Nominees must meet at least five of the following criteria:
- Demonstrate compassion and empathy in the delivery of patient care.
- Show respect for patients, families and coworkers.
- Demonstrate cultural sensitivity when working with patients and family members of diverse backgrounds.
- Display effective, empathetic communication and listening skills.
- Understand a patient's need for interpretation of complex medical diagnoses and treatments and make an effort to ensure patient comprehension.
- Comprehend and show respect for the patient's viewpoint.
- Is sensitive to the patient's psychological wellbeing and identifies the emotional concerns of patients and family members.
- Engenders trust and confidence.
- Displays competence in scientific endeavors.
- No sitting member of the volunteerism committee shall be eligible for nomination.
Selection process
The Academy's Volunteerism Committee reviews all completed nominations and selects a winner in December of each year. The recipient will be notified the following January.
Dr. Waldinger is an extremely dedicated physician with a strong focus on patient-centered care. His peers indicate that he is a role model for compassion, honesty, integrity, respect, dignity, diversity, and selfless dedication to excellence. He is a great communicator to patients, staff, and colleagues. Dr. Waldinger has been involved in a number of community service programs, including skin cancer detection. He has written several inspiring books and poems and has been honored with the “Best Doctors” award seven times in the last 15 years. Dr. Waldinger was presented with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award at the 2012 Recognition Luncheon during the Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Dr. Moschella has mentored hundreds of students, residents and colleagues. His professional career spans more than 60 years of service to patients in the U.S. Navy and the Lahey Clinic. He conducts a local clinic in Massachusetts with leprosy patients where he invites trainees and faculty members to learn about the disease. Dr. Moschella has written and lectured extensively about the diagnosis and care of patients with leprosy and educates the young physicians in the diagnosis and therapy. Dr. Moschella was presented with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award at the 2011 Recognition Luncheon during the Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
2010: O. Fred Miller, MD, FAAD
Dr. Miller is deeply involved in the community and in his patient's lives. He serves as a role model for hundreds of physicians, and embodies empathy, respect and understanding. He helped to found a camp for children with severe skin diseases, and still attends camp every year as a counselor. Dr. Miller has a genuine interest in the well-being of the doctors, staff and patients. The patient always is first to Dr. Miller. Dr. Miller was presented with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award at the 2010 Recognition Luncheon during the Annual Meeting in Miami.
The recipient will be given a monetary award of $1,000 and will be honored at the Academy's recognition luncheon during the Annual Meeting. In addition, expenses for the winner to attend the Annual Meeting, including airfare and accommodations, will be reimbursed up to $2,000. The winner also will be recognized in Dermatology World, on the AAD website and in other media where award-winners are covered.
The 2013 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award will be presented during the Recognition Luncheon at the American Academy of Dermatology's 71st Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla.
Contact: Nikki Haton, administrative assistant, Member Services
Phone: (847) 240-1350
Fax: (847) 240-1920
Email: nhaton@aad.org
Nominate/apply: Nominations for the 2013 award are now closed. Any nomination submitted after Nov. 5, 2012 will be considered for the 2014 award.
Deadline: Summer 2013 for the 2014 award.