Alpha Omega Alpha Leadership Team
AOA Faculty Councilor (MetroHealth) (lead)
David Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, FACP, FACMI, FAMIA
Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, CWRU
Chief Medical Informatics Officer/VP of Health Informatics and Patient Engagement Technologies, The MetroHealth System
AOA Faculty Councilor (University Hospitals)
Debra Leizman, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, CWRU
Director Medical Student Education
Internal Medicine Clerkship Director
Division General Internal Medicine, Depart of Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
AOA Faculty Councilor (Cleveland Clinic)
Sofya Asfaw, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor Surgery, CCLCM of CWRU
General Surgery and Anesthesia
Cleveland Clinic
AOA Faculty Councilor (Veterans Administration Hospital of Cleveland)
Vacant
AOA Advisor
Monica Yepes-Rios, MD, FACP
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of CWRU
AOA Advisor
Steven Ricanati, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, CWRU
Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs, CWRU SOM
Dean, Wearn Society, CWRU SOM
AOA Coordinator
Akida Weir
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is the medical honor society with the overall vision to promote and recognize excellence in the profession of medicine in all of its forms. The CWRU chapter of AOA was the third (Gamma) chapter started nationally and the first (Alpha) chapter in Ohio. The school's AOA chapter is managed by the CWRU SOM Office of Student Affairs.
Mission
Alpha Omega Alpha has a 5-part mission including:
- 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
Chapter Elections
CWRU students are elected into AOA by a committee of CWRU faculty who are themselves members of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Selection Committee members are given de-identified packets of information on the top honors students in the graduating class. Consideration is given to academic excellence, leadership, service to the community and to the school, faculty nominations, research publications and presentations, and other awards and accomplishments.
Once inducted, the new AOA students elect several faculty and residents into AOA. The students conduct the entire nomination/election process independently among themselves, giving consideration to qualities such as leadership, professionalism and service and, particularly, to commitment and excellence in medical student teaching and mentorship.
Awards and Programs
The CWRU AOA chapter facilitates participation in AOA awards and programs. Currently AOA has 13 different awards and programs for medical students, residents/fellows, and faculty. Some example awards and programs include the MSSLP (Medical Student Leadership Project Award), the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Award, and the Student Poetry Competition.
Additionally, each AOA chapter can select medical students, residents/fellows, faculty, and alumni for induction into AOA. Announcements and information about AOA activities are sent out through the SOM's administrative listservs. Please direct any questions to the CWRU AOA Chapter email at: casemed-aoa@case.edu.
CWRU AOA Chapter Registry
In accordance with the national Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) Constitution, all CWRU faculty who are AOA members (even if elected elsewhere) automatically receive reciprocity of membership to our CWRU Alpha of Ohio Chapter. However, we may not know who you are! If you are AOA and have not been contacted directly by our chapter yet, please email us at casemed-aoa@case.edu with the subject line "Registry," and we will send you the link to our Chapter Registry. Thank you!
More Information
Additional information about AOA nationally can be found on the AOA website (www.alphaomegaalpha.org) or this link to an overview pamphlet: 2022-flyer-for-web.pdf (alphaomegaalpha.org) Inquiries or questions can be sent to the CWRU AOA email at casemed-aoa@case.edu.