Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the
National Honor Medical Society, was organized in 1902 by students at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago for medical students who have
excelled academically and have shown promise of becoming leaders in the
profession. Scholastic achievement must be balanced by other personal qualities
such as leadership, fairness, compassion, integrity and service.
AOA
selection processes for CUSOM were reviewed and amended in 2021 in an effort to
increase the diversity of each AOA class, and promote a more objective
application selection process. The AOA Reform Committee worked with The Office
of Diversity and Inclusion, and collaborated with students and faculty to
improve our selection processes. To promote transparency, the considerations
for AOA at the University of Colorado School of Medicine are outlined below.
1.
Those who are in the first and second quartile who have received at least 50%
honors weeks in their clinical year will be eligible to apply.
2.
The application will consist of a standardized CV and essay that are evaluated
in a blinded manner.
3.
Each application will be evaluated based on academic performance, leadership,
scholarship, and volunteer activities while in medical school. These categories
will be individually scored and then combined for a composite score.
a.
The academic score will be generated from the dean’s office. Other indicators
of academics such as USMLE scores will not be taken into account.
4.
The essay will be used to further understand how the applicant’s mission aligns
with AOA’s ideals.
5.
Each applicant will fill out a standardized CV and transfer the information to
our RedCap survey to facilitate data collection and blinding for the committee.
