Alpha Omega Alpha

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  Alpha Omega Alpha badge

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  Alpha Omega Alpha

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  Alpha Omega Alpha

Alpha Omega Alpha

Alpha Omega Alpha (_Ω_) is a national honor society in the United States for medical students, residents, fellows, and physicians. It is 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, and promoting service to others.

History

Alpha Omega Alpha was founded in 1902 by William Root, a medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Root was inspired to create an organization that would recognize and promote excellence in the medical profession. The society was established to encourage high ideals of thought and action in schools of medicine and to promote that which is the highest in professional practice.

Membership

Membership in Alpha Omega Alpha is a distinction that is awarded to medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, professionalism, leadership, and service. Membership is generally limited to the top 25% of a medical school class, with no more than one-sixth of any class being elected. Members are elected by their peers and faculty members who are themselves members of the society.

Activities

Alpha Omega Alpha sponsors a variety of activities and programs to promote its mission. These include:

• Visiting Professorships: AΩA sponsors visiting professorships at medical schools to promote academic exchange and professional development.
• Student Research Fellowships: These fellowships support medical students in conducting research projects.
• Medical Student Service Leadership Project Awards: These awards recognize and support projects that provide service to the community and promote leadership among medical students.
• Professionalism Awards: These awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine through their professionalism and ethical conduct.

Chapters

Alpha Omega Alpha has chapters at medical schools across the United States. Each chapter is responsible for electing new members and organizing local activities that align with the society's mission. The chapters serve as a network for members to connect and collaborate on initiatives that advance the field of medicine.

Related pages

• Honor society
• Medical education in the United States
• Professionalism in medicine
• Medical ethics