In medical education circles, the quality of humanism is prized and cultivated in students. But it can be hard to spot, often because it’s demonstrated behind the scenes in acts of service, both large and small.

In a twist to that typically low-key profile, each year a graduating medical student is pulled into the spotlight, nominated and selected by his or her classmates for the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

The Class of 2016’s Michael Brady was honored with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Here he’s pictured at the medical school’s convocation ceremony.

The Class of 2016’s Michael Brady was honored with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Here he’s pictured at the medical school’s convocation ceremony.

This year, the Class of 2016’s Michael Brady was chosen for the honor in thanks for the countless hours he’s devoted to public service and to his classmates during his four years in the VCU School of Medicine.

“Michael embodies the definition of humanism,” wrote his classmate Grayson Pitcher, who nominated him for the award. His nomination gives a glimpse into a character and compassion that has shaped Brady’s four years on – and off – the MCV Campus.

“He is a friend of the homeless community in Richmond,” wrote Pitcher, “including two homeless men in particular.” Pitcher described how Brady would invite them over for a meal and shower once a month, and how he’d wash one man’s clothes each month as well.

Brady’s resume is full of academic achievements from serving as a Class of 2016 student representative on the curriculum council to completing the rigorous requirements of the International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship program. The program fosters the knowledge, skills and values needed by doctors to provide quality and compassionate care to the less fortunate.

Atop Motigo, the highest point around Bomet, Kenya: Earlier this year, Brady spent three and half weeks in sub-Saharan Africa at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet.

Atop Motigo, the highest point around Bomet, Kenya: Earlier this year, Brady spent three and half weeks in sub-Saharan Africa at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet. Because he’s headed into the field of internal medicine, he asked to spend time on the medical service with the medical interns. Here he’s pictured with Victor, who’s a clinical officer intern at the 200-bed teaching facility that is a referral hospital for about 500,000 in the region. While at Tenwek, he did rounds in the ICU and general medical wards. He also had the chance to spend time with the home hospice team, in the chest/TB clinic and to go into the community to vaccinate infants. Some of the cases he saw are common in the U.S., but he also gained knowledge of conditions that are relatively uncommon in America, like tuberculosis, malaria and pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia that is mostly seen in patients with suppressed immune systems.

“Michael is the kind of student who quietly inspires all those he encounters,” said Mary Lee Magee, M.S., assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health. She’s gotten to know Brady through her role as director of the I2CRP program.

“His consistent kindness, generosity of spirit and commitment to promoting the dignity and value of others are remarkable. It has been an honor to witness his development as a physician over the past four years. I feel a great sense of hope when I think of his good work moving forward.”

For four years, Brady has served as a student leader with the MCV Campus’ chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and he’s also worked to bolster the academic success of others. He volunteered with Fulton Hill’s after-school program for K-5 students during his first two years of medical school and, for four years, mentored a student in the Armstrong High School Leadership Program of Richmond Hill. They’d meet at least monthly, sometimes on the basketball court and sometimes at events hosted by the leadership program.

Michael Brady with Jeannie Concha, Ph.D., M.P.H, and pharmacy resident Estela Lajthia, Pharm.D., who developed the Diabetes Wellness Coach Program CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, where Brady had volunteered for years.

Michael Brady with Jeannie Concha, Ph.D., M.P.H, and pharmacy resident Estela Lajthia, Pharm.D., who developed the Diabetes Wellness Coach Program CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, where Brady had volunteered for years. For his I2CRP capstone project, Brady evaluated the effectiveness of the program’s trained community health volunteers to coach diabetes patients. He found patients in the program had improved their knowledge of diabetes along with improved lab results and medication adherence.

“Many people, groups, and experiences that have influenced me and helped to direct my steps,” said Brady. “My classmate Grayson, the I2CRP program, CMDA, for example. By extension, they are all recipients of the award, too, since they have greatly shaped who I am today and who I will be in the future. Being a part of the East End Fellowship community has had a profound impact on my life as well as I have received great mentorship and teaching about life and faith from the leaders and through the relationships formed in that community.”

This summer, Brady will begin an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Md. But before he left the MCV Campus, he was fêted on Honors Day.

Brady had company in the spotlight: Paula Ferrada, M.D., associate professor of surgery, who’s been selected as this year’s faculty honoree of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Since 1991, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation has presented awards annually at to a graduating medical student and a faculty member who are nominated and selected by their peers.