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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
MD Education

Alpha Omega Alpha

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is a national medical honor society organized in 1902. The Northwestern chapter was founded in 1903. It is composed of undergraduate, graduate, and alumni members that are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement and significant contributions in medicine.

Read about the AOA selection process

In accordance with its constitution, AOA is committed to recognizing new student members with the highest level of competence, character, trustworthiness, leadership, professionalism, scholarship, and service. AOA is committed to supporting elections that are inclusive, diverse, and equitable. In line with this mission, Feinberg School of Medicine has amended its review and selection process and is proud to recognize the top 20% of graduating students for outstanding contributions to scholarly pursuits, clinical performance and service/leadership.

All fourth-year medical students are invited to submit an application for consideration of election into AOA. This application consists of a personal narrative, curriculum vitae (CV), and an optional demographic form. AOA selection is made by committee decision after a thorough and holistic review of each application. The committee includes a diverse group of faculty members and housestaff leaders and includes members that are underrepresented in medicine (UIM). Applications are reviewed and outstanding contributions in three domains are considered. These domains include clerkship performance, service/leadership, and scholarly activity.

Each member of the AOA committee is assigned to a subcommittee designated to review the applications in one of the three domains. Each application is reviewed by 2 reviewers in each subcommittee and scored based on significant and outstanding contributions in that domain. If there is a discrepancy in scoring between the two reviewers, it is re-reviewed by the subcommittee chairs. Once all scores are received, each subcommittee chair creates a tiered list of students based on outstanding contributions to that domain. Election to AOA will be considered based on significant contributions to one or more domain. Results are presented to the entire AOA committee to review and a final group is selected for AOA induction.

In addition to electing new student members to AOA, the chapter also identifies faculty, residents, fellows, and alumni who are not yet members of AOA. These candidates must demonstrate excellence in medical education or scholarly activity and show potential to excel or have already made significant contributions in their area of specialty. These individuals are also inducted to the Feinberg School of Medicine AOA chapter. Nominations are generally submitted by the program director, residency director, or department chair. Final selection is made by holistic review by the AOA selection committee. All inductees are recognized at an annual dinner.

 I'm deferring enrollment for a year, when should I apply to AOA?

Students should apply in their final year of medical school. If taking a gap year or completing another program's requirements, they should apply in the cycle at the beginning of their final year.

 What can I include on my CV?

All activities on the submitted CV should be from during a student's tenure in medical school. No activities from undergraduate or high school activities should be included.

 What is the application timeline?

The call for applications will go out yearly in early June and applications will be due in mid/late June. Decisions will be communicated in early August.