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College of Human Medicine

Alpha Omega Alpha

AOA was founded in 1902 and is the national medical honor society. On the “About Alpha Omega Alpha” official webpage, it is described as follows:

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

Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. A lifelong honor, membership in the society confers recognition for a physician’s dedication to the profession and art of healing.

Membership

The general criteria from AOA is that medical schools are allowed to elect 20% of the graduating class, and can choose nominees during both the 3rd and 4th years of study. Once elected to AOA, membership is for life as long as yearly dues are paid.

At MSU College of Human Medicine, students have the opportunity for election in both 3rd and 4th years of study. Watch this video for specific AOA nomination criteria at the college.

There are opportunities for election to membership at all levels of graduate medical education and throughout a career in medicine, including:

  • Medical students at the 3rd and 4th year level
  • Residents
  • Fellow
  • Faculty members
  • Alumni
  • Clinician
  • Distinguished leader in medicine

Nomination criteria and process

For students specifically, candidates are chosen for nomination based on several factors:

  • Academic achievement
  • Professionalism
  • Leadership
  • Community service
  • Research

The Gamma Chapter has established the following general criteria for the nomination of candidates to AOA. Students must:  

  1. Demonstrate a superior record of academic performance
  2. Demonstrate evidence of scholarship or research beyond that normally expected in meeting degree requirements 
  3. Demonstrate evidence of institutional and/or community leadership and/or service beyond that normally expected in meeting degree requirements 
  4. Demonstrate a superior record of teaching and other curricular accomplishments.

To be eligible for selection into AOA, students must demonstrate sustained accomplishments in all four categories. After completion of the second year, students with 7 or more top performances on progress examinations are automatically nominated by their Learning Society Chief and invited to submit a full application. Additionally, students with outstanding achievements in the other categories may be nominated by their Learning Society Chiefs. After completion of the third year, students with three or more Honors in the required clerkships are automatically nominated by the Community Assistant Deans. Additionally, students with outstanding achievements in the other categories may be nominated by their Community Assistant Dean. The Student Selection Committee reviews all completed applications and, to minimize bias, evaluates them using a holistic process that balances performance in all four categories.

Visit Alpha Omega Alpha for more information.

Contact Rana-Armaghan Ahmad, 2023-2024 MSU-CHM AOA President, with any questions.

AOA Inductees 

Meet the newest student members of the College of Human Medicine's Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Gamma Chapter.

See all recent inductees.

Students