Horton, Lewis inducted into Gold Humanism Honor Society
Whether mentoring future physicians or bringing healthcare into the community, Mary Kollmer Horton, PhD, MPH, MA, and Daisha Lewis, MD, ’26, have made service and human connection central to their work.
Now, both have been inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, an initiative of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation that recognizes medical students, residents, and faculty who demonstrate humanistic patient care and serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. Members exemplify values including compassion, integrity, respect, service, and meaningful relationships with patients and colleagues.
Mary Kollmer Horton, PhD, MPH, MA
Horton is an assistant professor in the Office of Educational Programs at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, director of the Medical Student Research Office, and a faculty member with the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics. She has spent more than 25 years working with medical and graduate students in academic and professional development.
“With great joy and gratitude, I am honored to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, whose tagline is ‘Keeping Healthcare Human,’” Horton said. “This is in perfect alignment with my own mission of encouraging and fostering students in the health professions to value the humanity in their patients, themselves, and the roles they play. Thank you to Kathy Reeves, CEO of the Gold Foundation, and the board for recognizing these efforts.”
Horton’s work at McGovern Medical School includes mentoring students pursuing research and scholarship, as well as work in the humanities and professional education. In 2023, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship named her its Academic Mentor of the Year, recognizing her mentorship of students involved in community health projects.
Daisha Lewis, MD
Lewis graduated from McGovern Medical School in 2026 and is now a family medicine resident with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. During her time at McGovern Medical School, she held leadership roles with the Student National Medical Association and participated in community initiatives, including blood pressure monitoring events at barbershops and health-focused collaborations with community gardens.
Lewis also mentored first-generation students navigating the medical school application process and participated in research involving renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, and point-of-care ultrasound education.
Her commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care was recognized with two additional honors in 2026: the Gold-Headed Cane Award and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.
“During my medical school graduation earlier this year, I received the Gold-Headed Cane Award and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award,” Lewis said. “It was one of my greatest joys to be recognized by my peers in this way, and those honors led to my induction into GHHS.”
Lewis said sharing the recognition with Horton made the induction particularly meaningful.
“It was an honor to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, especially alongside Dr. Horton,” Lewis said. “I admire the work and research she has done to understand the history of psychiatry in this country and the public institutions that have served this population.”
