GHHS Solidarity Week

GHHS Solidarity Week for Compassionate Patient Care began as a one day event that grew out of the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.

The one-day event was ignited by the humanistic actions of Randall Friese, MD, the University of Arizona trauma surgeon who was the first to treat the congresswoman. Dr. Friese struck a chord when he said that the most important thing he did for her in the emergency room that day was to take her hand and tell her that she was in the hospital and would be cared for.

To honor that spirit of caring, the Gold Humanism Honor Society of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation created a National Day of Solidarity for Compassionate Patient Care for medical schools to undertake projects demonstrating the importance of empathy and compassion in patient care. That day has now grown into a week long event held each February.