By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group

Summit Medical Group is pleased to announce 
that internist Leah Kaltman, MD, internist Susan Profeta, MD, and urologist John Siegel, MD,
have earned the prestigious Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Gold DOCs Humanism in Medicine Recognition.

Drs. Kaltman, Profeta, and Siegel are recognized for their respectful, compassionate relationship with their patients, including their sensitivity to others' values, autonomy, cultural background, and ethnic background.

As humanistic doctors, they demonstrate:

• Integrity: the congruence between expressed values and behavior
• Excellence: clinical expertise
• Compassion: the awareness and acknowledgement of another person's suffering and the desire to relieve it
• Altruism: the capacity to put the needs and interests of another person before their own needs and interests
• Respect: regard for the autonomy and values of another person
• Empathy: the ability to empathize with patients' feelings
• Service: the sharing of talent, time, and resources with people in need to give more than is expected

Dr. Kaltman believes in attending to both the physical and emotional well being of the patients in her practice. She notes, "An unfavorable experience as a surgical patient during my teen years inspired me to practice medicine." She says, "I vowed that if I became a doctor, I would have a positive relationship with and avail myself to my patients. My desire to improve patient/physician interactions and my personal interest in health and fitness made me a perfect fit for the field of medicine."

In addition to her Gold DOC Award, Dr. Profeta is a recipient of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School Dean's Achievement Award, American Medical Women's Association Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Award, and New Jersey Medical Women's Association Award. 

In addition to his Gold DOC Award, Dr. Siegel is listed in New Jersey Monthly's "Top Doctors." 

About the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Together with their Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons colleagues, Arnold and Sandra Gold founded the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1988, to nurture and preserve the tradition of the caring physician. In particular, Dr. and Mrs. Gold wanted to ensure that newly trained physicians focus as much on care and compassion as learning about scientific discoveries and technologic advances. 

More than 2 decades later, the Gold's concept is a reality. Humanistic skills are now among competencies required for medical liscensing in medical school and residency programs. Today, the Gold Foundation supports a wide range of programs and projects to advance the mission of humanistic medical care.

The Gold DOC Humanism in Medicine Recognition highlights practicing physicians who demonstrate humanistic qualities essential to being a good doctor.