and faculty who demonstrate the altruism, compassion, curiosity, generosity, humility, justice and moral imagination.

How did you hear about VHHS?

I first heard about VHHS from a couple of my mentors who had been a part of the organization. They had done so much community service throughout their time at NEOMED and provided such a great example of making time for community initiatives alongside their academic pursuits.

What is your favorite part about being a VHHS member?

I really enjoy the camaraderie! Working with faculty and my fellow classmates to do something that the community at large can benefit from has been a fulfilling endeavor. Sharing ideas, collaborating, fundraising and problem-solving have been great reminders about why so many of us chose to pursue medicine in the first place.

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

To be frank, this last year of medical school has been a little crazy. You’re being pulled in all sorts of directions and trying not to catastrophize about the future. Where I think the VHHS has been particularly helpful for me is in requiring me, even if just momentarily, to channel that energy into something bigger than myself. Using your strengths, whatever they may be, to help reach team goals is independently satisfying, but putting in that effort knowing that positive change will come of it within our regional community yields a sense of contentment that’s difficult to put into words.  

How can students join VHHS?

To join VHHS, students must be nominated by faculty and by their peers. Nominated students will then be invited to complete an application that speaks to their community involvement and their history of applying the values this organization strives to highlight. There are many students and faculty at NEOMED that fit this description; we encourage you to nominate them for membership to this honor society so we can formally recognize their efforts and celebrate their contributions.