ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA:ENCOURAGING EXCELLENCE IN MEDICINE

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY

DAVID C. DALE, MD

Professor of Medicine

University of Washington

Former President of the Board

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

U.S. MEDICAL SCHOOLS1880-1900

MED STUDENTS/

YEAR SCHOOLS STUDENTS ALL STUDENTS

1880 100 12,000 0.10

1890 133 15,000 0.10

1900 160 25,000 0.11

U.S. Medical Schools in 1909

MEDICAL SCHOOLSAAMC — 1903

TYPE• REGULAR• HOMEOPATHIC• ECLECTIC• PHYSIOMEDICAL• NONDESCRIPT

NUMBER

128

19

10

3

1

161

Learning to Healby Kenneth Ludmerer

FORCES FOR CHANGEIN MEDICINE IN 1900

LICENSURE — NBME

SCHOOLS — AAMC

PROFESSION — AMA

FOUNDATIONS — CARNEGIE

STUDENTS — A

FORCES FOR CHANGEAGENDA

ADMISSION STANDARDS

CURRICULUM

TEACHING HOSPITALS

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

William Webster Root

Bacteriology Building, University of Illinois

Door to the AΩA Founder’s Room,

University of Illinois

Original members of Alpha Omega

Alpha

Plaque commemorating AΩA’s founding, University of Illinois

AA CHAPTERS 1902-1906

ILLINOIS

RUSH (U CHICAGO)

NORTHWESTERN

WESTERN RESERVE

JEFFERSON

PENNSYLVANIA

WASHINGTON UNIV.

HARVARD

UCSF

JOHNS HOPKINS

ORIGINAL AA LEADERSHIP

• WILLIAM WEBSTER ROOT

• BURCHARD HAYES ROARK

• WINFIELD SCOTT HALL

STUDENT SELECTION

• ELIGIBLE– Top 25 Percent of Class

• ELECTION– One Sixth of Class– Scholastic Achievement– Leadership, Fairness, Compassion,

Integrity, Service

Root home, Slaterville Springs, NY

Dr. Root and his first automobile

AA 1906-1920

TORONTO

COLUMBIA

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

CORNELL

SYRACUSE

MC GILL

NEBRASKA

TULANE

CINCINNATI

PITTSBURGH

INDIANA

VIRGINIA

IOWA

TEXAS

YALE

U.S. MEDICAL SCHOOLS

MED STUDENTS/

YEAR SCHOOLS STUDENTS ALL STUDENTS

1880 100 12,000 0.10

1890 133 15,000 0.10

1900 160 25,000 0.11

1910 131 22,000 0.06

1920 85 14,000 0.02

The Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria

The Pharos, 1938–2000

MEMBERS

MEDICAL STUDENTS

RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS

ALUMNI AND FACULTY

HONORARY

AA PROGRAMS

• PHAROS

• VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS

• STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

• STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

• LEADERS IN AMERICAN MEDICINE

• DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARDS

Dr. David Dale and Dr. George Engel, first Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher

recipient, 1997

AA LEADERS

William W. Root

Walter B. Cannon — Harvard

John L. Heffron — Syracuse

John J. Mackenzie — Toronto

Walter Bierring — Iowa

James A. Campbell — Rush

Robert J. Glaser-Harvard, Colorado, Stanford

Ted Harris-Dartmouth, Rutgers, Stanford

Walter L. Bierring, M.D.AΩA President

1924–1960

Robert J. Glaser, M.D.

• Executive Secretary

• Editor The Pharos

• 1962-1998

Alpha Omega Alpha’s Key and Motto