UT-HOUSTON DELTA CHAPTERALPHA OMEGA ALPHAMEDICAL HONOR SOCIETY

WHAT IS AOA?

• The National Medical Honor Society in US and Canada• National headquarters is in Palo Alto, CA

• Founded in 1902 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago by William Webster Root

• Currently 120 Active Chapters and 3 Associations • AOA chapters in all but a few medical schools

• UT-Houston AOA Chapter is the Delta chapter in Texas

AOA MISSION STATEMENT• Alpha Omega Alpha — dedicated to the belief that in the

profession of medicine we will improve care for all by

• recognizing high educational achievement

• honoring gifted teaching

• encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community

• supporting the ideals of humanism

• promoting service to others.

WHAT DOES AOA DO?• Nationally, Alpha Omega Alpha sponsors several

programs, including:• Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships - a

research fellowship that provides $3,000 to a student and $500 to his/her faculty mentor

• Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Awards and The Pharos Poetry Competition

• Medical Student Service Project Awards• Annual Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award• Senior AOA Banquet• And a whole lot more!

WHAT IS MEMBERSHIP BASED ON?• Candidates must demonstrate:

• Scholarship

• Strength of character

• leadership among peers

• professionalism and a firm sense of ethics

• promise of future success in medicine

• commitment to service in the school and community

HOW ARE STUDENTS ELECTED TO AOA?• Up to one-sixth of a graduating class may be elected to

membership• In 2011, 32 students were elected to AOA

• July - MS IV’s who meet the minimum requirements* are notified by email to submit a standard application• Research experience

• Publications

• Medical School Activities

• Awards during Medical School

• Community service during Medical School

• Additional Relevant Activities or Contributions

HOW ARE STUDENTS ELECTED TO AOA?• Early August - Faculty AOA members review:

1. Grades

2. Submitted CV Application

3. Bluebook

• Mid August - Executive Committee reviews candidates submitted by AOA Faculty

• Late August - Chapter members meet and vote

WHEN DOES ELECTION TAKE PLACE?• Election results announced to members before

September 1 so membership can be listed on residency applications

Note: September 1st is the earliest date to submit the residency application

HOW IS THE TOP ONE-SIXTH OF A CLASS DETERMINED SINCE UT-H DOES NOT HAVE CLASS RANK?

• Minimum requirements for consideration = six Honors grades in years 1-3 (Honors required in both 1st 2 yrs and in 3rd year)

• Honors grades are then weighted by: • Course hours during 1st and 2nd year • i.e. Honors in Biochem > Honors in Genetics

• Length of course during 3rd year • i.e. Honors in 6 wk clerkship > Honors in 4 wk clerkship

MD /PhD or MD/MPH students are

considered in their MS IV year

• After calculating the total number of points each student received for his/her total number of Honors, a “rank list” is developed

• Research and extracurriculars are particularly important for those students nearing the “cut-off” point of the top 1/6 of the class

• For example, if there is a tie for the last place within the 1/6 limit and one student has NO extracurriculars and the other has been involved in research/volunteer activities/etc, then the latter may be chosen

• *There has been discussion about developing a point system for extracurricular activities, however, this has not happened yet

HOW IS THE TOP ONE-SIXTH OF A CLASS DETERMINED SINCE UT-H DOES NOT HAVE CLASS RANK?

AOA CLASS OF 2011-2012• New members: 37 students

• Total number of Honors: 11 – 25

• Specialties represented:• Internal Medicine (10)

• Dermatology (6)

• Radiology (5)

• ENT (3)

• Orthopedics (3)

• Ophthalmology (2)

• Ob/Gyn (1)

• General Surgery (1)

• Vascular Surgery (1)

• Pediatrics (1)

• Med-Peds (1)

• Emer Med (1)

• Unknown (2)

NEED MORE INFORMATION?• Feel free to contact:• Eugene Boisaubin, M.D. – Chapter Councilor

(UT faculty advisor)

• Student Co-Presidents • Ashley Battarbee, MS IV • Colin Massey, MS IV

• Office of Student Affairs

• AOA Website: www.alphaomegaalpha.org