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 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 1 st 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 1 st 2 yrs and in 3 rd year) Honors grades are then weighted by: Course hours during 1 st and 2 nd year i.e. Honors in Biochem > Honors in Genetics Length of course during 3 rd 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 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: