At the turn of the 20th century, American medical education was in sad shape. One contemporary observer wrote:

“Honesty was conspicuously absent.” “Behavior in the halls and classrooms was rough and boorish.” “Articles of any value would be sure to remain where placed in the medical building only by nailing them securely.” “Heads of departments at the school were selected by who could buy a substantial block of stock.”

Alpha Omega Alpha was founded in 1902 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago In response to such conditions

Milton Weston Hall Wenzel Matthias Wochos John Eddy Haskell Benjamin Thomas George Herbert Howard Ernest Sisson Moore William H. Moore Charles Lafayette Williams …by William Webster Root and a core group of similarly minded medical students

Alpha Omega Alpha grew… From two chapters in 1902 To 120 chapters and 2 associations today

Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to the society’s goals of scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service.

Membership in the society confers recognition for a physician’s dedication to the profession and art of healing.

AΩA’s Motto “Be Worthy to Serve the Suffering”

AΩA’s Mission Statement

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 Alpha Omega Alpha— Dedicated to the belief that in the practice of medicine we will improve care for all by:

Today, Alpha Omega Alpha has more than 40,000 active members and supports programs in medical student education such as...

Encourages teaching faculty to create appropriate learning environments for professionalism, or projects to ingrain professionalism in medical students and resident physicians. The Edward D. Harris Professionalism Award Credit: Phanie/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Presented yearly, these awards honor four outstanding teachers in medical education. The AΩA Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Awards Credit: Mauro Fermariello/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Each chapter has a yearly opportunity to host a visiting professor for a day of activities. Visiting Professorships Credit: Geoff Tompkinson/Photo Researchers, Inc.

This annual award recognizes the indispensable services clinical faculty in community practices give to medical education and their communities. The Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award Credit: David Grossman/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Credit: Mauro Fermariello/Photo Researchers, Inc. Student Research Fellowships provide support for up to 50 students each year to engage in basic or clinical research. The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships

AΩA developed this award to support leadership development for medical students through mentoring, observation, and service learning. Medical Student Service Leadership Project Awards

These competitions award prizes for essays and poetry on medical subjects. Winning poems and essays are published in The Pharos. The Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Awards & The Pharos Poetry Competition

The Pharos The quarterly journal of Alpha Omega Alpha publishes nontechnical medical essays, poetry, news, reviews, and editorials

For more information

Contact your AΩA councilor Colleen Moran-Bano MD, MS

Visit our web site alphaomegaalpha.org Where you can

Get program information

Find contact information

Read The Pharos

 Identify a member  Pay dues  Update your address  Contact us … and much, more more!

General Contact Fax

“Be Worthy to Serve the Suffering”

Copyright 2013 Artwork courtesy Jim M’Guinness 525 Middlefield Road, Suite 130 Menlo Park, California 94025