UT-HOUSTON DELTA CHAPTER ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA MEDICAL HONOR

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UT-HOUSTON DELTA CHAPTERAlpha Omega
AlphaMedical Honor Society
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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

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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.

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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!

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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

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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 IVs 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

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How are students elected to AOA?

• Early August - Faculty AOA members review
• Grades
• Submitted CV Application
• Bluebook
• Mid August - Executive Committee reviews
  candidates submitted by AOA Faculty
• Late August - Chapter members meet and vote

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

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• MD /PhD or MD/MPH students are
• considered in their MS IV year

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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 extracurricular activities,
  however, this has not happened yet

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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)

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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