Sandra and Arnold Gold Award for Humanistic Teaching

The Sandra and Arnold Gold Award for Humanistic Teaching is presented annually to an inspirational Harvard Medical School (HMS) faculty educator at Cambridge Health Alliance who models compassion, integrity, respect and service in teaching HMS students, residents, fellows or peers. The award was established in 2019 in honor of Drs. Sandra and Arnold Gold and their remarkable decades-long contributions to humanistic medical education nationally and locally.

Eligibility:

• Nominee must hold an HMS faculty appointment and be employed by CHA at least half time
• Nominees must actively teach HMS learners at CHA. For example, Cambridge Integrated Clerkship students, Interns or Residents in HMS-affiliated CHA graduate training programs or HMS faculty colleagues Anyone may nominate a candidate for this award
• Past recipients cannot be nominated (Moon Kwoun, Jill Kasper, Gerard Coste, Kate Harney, Todd Griswold, Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste, Alison Rapoport)

Suggestions for Crafting a Successful Nomination letter:

1. Carefully read the eligibility requirements and make sure your candidate qualifies.
2. Ensure that your letter is squarely focused on the domain of interest, which is humanistic teaching (e.g., you may briefly mention the nominee's excellent care of patients and/or research expertise, but the letter should be primarily focused on their teaching).
3. Seek input from a range of learners and colleagues who can speak to different facets of the nominee's exceptional record and inspirational impact. Include memorable quotes to bring alive each point you wish to emphasize. Tell smaller stories that build into the larger story that you wish to convey about the nominee. Specific, moving stories are more compelling than a list of generic attributes.
4. Composite letters are welcome, and letters can be signed by more than one person.
5. Ensure your letter is 1,000 words or less (not including signatures). Letters greater than 1,000 words will not be considered.
6. Look at nomination letters written in support of previous winners as examples. 

For any additional questions, please email OAA@CHAlliance.org.