The Constitution of AΩA gives many degrees of freedom to each chapter for the process of election of student members within certain firm guidelines. Our process can be summarized as follows:

 

1.  After the end of the third year rotations, clerskship directors submit student nominations for AΩA.  Nominations are also obtained from learning community mentors, fellow students, and pre-clinical course directors. From these nominations and  clerkship grades the top quartile of students are identified.

 

2. These students are then contacted and invited to submit an application which outlines their accomplishments in leadership, scholarship, and service. In addition, each applicant submits an essay addressing professionalism in Medicine. Each applicant mus also give permission to the AΩA committee to review their entire academic record which may include national board scores, pre-clinical/clerkship academic records and review any professional indiscretions or violations.  

 

3.  Each separate section of the applications are sent in a blinded format to selection sub-committees comprised of faculty and community AOA members. These sub-committee members then review their section of the application and rate each of the applicants. 

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4. The main AΩA selection committee, which is comprised of AOA faculty, residents, and community members, then reviews the scores for each applicant submitted by the sub-committees and each students' overall application. Out of this pool of applicants,, up to 20% of the graduating class is then selected for induction into AOA.  

 

3. Those students chosen for election are selected not only for their academic achievements, but also for their leadership, professionalism, and their commitment to service,