UT-HOUSTON DELTA CHAPTER
ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA
MEDICAL 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
HOW IS THE TOP ONE-SIXTH OF A CLASS
DETERMINED SINCE UT-H DOES NOT HAVE
CLASS RANK?
• 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
AOA CLASS OF 2011-2012
• New members: 37 students
• Total number of Honors: 11 – 25
• Specialties represented:
• Internal Medicine (10)
• Ob/Gyn (1)
• Dermatology (6)
• General Surgery (1)
• Radiology (5)
• Vascular Surgery (1)
• ENT (3)
• Pediatrics (1)
• Orthopedics (3)
• Med-Peds (1)
• Ophthalmology (2)
• 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